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

I HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE 1ST BARIATRIC SURGERY SINCE ITS INCEPTION, APPROXIMATELLY 30 YEARS AGO. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH GASTRIC BY-PASS SURGERY. THEY HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE SURGERY AND ARE IN EXCELLENT HEALTH. THE PROCEDURE HAS MADE A SUPERB DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES. WITH THE ONSET OF "MAJOR DEPRESSION AND MORBID OBESITY" FOR THE PAST DECADE, I HAVE COME TO REALIZE A BARIATRIC PROCEDURE WOULD BE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR MY PROBLEM. IT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED WITH PSYCHIATRIST AND THERAPIST. THE FINAL DECISION WAS THE LAP BAND WHICH IS LEAST INVASIVE. JUST AS I THOUGHT, AFTER SEEING RESULTS FROM THE 1ST AND 6TH VISITS...I AM HAPPY WITH MY DECISION. (FINISHED)

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

THE BEST INFORMATION IS GIVEN WHEN THE INTIAL APPOINTMENT IS MADE, "WE ACCEPT YOUR INSURANCE." I WOULD SUGGEST A TOTAL COMMITTMENT TO THE PROGRAM. MOST INSURANCES REQUIRE A FOUR (4) MONTH PERIOD IN PREPARATION FOR THE PROCEDURE....TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT ON YOUR OWN, AND TEST WITH THE FOLLOWING: DOCTORS...PULMONARY AND PSYCHIATRIST. THE DOCTOR WILL RECOMMEND A CARDIOLOGIST FOR SOME PATIENTS DEPENDING ON WEIGHT. THE DIETICIAN IS ON STAFF TO INSTRUCT DIETARY NEEDS AND FOOD INTAKE, BEFORE AND POST OP SURGERY. (FINISHED) INCONSISTEMENT APPOINTMENTS FOR THE FOUR (4) MONTHS CAN DELAY YOUR PROCEDURE.

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

THE FIRST MEETING IN DR. NOYAN'S OFFICE WAS A REWARDING EXPERIENCE. THERE IS A WAY OUT OF THIS NIGHTMARE!" I MUST MENTION "SURGICAL ASSOCIATES'" OFFICE STAFF AND DR. NOYAN'S WIFE PLAYED AN INTEGRAL PART IN MAKING MY DECISION. THE OFFICE ITSELF IS WELL ORGANIZED AND OFFERS A PROFESSIONAL SETTING. PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT; ANYONE VISITING "SURGICAL ASSOCIATES" WILL BE WELL INFORMED OF ALL AVAILABLE PROCEDURES, EXPECTATIONS AND EXCELLENT CARE. *********************

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS CAPABLE OF FOLLOWING THROUGH ON A CONSISTENT DIET AND EXCERCISE PROGRAM WHILE SUFFEREING WITH MAJOR DEPRESSION. I NEEDED AN AGGRESIVE APPROACH...SOMETHING WITH IMMEDIATE RESULTS AND SUPPORT. I DID RESEARCH . THE MOST "OUTSTANDING" FACTORS WERE THE CREDENTIALS, PROFESSIONALISM OF THE ENTIRE STAFF OF "SURGICAL ASSOCIATES." (FINISHED)

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I RESEARCHED THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BARIATRIC SURGERY SINCE 2005. DEFINITELY, I WAS GOING TO SETTLE FOR THE "BAND" WHICH IS LESS EVASIVE;SEVERAL FRIENDS WERE VERY SATISFIED WITH THIS PROCEDURE. (FINISHED)

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 WOULD SHARE MY SINCEREST FEELINGS....ANY SURGICAL PROCEDURE IS SERIOUS. THERE IS ONLY ONE ANSWER, PRAYER. KEEP YOUR HANDS IN GOD'S. WHILE DOING YOUR RESEARCH ON THE PROCEDURES, CHECK THE STASTISTICS OF PATIENT OUTCOMES. THE SURGERY WAS A "MUST" FOR ME. ALL OTHER OPTIONS HAD FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOSE WEIGHT....WITHOUT THE PROCEDURE I WOULD HAVE DEVELOPED COMPLICATIONS...DIABETES, KIDNEY FAILURE, HEART DISEASE OR CANCER. I ALREADY HAD DIFFICULTY WALKING AND TOTAL EXHAUSTION WHICH WERE DETRIMENTAL TO MY HEALTH....ALL OF WHCIH COULD LEAD TO DEATH. THE INITIAL TELEPHONE CALL AND COURTESY OF STAFF EASED MY CONCERNS WHEN AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE OFFICE STAFF WAS QUITE RECEPTIVE TO MY NEEDS. (FINISHED)

