Surgiversary reflections (long)

Hello, Today is my surgiversary. One year ago I was experiencing the joys of phospho soda and undergoing the loop-de-loop of my intestines. I was 272 on a 5'6" frame, and am now 179. I was hoping I would get to -100, but hey, I came durn close! My pie-in-the-sky has been to reach 150, but to tell you the truth, I don't care so much anymore if I get there, one way or another. I'm happy where I am. I no longer have to support my Immodium habit (I should've bought stock, I could've lived well on the dividends from my purchases alone). No more blood pressure medicine. No more fatty liver. No more shortness of breath for only going up one flight of stairs at work. No more exhisting in a life of I can't, but now living a life in which I participate. No more medicine to help me cycle, and the prospect of having another kid, when I'm ready. Being able to play with my kid. Not having to wait for my husband to find the "round-to-it" to get chore X accomplished. Now he says he wonders when I'm gonna get rid of him, since I don't need him anymore (I tell him I need him to knead me, lol). As they say, the surgery's on my body, not my head, so I'm still no social butterfly, but I have noticed that I'm not ridiculed nearly as much as I was, and as I make these observances I find that other's negative opinions matter so much less to me than they used to. I had a shaky marriage before surgery, and still do, but dangit, I need a few more decades of practice on torturing that man, before I'll let him go! I had bills and debt before the surgery, and I still do. Those hurricane bills just don't die! I had complications from my surgery. I had to have my strictures dialated a couple of times, and scariest of all, I had to have emergency surgery to repair a twisted, strangulated, internal hernia, that burst. While they were fishing that around they also decided to yank the appendix, too. I was told later that if it had gone for even an hour longer, that I would not be here. I'm glad to be here. I wanna see how my son turns out. You hear a lot of people talking about clothes and what size they wanna be. My personal goal was to be in a size starting with a one and a weight starting with a one, oh, and single digit unddies would also be appreciated. I have reached that goal. Everything else is gravy, high protein, lol. I guess the question you ask yourself, a year later, is..... Would you do it again. The answer is YES!!!! I am so much better off than I was. No longer am I the one eating 10-12 plates at the buffet. My mom can no longer call me Hoover. I eat like a normal person, live a normal life, do normal things. I was a lumpy bumpy person before surgery, and I'm still a lumpy bumpy person. I don't strive for physical beauty, my son's got me beat on that one! I'll never be the best person in the world, or live up to anyone else's expectations, but I can live up to mine, and lead a better life. I was determined, a year ago, to make a major change for the better, and I did it! I may never reach my pie-in-the-sky goal, and to be honest I don't do everything by the book (of indeterminate authors, that may change at any given moment), but I do what's right for me. I have normal blood work for the first time in a decade. This is an amazing thing to me, lol. I celebrate the wonderful change in my life, and hope that your journey finds you just as glad in yours, Enjoy the journey, Gosh

Congrats Gosh! It's all about being Happy and thats all that matters. Glad you made it through the complications. Take care, and you'll get to that 100 pound mark.

Thank you Tony, I appreciate it. Gosh

Congrats! You have so much to be thankful for and you have done and continue to do such an awesome job! Loretta

Hello, L Salinas, Thank you so much, Gosh

cONGRATULATIONS!!!!! You have done a great job. And you have been a great friend and inspiration for me. I am so sorry that your mother called you Hoover. Well now you have the control!! Hang in there you are doing great. Isnt it great to be healthy. lov ya marie

Thank you Rie Rie, It seems strange to me that you consider me an inspiration, lol. I'm just an ordinary tired mom, wishing to win the lotto. It is great to be healthier! Gosh

Hey Gosh, I didn't know (did I just forget? am I having a blonde moment? I'm sorry!) that you had emergency surgery for hernia repair. I am glad you are OK. I don't know the 'best person in the world' but I know you are GREAT. Congratulations on your achievements and may the rest of your journey be easy as sugar free pie. xosm

Hey Gigi! You probably just forgot, no worries. It happened just 3 days after the photo you see of me and my son, was taken. Woo hoo fun, I tell you! (NOT) Thanks for being a friend, especially when I needed one most. Now all I need is stock in the Splenda company..... Gosh

Congratulations, Happy Surgiversary Gosh! You have done so good despite the bumps you had along the way. I am so glad you are here to inspire all of us. It's post like yours that make me think and remind me just how much we all have accomplished. WTH am I worrying about my flabby arms for? Thanks Gosh and Congrats once again. Elisa