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

Others had it. Scared me a bit but didnt let fear stop me.

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

No problems.

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

Write all your questions down and ask all of them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Fear of getting sick and dying.

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

I didnt like Montifiore Medical Center. Most of the nurses were excellent. Some of the patients were annoying. The place was a little dreary.

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

Wound infection which healed slowly - about 6 weeks. I also have an incisional hernia which needs surgery to correct. Will have this surgery in 2002.

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 very depressed. Mostly since I was confined to the house and couldn't do very much on my own. I didnt have many visitors either. When I returned to school and my own apartment after 3 weeks things got better. I dont know why but the food channel made me feel better??

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

I was very depressed. Mostly since I was confined to the house and couldn't do very much on my own. I didnt have many visitors either. When I returned to school and my own apartment after 3 weeks things got better. Expect to be depressed but know it is only temporary. Try to have a lot of people around.

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

About an hour.

Please describe in detail what things you could and couldn't eat in the weeks and months following surgery. What foods have been off limits? Please explain how your dietary tolerance changed week-by-week, and then month-by-month since surgery.

I cant eat chicken. Makes me vomit. I love salad and a good, tiny steak or a piece of fish. Pasta is sometimes good. I eat an english muffin with cream cheese for breakfast. I dont like bagels anymore.

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

None. I am too far away.

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

It is a little wider than most because of the wound infection but will be removed during the hernia surgery. Who cares about the scar. I am a siz 12 from a 28 and full of life!!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Every once in a while but you know it will start again eventually.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES!!!!!!