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 HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND STILL TODAY, NINE (9) MONTHS LATER. THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION WAS EXCELLENT WITH FAMILY AND A FEW FRIENDS. (FAMILY).

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

I AM PRESENTLY RETIRED. I WOULD NOT SHARE MY PERSONAL LIFE ON THE JOB. MY PRIVACY IS A VERY IMPORTANT VIRTUE...I AM VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT SHARING PERSONAL LIFE WITH AN EMPLOYER OR COLLEAGUE. DURING THE ENTIRE 33 YEAR CAREER I HAVE BEEN A RESPECTED LONER WITH A HANDFUL OF SINCERE FRIENDS. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MORALITY ON MOST JOBS TODAY. (FINISHED)

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

I FELT PRIVILIDGED TO FIND THE CORRECT OFFICE AFTER AN EXPERIENCE IN ANOTHER OFFICE SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR. FROM THE INITIAL TELEPHONE CALL, CHECK-UP, INFORMATION CONFERENCE WITH DOCTOR NOYAN AND AVRIL, I FELT I WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE. (FINISHED)

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

I WAS MADE AWARE OF AN OVERNIGHT STAY IF THE PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED IN THE LATE AFTERNOON. I WAS RELEASED THE NEXT AFTERNOON AFTER PASSING THE "SWALLOW TEST" AND CONSUMING A "FULL LIQUID DIET" FOR LUNCH. I DID BRING MY OWN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH. OTHERWISE, THE COMPLIMENTARY ITEMS WILL SUPPLY YOUR NEEDS. STAFF WAS EXCELENT FROM PRE ADMISSION TO DISCHARGE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE NURSE ON THE SURGIFCAL FLOOR. THE NURSE WAS NEGLIENT TO AN UNSAFE AREA AND PERSONAL NEEDS. I WAS ALERT TO THE UNSAFE AREA, BUT THE NEXT PATIENT MAY NOT NOTICE THE SITUATION. IT WAS ADDRESSED IN A TMELY FASHION AFTER COMMENTING ON THE EVALUATION. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ABOVE NURSE, I WAS PROVIDED WITH EXCELLENT CARE AT RWJ! (FINISHED)

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

THERE WAS GREAT DISCOMFORT IN RECOVERY AND ON MY FIRST NIGHT HOME. TWO WEEKS POST OP, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBELM. A CALL WAS MADE TO DR. NOYAN'S OFFICE; I WAS SCHEDULED IMMEDITELY AND THE ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED. (FINISHED)

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

THERE WAS MORE EXCITEMENT AFTER THE INITIAL TELEPHONE CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT. I WAS QUITE EAGER TO SHARE WITH FAMILY AND A FEW FRIENDS. IT REALLY KICKED IN ON THE DATE THE SURGERY WAS SCHEDULED...I THOUGHT ABOUT THE GREAT CHANGES THIS "WEIGHT LOSS" WOULD BRING TO MY LIFE. I WANTED DESPERATELY TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF. NOW, I HAD SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO! MY ANXIETY REACHED ITS "HIGH" WHEN FAMILY WOULD MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT MY APPEARANCE AT A FAMILY FUNCTION OR VISIT SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN RECLUSION. I TRY TO LET IT GO OVER MY HEAD...I HOPE IT ENDS SOON. I REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHY IT UPSETS ME...MAYBE IT BRINGS THE MEMORY OF DEPRESSION. HOPEFULLY, IT WILL STOP SOON. (FINISHED)

