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

i first found out about it from carnny wilson and ann heart i am a musisian and they realy hit home becuse theyhad endored the same redicule i did as a accomplished drummer

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

it took me a look time to find a doctor in canada to do it but once i did he was great and realy helped me out

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

ask questions dont be afraid and get ready for honesty it realy took me back and for the first time i realy thought this could kill me if i dont do something about it now

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

me and not being able to sleep with my wife or even walk up staires anymore.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i decided on the RNY becuse this would force me to change for the rest of my life so i could not go back to my old ways.

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?

just that i thought i could not live and the little bit of food and my giggest fear not waking up off the operating table and seeing my wife and kids again

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?

very supportive tears of joy and after alot more of the same but still there even today

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

i lost my job they did not want to support me they cared more about the akmighty buck but i did not care i had to do this for me not them and i am a muchbetter man for my life saving choice

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

great i was in for 4 days and they were fantastic to me. slippers and a house coat

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

no none at all

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 felt great i was still scared that i was not eating enouph i had problems with the new opening closing up it took 5 different return visits to have it reopened but all good now

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

many changes i can realy say but i know i was sore but it was alreay expected

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

150 km or about 80 miles no problem if i could not drive my family did

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.

welli still am learning io know i cant eat the skin from tomatos and i cant eat seak or heavey beef at all makes me realy sick. some jucies get me realy quick but i know not to eat them i fould greeen tea realy calms my stomic down

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

grew every day now i walk all over i do staires now soon i will be riding a bike and golfing again

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

muli vit and b12 and calsum

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 had none of this following surgery the only problem i seem to be having is consipation. i have not experenced hair loss yet i dont think but i am told it will happen

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

my insiston was very ichy for a very long time

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

i joined a group here in my area and they have been very very helpfull it is exstreamly important to get to one of the groups becusew they can be your rock and they can help you out very much with questions and answers

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

well ihave a big one i thought it would be a very small one like three small scares but my doctors likes to get right in ther i dont care he calls me himself all the time just to see how i am doing

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

like night and day thats the best way to put it