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

I found it by pure luck. I think this is a helpful site. However it doesn't help out with people have the AGB like me.

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

Getting the appoval didn't take long at all. I guess when the office sent till the time i knew was about a week. I thought my insurance wasn't goint to cover it but they did and i was glad.

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

I liked my surgeon alot. He was very nice and very informative. Although he is no longer with the office that i was going to now i see Dr Ren in NYC. She is awesome too. A little strict and what not but i like that about her.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I couldn't walk that much or as fast as i used to. I couldn't breathe going up one flight of stairs. I have 3 hernatied discs in my neck and they hurt like crazy. With only 44 lbs off i finally notice a difference.

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

My stay was wonderful. Although i only stayed for one night because my mom said i should because she wasn't sure how i would react to the Anthesia this time. The ward in Hackensack Hospital is just for people that had this surgery, and the nurses have had the surgery as well. I didn't bring anything really because i was only stayin for one night. Clean pair of panties and i was ready to go.

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

I had no complications from the surgery...Everything went well!!

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 really felt scared. I have never gone through surgery like this and probably shouldn't have watched the procedure on TLC. I saw what they were doing and that was probably the one thing that scared me most. I didnt have any aneixty really...

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

I am involved in a couple of groups on Yahoo and two face to face groups here in my area. They are somewhat helpful but when you keep hearing people gripe about that they haven't lost weight and you have lost 20lbs more then them in less time it is kinda sad. So i did get alot of help in the beginning and before surgery but now i just go to help the newbies with their surgery because i know how much i wanted that before my surgery

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

It is very minimal. Yea it is cause i saw it on other people.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I don't notice anything really. I mean people treat me the same really. But i haven't lost that much to see it be a change in how people treat me. I notice that people watch what i eat and how much and don't like that. My immediate family and people at work know that i have had the surgery but i would like to see what the rest of my family thinks since they haven't seen me since the surgery and i have lost 44 lbs.