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

My mother sent me article two years before I did it and one year before she died!

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

No problem.

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

Just let him talk and you listen and do what he says.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The idea I was going to die fat, with diabetes, or a heart attack at night wearing a breather.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Only one approved, RNY.

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?

Better dead trying than not.

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?

Skeptecism.

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

Did not tell them until it was over. I took off two months. I did tell my immediate boss but that was all.

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

I had to pay a $50 copay prior to surgery for outpatient surgery center and was in the hospital for three days and two nights. Bring nothing, just a tooth brush. Prepare to walk.

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

No complications. The worst part was waiting for the results of the barium swallow.

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. It golf balls for days post.

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

Get into a routine, eat move eat. follow the diet prescribed, prepar to pay the consiquences if you do not follow the rules, like throw up.

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

two 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.

post surgery only soup and juices. No milk, still no milk. Stayed on the program with full liquid then puree, then chopped, now I can eat everything, two years out.

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

wlked, joined a club for fitness. No longer beling, I play 18 holes of golf two to three days a week and walk.

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

chewable multi vitamins. Nothing else.

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?

vomitted five times. Went off sleep apnia machine within three weeks. No dumping, but somtimes I feel a littl sullen after a meal.

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

Worrying about putting weight back on, and seeing the droppy skin.

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

Hospital based support group. And I see a therapist to control excess drinking and to stay on track.

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

just five small holes..nothing.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

9 months starting a one year anniversary, then down ten pounds, then another plateau.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, they are nicer to me.