Hi All!  Thanks so much

 The OH posters seem to have dininished over the past several years since our surgery dates.  If you find a more active board or site- please let me know :) 

 I recall when Iwas pre-op, I couldn't find any posts or info here on patients that were pretty far out post op.  Wondered if they dropped off the face of the earth, died, or had gained weight and were too ashamed to post it here.  That is what I thought then.  
But rest assured- none of those reasons are mine--- I guess at some point I just stopped identifying myself as a bariatric patient.  
My old profile appears to have disappeared entirely :(
My pre-op weight was around 285 and height 5'3
My surgery date was Jan 17th 2006.

I met goal weight of 160 quickly and still am able to keep my weight between 145-165.  
I had a tons of issues right after surgery- couldn't tolerate any protein shakes so got dehydrated due to actual starvation for 4-6 months.  To this day I still have a significant intolerance to lactose and sucrose.  I have NEVER had issues with constipation- my issues was chronic diarrhea.  
I no longer have high blood pressure- in fact is low but no meds for it.  I have chronic vit D deficiency which was the case even before surgery.  I have iron deficiency but cannot take oral supplements due to non-absorption.  I have had to have IV infusions of iron this past year due to anemia.  This condition may be partially due to RNY surgery but also due to heavy menstral cycle.  I do not take daily vitamin or calcium supplements like I probably should.   I have never had plastic surgery and have a ton of loose skin on abdomen and thighs but people don't tend to notice it as i stay clothed...lol  I freely admit- I have never sustained an exercise regime and rrely follow the post op diet.  I tend to eat more starchy carbs but cannot do sugar or sugar alcohols.  I eat a lot of homemade chicken veggie soup and panara asiago cheese bagels.   I cannot tolerate raw leafy greens- they are out if me within 30 minutes of consuming them... It took over one year before I could eat chicken or beef and even now sometimes I need to vomit up these meats if I didn't chew it well or ate too much of it.  I have been back to buffets but it was probably at least 2 years before I was willing to go. 

Anyway, that is me in a nutshell.  I am not bragging or whinning.  This surgery has been a life changing event.  I still struggle, I still get frustrated and sad about things.  I still look for food as a comfort  (since about 3-4 years out) even though it tends not to provide any comfort any longer. I do not have stomach hunger but "head hunger" returned for me after about 3 years post op.   I still see myself as fat when I look in the mirror- I still try to avoid mirrors.  I have been on many rollercoasters at amusement parks and other fun things I couldn't fit when I was pre-op weight. I could babble on more but have to sign off now. 

My husband is now considering the RNY versus gastric sleeve so I am revisiting gastric surgery in a whole new way- secondhand :)

I am looking forward to skimming thru this site again to see how things are going and how things have changed.  Peace.

Hi eyeryone! 

6 years out I am maintaining my weight at 125.  I got down to 118 but I looked like I was dying so I gained a couple.  I would always be afraid to leave the house because of people would laugh at me and insult me.  I am proud to say, I leave the house all the time now and love being out there.

I still have some issues with body image, I sometimes see the old fat me, but most of the time I see me as I am now. I have also gotten very good at tucking skin into pants. LOL

I started out at 286 (what they called a lightweight)  I have used the tool they gave me and have had AWESOME success.  I have lost 97% of my excess body weight.  YEAH for me.

My Husband is going to be having it done in the next couple months so that will be interesting. 

If you are newer and thinking about this all I can say is it was the BEST thing I've done in my life.  You will have sucess if you follow Dr's orders and not fall into the pit again just to blow the surgery you just had.  No one wants to blow 10k or more to fail.  Be strong!  Off to do some chores.  BYE!!

 Happy 6 years to you as well.  I have been doing pretty well and my weight is steady.

Take Care!

Rhonda
-135 lbs