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

Was some trouble and after long process all worked out!

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

Went very well, was more at ease from surgeon being my age! Just ask the questions no matter how persoanl they may seem!! Get their history on the surgery and check how well others have done with them also ask about the bad ones, a good surgeon will let you know the ones that went bad and what happened!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

LIFE, FAMILY, HEALTH!!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Wife had same one only hers was open as mine was laproscopic!

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?

Fears are part of liofe, if we do not rise to face them, they will succeed in keeping us down! PS: Take out fast million dollar policy and cancel after all is oK!! LOL

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?

Everyone supported me!

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

Total Support!

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

Went very well, in on Friday AM and out by Mon AM! Bring sweats and slippers!! Get changed as soon as nurse removes the IV for first time, also if you are a pillow nut(Nester) bring extras!! For men, shave kit is great idea, but you may have to sneak the shave as you are on blood thinners and they do not want to bleed to death shaving!! LOL

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

None, all went perfect!! (But nurses would not allow get McDonalds food day after surgery!!LOL) Like I was really interested in that after my surgery, still have yet to try it in 5 months!

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Anxious and wanted to get there to get it done sooner!

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

If you have not seen a psychiatrist, see one if you have probs, eating habits have to change and if you don't, the surgery will seem like a horrid decision!!

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

About 40 miles to Hospital, worth every mile too!

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.

First few weeks were simply protein rich tuna and the like, eggs were tough for first month but now no problems!! Just need to remember to eat SLOW and little bits...PLUS CHEW WELL!! Food has been an adventure now, I try everything and see how I fair from it, sometimes food will cause gas, other times it will cause....well the runs...but in most cases, I feel satisfied and full from anything!

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

Definitely changed, feels great and starting a gym soon to tone the new lost areas!

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

Simple daily vitamin and also do calcium, 2 pills in morn and 2 at nite!! (Don't take them all at once, body will waste half in urine iof you do and you get no effect from it!)

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?

No hair loss, vomiting has only occured 3 times, once I poisoned myself with bad shrimp, other two were from eating too fast! Sleep is normal as always and dumping...heck, had to test it and tried a tootsie roll...NO MORE CANDY FOR ME!!! LOL

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

Um....The catheter being inserted before surgery with out being knocked out for it!! (Watches all men cringe at that one) I know guys, IT HURT!!!!!

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

My wife is my best program and also we have a group online that meets in Yahoo...people who shared the same surgeon!

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

5 holes, no big deal, I tell my kids I was shot!! LOL

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet!!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really, just most are amazed when they see me now if they have not in a while!