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

I did not want to at first. MY SISTER was telling me about it. I was afraid. Recently i was afraid, but not the surgery it was about not being around for my family and especially for my husband. I wanted to live longer then I knes I would if things did not change...So comes the surgery

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

There was no problem for me.

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

I met with him in a smalll group setting and he went thought the procedure and then opened the group to the floor for questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to be around for a long while longer. I wanted to be active. I wanted to fit in smaller spaces. I wanted to ride rides in the theme parks.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It is the surgical procedure the physicans does and I like the fact that he comes two surgeries in one. A bypass and a VBG.

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 did and do have fears of not being around mor than complications. I realized that if I do nothing I will PRobably die before my time at a very young age.

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 have always been supportive of me. They would take me any way they could and any size. There is a lot of love and caring.

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

I did not communicate this with anyone at work.

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

It was long and very painful

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 had lots of time to think about my decision. What you know before is truly something different after the surgery. I read several books and asked lots of questions.

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

I go once a month to the support group sponsor by the doctor.

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

I have an eight inch scar and it is very thin. I also have two tube scars one from the old stomach and were the gallbladder used to be. I was told what to expect.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have not had any yet. Lots of exercise and going out.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No I do not.