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

My neighbor had bariatric surgery approx. 2 yrs ago and encouraged me to check it out. I was not very excited about it since he had alot of problems, but then I went to a support group meeting for WLS pts and found out that his problems are not the norm. Then I got excited to see the extreme difference it made in their lives.

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

If at first you don't succeed, TRY TRY TRY TRY AND TRY AGAIN!!!!!!

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

It was very short and to the point. Make sure you have your questions ready for the surgeon and write them down, because you will forget. Also, ask for written materials you can go over, because many of the materials will have the same stuff he says on it and you can read it over and over again.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The before and after pictures on this web site were a major impact on my decision making process. Also, the peer-support group I attended really sealed the deal for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I studied it out on the web and found that the RNY is the best and most approved wt loss surgery to have. Also, my insurance covers this procedure.

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?

In any surgery you have, you'll always have those risks. I feel it's worth the chance to get a new way of life and a new, healthier bod out of the deal.

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, kids, and friends are very excited and happy for me. My mother, on the other hand, who is a worry-wart, doesnt want me to have it. (I'm an only child)

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

I'm not working outside the home right now, so that's not really a problem. My boys, though, have figured out that they're gonna have to pick up the slack in house duties and they are kinda balking...but they want a trip to Cedar Point, so I don't think it will be much of an issue.

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

I'm going to a couple of support groups in Mid-Michigan. One is located in the basement of Gratiot Community Hospital and is called "Circle of Friends". The leader of the group is an RN there at the hospital is a few months ahead of me post-op. The other is located in the foyer of a church in Mt. Pleasant. Both are very important to me just to get out and meet with others who are going through the same stuff I am. Both are open to all WLS patients and are not exclusive to one doctor's pts.

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

My scar is bright pink and is about 1/8th of an inch wide. At the top its kind of hard and at the bottom is soft just like my normal skin. The length of my scar runs from the bottom of my rib cage to the top of my belly button. It's also a little crooked. I guess it is what I expected because I had seen other RNY pts scars and was expecting it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a couple of weeks where my wt loss slowed down to only 1-2 pds, but then after that, the wt started coming off again. I'm not sure why, but I didn't get all bent out of shape about it. I figure it's gonna come off the way my body wants it to.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, people do treat me differently. Especially people who haven't seen me in a while. They call me "skinny" and it bugs me-I've still got approximately 120 pds to go. I have noticed that my kids are checking me out and commenting on my wt loss too. They're very happy with the results.