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

I foundout from a friend who had it done. My initial impression of it after reading up on it,was that it was a fantastic thing for obese people.

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

It was hell ! bcoz in my country its not considered a medical procedure unless ur indigent.

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

It was great ! everyone at the hospital treated me well.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i had my mind made up for 6 yrs , i was just waiting on financing.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

my doctors made it easy for me to decide which one was best for me .

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 didnt have any fears at all, i've been trying to get this surgery done from about 6 yrs ago, so when i finally got approved , it was smooth sailing from there.

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 oldest child (daughter) was a bit skeptic about , but she still supported me in having it done.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

i didnt attend any seminars b 4 my surgery .

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

my stay was great !I stayed 4 nights , i stayed abit over my time , bcuz when i went to do my xray to my stomach , it was bit cloudy , my doctors couldnt see inside my to start giving me my fluid/food to eat., but they finally did take the chance and evrything went well...I didnt vomit or anything.

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

no, thank god .

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

After waiting 6 yrs to get it done , i was excited and anxious.

Describe your first few weeks home from the hospital. What should people expect from this period?

For me it was abit uncomfortable , bcuz i didnt have a lazy boy chair to sleep in, but other than that , it was good ( a bit sore though )

How far did you travel to have your surgery? (If far, how did this affect your aftercare?)

Ita was a 45 mins flight to miami , from my country.

What was your actvity level in the days and weeks after surgery?

My activity level was low, Bcuz of my arhritis in my spine/back, shoulders n knees, it was a bit tuff, but i did what i could .

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

celebrate vitamins.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

am having my plateau as we speak this day of 23-oct-10. its been like 5mths or so i've been on a plateau, i dont like it.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no not really ! even as a big girl, i got alot of compliments.