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

Internet searches followed by TV ads

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

My insurance did not cover any proceedure but my wife had BC/BS PPO, with the Federal Government and they do cover some proceedures. If you have problem with BC/BS find out which proceedure was submitted to them, it could only be a matter of cemtimeters of sm intestines that are removed.

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

Great, I had it done at the Wish Center in Downers Grove Illinois, the staff there was fantastic. They have a great program set up for pre & post Op.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It was time to end the roller coaster and get better, so I can enjoy my hard work all my life and live longer after retirement.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went open figuring that hands on would be better with less complications

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 had no fears about the proceedure, I felt very compitent with the Wish Center Staff of surgeons.

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?

Surprised, and very supportive. Some were sad at the time of year I decided to have it done (x-mas eve). All my family was very supportive and the friends that knew were also.

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

They were very supportive along with the company doctor. Because of my job and some lifting I doo on a regular basis I had to be out 8 weeks, but we worked out a schedule of light duty that could be accomplished and I went back after 4 weeks to light duty.

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 2 1/2 days at Mercy Hospital in Aurora Illinois. It was a great experience, the staff was super and deals with this surgery on a regular basis.

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

I had no complications with the surgery

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, at this writing I'm nly 2 weeks post op., I want to move on to better foods and more varirty, getting tired of the shakes. The staples come out in 2 days and I'm sure that the diet will change then.

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

Move slow, do not over exert your self.

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

Only about 25 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.

Again, I'm only 2 weeks post op, so my dietary intake is still limited.

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

Getting better every day, I'm a go getter so I have been active from the day of surgery.

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

Multi vitamin, liquid (which I hate) I'm going to try a chewable today, Vitamin B (sub-linguil) and calcium citrate liquid.

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 had no problems yet. Only sleep distrubance but that was due to the staples.

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

Sleeping on my back for a few days, this hurt, after about a week I could get used to the pressure on the staples so I can sleep more regular then.

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

The Wish Center has a support group that meets every month, also they have a small group that costs, I have not participated with the small group yet.

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

About 6" long, and it is what I expected from pre-op.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I'm only 2 weeks post-op

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes some, all want to know what it is like some are just jealous, and I believe that they would like to have it done also.