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

A co-worker had it down and was singing it's praises. Once I started asking about it, people who had it done were EVERYWHERE. Because of the risk of death involved I had to make sure the benefits outweighed (no pun intended)the risks involved.

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

I didn't really think the hospital was very good. They acted like they had done this a million times,so didn't give me any info on the way to handle my post-op stay. ie. the way an abdominal surgery patient should get in and out of bed. If or when it would be ok to take a shower. I had to ask about everything and if you've never been through a surgery like this I really didn't know what questions to ask,especially drugged up on morphine. I was there 4 days (waiting to have a bowel movement before I could go home) #1 thing to bring....A PERSON. You will need someone to help you in and out of bed, to the bathroom, get you stuff when you dont feel like moving. to nag you to get up and walk the hallways and blow into your blue thingy.

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

I have been very lucky so far and haven't had any compications.

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 a little nervous. Worried about any complications in the surgery. I coped w/the nervousness by reviewing my reasons for doing the surgery and by visiting forums w/before and after pictures.

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

So far I've been on the internet visiting several diff. forums. There is a support grp in my area starting in Jan 04. I plan to attend. Also there is a good friend at work who I w/buddy up with.

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

I had the surgery done lapiscopically so I only have about 5 small scars on my stomach. Hey! I had an emergency C-sec w/the birth of my twins so I alrdy had a large scar on my stomach. I'm 44 and figure I've earned every one of them,so I treat them as badges of honor. I'm already happily married so I'm not on the market.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Only post op about 5 weeks now so the only plateau I've had so far is that I stopped losing weight so fast when I got home and could eat "real" food. Still losing and haven't lost any hair yet so I count it "all good"

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really yet. only 32 lbs lost so far. Most everyone is very supportive.