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

Found out from my PCP. Didn't think I would be able to have the surgery with all the medical problems I had. But then found out my problems were not much worse then most others , and that I was a good cacidate for wls

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

The hospital stay was o.k. I was therew for 4 days. The 1st day in the I.C.U., just as a precaution. The other 3 days in a regular room.The most important thing to bring with you to the hospital is a positive attitude.Everything else will take care of itself. Just remember that you are doing the wls for you

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

none

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 didn't have any problems. For the most part I felt very good. Did find out that I tired out faster then before. I returned to work 14 days post-op. I have a job that requires alot of standing and ladder climbing. The company I work for is great and very supportive. They worked with me however I needed and allowed me to do what I could when I could. I have never had any anxeity about having the surgery because I know that it was the right thing for me. Hopefully this will continue

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

First week after surgery spent just recovering. Second week BORED STIFF!!Sick of being stuck at home. Third week, back to work on a limited bases for three more weeks. BY the sixth week back to normal. biggest thing to get use to was drinking all the water every day. and for the first time in my life, never feeling hungry or wanting to eat

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

only had to travel about 15 miles to surgeons office, The hospital is right next door to his officeI,

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'm 5 months post-op and so far caan pretty much tolerate what ever I eat. I'm pretty go about just eating high protein foods. Have not tried to eat to any of tha bad stuff so far. I don't miss them. I spent to much money for the wls.I figure it's costing me about $80. for every pound that I need to lose, so why try to eat stuff I don't need. The only thing I don't tolerate to well now is milk. I can drink it ok. but it just does't sit right.Plus it just doesn't taste that good anymore

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

It was pretty good. work was ok. I tryed to walk as much as I could. By the sixth week I was walking the treadmill 2-3 miles a day. I've been pretty lax about walking for the past month or so {5months post-op} but work has been busy. Before surgery, I could't walk 1/2 mile without being tired, and my feet and ankles killing me. Now can go walk a golf couse without to much of a problem. My feet,ankles and knees never hurt now

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

I take multivitamin twice daily. Also take B-12 daily

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?

Side effects have not been to bad. I have sleep apnea. Use a cpap machine.Still useing it at 5 months post-op, but doc tells me I could probely go without it now,but haven't tried to yet. I sleep better now then I have for twenty years. 6 to 8 hours every night, straight through without waking up. Only vomit if I eat to much. No dumping yet. For the past month hair loss has been bad,at least I think so. But not that bad. JUstneed more protein I guess

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

doing all the pre-op appointments. Worrying about seeing the head doc wondering if I was Loco in the head. Luckily I wasn't. Figured out that I stressed out about that for nothing.

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

Scars are not bad at all. Minor battle wounds. Scars are a lot less then I expected. I look at them as a way of proving that I'm in a great club.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

So far plateaued for about 2-3 weeks during the 3-4 month mark. but over the past month have lost about 18lbs.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

All the time. I'm still a big guy, but..... For example, The work that I do takes me in alot of resturants and nas for the past 20 years. In all that time I could count on two hands the number of times I'd been offered "Lunch" by the chef. Now I'm offered lunch 2-3 times a week. Also people don't stare at me anymore. Never hear them laughing at me anymore