I woke up this morning....

I woke up this morning.  I spent my normal potty-time (reading time!), fed the puppy and then grabbed a big slice of tomato foccacia bread spread with olive oil / flax butter.  (Good for my baby.... lots of Omega 3's). 

I turned on the TV and they said "TODAY IS APRIL 25th" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

So what, you ask?  

Four years ago today I was all prepped and in a waiting room at Uni of Chicago waiting to be called for my DS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I am including a recent photo below - 7+ months pregnant.  I am happy to report I gained between 20-25 lbs.  (I had gained closer to 30 but am having trouble in the 3rd trimester eating enough to maintain that gain!) 

Four years ago today my life changed.....   In the last four years I have lost a lot, but gained even more.  I have: 

• Lost over 200lbs
• Lost 90% of my excess weight and gained a whole ton of confidence in myself.
• Lost my size 36 jeans and gained a nice wardrobe of size 6/8 clothing.   (well before being pregnant!)  
• Talked more about pooping and farting than most people do in a lifetime.  
• Went to Wrigley Field to see my first Cubs game - and fit in the seats with room to spare!  
• Walked 5k for MS and then the next weekend walked 5K for Breast cancer and then a month later rode 20 miles for diabetes.  
• Lost my skin rashes under my hanging fat and gained a flat stomach compliments of Dr. Zachary.  
• Chased my nephew and niece around the playground without losing my breath.  
• Bought two electric blankets and an electric throw and use them.  
• Went bungee jumping.
• Invested in my 401k plan because now I plan on living long enough to retire.  
• Rode a horse for the first time in my adult life.  
• Lost the rolls of fat and gained the ability to run for 45 minutes.  
• Rode every roller coaster in the amusement park - some twice!  
• Went on a cruise and ate desert 4 times a day along with anything else I wanted without worrying about calories or fat.
• Downsized my "Q" pantyhose (which often didn't fit anyway) to a nice size "B" . 
• Climbed and hiked through the Badlands of South Dakota.  
• Shared my story with many many people some of whom I hope I helped.  
• Enjoyed the Rocky Mountains from the top - and didn't even get out of breath.  
• Purposefully saved the LEAN part of the pork chop for the dog and ate the fatty part myself.
• Stopped worrying about if I will fit into seats or can get out of a booth.
• Lost my boobs and regained them from the skilled hands of Dr. Aly and Cram.  
• Swam with the StringRays in Grand Cayman and didn't worry about having to climb back up the boat's little ladder.  
• Wore a bathing suit in public without a shirt over it and didn't feel self conscious. 
• Realized I can gain weight if I try.  
• Wore a sleeveless shirt for the first time since I was 10 years old !!!!!!!!!!   
• Ate an entire pound of bacon in a day.  
• Put on a "one sized fits all" t-shirt and it was too large!  
• Wore high heels for the first time ever. 
• Realized without the people on these support boards my success wouldn't be as great.  
• Got engaged and married  to a wonderful man who loves me fat, thin, saggy skin, scars and all.   
• Watched as my family grew from one nephew to 3 nephews and a niece - AND AM PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST !!!!!!!!!!
• Ate by myself in public without worrying that people were scoffing at the fattie stuffing her face.
• Learned more about vitamins and how they work in our digestive systems and with our body than most doctors will ever know.
• Changed clothes in the front seat of my car w/o a problem. (Don't ask)  
• Been able to fit into normal bathroom stalls and not worried about having to squeeze around a door to get out.  
• Shoveled the driveway after 6 inches of snow for the first time. (We have a snowblower, I didn't want to use it)  
• Got a manicure and pedicure at a fancy salon and didn't feel like I was being laughed at behind the scenes.
• Looked sadly at  another SMO woman and wished I could help them.  
• Had constipation and diarrhea in the same day and then laughed about it.  
• Bought my first ever house and have no worries about being able to keep it clean or maintained.  
• Walked my dog for so long he wore out before I did.  
• Ate an 18 oz tub of spreadable butter in less than a week and didn't think about cholesterol.

