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

I work in a medical office and so had heard of it but wasn't until a couple of celebrities had it that I took more time to review all the information. Then couple of the women in my office had it and then I really began to study it. At first I thought it was the easy way until I saw the two gals in the office plus a few patients and decided it wasn't the easy way but maybe the best way for me.

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 5 days because ater surgery I did develop Pneumonia so that laid me low longer. The hospital was nice but I knew most everyone as I have lived in the area all my life. I had taken books but actually did not read any, I was so tired that all I did was sleep and walk when they made me. I was doing fairly well the first two days but after that went downhill.

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

No actual complications from surgery although I did develop pneumonia. I think my immune system was low prior to surgery as I had been sick a month before with inflammation of the rib cage and then I got a cold.

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 pretty good once I got home and pneumonia was better. I really did not have much anxiety, was awfully glad to get rid of the drainage bag. I was a touch unhappy when I came home 20 lbs heavier that before surgery but that left fairly quickly.

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

My surgeon has a support group in his office, once a month. I have gone to every meeting since surgery. I feel it is quite important to do this. Gives you ideas of what other people are going through and helps people who have not had surgery to know what they might experience

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

My surgery was Laproscopic so have 5 small incisions and are what I expected

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At about 8 weeks I did not lose any for probably 10 days and that bothered me but now I have lost probably about 7 more in the two weeks since. I am 10 weeks out and lost 60 lbs. I hope to lose about 25 more and I would be happy with that loss.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No not really but as I said earlier I was not as heavy as many are, I qualied for surgery because of co-morbities ie; diabetes and hypertension. Not that I wasm't overweight, the highest my bmi got was 40 acutally was 39.8.