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

DR. recomended. I was at the end of my rope, ready for any hope!

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

Just more STRESS and Hell.

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

Great. Ask lots of questions. Ask to meet the person who handels their insurance, find out how often you will speak with them, will they help you through this maze. If you feel like your bothering them with questions. Go somewere else fast!!!!!!!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

last hope.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Surgens advice

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?

go for it.

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?

They are scared but know this must be done.

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

dont tell.

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

"RUFF" I guss all hospital are alike in that you have really good nurses and reaaly BAD ones. I was in for 5 days, they almost killed me on day two when a nerse screwed up. but my wife was with me and called for help, it just happened that my DR. was on the floor when it happened and came to my rescue. and I found out after the fact that he chewed a lot of the nursing staffs asses. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO BRING IS SOMEONE YOU TRUST TO STAY WITH YOU THE WHOLE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!! BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN. ACCIDENTS.....

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

none

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

For about Two weeks felt realy bad. then got better every day up to week six then felt preety good. I would say that it takes about 3 months for you to feel normal again. then by the sixth month you dont even think about what you went through JUST THE RESULTS.

What vitamins and/or dietary supplements have you taken since your surgery?

Vitamins A,D,K,E plus iron and calcium.

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

none

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

Got to be honest it's about 7 inches long and it is ugly.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had a few. But not many and the did'nt last long. To be honest the best advise I can give anyone who has this surgery is LOSE YOUR SCALES!!!!! Your going to lose weight dont obsese on what you are losing. I weigh about every two months, so I dont notice the plateaus as much and I dont worry if I am not losing as fast as I want to.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

HELL YES. I love it when I see someone I havent seen since surgery and they dont know who I am. And it's funny when you cash a check and I show my old ID and the clerk looks like this is'nt you.