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

I had heard about it for along time but, allways thought I would get myself in control and lose the weight without the surgery. I had lost the weight before and put it back on, plus some. I was very standoffish about the surgery but, thought it was a last resource. I am glad I had it done now.

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

It was a frustrating process as anyone that has gone through it may know or may find out. Make sure your paperwork goes to the correct place so the insurance company can approve sooner. This is especially important if you live in a different state than the one your surgery will be perfomed in.

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

My first visit was good. Dr. Geocaris took the time to explain the proceedure to me and answered all of my questions. People can get even more out of the first visit if they make a list of things they want to find out about and look on the internet or in the library for clues to even more questions they might want to ask.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was totally sick of being misearable all the time and not feeling well. I was having alot of other health problems, like: sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, and was getting cellulitus in my legs and that kept putting me into the hospital about every 6 months or so.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I talked to my family doctor and was referred to Dr. Geocaris in Green Bay, Wisc. He discussed a couple of different proceedures and told me he thought the VBG was the right one for me.

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 was concerned about complications and even dying but, the reallity was that i was allready killing myself with overeating. I trusted my doctor and was about 75 percent at ease when having the proceedure done. I would tell other people to have some fear. that is not a bad thing but, don't let it stop you from doing what u want to. For me this has been worth it.

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 all for it and they still are!!

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

My employer was and is very supportive of me and my decission. I am an over the road truck driver and i only missed 2 weeks of work for the whole procedure.

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

My stay in the hospital was good. I was there for 4 days. Everything that i needed was pretty much supplied at the hospital.

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 back to work i think 14 days after the surgery. I felt and feel good, though at first I was pretty sore and took it easy for 6 weeks. I am still copeing with anxiety, my whole life is changing and it is a big change with alot of mixed emotions.

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

I was sore the first few weeks but, was back to work so things were kinda back to normal that way.. probably different for different people.

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

I travelled 100 miles for the surgery. This was not to hard on my aftercare I have a good doctor here and saw the surgeon a couple of other times after the surgery.

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.

With the VBG I had to pretty much puree all my foods. I got a blender and had at it, after a couple of weeks i just started chewing my food up really good. I had some trouble at first but got the hang of it. I eat whatever I want too and have about from the beginning.

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

I started by just walking for the first few weeks, then after about 4 months I started doing some stomach crunches and pushups. It was about 6 months after the surgery I ahve been lifting weights and doing the treadmill, stairmaster, and even started to jog.

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

I take 2 childrens Multi-vitamins every day.

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 really had no side effects. Unless you consider vomiting from not chewing my food properly a side affect.

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

The first day after the surgery was the worst. I really had no problems with the surgery though.

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

This is the first kinda anything i have done for support of information since the surgery. It is hard with my job and being gone alot. I know I could benefit from some support and I think it probably is the same for most people.

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

My scar is not that bad. about 10 inches long, vertically from my breastbone to just above my belly-button. I have a hairy tummy though so it kinda covers it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I lost alot of weight very quickly within the first 2 to 3 months then started to lose slower the 4th to 7th month and since then even slower yet. I started at 480lbs on June 1st,2000 and now May 18th 2001 I am down to 298lbs. I did not try to stress myself out with constantly weighing myself so i tried to relax and just let things happen so I don't have a good record of the plateaus but they are there.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

All the people around me are just very happy I have and am still losing and regaining my health.