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

FOUND OUT FROM FRIENDS. MY BROTHER TOOK ME TO A SUPPORT MEETING AND REALISED THIS IS FOR ME.

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

GREAT, MINE WAS FAST APPROVAL, STARTED ON 1-10-08 AND LOST MY 5% WEIGHT LOSS PLUS AND HAD SURGERY ON 2-13-08

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

HE WAS GREAT VERY HELPFUL. ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN SPEND THE TIME WITH HIM OR HER AND DON'T BE SHY ABOUT THINGS.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE. DID NOT WANT TO GET SICK.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

THAT WAS EASY..........LAP-BAND IT'S REVERSABLE. TO MANY PEOPLE I KNOW GOT SICK FROM THE OTHER TYPE OF SURGERY.

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?

HAD KNOW FEAR THE STAFF MADE ME FEEL CALM

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?

THEY HAVE BEEN THE BEST. SUPPORT IS THE KEY , YOU NEED IT TO HELP COPE WITH EVERYDAY ISSUE'S.

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

MY EMPLOYER WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE ABOUT THE HOLE THING. HE KNOWS THIS WILL HELP WITH MY JOB. I WILL BE ABLE TO PRODUCE MORE FOR HIM . I WAS OUT OF WORK FOR 1 WEEK, THEN WENT BACK FOR 2 WEEKS OF LITE DUTY.

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

MY 5 HOUR STAY WAS GREAT. BRING LOOSE CLOTHING WITH YOU BECAUSE YOUR ALL STICHED UP.

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

NO COMPLICATIONS

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

FELT GREAT COULD NOT WAIT TO GET IT DONE

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

LITTLE PAIN ,NOT HUNGREY,TIRED

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

ABOUT 20 MILES

What was your actvity level in the days and weeks after surgery?

WALKING THATS IT FOR 2-3 WEEKS, CAN NOT LIFT MORE THAN 10 POUNDS

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

LIQUID CENTRUM

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

MY DR. HAS SUPPORT GROUPS EVERY MONDAY AND EVERY OTHER WENESDAY. THESE MEET'S ARE VERY , VERY ,VERY, HELPFUL, YOU CAN TALK TO PEOPLE THAT HAD IT DONE ALREADY. YOU CAN ASK ANY KIND OF QUESTION THESE PEOPLE ARE SO HELPFUL. THANK GOD FOR THESE SUPPORT GROUPS.

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

MY SCARS ARE VERY SMALL. YES, THIS IS WHAT I EXPECTED.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES, THEY ARE .