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

I read about my program Weigh 2 Freedom & I was very impressed with the group's handling of my unique situation - Being that I am a military wife living overseas

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

It seemed way to easy -Weigh 2 Freedom handled everything and within twenty four hours of the paperwork history being submitted - I was given the go ahead for surgery

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

I did not meet my surgeon until the day before my surgery due to my living oveseas

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I felt I had finally found a way out of my misery

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had thought about the procedure for years and it was like a dream come true when it became a reality

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?

NONE I was much to anxious for the surgery

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 was a bit apprehensive and my mother who is obese was very much against the decision to have the surgery

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

I am a housewife/mother of three

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

I did not enjoy my hospital stay - I was there for 6 days and the most important thing to bring is a supportive friend or family member

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

No

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 was very miserable the first 3 weeks and kept regretting my surgery decision. I just got through eat day - hour by hour

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

I was in a great deal of pain and went through some depression. People should expect to feel some regret with the decision they made and feel tremedous amounts of discomfort.

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

I traveled from Okinawa, Japan to LA, California. I believe it had a tremendous affect on my non-existant aftercare

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

Since I live so far away I have not had any after support - except via emails

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

It is much larger than I had anticipated

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes - they are excited for me