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

My mom had the Roux-en-Y surgery in 1987 and she is still doing fine. Last year I kept seeing an advertisement on television for the Bariatric Treatment Center. My initial impression was apprehension but after meeting with them a few times I felt very confident in their abilities.

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

For me Bariatric Treatment Center did almost all of the work. I didn't have any problem with Blue Cross at all. In fact, they encouraged me to have the surgery. It was all a matter of going through the red tape to finalize everything. The advice I would give? BE PATIENT!!! Just go through the motions and do what the doctors tell you to do and before you know it your surgery date will be set. Once you decide to do it suddenly you are in a hurry to have it done. Be patient. I can't give any advice if your insurance company won't approve it. Blue Cross was ver cooperative.

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

The first meeting with my surgeon was great. He was very clear and took his time explaining everything in detail. If you have any questions before you go to your first visit write them down because you will forget them. Do not be afraid to ask any questions that you may have about yourself and the surgery, or post-op, no matter how personal. No question is stupid.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The scale said 366.8 pounds after I have been trying years of diet after diet after diet with no luck, and, after my initial visit with the Bariatric Treatment Center I felt like there may be light at the end of the tunnel with regards to my being overweight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The success rate with the Roux-en-Y, as opposed to the stomach stapling and stomach banding thing.

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?

Of course I had fears about dying on the operating table. I heard too many "horror stories" from people who knew someone who knew someone who "died from that stomach stapling surgery" I was worried about it the week prior to my surgery but when I got into pre-op I suddenly became calm with no worries. I decided that if God thought it was time for me to die then so be it and I would be in good hands. If I wasn't meant to die at that time, so be it, I would still be in good hands. I really trusted God and Dr. Bistolarides.

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 family was extremely supportive. All of them. After surgery my wife and children and our foreign exchange student, Yohei were there for me 100% They really took good care of me when I wasn't able to do much for myself. How can you ever repay someone for that kindness? My family is wonderful and love them with all my heart!!

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

My employer was a little shocked that I wanted to do it but when I talked to them they were very supportive. They gave me no hassle at all about being off work. When I went back they were glad to see me and were very encouraged about my weight loss. They always tell me how good I look, and to keep up the good work.

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 great. The staff treated me with kindness and a real caring attitude. I felt like they truly cared about me. I was in the hopsital for 4 days. In addition to the things you are requred to bring, you should also bring slippers. You will need them.

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

The only complication, if that's what you would call it, is that everyone has a drainage tube with a plastic ball attached to it in place after surgery and they take it out the day you go home. My plastic ball kept filling up with fluids so the doctor had me go home with it still in. The doctor removed it one week later. That's the only type of complication I guess you could say I had.

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

during the first week there was some pain but the narcotics they sent me home with helped with that. I was weak and didn't have a lot of energy until about two weeks. Then the pain was almost gone. The incision did not hurt at all but the inside was still a little tender. By the fifth week I joined a water aerobic class and started swimming laps. I did have some anxiety about the possibility of blood clotting so I followed the doctor's orders of walking at least five minutes every hour I was awake. My grandfather died from a blood clot after a surgery the year I was born so I was concerned it could be hereditary.

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

REST!!! But do your required walking. You will need some help taking a shower because it is too difficult to wash everywhere after the surgery. DO NOT LIFT MORE THAN THE DOCTOR SAYS OR YOU WILL GET A HERNIA!! I have met several people who didn't listen to the doctor's orders and wound up having to go back for hernia surgery. If the doctor says no more than five pounds, stick to it. Remember, one gallon of milk weighs eight pounds. If you like being on the operating table then by all means, don't follow the doctors orders and lift as much as you want.

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

I had to travel about 40 miles, and that's how far I travel when I go to my follow up appointments. It has no effect on my aftercare at all.

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.

