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

My friend had the surgery a year before I did. I thought how could someone alter their bodies like that.

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

I had it pretty easy. My insurance company approved my surgery with in 4 days. However I must mention that I had five different letters from 5 different doctors, stating that I should and needed to lose weight.

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

Scary! But comforting, he took time with me confronting my concerns. Know what you want to ask the doctor, do some research on the surgery find out what is required of you after surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health wasn't doing very well. I could hardly walk from the car to the store with out having pain. I told my husband that I needed a handy cap sign. I thought about that and said what am I doing. Where am I going to be in 5 years. Look how well Linda did with this surgery. You can do it to. Be healthy I thought.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Research, also a friend had this proceedure and did very well with it. Being inform at the seminar put on by the doctor.

What fears did you have about having complications or even dying from from the surgery, and what would you tell other people having the same fears now?

My fears were that I would fail with this surgery. Why not I failed every other attempted that I made to lose weight. I didn't think that I would die from the surgery, I thought I would die from being over weight. It's the best thing that I ever did. I only wish that I would have done it sooner.

How did your family and friends react to your decision? Would you have communicated anything differently if you could now? How supportive were they after your surgery?

My husband was very supportive. I only told a few friends because I didn't want to hear from anyone that I was doing the wrong thing. The ones I did tell respected my choice. I had lots of support after wards. I had friends calling me and enxcoureing me to walk. Coming over on their lunch break to walk with me.

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

I was in Fresno Surgery Center, which is like a hotel. The nurses are well trained to handle GBP. I was in for 3 days, if you want your own pillow or pjs.

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

no

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

I felt very excited that I was approved and that I was going to change my life. I tried to keep myself real busy to pass the time while waiting for the surgery date.

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

We have a support group that meets once a month. The doctor also follows his patients for up to 5 years. They check our blood to see if our vits and protein levels are up.

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

I had the open and my scar has healed really well, yes it's what I had expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

we do hit plateaus during our weight loss. We lose at such a rapid rate that our skin needs time to catch up.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, more polite, guys staring more.