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

dr McElory my primary he is wonderful

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

5 days the staff were great

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

my incision ripped open so that took a few months of in home care

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

nervous and took nerve pills lol

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

i don't but i need one badly due to th fact a year after i had the surgery i was put back in the hospital with blocked intestines...had surgery and then was in a coma for 5 months in icu for 14 months then i had to have another surgery due to a hole in my esopagus from the jet ventilator. after that i went to walton for about a month but insurance ran out so you know how that goes. During the surgery for the blockrd intestines they said i aspirated ....due to eating before surgery....Dr. Martindale said he would have never operated on me if he knew i had eaten. I told the anthesologist i had eaten and he seemed to not worry about it. well the rest was history one i will never forget. I know that the wls had nothing to do with what happened. I was just laid up for so long and it is still hard to walk and i have gained up to 172 and am terrified. i need support. Dr Martindale has been great and continues to be there for me I couldn't have asked for a better surgeon. but now like i said i got to be able to walk to get back down to at least 141.

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

long and yes

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

just in the past year since being home i have went from 127 to 172 and it is terrifying

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes friendlier