Mongo

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I battled with weight loss for over 40 years. Never had much success. I know my obesity affected my choices and opportunities in life many ways -- none good. Lack of energy, ambition, self-esteem, you name it.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

Lack of energy and health issues.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Playing with my grandkids. Working on my barn. Just walking without being breathless.

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

The internet. Sounded like a God-send.

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

Like most everyone else, it took quite a while and a lot of "jumping through hoops". Proof of prior attempts/failures. Doctor recommendations, etc.

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

Brief and fairly impersonal. Be sure and have a list of questions and insist upon complete answers.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Truth? Would have done almost anything at the time to lose weight. A little too "pie-in-the-sky", I know now.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Convinced by the physician.

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?

Had a few, but my research assured me the dangers of my obesity far outweighed (no pun intended) the dangers of the 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?

Family was very supportive (wife had the same surgery at the same time).

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

They never knew.

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

The stay was about as predicted and expected. No complications. Out in four days. Bring good "walking" house-shoes or slippers.

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

No immediate complications. Later had to have a surgical hernia repaired.

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

Felt great. Lost weight like I'd never lost before. Was worth all the pain.

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

From Norman, Oklahoma to Plano, Texas. I believe the fact I was not closer affected my success. If I had been able to attend the support groups I believe I would have had more success.

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.

There was nothing I found I couldn't eat, as long as I was able to chew it into a liquid state. White bread, french fries, hamburger meet, and pasta were some of the foods that were the hardest to eat without "clogging". Surprisingly, I never had any trouble with leafy salad. Mexican food ended up being my favorite post-surgery food.

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

About like any surgery, except as my weight dropped off my energy increased accordingly.

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

Complete vitamins for men.

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 few real side effects after surgery -- except for vomiting until I re-learned how to eat.

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

Immediate post-operative pain. "Clogging up" and vomiting afterward.

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

None. I believe if I had attended an aftercare support group, I would have done much better.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Went from 365 down to 275 then back up to around 300. Have stayed there for the last two years.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I did a few weeks after surgery when the change was most noticable. Everyone wanted advice on my diet.
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