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

My primary care physician. At first I did not even want to hear about it.

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

Getting my approval was not a problem. The bills coming in afterward was a problem. I had to do a lot of calling to get the bills straightend out. Make sure you precert all of your procedures.

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

It was great! I felt like I was about to change my life forever.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was told by my primary physician that I might possibly be dead within one year if I did not lose the weight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I consulted Dr. Haicken about it.

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 feared all of the complications. I had talked to many nurses at different hospitals who knew Dr. Haikens work. They told me he was the best, and that they would highly recommend him.

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 against the surgery at first. My friends were very supportive. My family was more supportive after surgery.

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

My employer told me to take as much time as I needed. They were very supportive of the procedure. I was out a total of 14 days.

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

My stay was great! The staff in the ICU were excellent. I was there five days.

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

I had two strictures of my esophagus post-op. I had them dilated.

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 had no worries until five minutes before my surgery started. I then got a bit anxious.

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

I was slow getting around the house. I rested for about four days. I was only in pain when I got in and out of bed.

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

An hour by car. This did not affect my aftercare at all.

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 still cannot eat turkey, chicken, tuna, or pasta.

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

I was not that active until four weeks after surgery.

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

Flinstones chewables the first two months, then Centrum Complete ever since. I also take a monthly B-12 shot.

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 and Vomiting only occured when I had my stricture.

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

The barium swallow test the day after surgery.

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

I go to a monthly support group. It is very helpful, I have not missed one meeting since I was two months pre-op.

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

Longer than I expected, but I am the largest patient my doctor has ever had.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

A little bit.