I have no regrets except that I didn't do it years earlier.  I am so glad I found a DS profile accidently stuck amongst the RNY profiles on OH .  It was that woman's profile -- who had started posting as a prospective RNY patient and switched to DS that made me look at DS as an option.  I wish I could remember whose profile that was so I could thank her personally. I had seen DS mentioned as a type of WLS but it was listed as "extreme" and even at over 400lbs I wasn't planning on "extreme".  Now I laugh at that....  

The DS surgery makes so much MORE sense.... it KEEPS THE STOMACH.... extreme to me is removing something given to you at birth to replace it with something man-made that gets clogged, closes up, etc.  That is extreme. 

My surgery was scheduled for 7am but due to an emergency surgery I wasn't brought in until 11am.  I had a horrible
headache by then and I was wired with fear/excitement.  
 

  I jokingly told my family that I had the easy part... I was going to sleep through it.  They had to sit and wait.  Even my
oldest (grumpy) brother took off the day and sat in the waiting room.  

I had nothing but support from my family, friends
and co-workers.  I was blessed. 
  My Ds was done lap and took about 6 hours because of internal scarring he had to cut away.  My gallbladder and appendix were left in, my CC made to be "betweeen 91-100CM" and my stomach about 4oz.  
  I had very few complications.  I had a seratoma on my abdoman wall because of the Loevenox I had to inject (blood thinner).  I
was taken off the Lovenox after 2 weeks because I was able to be so active.  I was walking up and down stairs from the start
and walked up and down my driveway in 10 minute increments at least 3 times a day.  
  I went back to work after 4 weeks off with no problems. 

2 years and 1 day after my DS surgery I had a Lower-Body-Lift.  I hadn't planned on plastics, but I also hadn't planned on my skin being so saggy.  5 months after that I had my upper-body-lift.   I think I am done now.  

I am not immune to regain and know my food addiction will be with me for the rest of my life.  But the DS has given me a chance to beat it....  

To all those who supported me on my journey - THANK YOU.
To all those still fighting for the DS - IT IS WORTH IT.
For those still deciding - do your research and  make the decision that is best for you.  

Cindy

Awww, I am all teary-eyed looking at your picture and readnig your post.    You look so darn cute and happy!   What a wonderful stage of your life to be entering into.  I wish I could put mine back inside of me and start all over again.   Would you have ever thunk it four years ago??   Congratulations, sweetie!

Cindy, this is one of the most inspiring things I've ever read regarding the DS - so thank you for sharing! I can only hope I have half your success.

Congrats on your success and on the upcoming baby!

You definitely have that "glow". You look adorable. Your posts are always so positive and upliifting. You have helped more people along your journey than you will ever know. I am so happy for you. I can't wait to see the new baby! Thank you for all that you have paid forward.

Wonderful journey.  Wow you are an inspiration.  The ride of the DS is a wonderful one, but I can't wait to hear about the ride you are about to begin with your new addition.  Hang on it will be a wild one.

Amber

Congratulations Cindy.  It makes me teary-eyed too.  To think of all the possibilities due to the DS.  I have only lost 50 pounds, and I want to SHOUT DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS from the rooftops already! 

I have spoken to my RNY seeking friend, and she is scheduling the DS with my surgeon right now!!  I talked to a women in the waiting room at U of MN who had the RNY 19 years ago with all her weight regain + more.  I told her to ask Dr. B about a revision to the DS.  I gave her Obesity Help.com and told her to spend as much time as she could in the Duodenal switch forum and post for infor about RNY to DS revision (as we have such GREAT revision folks here).

 You look amazing!  I don't even know you, but I feel a sense of pride!  :)

God bless you Cindy.

Kathy

you have been blessed with the DS
and now you are about to bring a new blessing into your family

enjoy every second of this new life!!! you deserve all this happiness

Cindy-
You look wonderful and what a great post.  You have a wonderful life.  Congratulations on your success and the new baby.

Red

I don't know you either - but thank you so much for posting!  I got teary eyed reading your post and looking at your picture!  You look so adorable!  I think pregnant women are adorable - maybe b/c I haven't been pregnant??

Congrats on your awesome weightloss!!  Thank you so much for sharing your story and all the things that you can do now - for a pre-op they all make me feel so secure that I have chosen the right thing for me!

Can't wait to read/see about your new baby!  Keep us updated!