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

I HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT, I THOUGHT I WOULD DO THAT TO MY BODY, BUT LATTER MY MIND BEGAIN TO CHANGE.

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

IT WAS EASY, EVERYTHING WHEN SO EASY, GOD GAVE ME FAVOR!!!

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

IT WAS OK, I MEET HIS ASST. AND DID NOT SEE HIM TILL MY PRE-OP DATE, I WANTED DR MADAN, BUT HIS WAS OUT OF TOWN WHEN I WANTED MY SURGERY SO I HAD TO GET DR TICHANSKY, HE DID MY SURGERY GREAT ASK FOR THE DR WHO WILL DO YOUR SURGERY SO YOU CAN GET A FEEL OF HIM

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I HAD GOT TO 400LBS AND IT WAS NOT GOING TO GET BETTER

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I LOOKED ON LINE AND I THOUGHT THE RNY WOULD BE MY BEST TOOL OF CHIOCE

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 THINK I WAS GOING TO DY, I MADE ARRANGMENTS IN CASE I DID, BUT AFTER THE SURGERY I REALLY WANTED TO LIVE, GOD JUST TAKE CARE OF ME , YOU HAVE TO TRUST GOD....

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?

THE THOUGHT I SHOULD HAVE IT, BUT LATTER ON I FOUND OUT ONE OF MY FRIEND SAID SHE THOUGHT I WOULD NOT GO THROUGH IT. i WISH THEY WOULD NOT KEEP ASKING ME WHAT AM I EATTING....

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 TELL HIM I WAS OUT FOR 4 WEEKS, BUT TAKE 6 WEEKS IT IS BETTER

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

IT WAS OK IT WAS A BARIATRIC FLOOR, I WAS THERE 4 DAYS

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

I HAD SO BLEEDING PROBLEMS FROM ONE OF MY ISCIONS I AM A BLEEDER, I DID NOT TELL MY DR.

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 BUYERS REMORSE A LOT!!! BUT KNOW I AM GLAD I WENT THROUGH IT

Describe your first few weeks home from the hospital. What should people expect from this period?

IT WAS OK, IT WAS THE FOOD COMMERCAIL THAT GOT ME I LOVE TO EAT....

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

LESS THAN 5 MILES

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

WE HAVE A ANGEL SUPPORT GROUP IT IS GREAT

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

THEY ARE 6 VERY SMALL SCARS I PUT COCO BUTTER ON THEM AND THEY ARE FADING AFTER TWO MONTHS MY SURGERY WAS 08/28/06

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

N/A

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES!!!!