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

I say it done on tv and thought that is was a good idea for really fat people...I did not consider myself fat enough for this surgery

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

Getting insurance approval was the hardest thing that I had to do..Just make sure that you ahve all of your pre qualifacations done then try for approval...six months of diet and excercise programm that is supervised by your doctor..

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

very nice. He is a very good surgeon and I did some reserch be fore I had met him..very qualified. Make sure that you ask questions. about everything. do not think that he will not answer your questions...that is what he or she does and it is best to be informed before the decision is made.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I could not lose weight. six months of hard work outs and nothing

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

laproscopic has quicker recovery time than the open RNY. that was the main reason...plus less scars

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 did not have fears, I was informed and felt confident in my surgeon

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?

very supportive

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

very supprotive no problems

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

it was not bad, I was in the hospital for 3 days and it was not bad at all. Bring chap stick and pillows. A fan that you can have will help as well.

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

I had one complication from surgery. 9 months out I had a kinked bowel that had to be fixed. very painful do not fool around with anypain in the abdomen. After that was taken care of I am fine.

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 ready and not nervous at all

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

soreness and just getting used to the sipping of water and doing as much walking as possible. The walking does make you feel better. Take it slow and you will be fine

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

The hospital is only 5 miles from my home , and the doctors office is the same

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 anything with sugar or alot of fat. I get the dumping syndrome pretty good if I eat anything I am not supposed to. I started out slow but gradually worked up to the amount of water I am supposed to drink and still drink 60 - 90 oz a day or more. Bread is still hard to eat and not a good thing to try anyway. Sometimes chicken can be hard to tolerate as well

What was your actvity level in the days and weeks after surgery?

slow at first then it really starts to pick up after the aches and pains go away

What vitamins and/or dietary supplements have you taken since your surgery?

I take optisource 4 times a day

What side effects (nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbace, dumping, hair loss etc.) were worse for you? For how long after surgery did they persist? How did you cope with them?

Nausea was the worst and still is, I get nausea if I eat things that I am not supposed to. It is a good built in system to have

What was the worst part about the entire bariatric surgery process?

Drinking the Isopure protien after the surgery< its tastes bad and I cant even smell it to this day without getting sick to my stomach

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

Nutrionist is very helpful and very important, the support groups are very hands on and help when the going gets tough

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

my scar is not bad and very tolerable no big deal, I am a man so it doesnt bother me. My wife had the surgery as well and her scar is not a big deal .

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

you will go through it. weeks and moths of weight loss then weeks of nothing..dont get worried it is a normal process that your body is going through

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes people are more frindly and that is the unfortunate thing about being fat. most people are just not receptive to fat people