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

I WENT TO ST. LUKES ROOSVELT HOSPITAL SOME 25 YEARS AGO AND MY THOUGHT WAS YOU WALK IN SOMEWHAT HEALTHY AND I WAS, BUT YOU WALK OUT WITH PROBLEMS WHICH AS I SAW IT THEN WERE PROBLEMS, YOU NEEDED TO TAKE A LIVER BIOPSY EVERY YEAR AND I WASN'T READY FOR THAT. I ONLY WISH THAT THIS SURGERY WAS PREFECTED THEN WHAT A WASTE OF TIME. I PROBALY WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN DIABETES.

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

I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH GHI THEY WERE WONDERFUL

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

SCARY AND CONFUSING, TAKE SOMEONE WITH YOU BECAUSE WHAT YOU MAY MISS THEY WILL PICK UP. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS REMEMBER YOUR NOT BUYING A PAIR OF SHOES YOU CAN'T TAKE THIS BACK.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I WAS TIRED OF FIGHTING DIABETES. AND WEIGHT LOSS WAS MY ONLY ANSWER.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I FIRST WANTED TO HAVE THE DS BUT DECIDED AGAINST IT BECAUSE WITH THE R-Y YOU WERE LIMITED WITH YOUR SUGAR INTAKE AND BEING DIABETIC THAT 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?

WHAT MADE ME DECIDE TO HAVE MY SURGERY WAS BECAUSE OF MY SURGEON HE WAS SO CONFIDENT THAT HE ELIMANTED ALL MY FEARS.

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?

I HAD NOTHING BUT SUPPORT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT MEANT THE MOST TO ME. ONLY ONE PERSON TOLD ME 3 DAYS BEFORE SURGERY NOT TO DO IT BECAUSE SHE HAD A CLIENT WHO WENT FOR THE SURGERY AND SHE FELT THE NEED TO TELL ME SHE NEVER SAW HER AGAIN THE WOMEN DIED BECAUSE OF AN INFECTION AND THE WAY I RATIONLIZED IT WAS THAT COULD HAPPEN WITH ANY SURGERY, WHEN I WENT TO MY FAMILY DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL CLEARENCE I ASKED HIM ABOUT INFECTION AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BEING DONE LAP AND I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY. WELL I GOT AN INFECTION AND IT SURELY WASN'T A PICNIC BUT I'D DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

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

I CAN CALL THE DOCTORS ANYTIME I NEEDED TO ASK A QUESTION. THEY ALSO HAVE SUPPORT GROUPS AT STATEN ISLAND UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WHICH WERE VERY HELPFUL PRE-OP.

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

SCARS ARE NOT BAD AT ALL. THEY ARE BETTER THAN EXPECTED ALTHOUGH THAT WAS NEVER A CONCERN OF MINE.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NONE I HAVE BEEN LOSING WEIGHT AND INCHES STEAD FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT LOOSE 2 LBS. ONE WEEK YOU CAN LOOSE 8 THE NEXT. OR YOU MAY NOT SEE ANY WEIGHT LOSE FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEN BINGO YOU LOST 5-8 LBS.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO NOT REALLY.