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

my pcp talked to me about it. my health was getting worse.

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

followed protocol with what medicare requires and paid what money up front that was asked by dr rehnkes office for my portion that medicare wouldn;t pay.

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

my first meeting with the surgeon was while i was in the hosp and found out that i had pulmonary hypertension, enlarged r side of my heart, blood clot in left leg and was miserable and sob all the time. my pcp got a consult with dr rehenke and he came to edward white hosp to visit me and sat down on the side of the bed and told me how he could help me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i knew that i need to change my life and this was the only way since i have tried numerous ways to loose wt without success of keeping it off... plus if i kept on gainin weight i was going to die.. i have to much to live for

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i chose the least evasive one ... it was quick an quite simple to do and i knew some people who had great success with it.

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?

the only fear i had was getting a blood clot... i have a history of them. but i knew i was well protected with the lovenox shots, coumadin and i had a greenfield filter to protect me... i didn;t have a fear of dying. i knew that GOD would watch over me.

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 were happy for me

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

i am very proud of what i did. I am not working but i did tell friends, family and anyone who noticed that i was loosin weight. why lie.... its a great thing for plus size people to have done. no use in being embarressed about it.. maybe it can help others too.

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

was there for one night. was disappointed that my routine meds were not ordered, but i did take mine there just in case and the nurses mashed them and put them in water for me to take.

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

yes. had to return the night i left to get a lovenox shot to help bridge me over to coumadin again.

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

had more energy. proud of myself, great self esteem, went shoppin and bought smaller clothes for my goals... the anxiety i had prior in life seemed to disappear after the surgery....

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

the first 2 weeks after surg, the clear liquid stage, i hated it. the chicken broth was good, but i wanted a cracker to go with it. i never once cheated though... i remember having feelings of evilness towards anyone who would dare eat anything that i liked in front of me. but i later learned that it was sugar and carb with drawls that was making me mean... but after that 2 weeks the full liquids seemed to help me an then the soft foods was even better.

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

i go to the last of the month wed meetings at the boga ciaga room at pop hosp

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

very small... healed up nicely and i can fill the port now... i thought the first fill would be painful and scarey , but it was nothing at all. i felt so silly afterwards.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet. still loosing

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes. starting to notice my body shrinking and me looking and breathing better. and now i am able to walk my dog around the block without running out of air...