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

I looked at this over 10 years ago, but decided against the stomach stapling at the time because of the dangers. This surgery has come a long way in ten years and is now a great alternative to being obese.

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

I am slef paying because Blue Cross wouldn't help me even with my co-morbidities.

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

Dr. Schrock answered all my questions. I found it was a good idea to write all my questions down before I went in so I wouldn't forget.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My brother had the surgery 3 years ago and is doing great.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Schrock made the reccomendation.

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?

Of course I am worried about dying, but I'm tired of living like this. All I can tell others is that make sure that you have tried everything you can to loose the weight on your own. I truly believe this should be a last resort.

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 friends and family have been very supportive. I am fortunate that my brother went first so they have now seen the final results.

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

I couldn't have asked for more. My boss has been supportive since the first day I told him. He told me to take as much time as I need. I was only out two weeks and then I went back part time.

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

I was in the hospital for 4 days. The first day was a little rocky for I was in intensive care because of my breathing. The hospital care was excellent and I didn't have one bad nurse.

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

So far, so good. I had one bad allergic reaction to a medicine, but that was about it.

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 was pretty week for the first 2 or 3 weeks, but I just followed my doctors intructions and my strength came back. The only anxiety I really felt was from the boredom of sitting in a chair 24 hours a day and not being able to do much.

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

The first few weeks are the longest and all I can say is make sure you do the excersises the doctor tells you to. Be prepared to ask for help and leave your modesty in the hospital.

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

10 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.

I was pretty carefull right after surgery and did an all liquid diet the first two weeks and then went to pured food for the next two. After that I went to soft foods. It was about 3 months before I really had anything solid. At first I couldn't eat any pasta and surprisingly chicken was harder for me to eat than beef. Now I can eat just about anything I want except items high in sugar. That is still not good, but I'm kind of glad for that.

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

For the first month I walked as much as I could. At first I just walked up and down the halls of my house. Later as I felt better I started walking in my yard so I was still close to home so if I needed to sit down quickly I was close by. By the 4th week I was walking a mile and I started swimming as soon as I got clearence from the doctor

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

I just take 3 multi vitamins a day and so far I feel good and all my levels have been good

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 have been very fortunate. I've only had one dumping incident and that was because I took a drink of water with my meal. I won't do that again. I haven't had any hair loss.

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

I contacted a few people in the united states that was having this surgery done the same day as I did. They contacted others. Before long we had our very own support group and we email each other every month to see how we're all doing or if we have any questions or concerns. These people are very special to me and helped get me through this. It was nice talking to others that were going through the same things I am.

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

I knew what to expect since my brother had the surgery. It has faded, but you'll always be able to see it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

There are definently highs and lows from this surgery and the plateaus are the worst, but it happened on every diet I was on in my life. For the first time in my life I'm not on a diet and I'm loosing weight so I make it through each plateau. I say that I'm not on a diet because I've changed my lifestyle and not just cutting back on food. I eat healthier than I did before. I still have things I shouldn't once in a while, but I figure so do the healthy people and if I don't once in a while I am just setting myself up for a big fall.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yeah. Some good, and some not so good. Some of my best friends have made comments like "You don't look good at all." "You need to start eating more, you look terrible." "You're not the same person you were before the surgery" I don't know where this is coming from. I would think they would all be supportive that I'm finally trying to get healthy. I don't know if they just liked having the fat man around. I have changed since the surgery. I am more out going and confident than I have ever been in my life. The positive comments from people that I barely know or that haven't seen me since before the surgery is great and really keeps me focused on where I'm trying to get to. Thank you to all of you who have been supportive.