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

I had to jump thru some hoops and it took me 2 trys to get it approved. A lot depends on you insurer. Some are good others don't give a damn. I had an HMO, I don't know if that was good or bad, but you gotta dot your "I's" and cross your "T's" and play their little game to get it done.

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

He was chinese or something like that and hard to understand and it turned out he was kind of an asshole. I saw him one time post op and he pissed me off so I said Adios.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was fat and getting fatter.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Research. I don't believe in the lap band and if your going to have this then you ought to get the one that is the best the gastric bypass.

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?

Your gonna die if you don't have it so get over the fear. I did not worry about dying. I figured it wasn't my time to go.

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 for it I guess. My wife was a little aprehensive, but it really wasn't up to her or anyone else. I did this for me.

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 about 3 weeks and I had to be cleared by the company medical team to return. They basically did not know anything about weight loss surgery.

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 2 days. As soon as I could eat a scambled egg I was gone.

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

No complications!

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

No anxiety issues. I was just ready to get it done.

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

You are going to eat to fast and throw it up. It is easy to do and you get used to it.

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

I had to go about 150 miles to get it done. I never went back after the first post op visit 10 days out. In fact I never saw a doctor for the rest of the time for the bypass. And still have not.

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.

My doctor never restricted my diet. I could eat anything I wanted. He did not require that I eat nothing but liquid protien or anyhting like that.

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

I take a multi vitamin and a calcium pill daily.

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?

Like I have said I would puke when I would eat to fast. Other than that I did not have any problems.

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

My doctor. He was a prick.

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

None

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

I never notice them

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No