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

"SURGICAL ASSOCIATES" RESPONDED TO CONCERNS IN A TIMELY FASHION. READING THE LITERATURE GIVEN BY THE DOCTOR AND NUTRITIONIST ARE OF GREAT CONCERN FOR YOUR OWN PROTECTION! IT WAS NOT DIFFICULT FOLLOWING THE LIQUID DIET AFTER THE PROOCEDURE! IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE MAGIC NUMBER,#12; CHEW YOUR FOOD 12X. YOU HAVE ONE TIME TO EXPERIENCE THE "CHOKING SYNDROME" AND YOU WILL NEVER FORGET IT! BE CAREFUL OF TOUGH MEAT; MY EXPERIENCE WAS WITH A PIECE OF CHICKEN WHICH LOOKED GOOD, BUT DRY. IT WAS TOO TOUGH; IT IS BEST TO AVOID TOUGH MEATS. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT PIECE OF CHICKEN. I KEEP THE REFRIGERATOR FULL OF JELLO,PUDDING, YOGURT, AND APPLESAUCE FOR TWO HOUR SNACKS. ANOTHER GOOD SUGGESTION IS TO HAVE YOUR MEALS PREPARED IN ADVANCE. AS TIME GOES ON, THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE IN MY BODY AND FACIAL COMPLEXION. I WAS BEGINNING TO FEEL BETTER! I THOUGHT ABOUT TRYING TO GO TO BED AT NIGHT AND STAYING UP DURING THE DAY. (FINISHED)

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

NO MORE THAN A FIVE(5) MILE RADIUS TO DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND THE HOSPITAL. (FINISHED)

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 "CHOKING SYNDROME" IS AN EATING TOUGH CHICKEN WAS AN UNFORGETTABLE IS A FEELING YOU WILL NEVER FORGET! 0000000000000000000000000000000 THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS CHEWING YOUR FOOD 12X. THOROUGHLY AND EATING SMALL AMOUNTS AT ALL LEVELS.... NO WATER 30 MINUTES BEFORE AND AFTER MEALS. THIS IS A DIFFICULT HABIT TO BREAK...I DID CHEAT WITH SMALL SWALLOWS OF WATER. NOW, I WILL LEAVE IT IN FRONT OF MY PLATE WITHOUT TOUCHING. I DO NOT RECALL EVER SITTING WITHOUT A DRINK. SENSITIVITY WAS A PROBLEM WITH JELL-O, YOGURT, AND OTHER SOFT ITEMS. I HAD TO DECREASE THE AMOUNT ON THE SPOON...TO THAT OF THE SIZE OF FEEDING AN INFANT. NOW, IT JUST HAPPENS OCASIONALLY. THE IT WAS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE WITH HEAVIER FOODS...I ATE STRING BEANS PRACTICALLY EVERY DAY WHEN SOLIDS WERE ALLOWED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STRING BEANS AND TURKEY WHICH I WOULD COOK OVERNIGHT IN A CROCKPOT. THE TENDER TURKEY WAS SOFT AND EASY TO CHEW. I'VE ALWAYS PURCHASED FROZEN VEGETABLES, BROCOLLI, MY FAVORITE, OR CERTAIN MIXED VEGETABLES. EVENTUALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO GAIN ENOUGH ENERGY TO SHOP FOR FRESH STRING BEANS. CHILLI AND CRACKERS DID NOT REQUIRE MUCH CHEWING; THEY TEND TO DISSOLVE QUICKLY. SALAD AND CONTENTS WERE TOLERATED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS WHEN I CHEWED 12 TIMES. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TRIED PINCHING TINY PIECES OF A CHICKEN THIGH AND CHEWING 12 TIMES THERE WAS CHOKING. I THINK THE CHICKEN WAS TOO DRY AND TOUGH. THE CHOKING IS SOMETHING YOU WILL NEVER FORGET WHEN IT IS EXPERIENCED. MY MENU CONSISTS OF POULTRY, TURKEY AND DICED CHICKEN STRIPS; SALMON AND FISH..THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS SWALLOWING THESE MEATS WHEN THEY ARE ALLOWED IN YOUR DIET. I HAVE NOT CONSUMED AN EGG IN YEARS...I HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE "EGG WHITES" SCRAMBLED WITH CHEESE. IT IS WEEK TEN (10) AND I KNOW HOW TO EAT PROPERLY IN TERMS OF SWALLOWING. I THOUGHT I COULD RUSH SOME PUDDING IN A HURRY ONE DAY; THAT IS NOT ALLOWED. YOU MUST TAKE YOUR TIME AT ALL TIMES. THERE WAS A SECOND OF CHOKING; I AM LEARNING EACH DAY. 333333333333333333333 IT IS TRULY A LEARNING PROCESS IN EATING PROPERLY FOR LIFE. ADJUSTMENT IN EATING HABITS WILL IMPROVE MY OVERALL HEALTH.

