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

My family dr. was after me for a year and a half to go see Dr. demarco about the surgery. He finaly said that if I did not have the surgery done that in a year I would be dead or in a wheelchair. I was bordor line diabetic.

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

I was in the hospital for four days. really there is nothing that is important to bring. you will be wearing their gowns and the hospital gave me a toilet kit. that is all you will need.

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

I had gotten two infection in the insistion and the dr cleared that up. In the hospital all you will have is ice chips and then beforee you go home jello , broth , ginger ale. Just to make sure food will stay down. Could not eat sugar and meat for a while. only ligiuds and them soft foods.

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 was happy and wanted to be thin. I looked at all the before and after pis and thought that that would never be me. But it is and I Would do it all over again. I feel like a new person and look like one.

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

I know alot of people that had the surgey before me and there is a support group in the local hospital here.

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

The scares are not bad. Ihave had a tummy tuck and that scare is faded also It has been a yr for the tummy tuck. I just had my arms and breast reduction done in jan 2002 and trying to get those scares to fade now. But I would rather have the scares then all the weight back that I was caring around.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

When I would get to a point that the weight did not come off, I would get depressed. But you will start lossing again. and it will come off. I have lost 217 lbs in the yr and a half anf still loosing. The dr said I would loose 200. But I am happy with the way I look now. They call me skinny or slim at work. And that is a very good feeling.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, people want to be my friends now that did not even talk to me before. An men are looking that did not even look before. Some are just courious as to how I lost or want to know about the surgery.