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

Recommended by PCP and went to the web to find out about it. Then realized this was the type of surgery a good friend of mine had 17 years ago. He reinforced alot of what I read on the web and recommend his Dr to me. And that is who I used. My first impression was that I have to be serious about losing weight cause this surgery was not just for a few months it was for life. As I talked to more and more folks I knew who had RNY they assured me that I would be okay in the long run.

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

No problem. Only took a week.

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

I like the way he spent considerable time explaining his use of open surgery rather than laproscopic. I liked his honest there. Also he was very thorough about discussing the risks involved. He even talked with my PCP about these risks. In addition during the first interview he took the time to answer about 20 questions I had about the procedure and the post op procedures. He was very thorough and I felt confident that I could live with the smaller stomach.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

To save my own life. Dr. Mo insisted on approval from a cardiologist before the surgery. I found out that I had a blockage of 100 per cent in one of my coronary arteries. Fortunately, I had a really good colateral blood flow from another blood vessel. I felt lucky with that and I knew that I needed to do something to avoid further heart disease. So RNY was really for me. Also, I saw the results that many others had on this website. I wanted to look good again too so why not do the surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was a slam dunk for the RNY. Other ways seemed to enable me to go off the wagon and regain the weight. RNY it is harder to do 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?

None, because I was faced with great risk of heart disease and complications from Diabetes. So why not go for it and try something that will allow me to dance and my grandchildren's weddings.

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 wife and daughter were all for it. Anything that could help me lose weight and improve my health and be around longer for them. As for friends most were very supportive but a few had reservations. Mostly those friends were just afraid of major surgery. So far everyone has been supportive of me with the post op stuff. Even went to one of my favorite restaurants so my wife could have a decent meal and the restaurant was great about me bringing in my own food and drink. They even gave me some chicken broth (homemade and just wonderful) and also nuked my mashed potatoes for me.

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

Self employed so no employer problems. Lost only about 10 days of serious work. Am now 3 wks post op and pretty much back to my work. I have a desk job so it doesn't require a lot of physical activity.

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

Hospital stay was wonderful considering that hospitals are not the greatest place to take a vacation. I was hospitalized for 7 days after my open RNY. Nursing and support staff really good and willing to do what was necessary to help keep me comfortable and get a good start on the rest of my life with a teeny tiny stomach.

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?

Not a lot of anxiety to deal with. Just wanting to have a last meal of so many great foods that I will not be able to eat for awhile and maybe not at all. Finally about a week before I realized I was fighting a losing battle in my quest for the last great meal. Just went about my business of living life normally. As for the anxiety that I did feel, I did not handle it alone. I have God to thank for that. There were some serious concerns about pulmonary problems as well as cardiac problems. But my dependence on God to walk through this experience gave a peace that is just unbelievable.

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

Only problem was the discomfort (not pain) from the staples in my incision. I had a 16", 45 staple incision and it was just plain uncomfortable especially when I slept. Also got tired easily. That can be expected though after major surgery. Eating was not a problem for me. My surgeon and the hospital nursing staff had prepared me for coming home and eating a very limited liquid only diet. More of a problem for my wife as she had to do stuff for me and also a different thing for herself. Also found that watching ads on tv for foods that I loved was not as hard as I had thought it would be. I just tell myself that eating that junk was what got me in this shape and that I don't want to get this way again so no more junk food.

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

Travelled about 25 miles. No adverse affect on 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.

After 3 weeks can only eat pureed things or items that have been cut in very small pieces and chewed and chewed and chewed. Can only eat small amount about 1/4 cup of items like, cottage cheese, jello, mashed potatoes, etc at a time. That means I can take any 2 or 3 of those items at meal time and over a 45 minute period I can down them all. Also have a ounce of chicken salad or very well chipped and chopped low fat ham. Eating this with the other things takes about an hour total. Have had no adverse affects to the foods I eat unless I "stuff" myself. That happens when I eat too fast. Then I get a heavy feeling in my stomach and a bit of nausea. I get up and walk around the house a bit and the nausea and heaviness goes away. So far foods like beef, pork, and fried foods are off limits. Unless it melts in my mouth or is chipped and chopped very fine I can't eat it. My docs orders and I will follow his advice very closely.

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

First week after hospital just kinda sat around. Only up and down stairs once a day. Spent extra time sleeping. By the end of the first week home getting a bit antsy about stairs. Getting stronger and want to do a bit more. Finally got staples out and drove home from doc office. Still got tired easily but that seems to be going away. Now three weeks post op and two weeks home. Have my walking up to about 1/3 mile daily. Plan to double that next week. Feeling better and able to get through the day without a nap. But do turn in early.

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

Taking only Centrum vitamins in chewable form.

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?

Only side effect I have had has been heaviness when I eat too much. A slight bit of nausea but not bad enough to vomit. Just walk around a bit and symptoms disappear in about 10 to 15 minutes.

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

Waiting to have it done.

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

Obesityhelp.com

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

Getting along just fine. Have a small lump that I am concerned about. Have appointment with Dr Mo to look at it. May be just nothing but I want to be sure. The darn thing itches like crazy though and is just slightly sore to the touch. Kinda like a brush burn you got on your knee or elbow as a kid. Not painful at all.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet, too early.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Too early to tell