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

BY WEEK THREE (3) I TRIED RIDING THE STATIONARY BIKE BUT I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY LEFT FOOT, SO I DID NOT ATTEMPT THE TREADMILL. THE PAIN EXISTED AFTER THE BIKING ON EACH TRY. I HOPE TO START WITH EXERCISES ON THE "TOTAL GYM" WHICH SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. PRESENTLY, THE STRETCH BANDS, SMALL BALL AND WEIGHTS ARE CONSISTENT 2X DAILY FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. THIS IS EXCELLENT FOR ME. PRIOR TO SURGERY I WOULD DO A LITTLE STRETCHING 1 OR 2X EACH WEEK FOR 5 OR 10 MINUTES. NOW, I DO THESE ACTIVITIES WITHOUT GIVING IT A 2ND THOUGHT. I AM CAPABLE OF DOING MORE SINCE THE 30 POUND WEIGHT LOSS. I PURCHASED STORAGE SPACE TO PLACE THINGS IN STORAGE OVER A YEAR AGO... THAT WAS A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY. IT IS PRACTICALLY EMPTY. I HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED PUTTING THINGS IN STORAGE OR THROWING OUT IN PREPARATION FOR A MOVE.

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

CONTINUATION OF THE VITAMINS PRIOR TO SURGERY: OMEGA 3, FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN D, AND CALCIUM.

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 SLEEP DISTURBANCE PRIOR TO THE BAND. WHEN SOME FOODS WERE DIFFICULT TO SWALLOW I COULD FEEL THE CHOKING SYNDROME. IT WAS EASY FOR THE FOOD TO COME BACK UP. AS THIS IS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES, YOU BEGIN TO APPRECIATE EATING SLOWLY AND SMALLER AMOUNTS. IT IS TEN (10) WEEKS POST OP. I STILL EXPERIENCE CHOKING BUT IT IS DECREASING. I HAVE BEEN CONSUMING THE SAME FOODS SINCE SURGERY. I TEND TO KNOW THE PORTIONS FOR PUTTING FOOD ON THE FORK OR SPOON. I CHEATED WITH A BISCUIT AND A PIECE OF CHICKEN AT A PROGRAM ONE DAY. I WAS JUST GOING TO PINCH A PIECE OF THE BISQUIT. I BELEIVE SILIVA SWELLED THE PIECE OF BISQUIT...I AM SITTING AMONGST STRANGERS AND MY THROAT IS CONTINUING TO SWELL. I KNEW I WOULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE RR. I TOOK SOME NAPKINS AS IF WIPING MY MOUTH AND SLOWLY RELIEVED THE BISQUIT. I REFUSED TO TAKE ANOTHER PINCH. THEN I STARTED PINCHING ON THE CHICKEN THIGH..IT WAS LIKEWISE. THE CHICKEN WAS A LITTLE DRY AND TOUGH. "DO NOT EAT TOUGH MEATS!" THE "BABY CARROTS" WERE DELICIOUS; THIS WAS THE 1ST TIME I APPRECIATED COOKED CARROTS. I HAVE ALWAYS EATTEN BABY CARROTS RAW . THE COOK TOLD ME HOW SHE COOKED THE CARROTS.

