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

MY COUSIN HAD THE SURGERY AND SEVERAL FRIENDS OF MINE. THEY LOOKED AND FELT FANTASTIC AFTER SURGERY. THEY FELT BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES AND IT SHOWED.

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

I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH GETTING APPROVAL. I HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH MY RIGHT KNEE AND SLEEP APNEA. I HAD TO SLEEP WITH A C-PAC. THE ONLY ADVISE I CAN GIVE IS MAKE SURE YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF ANY PROBLEMS (SLEEP APNEA, BLOOD PRESSURE, JOINT PROBLEMS). MAKE SURE YOU GO TO DOCTORS AND EVERYTHING IS DOCUMENTED. WHEN YOU DO GET APPROVAL, MAKE SURE YOU GET THE NAME OF THE PERSON YOU SPEAK TO AS WELL AS THE DATE AND TIME YOU SPOKE TO THEM. MY INSURANCE COMPANY GAVE ME AN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER. WHEN YOU CLOSER TO SURGERY, CALL AGAIN AND RECONFIRM YOUR AUTHORIZATION, AGAIN WRITE DOWN THE NAME OF THE PERSON YOU SPEAK TO, DATE AND TIME.

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

DR. GORNISH WAS VERY INFORMATIVE, FRIENDLY, ETC. I DID NOT GET TO MEET DR. ROMANELLI UNTIL MY NEXT VISIT PRE-OP. DENISE WHO WORKS THERE WAS EXCELLENT. I THINK YOU SHOULD WRITE DOWN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AND BRING THEM WITH YOU WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST VISIT.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF DIETING AND GETTING NOWHERE FAST. I HAD REACHED MY PEAK WHEN I HAD TO START SLEEPING WITH A C-PAC. I FELT LIKE A TOTAL FREAK AND I KNOW MY KIDS WERE SCARED FOR ME. AFTER I SAW THE CONCERN IN THEIR EYES, I KNEW I HAD TO DO SOMETHING. I WANTED TO LIVE LONGER AND MOST OF ALL I WANTED TO LIVE HEALTHIER AND I KNEW THAT SURGERY WAS MY ONLY HOPE.

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

I GO TO THE SUPPORT GROUP AT JERSEY SHORE HOSPITAL. I ALSO HAVE MET SEVERAL PEOPLE ON THIS WEBSITE THAT I KEEP IN TOUCH WITH. THEY LIVE CLOSE TO ME AND WE CORRESPOND FREQUENTLY. WE SHARE ALOT OF OUR FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES, ETC. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT--YOU REALIZE YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THESE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THOUGH AND WE ALL HELP EACH OTHER.

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

I HAVE 7 SMALL INCISIONS. IT IS ONLY 3WKS SINCE SURGERY AND THEY ARE QUITE ITCHY RIGHT NOW BUT HEALING BEAUTIFULLY. I DIDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING SO, THEREFORE, I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED. I DON'T WEAR BELLY SHIRTS, SO IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NONE YET--TOO SOON TO TELL BUT I ALREADY HAVE A PLAN FOR ANY PLATEAU. I WILL GO BACK TO HAVING PROTEIN SHAKES FOR MEALS AND EXERCISE MORE TO BREAK AN PLATEAU. I DIDN'T COME THIS FAR TO BE LAZY==I WANT TO FEEL AND LOOK GOOD FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I HAVE ALOT OF PEOPLE TELLING ME HOW GOOD I LOOK, I HEAR ALOT OF WOW YOU LOST ALOT OF WEIGHT AND YOU LOOK YOUNGER. BUT I STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO==IT IS NICE GETTING THE COMPLIMENTS.