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

From Carnie Wilson and my initital impressions were good.

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

I had no problem getting approval thanks to the efforts of Weight for Life and Dr. Mitchell's office.

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

It was a very frank and open meeting discussing the dangers and the problems I was facing without the surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The fact that I could not longer walk any distance, I was becoming borderline diabetic and I was taking 8 medications per day. I felt that I could not longer function at work or at home. My quality of life was such that I knew I would either be walking with a cane by this time (June 2002) or I would be in a wheel chair.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the one that Dr. Mitchell performed.

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 worried about blood clots and whether or not the operation would be successful and that I could keep the weight off once I lost 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 wife was totally supportive. My son and daughter-in-law were worried but supportive. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law were supportive. My parents were opposed to the entire procedure. After the surgery my parents became 100% supportive and in fact we have grown much closer as the result of this operation and my determination.

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 worried about my health and was 100% supportive. I told them the reasons for the surgery and that I would be a better employee in the future because of my ability to do more. I was out of work eight weeks.

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

I have an excellent stay at the hospital. The staff was well trained and responsive. I was in the hospital for five days. Your own pillows.

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

No complications.

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 terrible. I could not lay down but I got an recliner. I was getting about two hours of sleep per night. I was only anxious because I was so uncomfortable and not sleeping. I watched the food channel a lot and learned a lot about cooking (but I was not hungry nor was a craving the food on the shows.) I tried to read but I could not concentrate. The first two weeks centered aroung making sure I maintained the schedule for eating and drinking.

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

You will be uncomfortable and you must rest.

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

2 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.

Hamburger was difficult at first and roast beef. Now nothing seems to bother me with the exception of sugar (raw sugar, white or brown).

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

Very little - mostly resting but making sure I walked around the house every hour or so and I took the dog outside and walked him in the yard which was not easy.

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

Four Chewable sugar free children's vitamins with iron (for anemia); two calcium, a B-12 tablet and a B Complex tablet.

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?

Sugar dumping - about a half an hour (almost like a diabetic attack) and when I overate (a few times) the full feeling and being uncomfortable for about 45 minutes.

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

The not sleeping after the surgery and not being able to lay flat for about five weeks.

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

We have a meeting which has now gone to once a month at my house with three other patients.

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

My scar is about what I expected, except that the staple scar was cosmetically enhanced when I had to have a hernia repair as the result of the surgery and netting was implanted. The scar is now a pencil line. My tummy tuck scar indicates that I will never model bikini pants and my belly button area is not as attractive as some would wish, but at least I can see it all now.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaued at about 4 months at about 60 pounds. Then the weight came off about 5 pounds per week after about three weeks until I reached my current weight loss of 150 pounds. I have not lost any weight in about two months - I may go up two or three pounds one day and then it is gone again, but I cannot seem to break 200. However, if I never loose another pound I don't care because I feel so good and have been told by everyone I am looking so good.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes - people seem to notice me and how I dress - I am not the invisible fatman anymore. People seem to listen to what I have to say now. I have also noticed that some people seem to be threaten by me now where as before I was no competition for them.