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

Carnie Wilson. What can I say I thought she was nuts for going under the knife to solve a weight problem. Then the more I followed her story and found this site and followed the stories of others it started to make sense.

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

I was denied the first go around. I appealed and of course they approved. My suggestions to all is to get your doctors support. Gather letters from each physician explaining why you NEED the surgery. Furthermore, mention every possible ailment you have.

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

The first visit was a group visit explaining surgery. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If the surgeon is the right one for you it won't be hard to get the most of the meeting. A good surgeon will give you more than 15 minutes of his time. A good surgeon does not assume you completely understand the procedure prior to that meeting.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Hopelessness. This was my final attempt to live life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon made suggestions. I fully trusted his opinion but I did research other procedures to be sure I felt the same way.

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 was afraid. You should always be afraid when going in for surgery but the alternative was further surgeries and complications down the road. I felt like it was a roll of the dice and at least with this surgery the hospital, surgeon and staff knew they were dealing with a large person and were prepared for the complications that may arise.

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?

I thought they would think I was crazy, I thought my husband and mother would object. Little did I know they were so concerned about the weight that they too drew a hope from the surgery and fully supported my decision.

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

He had seen me struggle with my weight for 8 years and fully understood my decision. I was out for 6 weeks and he was very supportive.