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

My neighbor had it 4+ years ago, but I didn't give it much thought until I saw a story on the national news pertaining to bariatric surgery for weight loss and the remarkable drop in glucose levels for most Type II diabetics.

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

Barix Clinics took care of everything; I didn't have to deal with my insurance company at all. I think it was approved in a relatively short time.

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

I had surgery on a Monday, and left the hospital on Wednesday. Bring a good pair of walking shoes/sneakers; they have you up walking soon after your surgery.

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

The only complications I had was learning to eat slower in smaller bites.

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 had absolutely no anxiety waiting for my surgery date. I wished it could have been the next day after the pre-testing was completed.

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

For the first few weeks, you won't be eating solid food, but you'll be taking in plenty of liquids. You'll be surprised at how much weight you may lose after 2 weeks of a liquid diet.

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

I go to a post-surgery support group meeting twice a month. I think it's very important to talk to others who have gone through the same thing, from months before me to years.

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

My surgery was done laparoscopic, so there are only a few small incisions, with almost no scaring.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

There were a few weeks where my weekly weight loss was less than the weeks before, but I attribute that to not getting as much exercise as I should, and/or not drinking as much water as I should.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I get plenty of compliments about my weight loss, but I did this primarily for the health benefits associated with weight loss.