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

I found out about it through my docter when I was fifty five years old. I had heard about it before that but no details. I have to admit, after talking to the weight loss surgeon I was both delighted and worried because of my age and of course, the uncertinty of it. As it turned out, I had no need to be since the insurance would not cover it. At the time I had insurance through my wifes employer. This was Blue Cross but it was a self insured program (she was employed by K-Mart at the time).

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

I had no luck at all getting the insurance companys to cover it until I went to MMPC. They sent all the necessary paper work in and had me approved in no time. This, while really great, also again had me scared at my age.

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

My first meeting with Dr. Kemmeter was extreamly reassuring and he gave me all the information I needed and some I would rather not have had (tonge in cheek). I found him to be very easy going and insisted I know "EVERY THING" about the surgery. When I finished with him I was much more certin I needed it and could have it.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Dr. Kemmeter. Also my family docter. He is a differant docter then I had before for my family docter.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Kemmeter explaind that he would try for the laporiscopic surgery but he couldn't say for sure until he actully got in to the surgery. He did explain that it may be necessary to full inscision. I was fortunate enough to have the laporiscopic and have not felt any pain or side effects from it since the surgery two months ago. (I have lost weight though.)

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?

Of course I had all the fears associated with the surgy and even multiplied by my age. I felt though, if I have to go on living in this body for a few more years i would most likely die anyway so I did need and wanted the surgery much more then the fear of it.

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?

Every person in my famliy was very happy for me. This means every one from my children (I have four), to my grand children, sisters, brothers, cousins and and others.

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

I have been retired for a while now so my employer never came into the picture.

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

My stay in the hospital could not have ben better. Every one (except one night nurse) made my feel like I was the only one in the world and I have to tell you, I love attention. I has there one day and then home. Although I wanted to get out fast, I was also very apprensive about not haveing a nurse or docter there just in case. my fear was unfounded though. I have not had a bit of trouble with my surgery except for when I get a little cocky and eat to much or to fast. That will bring my back to reality in a hurry.

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

I had absolutely NO complication. In fact, I have told my wife on several occasions,"I wonder if they really did do the surgery". Of course when I over do it I know right away that I did have the surgery.

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

As I said before, after I was scheduled for surgery i was very happy knowing I would be one way or the other soon. Besides, I was so busy trying to adjust to the liquid diet that I didn't really think about the surgery much.

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

I don't know what other people can expect but I can say, my first week home was not at all like I thought it would be. I was up and going places and even took the car by my self on several occasions. I thought I would be in bed and to my surprise, I found I could do most of the things I could before the surgery with a lot of caution.

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

I traveled one hundred miles each way for the surgery. It had no affect on my health care because of MMPC's follow up program and also, don't forget, I have a wonderfull family docter.

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 first two weeks after surgery I was limited to a liquid diet high in protain. Then they introduced yougart cottage cheese and a few other high protain items I was allowed to try. Next MMPC wanted me to begin to start eating whole foods but light because of the stomach/pouch. i am now at a point where Ican eat most foods but I must get at least fifty grams of protain a day and I do have to keep track of everything. Mosy cream of soups are good for fiber and it is very easy to absorbe them.

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

First couple of days i was just laying around but after a couple of days i could come and go pretty much as I pleased but had to be very carefull of lifting. Nothing heavy until my surgery had a chanch to heal. Also, light exercise but not over do it to begin with. After two months now I can do most exercises.

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

I am now taking Optisource vitimins from Walgreens, this is a vitimin made for by-pass surgery patients. As for other medications, I was taking eight differant medications for Diabetes, high blood pressure, colostral and a few other things. I am most happy to say I now take only one perscription in addition to the vitimins, that is for high blood pressure and I hope to cut that back as I loose weight. i am most happy about the diabetes medication, I don't take any nowand I was taking three differant ones.

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 have had NO side effects except for when I over do it and then it only makes me a little nausiaus.

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

The worst part for me was the anticipation which proved to be unfounded. Oh yes, I forgot how much i liked to eat but can't now and that bothers me some but in a good way.

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

I haven't been in contact with a support group yet but I will be attending a meeting this month on the third Tuesday. I had planned to attended last month but it ended up being the same day as my appointment at MMPC so I wasn't around for it.

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

Scare? What scar? Really, it is almost gone and all it was to begin with was six very small incessions., and they have almost dissapered.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

The only plateau I have experinced is, I stopped loosing weight so fast but that is my own fault for not staying on a exercise program.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People constantly tell me that I look much thinner although I don't see it.