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

My girlfriends daughter had went to a meeting about the surgery. So my girlfriend started checking it out on the internet and finding all the information she could about it. so her and I went and checked it out, and signed up for it.

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

I really had no problem getting approval.

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

It was short and to the point. He took down our information. and told us it might take 6 weeks or more to get an ok.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I really had no choice, it was the last thing for me because I was probably going to die with in a few years at the rate I was going.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Really this is the only one we had heard of.

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 have always had a fear of surgery. I have always felt I would not wake up. But I have come through many surgeries without any problems, including this one. Everyone is very well trained and the procedures now days are so well done that there are few problems.

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 of my family was afraid I was jumping into something that was going to be very dangerous to me. They all stood by me but they were very afraid for me also. I really do not see how I could have communicated anything different. They have all been very supportive.

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

My employer reacted a lot better than I thought they would. Considering I had only been working there 7 months when I asked for a leave. I just told them exactly what I was having done and why. I was off work six weeks.

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

My stay in the hospital was a very good experience. I was in there 4 days. You really have to bring nothing everything is pretty much supplied, and you really do not need that much. the first day is a lost day, and the rest of then you are just getting on your feet.

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

None so far.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

The first 2-3 weeks I was thinking what have I done to my self. I could not stand the pureed food and nothing tasted good. I had to make my self eat, because I did not want to eat. I was also so weak I could not hardly do anything, by the time I had fixed me someting to eat I was exhasted. My girlfriend and I talked a lot and she would tell about the people she had talked to on the internet and what they had gone through and now how glad they were that they had had it done. I now feel the same way.

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

You are very weak and you are unable to do much but get yourself something to eat, go to the bathroom, and take a shower. But it will get better.

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

Not really that far about 45 min. It really did not effect my aftercare.

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.

At first it was pureed food. Now I can pretty much eat anything I ate before, except small amounts. As I was allowed to add soft foods after the pureed and then to regular food. The only real problems I have has is: trying to eat to fast and getting food stuck , and having to throwup, and refined sugar will go right through me. I can eat small amounts of sweets; 1 cookie, or a snack size candy bar is ok.

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

No much as I have said before. But by the time I went back for my 6 week check up I had been out working in my flower beds. I do not have the shortness of breath like I was having. I even canned some blackberry, apple, and grape jams and jelly before my 6 week check up.

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

I am now taking an iron, b12, calcium, multivitamin.

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 am still having some periods of nausia but if I take my Pepcid it will usually help. I have always had a problem sleeping, I usually just stay up till I get tired. The dumping only happens when I eat something I am not suppose to eat, so that is my own fault so I just deal with it untill it passes. I have not had any noticeable hair loss yet and I am not sure how I will deal with that.

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

I would say the first 3 weeks.

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

I really do not have one other than my girlfriend. We live too far away from the area where we had the surgery to drive up there. I think they are a good idea because when I went for my 6 week check up it was nice to talk to the orther ladies who had had the surgery and compare are experiences.

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

It is very long from my sterum almost to my navel. It has healed nicely, and yes it is pretty much what I thought it would look like.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I did not lose any weight from the 4th week to the 6th week and that kind of disapointed me even though I had lost 45lb up to that time. I just told my self it was not all going to come off at once even though I wanted it to. It took a long time for me to get this big and it was going to take a while to get it off.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really, some that know me notice the weight loss and comment on it.