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

News and also my doctor and husband broached the subject with me.

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

My hospital stay was short. My doctor wanted me to leave the hospital as soon as possible. He believes people get "sick" while they convalese in the hospital......I stayed 3 nights.... I brought a person who could stay with me....I also asked for a private room....

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

Had no complications from the surgery...I was very lucky.....

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 got my surgery date close in.....there was a cancellation and so once I made the decision and saw the doctor it was less than two weeks before I had the surgery....I didn't have a lot of time to think about it.....That helped me a lot.

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

I do not go to "aftercare". I have a friend who had the surgery who works in the same building as me. I go to other support groups and I use that to help me....but I really don't talk much about weight loss at that meeting...only obsession in general....if you catch my drift. But if I am struggling I call my friend and we talk about it... She has been a great support since the surgery.....

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

I have 4 little scars and they seem to be going away....I had laproscopic surgery......

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have an idea of what I wanted my "ideal" weight to be....and was getting frustrated because I lost 100 lbs and have really lost no more...So I had to learn to be happy with the 100 lbs I lost....My health problems went away, diabetes and high blood pressure, and sleep apnea, and I feel so much better....and I am under 200 lbs and in a size 16....Sure makes a difference.....I am happy with who I am and where I am.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Definately people treat me differently. Also though, I am more outgoing and talk easier to others...My self-esteem has gone way up. The other day someone who I work with said to me, "My, you have lost a lot of weight." I had my surgery in 03....I just smiled and said, "Yep, I sure did." He asked me how much weight I had lost and I told him...and he couldn't believe it. Where has he been for the last 2 years?