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

Checked it out 5 years ago, I was apprehensive, but attended meetings locally and learned more. Day before I turned in my request to my PCP, I went into A-Fib and this ended discussion on bariatric surgery.

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

Getting approval was not a problem with my co-mobidities. My insurance carries the rider for the surgery as long as it is medically required.

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

Well, it's like this, I saw three biaratric surgeons, in three different locations. The first refused to consider the surgery for me, the 2nd had me go all through the program and then it was decided they while they could perform the surgery, but because the hospital could not be assured that they could handle any non-surgical problems that came up it was diecided I should go to a larger hospital. The third physician I saw was in a Major City/college campus and by this time, I was relaxed and had no problems.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Poor health.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the one offered. Also, safest for me to have.

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 have fears, but know I will have a shortened life span if I don't have this surgery.

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?

Most of my friends and family were supportive. My father was not for it but he let me make my own decision.

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

My employer had no problem with the surgery, everyone in the office was very supportive. I will be out of work approximately 6 weeks.

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

My stay in the hospital was fine. I was in the hospital for 6 days. I went to the surgical cardiac ward after surgery as a precaution, then to be moved to the baritric surgical ward after a day. Day one I was fine everything was going great, we were talking about going home the next day (day 3). That night I went into a fast heart rate and then Afib, passed out and fell. I required blood transfusions and also Magnizium and Potassium by IV. I was never moved off the cardiac ward because of my heart problem. (Day 6 was released). The nursing staff was extraordinarly great.

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

No. However, I needed to be reverse anticoagulated from the Heparin to Warfarin; because of bleeding this was not possible; which caused the cardiologist's great concern of possible clot. The surgeon did not want them to put me on the Warfarin yet because of possible further bleeding. I was start on Warfarin on my last day in the hospital.

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 talked with a lot of my friends at work and my Mom, all of who were very supportive. I also see a Social Worker for anxiety.

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

My first week home from the hospital was fine, as long as I followed the plan, I was good. If I ate to fast or too much I threw up. Make sure you have mashed potatoes, gravy mix, lots of ice. For some reason, I now have to have ice cold drinks.

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

It is a 3 hours drive from home to the hospital where I had my surgery. I would have liked to attend their support group, but not possible. I go to the support group about 15 minutes from home by the local physician.

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.

What I could eat is tomato's....I pureed them and they go down fine. I can't eat sugar or sugar alternatives (including splenda). By the end of week four I added meat loaf made with ground turkey and ground crackers...this I was able to eat for 3 days. Milk is not tolerated well. I can't do any of my protein drinks because of the spenda, so I try to get protein in first, I eat cottage cheese, pureed chicken, pureed beef, lots of mashed potatoes & gravy. Watermelon use for fluids, don't eat the flesh, just take all the juice out. Pureed fruit does not settle well. Tomato and rice soup is okay. Medicines are hard to go down and I have to count them like a meal and wait the 1 hour before I can either drink or eat.

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

My activity level increased about 90%. I get dizzy when I stand up quickly. Some days are good some days are bad. Usually 1/2 a banana helps.

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

None yet, physician does not start them until week 7.

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?

CBC was very low when I came home; and INR is not within therapeutic range yet, both are getting better at the end of week 4.

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

Having IV's started. I have fragile veins and I had about 14 IV's started because the veins would corrupt.

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

I have support from my family (dad included), I see a Social Worker, I attend a Bariatric Group locally. I like the program...you can learn a lot of information from people who have been there.

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

My scar is not bad, about 3 inches long. It is healing nicely. No, I expected it to be longer.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I stopped losing 3 months after surgery. Scale has not budged since surgery, now 2 years out.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes.