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

I think I've always know of it. My wife was set against it I just wanted help and was willing to do anything need to get there.

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

My wife works at the hospital and it wasn't a problem. I had several medical issues which made it easy to get approved.

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

I had the best doctors. They put me at ease and were ever inforitive every step of the way.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

begininng to have grandchildren and wanting to see them grow up.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My doctor advised me to go for the RNY because of the amount of weight I needed to lose. I was over 400# and needed to lose 200+

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 scared. I researched enough to know that it is so low of change I was at more risk driving to 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?

My children were a little nervous but they got over it. I've never told anyone out side of my children and parents. All that know have been very supportive and understanding.

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

I didn't tell them. I was only off work for two weeks and we did it durning the christmas shutdown so knowone knew.

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

I stayed one extra day and it helped. I wasn't drink fuilds well at first so that helped. The employees at SWMC were great.

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

It just took me a little longer to get drinking enough fuilds. my doctor wasn't concerned and just recommend I stay the extra day. All is great now

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

Just wanted to get it over with. Really didn't have much anxiety.

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

It's been 27 days since my surery and I still have trouble remembering to drink enough water. I'm finally onto solid food and feel great. The weight lose is very slow. I think I was thinking it would be more like a pound a day and I've not seen that. I'm seeing maybe 1 pound every three to four days. I've just started to ramp up my workouts.

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

less the 20 miles

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.

It's only four weeks so I just getting to solid foods. At first it was only liquids which was okay because I felt full all the time. It was hard to get enough in. I still have mental hunger but I'm acually not hungry. I didn't do well with the puriy deit. I just drank luquids and skipped it.

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

My doctor recommend no excerize for the first week after surgery. I've gotten back at it and now have no limits.

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

Vitimin b complex, muti-vitimin, calcuim with D

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?

If you eat to much you will vomit, if you eat to fast you will vomit, if you don't chew well you will vomit. be care and think when eating and you'll be fine!

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

I was on a milk diet for six weeks before surgery. I hate milk! During this time I lost 81 pounds and was losing at least 1 pound a day. I got use to this but now I losing at less then 1 pound in three days. It was a shock to stop losing!

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

Doctor support and dietitian support are great. I also joined a support group which was great to talk to others in the same situation.

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

still healing it's only been 4 weeks.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I'm stuck at 98 #'s total lost. I'm still 120 #'s to go. I've began ramping up my excerize to help!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, co-workers are saying I look good! it's nice.