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

Hearing of friends getting the surgery, and I was impressed with the results.

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

Thank God it wasn't a problem for me.

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

Very imformative.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to look and feel better.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I researched a lot of procedures and decided on this one.

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 believed that I would do well. Trusted in God to take care of me, and he did!

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 family was very supportive, but some didn't tell me until after that they really didn't want me to have it done.

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

It was good but I was in a lot of pain. Was there from Thursday through Sunday. It is important to bring a good support person to stay with you during your hospital stay.

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

I traveled 3 and one half hours for my surgery. Was a long way to go but was worth it.

What vitamins and/or dietary supplements have you taken since your surgery?

I have taken Seasilver which is a liquid vitamin and mineral solution.

What was the worst part about the entire bariatric surgery process?

The worst part was the pain I had, but when I look back on it I didn't take my pain medicines like I should.

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

This site has been tremedously helpful to me.

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

They are light and not quite an inch long. I had lap

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had some plateaus since my surgery but they were mostly near my goal weight. They stayed around maybe for a few weeks but then one day, low and behold, I had lost maybe 2 or 3 pounds overnight.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes everyone is saying that I look great, which makes me feel great. Then, on the other hand, it makes me kind of sad that sometimes people who are overweight are treated differently than they should be.