It's my re-birthday today!

Hi Gang! I can't believe it's been a year. It has gone so quickly. All of the bad stuff is merely a small memory in the back of my mind. By the bad stuff I mean the hospital stay and the first few weeks after surgery, choking up big pieces of meat that weren't so big, but just didn't want to stay down. Or that piece of barbeque rib I tried to chew to eternity three weeks after surgery and it just stuck somewhere down below until I had to stick my finger down my throat to cough it up. The hours in the hospital waiting for a sip of water, thinking my throat was going to close completely due to the dryness. Being wheeled down to the basement of the hospital to be scanned by some weird, giant machine to find out if I had any "leaks" -- wondering if I did in fact have something wrong and that's why I couldn't even have an ice cube to suck on. I don't want to scare the newbies -- I don't even know if anyone else went through these things. The good news is, I would do it all again. In a HEARTBEAT! I was a size 32 -- stretched to the max. Now, I'm in a big 18 -- I like to consider myself a size 17, 18's are too big, but 16's are too small. I'll get there someday. I am still losing about a pound a week, sometimes two. I've lost 158 pounds and I am a new person. I will never go back to the old me and this surgery is literally a God-send. I wanted to share my story with the board for some time, but keep forgetting to add this link. I'm an editor for the Middletown Transcript newspaper and I recently wrote an update when I lost 150. My family members cried and I got rave reviews for this column from the community. People love to read "personal" stuff and I really got personal here. It was picked up by the Dover Post, our parent newspaper, so here's the link to check it out. Go to the bottom of the page -- it says something about gastic surgery: http://www.doverpost.com/PostArchives/01-04-06/index.html I would do it all again, for anyone out there who isn't sure. Take the chance. It's scary and you will be very unsure about yourself for about three months, but the rest is a ride like you've never been on before. As always, if anyone has any questions, I'd love to help! I love you all! Kristen 362/203.5/???

Happy re-birthday and congrates on the great work. I will be celebrating my first re-birthday soon 2/14. keep smiling and keep up the good work... Dawn 315/200/145-healthy

HAPPY RE-BIRTHDAY TO YOU!! woo hoo!! we have the same re-birthday! it HAS been a great year and i agree with you, i'd do it all over again too!! congrats to you on your wonderful job thus far!! Steph 350/142.5/140 (personal goal) (5'8") below surgeon's goal of 143!!

Kristen, happy rebirthday to you.....an amazing year I might add. I just read your article and must offer cuddos on a well written article. May you continue to experience all the success you deserve. Hugs, Dana

Dana, You are another one I just can't get over how well you've done. I showed my husband your profile earlier today and he was like "Holy Cow, look how different she looks!!" It's funny, I don't think he remembers what I used to look like sometimes. I'll have to show him some "before" pictures to remind him! LOL! Your re-birthday is coming up and you've come sooo far! I am so proud of you and all of us Februaryers! We have all come so far! Hugs, Kristen

Happy Re-Birthday to you!! Its been an amazing year for all of us!! Lisa 371/341/191/140

Happy Re-Birthday to you! I loved the article you wrote. WLS can be scary, but it sure is worth it, isn't it! Hugs, Susan 298/167/160

Kristen, Congratulations on your 1st Re Birthday!!

Great article Kristen and congratulations on your success. I am like you and feel bad about the fat jokes and fat remarks. No matter what size I get I feel like this type of behavior is unacceptable. Have a great anniversary and re-birthday. Sarah 266/156/140 Re-birthday on 02/16