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

Was recommended by a neuro surgion and at first it sounded great. But had a really bad experiance with this surgeon and put it off for over a year.

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

Was out of work on Medicade and was approved instantantly

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

When i finally got a chance to go to Rochester and see Dr Boss it was a totally different experiance than the intial visit I had with the Elmira Dr. The Rochester Strong Medical staff was great and made me feel like they could handle the situation. With a brain tumor and having to lose the weight in a very short amount of time. They made me feel comfortable enough to go through with it.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Had no choice really. It was have the surgery and get down to 350lbs in under 6 months or lose my vision from a brain tumor.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

GB was all that was offered lapscopically

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?

Well condsidering I was almost 500 lbs and with a greater chance of blood clots and dieing than some that are smaller than I was. I would tell them that they have just as good a chance of dieing from a heart attack from the weight. I am very happy I had it done and it did save my life and my vision

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?

They were all for it, knowing I was running out time with the brain tumor. I ended up seperating from my wife after Christmas of 05 and was divorced this last August. My kids and parents and brother was very supportive. My ex was not in the least.

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

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

my stay was great and I had the surgery on a Friday afternoon and walked out Sunday morning

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

no

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 was excited

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

drink as much as you can and Walk Walk Walk

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

100 miles. Didn't effect me I was glad to make the trip, though the ride home after surgery was a little rough.

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.

follow the plan man

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

sky rocketted and the more I lost the more I had

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

normal. Daily vitamins, calcium, b12

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?

Have issues with low blood pressure and blood suger from time to time. Some dumping but not to often. Learn to watch what I can and can not have .

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

taking out the drain tube. When a Dr. says all you feel will be a little bit of pressure, what they mean is " this is going to hurt like mad"

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

Elmira BS Support Group and the Corning Ny One. Been very helpful and if you don't go to one you should

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

with Lapscopic they are really small and healed nice

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

didn't run into to many more in one now where I go up a little and down alittle but i believe I have reached my goal

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

totally with respect. I knew I got treated bad before but now it is like I am important.