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

from a doctor and was empressed then went to another doctor and he was againest it. That was 4 years ago. I tryed weight lifting and nothing seem to work.

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

Mayo Clinic did it for me.

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

I was disappointed. She let me know that she was boss and I was hurt that I waited for 7 months to see her and that it would be 2 more months until they had a opening.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was not happy living the way I was. And new that I would not live long in the condition that I was in.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I let the surgent decide that.

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 had no fears. If I died on the table I was enjoying living anyway in the condition I was in.

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?

My family was very supportive. They all new that it was my only chance of have a long lived live. And to this day they have not changed there mind. My Daughter is a littled worried that I will be able to run and catch her pretty soon HA HA

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

I am Disabled

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

My stay in St. Marys hosptail was very good. The staff was out of the world. They could not help you enough. They were constonlly metering you health and blood. I was in ICU for 6 days and then in a room for 2 more days. Three days later I went back to St. Marys for internal bleeding because of the meds I was taking fir a blood clot in the lungs. There was no problum once they took me off the meds. I spent 3 more days there will they keep putting fluid in me and montering my blood.

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

Blood Clots in the lungs and they gave me blood thinner

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 great

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

The next day aftering getting out of the hospital I drove my ATV down to the local cafe and see my friends. I didn't really let it slow me down, I did my normal things like working with the computer and repairing clocks. I think being active help for a fast recovery. I could not lift very much for 6 weeks.

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

I drove 3 1/2 hours to the hospital. It did not affect my after care. Mayo Clinic arainged my appts. up so I could get everything done in one day. They were very good about that.

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 eat baby food for the first month then ran stuff through the blender for the next 30 days. and chop food for the next month. After 6 months I can now eat a very little broiled chicken or beef in a soup or stew. I can't eat it plain very good. I can't eat sandwitches because of fresh breat but I can eat toast. Some posta is ok.

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

Very Good

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

Chewable Children Multivitamins and Tums, 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?

I didn't start vomiting until I hit about 3 months. Then It was because I eat to fast or to much, it still is that way today but I learned to manage it better. As far as dumping I never really had that. But when it comes time to crap I had better not try to hold it. My stool has been loose since the operation.

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

There was no bad part. I am very pleased to have my life back.

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

We have just started a support group and we had our first meeting 3 weeks ago. It is very important to me and I love to be helpful to other people that have questions. We are a very close group and can talk about anything together. We discuss any question anybody asks from our experces.

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

My Scar is OK, From the sterm to navel button. The scar don;t bother me.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At about 3 months I hit my first Plateau for about 3 weeks.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes They treat me like a person again.