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

I have a friend whos wife had Lap-Band surgery, and I decided to attend an informational seminar. The seminar was well organized, and very informative.

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

Contact your insurance co and find out first if there are any exclusions in your insurance and exactly what the requirements are for approval. The requirements changed a week before my first surgical date and I had to wait an additional six months for surgery. (supervised weight loss plan prior to approval) My insuance didnot require this prior to Feb 1st, 2008, only a referal from your PCP, and clearance from your cardiologist, phsyc eval, and nutritional eval.

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

Research, research, research, visit every site you can find and ask every question you can think of. "The only stupid question is the one you don't ask." My sugeon's first statement was that he was there to answer question and to help you make your own decisions, not to push you twards any one type of surgery. He explained the expected weightlosses (% of excess weight expected to loose) with each type of surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I have been going up and down with my weight for over 40 years. up 20 down ten, up 30 down 10. I know I eat a "fairly" good diet but my volume is off the scales. I am a picky eater but when I would find something I liked I would go overboard. I decided on the lap band to help me with my portion controle.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided on the Lap-Band to help with portion controle. I have been told by others that have had the proceedure that they eat very little and feel full, and there are no malabsorbtion problems, like the by-pass.

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 affraid at first to loose my friend, (food) and affraid that I would have problems swallowing some types of food, but I have had no problems at all. Granted at this time I am only 5 weeks out of surgery and have not had any fill in my band, but I feel good. I did follow my surgeons directions as well as those of the dietician, and have not had any trouble. A little gas all the time but nothing I can't live with.

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-most all were supportive from the beginning. A few were, odd, asking why can't you just diet, not understanding that diets have not been sucsesfull fore me in the past because as soon as I went off the diet the weight came back with more.

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

My immediate supervisor was supportive as long as it didn't affect my ability to work. If it had then I'm not sure how it would have worked out. (I have a new supervisor since the surgery and he is very supportive)

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

I checked into the hospital at 08:30 and left at 16:30 with an hour wait at post-op swollow x-ray. The most important thing to bring is patients and some one to take you home.

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

I only had trouble swollowing the first night, then no problems after that. I don't think it was a problem but there would be some uncomfortable pressure in the back of my shoulders when I would drink something cold, too fast.

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

Scared, wondered if I was doing the right thing. I talked to my friend and his wife. His wife had the surgery last December and had no problems and is loosing weight.

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

I had lap-Band sugery. As things heal and the swelling goes down the opening in the pouch get bigger and you get hungry quicker between meals. The hardest thing is to not drink with my meals. The longer you can go without drinking after eating the longer you the full feeling stays with you.

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

25 Miles to the hospital. My surgeons office is 35 miles away for aftercare appointments.

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.

I followed my surgeons and my dietions post op orders, to the letter. Water the first 48 hours, Clear liquids the fist 2 weeks, then soft mushy foods for the next 2 weeks, then slowly add regular foods in small amounts.

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

Walking only for the first 2 weeks then regular work outs including cardio and free weights 3-4 times a week since then

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

all my regular pre-op meds and multi vitamin, added calcium and B-12. The med are under review later this month, by my PCP and my cardiologist.

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?

nausea only the first night and some pain the fist few days, and constipation for the fist week then every thing is back to normal. The sleep apnea seems to be better but a sleep study will be needed to deturmine the level there.

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

constant gas, espescially when I try introducing something new to my diet. Also I miss my caffine. The head aches laste three days coming off the caffine, but its better when you find a decaf coffee that tastes good. (not easy) and now I only have one or sometimes two cups a day as opposed the four or five before.

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

The hospital where I had my surgury has a monthly support group, as does my surgeon at his office

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

My scars are almost un noticeable after only 5 weeks

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I found out why my surgeon said to stay off the scale because your weight fluctuates from day to day depending on bowl movements and gass retention.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Every one says they can see a differance even after only 5 weeks and an additional 10 LBS since the surgery