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

WAKING UP AFTER SURGERY IN AGONY...I KNOW NOW, THE AGONY WAS NOT FROM THE SURGERY ITSELF, BUT FROM THE GALLBLADDER. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

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

I ATTEND THERAPY WEEKLY OR BI-WEEKLY AND THE PSYCHIATRIST MONTHLY. THEY DO QUESTION PROGRESS; WHAT IMPACT HAS THE LAPBAND HAD IN MY LIFE? THE DEPRESSION LED TO THE ONSET OF MORBID OBESITY OVER THE PAST ELEVEN (11) YEARS. I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF ALL THE THINGS THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME. IT WAS AS IF I COULD NOT HOLD ONTO OR CAPTURE THE LITTLEST THINGS LIKE MAKING A BED, GOING TO THE STORE OR READING THE NEWSPAPER. SOMEONE DESTROYED SOMETHING THAT I REALLY LOVED...TEACHING. I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO WORK. I KEPT GOING FOR MY STUDENTS, AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB; EXCEPT, IT WAS MORE OF A TASK AS OPPOSED TO THE EXCITEMENT OF PREPARING AND THINKING OF ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE EACH CHILD'S OVERALL EXPERIENCE AND PERFORMANCE. TEACHING IS A 24 HOUR 7 DAY JOB WHEN YOU ARE FOREVER WORKING AT HOME, SHOPPING, PREPARING SOMETHING SPECIAL OR JUST BRAINSTORMING FOR NEW TECHNIQUES ....IT WAS WHAT I LOVED TO DO! TEACHER-MADE ACTIVITIES VIA TECHNOLOGY WERE CAREFULLY MODIFIED TO STIMULATE THE GROWTH OF SKILLS FOR EACH CHILD DURING EACH LESSON. I MISS IT, BUT IT IS NECESSARY I MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE. PERHAPS I CAN PERSUE A DREAM OF DEVELOPING TEACHING MATERIALS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. SUDDENLY, MY WORLD WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN! ALL OF THE ABOVE IS STRICTLY "MAYHEM." IT JUST TOOK ITS TOLL ON MY ENTIRE LIFE. THE WEIGHT LOSS HAS PROVEN TO PROVIDE MORE STABILITY IN MY LIFE. WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO LEAVE THE HOUSE IT DOES NOT TAKE A LIFETIME. ALSO, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAD LAP BAND OR GASTRIC BYPASS PROCEDURES IN LATE 2010. WE OFTEN SHARE EXPERIENCES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CHOKING SYNDROME. PERSONAL ISSUES HAVE KEPT ME FROM ATTENDING GROUP SESSIONS HELD BY "SURGICAL ASSOCIATES," HOPEFULLY, I WILL ATTEND SOON. READING INPUT SHARED ON OESITYHELP HAS BEEN VERY RESOURCEFUL. ALL OF THE ABOVE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO PERSONAL GROWTH AND MANTENANCE.

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

TWO (2) INCHES IN LENGTH. ALSO, FOUR SMALL MARKINGS. THEY ARE BARELY NOTICEABLE. MY BODY FRAME IS TOO LARGE FOR A BIKINI...IF SOMEONE CHOOSES TO WEAR A BIKINI THAT IS THEIR OPTION AND THE SCAR IS IRRELEVENT. AFTERALL, THIS SCAR IS THE BEGINNING OF A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE. LIFE IS TOO PRECIOUS TO WORRY ABOUT A SCAR! THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH FAR MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS, SUCH AS NO LEGS, ARMS, VISION OR HEARING TO BE CONCERNED WITH SCARS. I TREASURE "LIFE" AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY AS PROMISED BY GOD.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

THE "PLATEAU EXPERIENCES" HAVE BEEN THE ABILITY TO WEAR SOME SMALLER CLOTHING, THE EXCITEMENT OF GOING THROUGH MY CLOTHES WHICH I HAVE NOT DONE IN YEARS. AND, THE BIGGEST ONE OF ALL, "LOOKING IN THE MIRROR AND SEEING A DIFFERENCE IN MY SIZE." I ORDERED THE WRONG SIZE SHIRTS, BUT DECIDED TO KEEP THEM... THE FOLLOWING WEEK THEY WERE A PERFECT FIT.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO, I AM SPENDING MORE TIME AROUND FAMILY MEMBERS; THEY HAVE COMPLIMENTED MY APPEARANCE. I REALLY DO NOT CARE ABOUT BEING AROUND OTHER PEOPLE OR GETTING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. I WILL RETURN TO THE PLACE OF WORSHIP...A PROMISE MADE TO GOD!