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

i saw picture of wls patient 22 yr tampa boy, in tampa newspaper. l who by way is still thin in tampa bay . i called him and he gave me his doctor number. 3months later i was on my way.

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

dont give up, Go to state file complaint. I did recently for jaw surgery and won.

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

Be prepared , write down your questions. ask doctor how many he hs done.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

last resort , i knew i would only get bigger and i know i would be over 400 by now.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Doctor gave us book to read basically the gastric by pass is only one really gold standard

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 never really feared dying, i was the 4000 patient of dr macgregor and he had not lost anyone on operating table. i only focused on i could not keep going the way i had, diet pills could not go on.

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?

when i had surgery it was not kool. i was divorced my 16 and 14 yr sons went with me. i didnt even tell my 18 yr old son. i told co workers, who were worried. my mother supported me and my sisters thought i was crazy. ( 12 yrs later my younger sister had surgery dec 2000, and my other sister and niece are going to have surgery this year.

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

No one really discussed at gte back then, they werent allow to discuss,

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

2days, Bathrobe and slippers.

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

none

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 felt better each day .

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

3 weeks of laying around house getting some walking in

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

120 miles I continued to go for my checkups for 4 yrs after surgery.

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.

i ate sugarfree skim milk pudding for 10 dys, then bland diet, no alcohol, or cheating for 9months

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

i took multi vitamin and zantac i wish i would of know to take zantac i think now they are giving it. i developed ulcer with i had treated.

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?

dumping forever. hair loss somewhat,

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

waiting for all test and waiting to go into operating room.

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

I had my own local support groups for a year or so. i attended fu care by dr macgregor. and went to reunions one a year.

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

no big deal, looks ok in swim suit

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i continued to lose after 9months i had reach my goal.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, i noticed i had more friendly people