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

My primary care physician. At first he was afraid of it. But then He looked at the risks in just being this fat vs the surgery. The surgery is safer....

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

My wife is trying to get approved by the insurance company. They want her to go on a diet. Right....Like we all haven't been there many times before. The insurance company is really jacking her around. I hired a lawyer to help with the insurance company. It is still going slow. It might be cheaper to just make a deal with the hospital and the doctor and private pay. But my wife says that we pay thousands each year into the insurance fund. The insurance company should quit screwing her.

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

My they sure make doctors young these days. Maybe it is because I am not young anymore. Super person, concerned, very competent, professional, great bedside manner, a classy person with a great upbringing. And that is very important to me. He has made his mother proud.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I would probably be dead by now if I had not had the surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My brother decided for me. He is an MD.

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?

Yup, I thought I was going to die during the surgery. Not a big thing because the way I was ...I was dead anyway... About 1 week before the surgery I went shopping for burial things. I woke up and kicked myself. I snapped out of the depression and decided that I was going to live. I had no idea how great it was going to be to stop carrying that bag of cement with me everywhere I went. I didn't believe that it could happen. It was not comprehensible to me. But it happened and it is working and I am glad that I am not dead.

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?

Everyone is and was very supportive. My brother who is the MD cried. He is so happy for me.

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

I am semi retired. I can call my own shots about work. But had I been working I think all my co-workers would have been super supportive of my surgery. I retired from the State of Nevada. I worked for 30 years in the computer field. I was very fortunate to have worked with the cream of the crop, the finest people the entire 30 years.

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

The hospital staff really took good care of me. Lots of personal attention. The first nurse I saw when I woke up was a young man in his 20-s. He said he had the surgery. I thought "no-way." Then he pulled out his driver's license with his photo on it from a year ago. Amazing. That really was a super way to start off the hospital visit. And the nurses were really great. I was very lucky. (only had one "Important" nurse). But she came around. I just kept being nice to her. I did have to keep a strong reign on her important-ness and her performance and her ego. Other than that they were all just super. Washoe Med in Reno has cruddy beds. And lousy chairs in the rooms. It is good to be home. I am looking foreward to hiting my good bed tonight. ha ha.

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

No. I couldn't stay in the bed long. I was born in Washoe Med (Reno, NV) and I think I had the same bed that my Mom had many years ago.

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 went thru every emotion there was. And some of them were pretty awful. Then I resigned myself that this was definitely a win-win situation. There was no way I could lose. And that was not easy getting from just saying this to really believing this was ok and things were going to be good. Of course the thing that really helped was the letters from the folks on this web site. That really put things into perspective.

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

It was hard to figure out what to eat. Now it is 3 months out and it is still hard to figure what to eat. I really don't want to mess with eating but I have to get the protein. What a pain to have to eat. I never thought I would have that attitude.

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

The next town. 30 miles. No problem with aftercare. Reno - Carson City are right next to each other. only about a 45 minute drive.

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.

Until yesterday....I could eat protein shakes, and cream of chicken soup. That's all. Everything else would come back up.....yuk. So that is what I eat. I keep trying to eat other things. Not too successful.. But I think it is getting better. I ate some roast beef hash from a can. It was super. It takes a long time to eat and I have to drink water with a meal. The Dr. said that one should not drink before or after eating. It dilutes the food value. But I had no choice. No water .....vomit...... With water I stood a better chance of keeping food down. So I drink water while eating.

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

Noticable. more energy. No pain. All the problems that I had before surgery: hurting back, leg pain, headaches, knee pain, high blood pressure, legs as large as baloons filled with water....well they are all gone. ALL GONE

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

daily vitamins. chewable kind. Protein shake.

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?

Lots of vomiting. But not the old heavy heaving that leaves you hurting in the chest. Just a light purging of everything in the pouch. Easy. At least 2 times a day. I tried popcorn. Thought I was going to die for the next 2 days. I tried a small drink of Coke. I think I did die for about 3 hours. It is 3 months out and I am very careful what I eat. I really watch sugars. Popcicles are great. they are a life saver. I have gone several days on just popcicles. That was the only thing that would stay down sometimes. They come in no added sugar.

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

Everything is worth it. The vomiting is worth it. Probably the only bad thing, and I have to really stretch, the beds in Washoe Med, Reno really suck. Oh yes the insurance company really really really sucks bad.

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

Reno Nevada Support Group. Yup they are very important. Before the surgery I found 100 other people just like me. They all had the exact same story as mine. It really helps to talk with others who have been there. I get confused on what to eat and how often. It is nice to be able to ask.

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

Just 4 little holes and one drain pipe. The drain pipe was removed after the first week. I am still not sure the doctors did anything to me. The only clue is that I am losing massive amounts of weight and I am not hungary. Otherwise I am not sure anything went on inside my body.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

From the support group meetings I found that plateau syndrome is usually caused by your body going into starvation mode. It is caused by me not having enough calories each day. The group said that if I follow the plan and keep eating like I am supposed to eat....and do not starve myself then my body will not go into that starvation mode. So far no plateau....but only 2 weeks so far. It is 3 months now and no plateau. I listen to the causes of a plateau and try to avoid them. I think that I have put my body in starvation mode a few times. There was about 4 weeks that I could keep nothing down. But no plateau.......

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, not really. I have only been out 2 1/2 weeks. People are still rude and have no self control of their manners. People still are rude to fat people. Even when I am down about 3 sizes and fitting into clothes that wouldn't fit 2 weeks ago...people still have nasty comments. Yes it is 3 months out and about 90 pounds less. My wife shows me off to everyone. Lots of people comment. I am still 100 pounds overweight...but people that knew me 90 pounds ago are amazed.