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

I was told by a friend who had it done with me at the same time. I thought it was a great idea at the time .I only wish I could have done it 20 years ago.

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

My experience was great.I advised my group carrier state farm group and they approved the surgury and I then forwarded the bill and they paid the full ammount because I have already met the deductables.

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

Dr Rutledge in Statesville N.C. was the most carring pyhsician I have ever met. He made me feel comfortable with the surgury and explained the surgury and answered all my questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided to do this as soon as I was approched by a friend who wanted to have it. I never thought twice about it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

When I researched the mini bypass surgury I new immediately that this was the one for me. It was far superior to anything that was being done and a very low invasive surgury with maximun good results.The mini bypass is fully reversable if there is any kind of problem. How can you beat 30 minute surgury and one day in the hospital. Check it out for yourselves go to clos.net and check out the web site

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 look at surgury this way and I never ever feared a surgury. I you go to sleep and you don't get up, meaning you die, what a wonderful way to die and if you get up everything will be ok so what is there to fear.

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 and friends were all against me doing this.My wife was dead set against it. She is now the biggest believer and every one thinks it was a good thing and are very happy 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 am self employed but my peers in the business think it is wonderful.I was golfing 2 days after i came home or it was one week after surgury. I went to work the day after I came home from North Carolina

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

Davis hospital in statesville N.C. was terrific .It is a small hospital that you get in and out very quickly and the staff is terrific. I was in the hospital one day.You don't have to bring anything.

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

no

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

After surgury I found that I was having a hard time sleeping and I realised that my cpap machine had to be set lower and after 3 weeks I started to get some sleep. Then I started to feel very tired and low energy levels. I immeditely call the Dr. and he advised me to stop Taking my blood pressure pills of which I was taking 3 different kinds and I was a little hesitant. But I did cut these in half and started to check my blood pressure every day and contacted my cardiologist who gave me the ok and every thing was the ok . I felt great and finaly I weaned myself off of the blood pressure pills.

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

I had a great experience with this surgury I may not be a good example. Everything was just great for except for the gas. It smells like methane.

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

CHICAGO TO STATESVILLE N.C.

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.

After surgury you can only have some crackers and soups consume types and yogurts for about 7 or8 days . Then you can introduce soft foods such as oatmeal,scrambled eggs,mashed potatoes etc. Then slowly try harder foods and chew them very well . Ice cream and sweets do not agree with me but i do have them once and a while you can eat almost anything you want after 30 days in small amounts. I threw up several times until I new exactly how much I can eat. Your body tells you. Now I eat almost anything but steak.It take s to long tochew and then it doesn't taste that good after you chew it to death.

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

Very high, I felt no problem golfing or working right after.

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

I take actigal for the gall bladder Then i take 2 garlic ,2000 c, 1000e, 3 gnc multivitamins ,2 calcium,2 1000 fish oil.I take 1 heaping teas of creatine and 1 heaping teas of glutamine with water banana and a heaping scope of whey protein and I make a shake every morning and I put a teas of metamucil.

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 only was effected with dumping on 2 occasions until I learned to drink 20 minutes after i eat and wayched my intake. This only happened in the first 3 or 4 weeks after surgury.

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

The gas pains right after you wake up from surgury

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

My friend and I the fellow that had the surgury are are only support group. I am absolutly fine with every thing . I am too busy with my business and family to be thinking about this surgury. But I find a lot of people ask question and i am talking a lot about but I try never to bring the subject up unless someone open the door.

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

Can' even noticie the 5 slit that were made but as a man with a hairy chest it won't be as noticeable

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am losing very slowly at this point and I am very happy for that I find that I am losing muscle and I have to work out 3 to 4 times a week. I know that the weight will come off and that I will lose another 40 pds however long it takes is ok with me.