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

I met a special girl that later became my wife. Yes, even when I was fat. She told me about a lady that was a customer of hers that had the weight loss surgery. Her customer gave us a name and phone number of someone to call about the surgery and the rest is history. It was the most important phone call I ever made.

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

My insurance would not approve it. I actually went through the state of Mississippi Vocational Rehab program. I was one of the last one to be accepted from what I understand now. I thank God I was! I was very large at the time and had even been laid off from work because of my size so getting the surgery approved by vocational rehab was not difficult. My best advice for people struggling to get the surgery covered by their insurance is keep your head up and keep trying. It will be worth all the fight! If all else fails, consider getting a loan and financing the surgery. It may take you a few years to pay off but at least you will be around some more years to pay it off.

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

I was very impressed with Dr. Byars. He was so down to earth and told me just like it was-I like that! He was always honest with me. I fully trusted him and he gave me his best. He is so caring and concerned. He is a great doctor and I would highly recommend him to everyone. Even though I was so big, he always treated me with respect and as a human being should be treated. He was a great encouragement for me. He did not try to presuade me to have to surgery, but he left the decision totally up to me. To get the most out of your first meeting with your surgeon, just be honest with them and feel free to ask them anything. No question is a stupid question-believe me, they have heard it all! Because I probably ask it all. It's ok to be afraid and scared about it, but trust in God for peace during this frightful but exciting time.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health made me finally decide to have the surgery. I had began to have problems with my knees, back, ankles and was just out of breath walking a short distance. The important things in life began to really hit me-like wanting to see my son grow up. I knew I might not have that opportunity the way I was.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

This was easy. The vocational rehab would only pay for the procedure that I had and it was the one that my doctor recommended for me.

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 will admit that I was scared about the surgery, but I was also scared about what would happent to me if I didn't have the surgery. I knew that there was a chance that anything could happen to me, even death, but I felt confident in my doctor, because he promised to take the best care of me that he could. I think my strong faith in God and the multiple prayers that were lifted up for me gave me a peace about the surgery that only God can give. It is scarey, but for me, it was very necessary. I can only tell others that they must search their hearts and pray to God for the peace that only He can provide in that type of situation. Once you have that peace, your fears will be relieved.

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?

All my family and friends were very supportive and excited for me. My wife encouraged me to go through with the surgery and did a lot of research and paperwork for me so that the surgery would be possible. Everyone has been great since the surgery. Anytime we get together, they always make sure there is something there that I can eat. They are so happy for my loss!

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

I got laid off right before my surgery due to my weight, so I was not employed at the time.

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

I was in the hospital 8 days. I did not expect a short visit to ICU, but due to my sleep apnea, I stayed there for 3 days. The nurses at the hospital were great! They were so nice and caring. The most important thing to bring- PLENTY OF UNDERWEAR!! Cause when you got to go-it is hard to get up and make it on time! ha! ha!

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

No complications. If you have any, just follow the doctor's orders. They know what is best for you.

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 and scared. I tried to remain positive and think about how much better my life was going to be. I got a lot of encouragement from my wife and my mother and father and other family members. Everytime I looked at my son, I knew I was doing the right thing. To deal with my anxiety, I prayed a lot. That is the best advice I could give to anyone else.

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

It was rough. You have to be patient. Try to walk. Drink plently of liquids. Do exactly what the doctor tells you to! I was a little frustrated because immediately after my surgery I was heavier than when I went in due to all the fluids that they had pumped into me. So don't worry about numbers at first-just concern yourself with doing more each day. Don't be lazy-move!

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

We were lucky only 1 hour and 15 minutes. I actually had other doctors closer to me than that, but I trusted Dr. Byars and would not have wanted anyone else.

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.

At first, nothing but clear liquids. After 3 months, I liked seafood and mashed potatoes. After 6 months, I gradually worked up to green vegetables and chicken. After 9 months, I went to a little bit of red meat. All fried foods and carbonated drinks are off limit, but it's ok. You learn to like other things and it is all worth it!

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

Just walking down a hallway was difficult at first, but you must push yourself to do more and more each day. Walking is a great exercise and it improved as the weeks went by. Now most people can't even keep up with me.

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

Flintstones complete, vit b1, vit b12 injection monthly, and protein bars

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?

My worse side effect was diarrhea, but it went away and was controllable. It lasted about a month after my surgery. I never had any of the other side effects listed.

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

The first few days after the surgery were bad. I orginally thought what in the world have I done to myself! The worst part to me was not being able to get up and down by myself and people having to wait on me to do simple things like go to the bathroom. It was embarrassing when you had an accident before you could make it to the bathroom, but my wife was very helpful with that. I could not have made it without her loving help.

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

I have officially joined anything yet. My wife just had the lapband procedure done, so we are sort of our own support group. It is very important to have someone who is supportive of you throughout the entire process.

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

My scar is about 6 inches vertical up from my bellybutton. It is much better than I expected. With my tan, you can hardly see it at all.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am 1 year post-op and am still losing but at a slower rate. My doctor says I should lose for about 6 more months and then it should plateau off. I'm happy where I am and excited about losing anymore.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Definitely! They treat me like I'm human. How I should have been treated all along. You should go for a job interview fat and then much smaller and see how differently you are treated. It's sad but true. I don't get all the looks that I used to get, but I have a great deal of compassion for others who are large and I just want to yell and tell them my story and encourage them to try the weight loss surgery too.