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

I first found out about the surgery after hearing ab0out carny wilson's experience. Then I saw the television adds, then the magazine articals. I was sceptical, then I saw that Al Roker had it done, and he seemed to be a person who wouldn't go off and do something stupid and dangerous. So I took a second look.

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

I had my surgery done through the Wish Center in Illinois, and my insurance is BlueCross BlueShield PPO. The Wish Center did all the letter writing. I just got a letter in the mail saying that I was aproved. It took about two weeks. It was easy. I've heard some horror stories about getting approval. I think it helps to have a team of people behind you like I had at the Wish Center. They seems to know how to twist some arms.

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

I was very nervous at my first visit. I din't know what to expect. At the wish center, you meet with not only the surgeon, but a psycologist, a nutritionist, an exersise physiologist, an RN, an insurance specialist, and a patient liason as well. It took about four hours. Do your research. You can't ask intelligent questions if you have no information to start with. Don't be lazy. There are thousands and thousands of pages of information out there. Read them. Become an expert. This is your body, and you must protect it by being an educated consumer. Your surgen may not be the expert that you think he is. There are surgeons out there that just do a few of these a month. Mine was a specialist.He does four a day. Any way, My surgeon was very buisness like. He's a busy guy. He breezed in, gave me a short physical, and told me that I was too large for the lapriscopic. He then outlined the procedure and told me the possible complications. He asked me if I had any questions and I pulled out a sheet of paper and asked away. He had all the answers. He was on top of it all. That impressed me. He shook my hand and then left. The whole meeting took less than a half an hour.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided to have the surgery before I ever met with my surgeon. I had read personal accounts from people who had been through it, and met someone who had the procedure done, and I knew right then and there that this was something I was going to do. I know I'm not getting any younger, and now that my weight was becoming a problem, I was concerned. I had just gotten married. We were talking about having kids, and I wanted to be around to see them grow up. A very adult thought for me...very sobering. I had a moment of clarity. I saw myself thin and playing with my grandchildren. That was that.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The Wish center does only one procedure, the Roux and Y. They do it either open or laproscopic. My surgeon told me that I was too large for the lap.

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 wasn't concerned about the recovery. I heal fast and I'm very strong, both physically and emotionaly. I was, however, terrified of surgery. I've never been sick enough to be admited to the hospital. I've never had surgery. So it was the fear of the great unknown. I'm not comfortable letting my wife drive the car, so I was very uncomfortable letting go of that much control. I talked about my fears to many of my close friends and family. I had my PCP prescribe something to get me through the last two weeks when I started to have panic attacks. I kept myself occupied with activity.

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?

Every one was very supportive. I was supprised. I didn't tell my family untill one week before the procedure. My mom is a worrier, so I thought it was best to shorten her waiting time. Every one was supportive after the surgery. We are East coasters transplanted to Chicago. So, we didn't get a lot of physical support, but the cards, letters and phone calls poured in. It was humbling.

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 already, so I didn't have to deal with any of that. My wife is having the procedure as well, so I will stay out of work untill she has recoverd and is back to work as well. I could have returned after my third week, but it would have had to have been in a reduced capacity as my job is a somewhat physical one, and kitchens are hot sweaty fast paced places. At five weeks, I could have resumed all of my job. If I worked in an office....two or three weeks

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

Pre-op was very unpleasant. No one offered meds to calm me down, and I had to wait almost three hours. It was cold, I was frightend. I don't recomend it. There was a short time while I was in a staging area outside the operating room when I was without my wife and my glasses, and that was very stresfull. Then they gave me a shot and I don't remember anything else untill four hours later...a nurse in my face looking down at me saying, "rate your pain on a scale of one to ten." That was at noon. Things got fuzzy again and then it was about ten o'clock in the evening, and it was time for me to walk, and aparently it was not my first attempt. After that, it was not all that unpleasant. I didn't get alot of sleep, though. There is something to do every two hours or so. You have to walk, you have to pee, you have to use the spiromiter, you have respritory therapy, you have to walk, they take your blood pressure, they take your glucose leval, you have to walk, they change your IV bags, you have to walk. The things that I brought that really helped... A boom box with my favorite soothing music. My favorite pillows..I can't sleep without them. Underwear and Socks Eye drops and lip balm..they gave me something to dry me up for the surgery. It works, believe me. slip on shoes..beats hospital slippers my a mile when you're walking. Tooth brush, toothpaste, shampoo and soap. They let me shower before I went home. It was heaven. A hat... you don't get to wash your hair for a few days. Or just get your hair cut very short like I did. My wife...was there to fetch and carry, to sooth and cajol, to change the cd's, to hold the cup when I pee, to make sure I walked. To make me feel loved while this whole thing was going on. There is never enough staff, so someone to stay with you is a godsend. things that are of no use... A book. They had me pumped so full of fluid that my vision was blurry, and I was so full of morphine that I wouln't have been able to concentrate. A change of clothes...wear home what you wore in...make sure it's loose. You leave bigger than you come in. Two words, Fluid Retention. A robe...can't get it on with all the IV stuff, and it looks stupid with only one arm on. Visitors. Too many people in the room at one time is maddening. You're not going to be there for very long, and you will always be either busy or sleeping. You're going to be looking a mess and family just doesn't know when to shut up or leave.

