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

REPORTS ON TV, SHOWS LIKE 48 HOURS AND 20/20. I WAS SCARED OF IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS DANGEROUS.

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

I WAS VERY LUCKY WITH MY PCP'S OFFICE. NORMA WHO DOES THE INSURANCE IS WONDERFUL AND HAD IT APROVED RIGHT AWAY.

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

I HAD A GREAT MEETING. HE WAS COMPLETE IN ALL DETAILS AND PUT AN END TO THE FEW LITTLE FEARS I HAD LEFT. THE BEST THING IS TO BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND YOUR DOCTOR TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS MEETING

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

A COMBENATION OF MY DIABETIS BEING OUT OF CONTROL AND THE LAST FAILED FERTILITY TREATMENT.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

IT WAS THE DOCTORS CHOICE

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?

I REALLY DONT HAVE THOSE FEARS. MY FEARS ARE GREATER FOR THE HEART PROBLEMS,DIABETIS COMPLCATIONS ETC THAN WHATS WITH THE SURGURY

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 FAMILY IS DIVIDED SOME ARE EXITED AND OTHERS ARE AGAINST IT COMPLETELY. ITS VERY HARD WITH THE WELL MEANING PEOPLE WHO TRY AND SCARE YOU OUT OF THIS, THEY DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT ITS LIKE TO LIVE INSIDE THIS BODY

How did your employer/supervisor react to your decision? What did you tell him/her? How long were you out of work?

MY BOSS WAS AGAINST IT AT 1ST BUT RESPECTS MY CHOICE. SHE IS SCARED OF IT BUT SUPORTIVE.

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

I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FROM MON TO FRI MORNING, IT WAS GENERALLY OK BUT I HAD A BAD INFECTION FORM THE FOLLY CATHETER. THEY HAD TO DO A COUPLE OF TESTS AND CULTURES WHICH WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND KIND OF PAINFUL. BEST THING I BROUGHT WAS MY OWN PELLOW FROM HOME.

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

NO COMPLECATIONS EXCEPT THE CATHETER INFECTION WHICH WAS CLEARED UP WITH MEDICATION

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

GENERALLY I FELT OK, I HAD SOME DEPRESSION FROM THE PAIN AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET COMFORTABLE TO SLEEP WELL BUT ONCE THAT WAS SOLVED EVERYTHING WAS FINE

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

I HAD MY SURGURY AT NORTWESTERN HOSPITAL IN CHICAGO. THEY HAVE A VERY COMPLETE AFTERCARE PROGRAM. WITH DOCTOR, RN,NUTRIEN AND PCHY CHECKUPS. I FEEL THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL AFTER THE SURGURY TO ANWSER ANY QUESTIONS OR CONSERNS I HAD.

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

MY INSISION IS DIFFERNT THAN MOST IT RUNS SIDE TO SIDE WITH A SMALL LINE RUNNING UP BETWEEN MY BREASTS. IT DOESNT LOOK AS BAD AS I FEARED AND ISNT AS BAD AS SOME PICTURES IVE SEEN

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NONE YET

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES PEOPLE COMPLEMENT ME ALOT AND I NOTICE MYSELF CARRING MYSELF DIFFERNTLY AND WEARING MAKEUP EVERYDAY WHICH I HAVENT DONE IN 5 YEARS