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

I had a few friends that had it with good to excelent results

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

not a problem at all just did what they said i needed to do, the hardest was having medical back up from a doctor staiting that i had been on previous weight loss plans for more than 6 months

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

Well my first meeting was in a group environment with sorry to say mostly women, i was the only man. There were many good questions but a few I don't think I would have asked. Then one lady asked the Surgeon how do you settle on a Surgeon and his reply was the answer for me! He said if your looking for someone that is blunt and to the point I might be the one for you if your looking for someone to hold your hand we have other surgeons that might be better for you. I looked at my wife and said "Well that was easy at least i know who I want to do my surgery"

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The results that I had seen others have and the meeting with the Surgeon

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Wanted to get the best results in the shortest time.

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 dying anyway just slow so to be honest it was not a concern at all

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?

Most everyone was supportive execpt my brother who never had a weight problem, which made it a little tough. He just thought the risk was too great and that he could help if I would just listen to him. (He is a GYM Rat) Now that it is over he has come around and thinks the results have been great!

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

They were supportive and had to pick up the slack. I had a private meeting with my Manager and the rest was history I was out for 6 Weeks

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

The stay was short and uneventful, I was there for 2.5 days and the only thing you need is your tooth brush and some deoderant.

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?

Sore for a few weeks and then better, i did not have any anxiety

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

Lazy for the first few weeks and then started swiming and walking

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

not far 20 miles

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.

Cottage Cheese is my friend along with yogurt. Chicken and meat in general have been Tabo for the most part. I get most of my protein from shakes. Now 5 months post op i am slowly getting to eat more chicken and Tuna.

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

not much in the days following surgery just walking, and then after about 3.5 weeks i started swiming every day

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

I take a liquid vit and calcium, and a vit B12 pill along with Iron pill

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 had some dumping if I eat too fast or did not chew long enough and that is still a problem 5 months post op. Coping with it is not really an issue it is just being sure you can find a bathroom!

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

I did not do any group support other then my family

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

i have very little scaring but still have discoloration on my stomach. I expected the scar but not the color issue

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I was cranking 1 lb per day for quite a while and now have slowed a little and if i would stick to eating more often and the right foods i still see great results

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not too different they just notice a change in my apperence which is nice