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

no complications at all...told you I was good

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

most of my anxiety was pre-op. I just did what the surgeon told me to do. I did have a couple of episodes of "my god, what have I done!" in the first week after coming home, but my wife was there, and they passed quickly

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

the first two weeks home were full of naps, heprin injections, liquids, rented movies, and walking. I wasn't sore, but i knew that I was changed somehow. I grew tired of liquids very quickly. I had some gass the first few days, but the walking helped alot. Try to get outside, it's a nice change. Move slow, get your fluids. Don't be a hero, let others help. Take naps, you'll need them. Your body knows what it needs to do.

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

I traveled an hour and a half by car, so on the trip home, the doctor told us to stop halfway and I should walk a little bit to guard against blood clots.

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.

the first two weeks after the surgery were suppose to be liquids like protein drinks and water and clear broth. That lasted for a week for me. I quickly found out that I could not stand the taste of protein drinks, so I switched over to pureed soups that were strained. That was supposed to last for four weeks. I did it for about a week and a half. Then I did thick blended soups for a week. I quickly graduated to soft foods like mashed potaoes, soft pasta, yogurt. By the middle of the fourth week, I was back on regular food. I had to make sure that I chewed everything very well, and that I ate very slowly. I did have some pain and some gas, but I would have gone insane if I had nothng but liquids for eight weeks. Take it slow. I am in my second month after surgery and I can eat anything. Some things sit better than others. Bread makes me feel bloated and prevents me from drinking water for an hour or more afterwards. I always get my protein first. Some times I eat vegetables just for fun. But I always eat slowly and chew well. I avoid sweets except for a small bit of my wife's dessert when we eat out. Just a little bite, though.

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

In the first few weeks after the surgery, I was on a regular schedule of eating, drinking, meds and laps around the apartment. All of this was interspursed with frequent naps. I was sleeping a regular eight hours at night and an aditional four to six in naps. Walking felt really good, though. Sitting all the time was making my bottom sore.

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

Centrum complete kids chewable (rugrats) they taste better. Viactive calcium chews for women ... like candy, yummey! Comes in 4 flavors. GNC Liquid B-complex. Has nearly no flavor. Cut it with water. Protein bars Zone mostly. For those times I don't get the protein I should. 16 grams in a bar. Peanutbutter is my favorite.

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 some nausia for the first few days after comming home and had trouble drinking anything, but it passed and everying was ok after that. I had trouble sleeping at first because I am a stomach sleeper. After three weeks I could sleep on my side if I propped myself up with some pillows. two weeks after that I could sleep some on my stomach with some pillows. I also couldn't sleep in the bed for the first two weeks, choosing instead the reclier in the living room. I don't sleep well without my wife, so she was on the sofa next to me. I could reach out and touch her. She was such a trooper.

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

The worst part for me was the anticipation of surgery. I would have ran into the hills screaming if it wasn't for the Lexapro my PCP prescribed. Thanks, Doc.

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

The Wish Center offers an open support group once a month, but I found it to be a bit elementry in nature. I attended three, one right before the surgery, and two after, and found them to be not well run. I have a friend who has had the surgery and she has been a big help, and of courst, there is my wife. Support is important, I found it outside the center's organization. Others may benifit from a larger group setting. One note, the Wish Center can be called during normal busness hours if you have a question. I have called a few times.

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

My scar is 4.5 inches long and about .5 inches wide. It was scary at first, but at the six month mark, it is atarting to fade a bit, and all by stomach hair has grown back, and covers it abit. i thought it would be thinner, less noticable.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I'm at my six month mark now, and I have been on a plateau for more than a month. I have lost and gained the same five pounds over and over. I try not to obsess. At least my hair isn't falling out anymore. I keep an eye on my protine. I walk. It will come off. I may not be loosing weight, but my body is shrinking. Clothes are getting smaller. Don't be so hung up on the numbers. Just do the work.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Friends are very supportive, but I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary.