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

My sister had the Lap Band.

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

I had nothing but the best experience as of yet.

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

Just by being prepared.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was having major issues with my lower back and I was gaining more weight due to the medication.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Statistics.

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?

Put it in God's hands.

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 behind any decision I made.

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

they gave me 100% support

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

It was very nice. I was there for about 4 days or so. Everone was very attentive, kind, to me and my family. I came away feeling as if my family took care of me.

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

Yes I had one complication but it was handled competently by my Surgeon Dr. Wade Barker.

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 miserable, Just cowboyed up.

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

Lots of pain, learning to deal with not being able to fall back on the crutch of comfort food.

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

5 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.

My diet was terrible for 6 months due to GURD. I cannot say.

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

Low, no energy.

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

centrum, b-12

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 could not eat a thing.. Just broths. Lost some hair. Dumped quite a bit if I ate something or anything. Now, I've been treated and I can eat most anything except Bread, Sugar, Dairy. Which is ok by me. Makes me healthier.

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

The barium you drink to test the pouch... YUCK.. I was thirsty and that was the first thing I had to drink.

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

There are people at work, in my family, church and this forum to keep things in focus. It is very impportant.

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

It's hardly noticable.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

When I went under 240 lbs.....

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yes. Most folks don't look at me as a freak and I get more smiles. Too bad.