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

I saw the word "bariatric"and was curious about it. The whole idea scared me badly, but also gave me a glimmer of hope that there might actually be some sort of answer.

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

Political red tape designed to pinch political pennies in order to fund bridges going to nowhere. The French revolution and the Boston tea parties come to mind. We need to retake this country and reestablish The United States of America as it was intended to be by the founding fathers of this country.

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

Very pleasant, very positive, very informative and the gateway to a true miracle. People meeting the surgeon should thoroughly check him out and talk to former and present patients of his. Ask the questions and study the procedures. Be informed, and after you find the surgeon you can believe in, be decisive and DO IT!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

A desire to live to have a life and a fervent hope to have a normal life again. I had the support of my wonderful wife and my sister.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I knew I needed the most reliable and productive type I could have and still live to see my five year post surgery date.The lap band didn't produce the results I needed and the only other option I was offered was the RNY.

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 was scared to death up to the moment I went into the surgery room, and suffered needlessly from the ass covering of the anesthesiologist who squirted lidocaine directly into my lungs and greatly and needlessly terrified me at the threat of a tracheotomy.If they are that afraid and doubtful of their abilities, they need to find a job counting toothpicks on a conveyor belt or the like. I will never forget that horrible experience, but Dr. Chapman was wonderful despite the bungling of the urologist and anesthesiologist I'd tell people to postpone the surgery if they are uncomfortable with any member of the surgical team, until they have expressed their concerns fully with their surgeon...it will save a lot of unneeded anxiety and pain.

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?

Some were afraid I would die, some probably hoped I would, some thought it was cheating and showed weakness of character, and none had walked in my shoes... or more accurately lain in my sickbed. If they won't support you in such a beneficial procedure, find new family and friends and ditch those losers if you educate them and they persist. Everyone was amazed at the results afterward and they might have well saved it if they weren't supportive before when I needed it. My wife and sister were my rocks.

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

I am disabled.

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

It was one of the best decisions of my life. I thank God I was wise enough to go. It saved my life and made me remember that I am a good person and deserve to have a meaningful life.

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

It was my first major surgery, and everyone was very kind to me. I tend to be a little impatient and was eager to begin my new life. The problem with the damage to my urethra caused significant pain, and the restrictions on water and ice kept me ill. When they finally gave me a cup of ice I couldn't swallow it because my mouth tissues were so dry it absorbed the moisture completely. I would advise bringing a pillow and a book or two. Enjoy the rest, because you gotta get moving as soon as possible to get rid of the gas and heal up. The pillow is to hold against your abdomen when you cough.

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

Outside of the urethra damage and the bladder infection, I felt pretty good about things, but a short time after going home, the incision where most of the work was done became infected, had to be opened and left open stuffed with gauze until it healed. I would urinate, then feel like I had to go again and it would be pure blood, and I would pass out.The catheter had to be reinserted and left in for a month until my urethra started healing and I was over the bladder infection. I didn't lose any weight till that was over.

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 tried to learn all I could about the entire concept and to be prepared to make it happen right. I didn't want to be a causality. A warning to people contemplating and/or waiting for the surgery...DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING SOMEONE WRITES IN A BOOK! I almost didn't have the surgery because of the negative experiences of one isolated person.Nothing and nobody is perfect and anything can happen with ANY surgery. When my wife had her wisdom teeth extracted, the woman behind her died during the same procedure.

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

My results were anti-typical due to the incision complication and the bladder and urethra situation. I lost little or no weight during the first month as a result and could exercise very little. Most people don't seem to get it that they just had a major surgery and that IT TAKES TIME TO HEAL. Don't rush it, follow your diet plan, and walk your feet off...two years down the road you'll be glad you did.

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

I had moved to the adjacent town and was 7 miles from the hospital. It was a wise choice and the biggest mistake we made was moving to another state, Texas, and I was unable to find competent health care in that state in the Austin area.

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 almost immediately could not tolerate the protein shakes and never have been able to. Some of the things I was told would be easy weren't and some of the forbidden items have never given me trouble. I still can't eat peanut butter, breads, waffles, pancakes, but have no problem with strong coffee, fried foods, sweets,sodas (If I decant it and let the fizz reduce.Oh and everything makes me sneeze.

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

Very little the first month due to the bladder infection and catheter. I walked as much as I possibly could, which wasn't as much as I'd have liked to,but I was disabled with my back and on disability before I got big.

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

I take a broken Centrum daily, 1200+ MG of calcium, B-12, Magnesium & Zinc.

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've had very little nausea and vomiting, never have slept much (I'm a musician), almost no dumping except when I drink too much milk, but lost almost all of my hair on my crown and it never came back. I wear a lot of hats and caps now. I still get a lot of pain if I eat a little too much, don't chew well enough, take too big of bites or have any stress while I'm eating. I have a constricted esophagus, maybe Barrett's Syndrome, and I cannot eat anything without a sip of liquid if I want it to go down. If I do, it sticks and comes back up without reaching the pouch. Any stress and no food, pills or even water will go through. It was like this before the surgery.

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

The Foley Catheter bungle and the anesthesiologist. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't unless they used a different anesthesiologist.

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

I have zero aftercare or support other than this site due to a mistake I made in moving to Texas. I am desperately trying to move back to Greenville, NC where my surgery was performed. I thank God for this site...it's kept me going.

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

I keep running across these little bumps and wondering what they are, then I remember and thank Dr. Chapman for not doing it as an open. I'm totally satisfied with his work.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

It's easier to describe the periods that weren't plateaus. Lol I lost very little that first month, and not an inch off my waist. Then from October 6th to May 1st, I lost 25 inches off my waist, stayed there a month or so then dropped two more inches and have stayed there. My highest weight was 426, my surgery date weight was 380 and I am showing to be 246 as long as I'm on my Torsemide. If I get off it I gain about 3 pounds per day.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

The fact that I even get to SEE people is different. I was flat on my back for over 6 years. Now I am out there with a life and getting hit on by some pretty nice looking women. Lol I'm not looking, but it sure is awesome. And kids don't make fun, women don't run, and men don't look at me in disgust...yeah, they treat me different and I'm the same person, so to me, they mean no more to me than I did to them when I had my problem.