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

A friend-I always though that I could just lose the weight

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

Not a problem-infact they found my doctor and recommended him

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

I felt rushed. I did not see the surgeon until I went through a number of people

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I want to see my granddaughter grow up

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Doctor recommended it

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?

My grandmother died from an operation and it was unexpected. She had a stomach operation and had a stroke after the operation

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?

At first my wife and parents were against it. My wife went with me to the initial meetings and became sold on it. It took me losing all the weight to convince my parents

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

I was out of work for two weeks. I really did not care what my employer felt. My boss was supportive.

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

I was in only for one day. Stay was ok for a hospital.

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?

I felt great. I also had friends who had already gone through the operation and they helped

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

I lost weight fast. I was tired but I felt great

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

135 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 can not eat sweet things. I can not drink much milk. I drank a lot of it before. If I take little bites I can eat almost anything. I now graze-that is a small bit of something and I am satisfied

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

I was tired every afternoot. I could have gone back after 3 days. I started to do more and more

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

Prenatal vitamins-fish oil and fiber

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?

None

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

The cathiter (sp)

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

I have a group where I live. I did not go back down state to be with the groups there

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

My family doctor could not find them on my last physical

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I was at about 202 or so for about a year-of late I have dropped about 8 lbs.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Very much so-much more positive when they meet me. I still enjoy the people who do not recognize me any longer