Recent Posts
Karen, I sent you an email yesterday - don't know if you still use that email address and am hoping you see this. My email is: [email protected]
Would love to talk with you. Maureen
Last night as my husband and I sat down to dinner, I asked ... do you remember where we were 10 years ago today? He paused, thought about it .. March 22, 2004? Nope, where were we? Salisbury at Pennisula General. After being somewhat amazed that it has been 10 years, he started remembering how I was that night ... yelling at him, miserable, unhappy, etc. The next morning (just about this time of day as I type this) he appeared in my room and I was sitting up in a chair and while I still wasn't sure I hadn't made a mistake, I had stopped blaming him for it .. it took a few weeks to realize that it was a good thing and a bit longer to say that I would do it again in a heartbeat.
It has been an amazing 10 years, I've not maintained my full weight loss, nor have I gained it all back either. I think about every bite that goes into my mouth even the poor choices! I can still go out to eat, have an appetizer as my main course and bring half of it home. There are people who only know me post-wls who can't imagine the 'old' me and even the ones who knew me when can't remember me then. I am confident in my professional life and active in my personal life. I am sometimes embarrassed when a co-worker (a woman just a few years younger than I) tells me I am her idol because of my accomplishments and the balance I have in my life. I am fortunate to have a life partner who at times I want to strangle has supported me through thick and thin and all in between. Here's to the next 10!!!
Comparison is the thief of joy!
If we spend our time comparing our life/weight loss/body to others, we totally miss what WE have accomplished. Keep in mind how far you have come and what you can do now that you couldn't do weeks/months/years ago. I hate the expression " It's all good", but in this case it fits! Wherever you are in your journey ... It's ALL good!!!
How can it be that 10 years have gone by? I hope that everyone is enjoying life and liberty from morbid obesity. I am not where I want to be in terms of my weight (181.5 this a.m.), but I will not give up. My body still does not absorb nutrients appropriately - but seems to have no problem absorbing calories! I do have health issues connected with the consequences of my WLS. Extremely low levels of calcium, vitamin D, and my albumin level is always below normal. I suffer from extremely painful leg cramps and some sort of muscle disorder that we're having a hard time figuring out. It is all related to the surgery - it is what it is. I continue to be active and that's a very good thing. I hope everyone is doing well. Reenie
Hoping a few more will check in.
I went back and read my profile page, it's amazing to me how far I've come since surgery and how hard the last 10 years have been. I'm still a size 6 but everyday is a challenge as to what TAZ! Will let me eat. Low blood sugar, calcium deficiency, hyperthyroidism, a laundry list of autoimmune disorders just to name a few of the interesting things that have cropped up since surgery.
My surgeon 10 years ago said I had to agree to annual checks ups with him for life but seems to have forgotten that clause in the contract I had to sign. Now I haven't seen him for 2 years and I have no idea what my levels are.
How ow is everyone else finding their long term follow up care?
Wow! It's been a long and a short ten years! At least I can say I no longer weigh 340 pounds! My weight is not where I would like it to be but it is a long way from where I started and for that I am forever grateful! Please check in!
I totally forgot about our anniversary date!
I'd not been on the computer all weekend and when i checked emails this morning there was a happy anniversary from obesityhelp.com
WOW has it been 9 years already!?!
My pouch still works most of the time,. I'm not able to eat large or dense qualities. Some foods still do not sit well with me. Turkey is one of them, Ham is another if it is dry. Dry anything isn't going to work! Smooth foods go in very easy so I have to watch and not over eat even things that are good for me like yogurt because they still have calories.
My blood levels have been low on D even though I use supplements and am an outdoor person. All the others are good. My B's are very good.
All in all I'm happy with the surgery and would do it again if I am taken back in time.
On the flip side I believe that more should have been done before and after our surgery. Looking back I believe they did the best that they could with the information that they had. Going forward I'm hoping that this has been corrected for anything who are currently beginning their journey. In reality I'm sure not much has changed. its all about the almighty dollar.
Stats today
current weight 188 lowest weight 156 (for a day LOL) longest maintained weight 169 (this is what I consider my real/goal weight)
current size 14 lowest size 6 (closet has been cleaned out LOL) longest maintained size 10 (target size!)
D's low
B's & calcium all good
Calories 1600 per day (i eat every 2 to 3 hours as needed with low blood sugar) my diet consists of protein, fruits, vegetables grains dairy I eat good carbs and get my sugar from natural foods. I avoid processed things or artificial sweeteners. I do have a treat once a week of a skinny cow sugar free ice cream sandwich as long as my sugar levels are ok. If I cheat I'm gonna pay for it and not feel good so i'm very careful.
Thats all I can think of I'd love to hear from others to see what your stats are too.
Good luck and god bless,
Great job, Pam! Sounds like you are doing all the right things! I, too, am getting older and the weight loss is harder and harder to achieve. I had to do an 800 calorie a day liquid diet to lose my weight. It was all medically supervised, with exercise but still very radical. I can't wait to hear next year, at our big ten 0 how everyone has fared!
Happy anniversary Renee, We all went through some amazing times over the past 9 years. Good ones and bad ones, Here is to the good!
God bless,
Pam
We were not their first guinea pigs but we were their continuing guinea pigs.
I agree with you about having the surgery again and things I would do differently.
I feel good even though the minor low blood sugar I had before surgery has now become major. It is under control with diet and excersize. And I have to say without much help from my surgeon or dietician.
I had to find the doctors that would help me best and they did not give me the medical support that was needed. I still go to them because they need to have this documented so that others do not go through this and hopefully they use what has worked for me to help others who might.
This can cure diabeties but can mess up people with low blood sugar.
Other than that I've got 20 pounds that refuses to go away! LOL Not complaining about it though because I'm still "normal" sized. I will whine alittle because I want to be the smallest I was! LOL
Take care god bless
