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

I think I first found out about it from TV. I did some initial research about 5 years ago, but decided that it was a very drastic measure and that I just needed to be more dedicated to a diet regimine and exercise. Then I had several acquaintances actually have the procedure. From their research and informational materials I pursued it further.

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

I have Kaiser and didn't realize that Kaiser actually does approve these surgeries. I have not had very good luck with forward thinking Kaiser docs so I went forward as a self pay patient. I am thinking about seeing if Kaiser will reimburse me though.

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

It was very quick. Probably not as detailed as it could have been, but I did most of my research up front and was ready to go. I went to So. Cal from San Jose for the day. I went to the group informational session first since it is required by the doctor. Then I planned on meeting with the doctor right afterward, which I did. I got my questions answered and was pretty much decided to go forward with the surgery before I got there. So I set the surgery date for 3 weeks later. I subsequently moved that out to about 5 weeks, realizing that being self employed I needed to prep a little better than that in order to be in recovery for 3-4 weeks.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of struggling to lose weight to no avail. My son is 12 and getting older. I used to be an expert skier and with my knees failing me I was missing out on a lot of time with him. I really needed my health and physical ability and stamina to be back where it was. Once I turned 40 I could really begin to feel it. I think my youth carried my weight for me, but at 40 things really began to change.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted to have a tummy tuck, so that made the decision for me. I also wanted to have the surgery done by Dr. Fobi so that meant the Fobi pouch. From my research he seems to have an excellent track record, excellent skill, and highly recommended by many patients.

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 didn't really have any fears. I was only excited about beginning my new life. When I think about the risks and odds of dying from heart disease which is 1 in 4, and breast cancer which is 1 in 8, the chances of dying from surgery at 1 in 250 seemed pretty low. I have had surgery before and did quite well. So I really didn't have any fears.

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?

All of my friends were very supportive. My partner does not like hospitals and was very afraid of me having the surgery and losing me. She of course did not have the same fears that I had that I would die of a heart attack from being too fat.

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

I am self employed. I was out of work for about 3 weeks. That was my choice due to the amount of stair climbing and getting in and out of cars I have to do. I still took it a little slow for a few weeks.

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

It was fine. The room was a private room with a great recliner that my partner slept in the first night. I was there for 4 days. You really don't need to bring much. You are in the gown they give. I guess the most important thing to bring would be a robe or light cover up that you can walk in for the laps you should do after surgery. And slippers. I also brought my own pillow. Other than that, you are in bed, or walking the halls.

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

No. I had no complications from surgery 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. The weight melted off me and as soon as my staples came out life was much better, as I could sleep better. I didn't have any anxiety.

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

I stayed in So. Cal for about 8 days after my surgery. I was pretty bored. I brought my laptop, but wasn't really interested in sitting all the time. I did get tired fairly easily after my walks etc. right after my surgery. Though I did manage to go to a crafts fair and gambling at an Indian casino. Once home, things were fine. Learning how and what to eat was interesting, but fairly uneventful. I have great fun going through my closet every few weeks to get rid of the clothes that were starting to fall off me.

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

I went to Hawaiian Gardens, (Long Beach) from San Jose. I drove down and stayed in the area for 8 days per the doctors request. They wanted me to stay 10 but released me to home sooner since my recovery was going so well.

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.

Initially I was on pureed foods only. V-8 was very good. Mashed potatoes worked OK, but then sometimes they didn't. Soups and stews pureed or chewed well also went down easily. I could also eat goldfish crackers chewed/pulverized. I could not eat chocolate chip cookies then or now. I can eat chocolate however. I think it is the cookie dough that has too much fat or something in it that makes me dump. Soups go down very easily, then and now. I can also eat quite a bit of soup in one sitting. I can also eat alot of salad. I can eat bread, but I don't eat alot of it as it takes up too much space. I am no longer limited in what I eat except for what makes me dump. So far only chocolate chip cookies or too much ice cream. I do eat lots of sugar free popcicles and sugar free fudgesicles were a life safer right after my surgery.

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

I started walking right after surgery and continued on that course increasing the amount that I walked. I walk a minimum of 45 minutes a day. I also started free weight training about 3 months after surgery and more recently have added circuit weight training and walking/running an additional 30 minutes over my 45 minutes for an aerobic workout.

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

I take iron, calcium, b-12, E, B-1, A&D, and a multivitamin.

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 no nausea. I do vomit sometimes if I eat too fast. But I don't vomit food, only spit or "the foamies". I very rarely dump, but that is avoidable. I have had some hair loss, but not too bad. It seems to be slowing and hopefully will start regrowing. I am 7 months post srugery at this writing and these symptoms are still with me.

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

The day of surgery, the morphine was not an effective pain killer for me. I was in some pain on that day until they changed my painkiller to demerol. By 36 hours after surgery I really didn't have much pain and wasn't using the demerol too much. I don't really remember this pain now. And in the grand scheme of things was pretty minor. I think the experience was harder on my partner than on me.

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

I visit www.fobi-support.com. I haven't been to any support group meetings as they are on the weekends and I usually have clients on the weekends.

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

My scar is from hip to hip. It is pretty big, but has faded quite a bit. I have some marks from the staples as well. I think if another technique was used to close me up, such as sutures, the scar might not be as noticeable. However, given my tummy tuck and the amount of tension on my skin, sutures may not have been an option. I expect that over the next year or so, it will barely be visible at all.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I seem to be on a plateau now. I weighed in at 247 the day before surgery. I am now 157. I have been hovering here for about 4 weeks. It seems like it took forever to get under 160, and now I am lingering here. I have 32 lbs to go to my goal weight.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I think strangers are more friendly and more men notice me now as a matter of course. Other than that, not really.