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

Through a friend who had surgery, I began to research in late May 2002 and have expectations and doubts but know that I cant continue to live this way

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

Make sure you have everything needed from the start

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

My impression was much better after my first meeting than it was the original consultation. Make sure you have the knowledge of what to expect from the surgery so that you will understand what is being said and make sure to have all your questions written down so that you may go over them each without leaving anything out

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I felt that the lap RNY would work best for me as well as the surgeon feeling it was what I needed

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 am very scared that something will not go right but I am trying to put that at the back of my mind, as for dying I know that is a chance that I am taking just like getting in the car and driving down the road each day we never know what is in store each day. I have put my faith in the Lord that He will give me the strength and watch over me and ease my fear

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 family is not supportive of the surgery, my brother is dead set against it no matter what I say, my family will be there for me but if something goes wrong I can already hear I told you so

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

TAKE A FAN, I didnt listen to what everyone told me and I was regretting it the first night.

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

No complications 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 have been trully blessed other than being a little uncomfortable I had no pain and have done very well it wasnt until I was about a month post op that I ever got sick and it was my own fault by trying something to soon

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

There isnt much of one at all the 2 at the top are almost invisible the only one that is really visible is the one on the left side and I would show it off proudly because it is what helped me get to where I am today

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Every month or two I will plateau for a week or two and I just have to wait it out and look over how and what I have been eating and adjust it

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, some people dont even recognize me and others (especially men) seem to talk a lot more than they use to