The first week was strickly clear liquids (liquids you can see through). Sugar-free jello, Beef broth, chicken broth, apple juice diluted 50% with hater, grape juice diluted 50%, white grape juice 50%, Sugar-free Crystal Light, Water, and sugar-free popcicles. The next two weeks were 'Full liquids', liquids you can't see through; skim milk, tomato juice diluted with water 50%, sugar-free pudding, sugar-free yogurt (Dannon Lite 'n Fit)with no fruit pieces, Designer Whey protein shakes, sugar-free hot cocoa, strained soups,100% juice, no sugar added diluted 50% water, sugar-free Carnation Instant Breakfast, high protein cream of vegetable soup,a few different recipes from the Bariatric Treatment Center's Guide To Good Health binder like; Orange protein, Orange Cooler, Super Vanilla shake, Peach and Pineapple smoothies, and sugar-free fudgsicles. The fourth week was Pureed Foods. I put everything into a food processor and processed it until it had the consistancy of baby food. I know some of them will sound very strange but trust me, by this time comes you will really want the things I mention here; cottage cheese, mashed potatoes (a favorite), cooked, softened vegetables, fresh fruit, fish with no bones (BEWARE OF FISH BONES!!), a cheeseburger, a taco from Taco Bell, shell, cheese burger and all(process with sour cream and a little salsa)chicken soup, tuna salad, and most anything that didn't have sugar or high fat. The fifth week was Soft Foods. Soft foods are those that do not have any hard pieces that would be difficult to digest, such as nuts, seeds, chunks, or other solid or large pieces; tunafish, cooked vegetables, pudding, mashed potatoes, jello, pureed chicken stew, cottage cheese, eggs or egg substitute, cheese, milk, protein drink, sugar-free Kool Aid, smoothies, cold cuts, (although not a realy good choice because of the high fat content), The sixth week I returned to regular foods. I just have to be careful not to have sugar or high fat. I also have to be careful to chew my food very well and not swallow it in large chunks. Trust me, you do not want to do that. I just eat very healthy food like, 1/2 cup of breakfast cereal 2 grams of sugar or less; cornflakes, cheerios, etc, 1/3 cup of skim milk, chicken breast, vegetables, protein drinks, cottage cheese, Dannon Lite 'n Fit yogurt, saltine crackers, sardines, fresh fruit; grapefruit, grapes, water mellon, honey dew, strawberries, raspberries, bananas etc., all with no seeds of course, 100% fruit juices with no sugar added, (but no longer diluted) tuna, tuna salad, chicken salad, both using sugar-free mayonaise, sugar-free catchup. I could go on forever about what I eat now. I only eat fresh fruits and vegetables, chicken, turkey, fish, a little pork but not much, and very small amounts of beef. I first get in my daily amount of protein then I go to the fruits and veges and that sort of thing. I also take a good multi vitamin, calcium, and protein supplements. Off Limits? SUGAR AND HIGH FAT! Also, seeds, and nuts. At first it was difficult for me to eat anything basically because I had just had surgery on my stomach. Later as my stomach healed it became easier for me to eat. For a while I avoided all meat because it seemed too difficult to eat. It seemed like it didn't want to go down very well. It wasn't until I talked to a nutritionist when she told me I was eating too fast, by about 20 or 30 minutes. That was a big adjustment for me. I was used to inhaling my food and not chewing very much. Pretty much I used the shovel method to eat. I have to set a timer so I can time myself at the table. It sured seemd weird at first but now I am getting a little more used to it. Meat was the thing I had the most trouble with. now that I am eating slower, it seems easier. I still can't eat as much meat as I can some other foods. I am just very careful when I eat meat. Because I ate too fast, I became sick and vomited. I became very hot, started sweating, my heart was really beating, I was dizzy, and I had to lay down for a while. they say the Roux-en-Y surgery helps you lose weight three ways, 1. By limiting the amount of food you are physically able to eat, 2. By not being able to absorb all the caloies from food because it bypasses a lot of the instestine, and 3. (my favorite) Behavior Modification. If you don't eat right and the right kinds of food you will become very sick. Trust me, I know this. I have first hand experience. I even started hating to sit down to eat. If you eat sugar you will experience the same fellings as I just described. I found that out too. I ate something I didn't know had sugar in it and believe me, it wasn't pretty. I felt awful. Now I am way more careful about how and what I eat. Now I feel pretty good about eating.

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

The first two weeks it was difficult to have much activity. Partly because I was still used to the same old habit of laying around and procrastinating to exercise. I had to make myself walk around the house so I could get in my required walking. It would have been easy for me to just sit around and suffer but I was worried about the possibility of blood clotting so I pushed myself up off the couch to walk so I didn't develope that problem. I kept walking more and more and my energy level was growing a lot. I went to my 6 week appointment, and my doctor said I could join a water aerobics class so I did just that. It was kind of difficult at first. I had to go slow. After one week I started going a half hour early so I could start swimming laps. To start out I could only swim down to the end of the pool rest for about 5 minutes then swim back. I kept practicing and soon my energy level was sky rocketing. Sometimes I have so much energy I can't sleep at night. I have had to go to and all night superstore just so I could walk off some energy. Now I am going to water aerobic 4 nights a week and now I am really pushing myself in class, and I am up to 15 laps in a pool (down and back is one lap) I have a great deal of energy. You wouldn't believe how much energy I have. There is no way I can stree how much energy I have now. If any of you decide to have the surgery you wil experience it for yourself. Everyone I talk to who has had the surgery knows exactly what I am talking about. I feel wonderful!

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

Designer Whey Protein mix Creatine (FDA proven to help prevent muscle tissue loss) Protein bars (sugar-free) Atkins Basic 3 multi vitamin Calcium So far that is all. I will go back for my three month checkup Feb. 25. Then I will know if I need to take more supplements.

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 some nausia for about seven or eight weeks but now it seems to have subsided. Doctor gave me Ranitidine to help that. No hair loss yet. I did vomit three times since the surgery. I think it was because I ate too fast. There don't seem to be any other medical conditions. One time I finished water aerobic class, went outside and started to vomit. I hadn't had anyting to eat but I did have some water but not a lot. I don't know what that was about. I will talk to the doctor next week when I see him. If it happens again I will call him immediately. Although I have a great deal of energy, I am able to get to sleep. When I do, I sleep all night not waking up once (except when our little Chihuahua barks because she thinks she hears someting). Befire the surgery I woke up every night religeously 4, 5, and 6 times to go to the bathroom. Now I don't wake up even once!

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

When I first woke up from surgery, but then again men are usually weenies about that kind of thing. I would do it again in a New York second though in spite of it all. Coughing. The first time they got me out of bed (four hours after surgery).

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

A wonderful woman named Sharyl just started a support group for the people in my area, and I went to the first one. I didn't think I would like it but I think it will be very helpful. I'll go back again. Some of the people there had the surgery a few years ago and more. They had a lot to offer to those of us who recently had the surgery. I think this support group will be an important part of my weight loss program.

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

The scar is actually longer than I anticipated although it's not real thick and dark. I suppose it could have been a lot bigger than it is. A man I work with has a scar that stats from the right side of his right nipple and goes down below his belly button and right up around to the left side of his left nipple. His was done years ago before they do it like they did mine.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

So far, after eleven weeks I haven't had an plateaus.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, some of them are already. Some of them seemd to be a lot nicer to me.