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

An aquaintance of mine at work had open RNY. She had lost 150 lbs. I knew this was my last hope.

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

My first obstacle was with my then primary doctor who would not write a referral for the surgeon. Once I switched primary doctors and found one with a heart, things went pretty quickly. I would say 2-3 months from beginning to end.

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

It was a group informational meeting. At first he reminded me of a salesperson. But I knew this was the correct decision for me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Seeing all of the results. It was amazing to see all the before and after pictures.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I was told I was a good candidate for the lap RNY so that was my deciding factor.

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 had no fears. I knew it was the right decision for me. I had a very positive attitude about this whole thing from the very beginning.

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 and friends were totally against this surgery and were in no way supportive of me. I had absolutely no moral support. That was the hardest part.

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

I told them I was having surgery. I had vacation and sick time saved up, and I took 2 weeks off.

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

I go to the monthly support group meeting. It has been helpful.

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

I had the lap RNY so my scarring is very minimal. Just a couple of little lines. I call them my war wounds. Almost nothing to speak of.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have hit a couple of plateaus since the surgery. It is difficult but it eventually passes.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Most definitely people treat me differently now.