How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

I FOUND OUT ABOUT BARIATRIC SURGERY FROM WATCHING RICKI LAKE . DOCTOR ROSLIN WAS ON WITH TWO BROTHERS FROM MY AREA THEY BEING OVER 1200 LBS TOGETHER AND THE SURGERY WAS WORKING FOR THEM. AND SO THAT'S HOW I STARTED TO GET INTERESTED IN KNOWING ABOUT THE SURGERY. CALLED THE DOCTOR MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND THE BALL STARTED ROLLING.

Describe your experience with getting insurance approval for surgery. What advice, if any, do you have for other people in this stage?

I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROPLEMS AT ALL, THE DOCTOR DID EVERYTHING FOR ME AND I WAS APPROVED RIGHT AWAY.FOR THOSE HAVING PROBLEMS JUST KEEP TRYING AND TRYING.

What was your first visit with your surgeon like? How can people get the most out of this meeting?

I WAS VERY NERVOUS I HARDLY GO TO ANY DOCTORS ONLY FOR THE FACT THEY SCARE ME. PEOPLE NEED TO ASK MANY QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE I ASKED MANY OF THEM AND MADE SURE I GOT A GOOD ANSWER.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS 400 LBS BUT REALLY WAS 389 LBS. NO MATTER WHAT THAT IS ALOT OF WEIGHT FOR A PERSON WHO IS ONLY 5' 1". I WAS SCARED THAT I WOULD'NT BE ABLE TO LIVE MUCH LONGER. MY BREATHING BECAME VERY LABORED AND STAYED HOME ALOT ONLY TO WORK THEN HOME . MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT I WAS AFRIAD OF DYING!

What was your stay in the hospital like? How long where you there? What things are most important to bring?

MY STAY IN THE HOSPITAL WAS FINE CONSIDERING THAT I WAS IN PAIN. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 5 DAYS ONLY BECAUSE I COME FROM CONNECTICUT AND I HAD SURGERY IN NEW YORK WHERE MY DOCTOR IS FROM. YOU REALLY DONT NEED ANYTHING BECAUSE YOUR REALLY NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING MUCH. ALTHOUGH THE DOCTOR EXPECTED ME TO START TAKING A WALK THAT SAME DAY I HAD THE SURGERY.

Did you have any complications from the surgery? If so, how did you deal with them?

I HAD NO COMPLICATIONS AT ALL.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND IN PAIN I FELT GOOD BECAUSE ONE AFTER SURGERY I LOST 13 LBS THEN SECOND WEEK WAS 10 LBS MORE SO THAT SORT OF OVERCAME THE PAIN I FELT.

What aftercare support group/program do you have? How helpful/important is this?

I DID NOT GO TO ANY SUPPORT GROUP ONLY GETTING ON THE COMPUTER AND SEEING WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN. I'VE HEARD OF SUPPORT PLACES BUT FOR ME NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR IT OR I SHOPULD SAY I HAVE NO TIME.

What is your scar like? Is this what you expected?

MY SCAR IS DISGUSTING I EVENTUALLY PLAN ON HAVING PLASTIC SURGERY TO GET RID OF THE NASTY LOOKING SCAR. ALSO I'LL NEED TO GET SOME TUCKING DONE THE SKIN HANGS A BIT. I NEVER EXPECTED TO HAVE SUCH AN UGLY LOOKING CUT.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF ENERGY ABLE TO WALK AND BREATH NORMAL. MORE HAPPIER GO OUT MORE OFTEN TO THE MALL. JUST ENJOYING LIFE ALOT MORE THAN I USED TO.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I HAVE NOT GOTTEN STARES LIKE "LOOK AT THAT FAT LADY" NO MORE SEEING PEOPLE LOOK AT ME AND START LAUGHING. WHEN IN MY CAR I NOTICE MEN LOOKING AT ME. EVERYTHING IS GREAT.