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

A friend mentioned it to me. Initially sounded very dangerous, but with more research, could be a valuable resource especially to the severely obese person.

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

Be persistent. This was the most irritating thing I have ever done was to deal with the insurance

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Laproscopic lap-band

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 of being permanently in a vegetative state. I made sure that I appointed a durable medical and power of attorney in order to have all the machines shut off if I wasn't able to decide for myself. I also did not want a feeding tube placed unless I was awake and asked for it. I wrote my family a LONG letter about what I wanted as Colorado law is very limited as to what you can decline and when. I planned my funeral. I didn't want my family to have to make any decisions and wonder what I wanted in case the worst happened.

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 only told my nursing collegues when it was a scheduled deal, I didn't tell part of my family, and hardly any of my friends, because I didn't want to listen to their well meaning but uniformed opinions. It's hard to hear from someone who weighs 110 pounds what a big mistake I was making. Now I could care less who knows. The don't like it, tough.

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

Very supportive, I was out for a week

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

Hospital staff provided excellent care. I was in 1 day, bring your toothbrush and paste, jammies, panties and a robe and slippers.

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

I had to have a catheter for several days as I could not urinate. Also 1 month post-op I have an superficial infection at the incision at the port site.

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 good until I had several infections. I got a spider bite on my cheek which got infected causing a lot of discomfort. My surgery issues are fine, but being in pain and on antibiotics wears me down.

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

None, I live too far away. Use the internet once in a while if questions or need inspiration.

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

larger then I expected, but I wasn't running around in a bikini before either. Don't expect to now anyway.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Plateau for 6 weeks, not pleasant, but needed to refocus. Less to do with my lap-band than my brain. Doing better now. I did not go through the approval process, surgery, fills, and follow-up to fail this surgery.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I get compliments. Somebody hit on me. It has been a long time since that happened.