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

from a friend at work.. she showed me a pre photo and it was incredible. i said that was for me since everything else failed

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

due to diabetic conditions, arthritis conditions, lupus, i needed to get the weight off. insurance was not real hard

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

interesting. i learned many facts. take questions on paper and ask ask ask

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

my own well being

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

with discussion with my md we decided this would be better

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 trusted my surgeon. have faith in God. it is for the better. if i needed to do this again i would in a heart beat

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 said it was my decision, friends were not supportive prior to--better after wards. i felt i needed this for myself because you cant do this for any one else but you. and only you can make this decision

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

questioned if i was sure i wanted this and reminded me of all the risks. i said it was my decision and i was grateful for the concern. i missed about 6 weeks of work

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

my stay was well and everyone was good to me. you really dont need to bring anything--maybe some reading material

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

due to my lupus i remained red at my incisions longer.

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 felt good as the weight came off. i had some nausea and vomiting--the anxiety wasnt too bad

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

expect to have no patience. i wanted the weight off now. that didnt happen. it takes time and patience.

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

no support group but had friends at work that had same procedure

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

small scars. was done laproscopically

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i have hit this plateau now for 2 yrs that is hard to lose. due to my arthritis and fibromyalgia i have a hard time exercising

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

oh yes--