Thank God for Gastric By-Pass Surgery!

My one year anniversary was 5/21/04. I thank God every day for having this surgery! The other day I was in Wal-mart waiting in a short line to return something at the service counter. The lady in front of me was about the same size I was when I went in for surgery. She was in one of those motorized handicapped scooters they have for their customers to use. The lady at the counter asked her how she was and she replied that she was in pain, but that was an every day thing for her. I almost cried because that was me just one year ago. I had a handicapped tag for my car window and walked with a cane, which still did not help. I was taking some of the strongest painkillers available. Even that did not help my pain enough to help me walk due to my arthritis and degenerative disk disease in my spine and the arthritis in my knees. I went as few places as I could. Today, after losing 161 pounds, I can climb stairs, bend, walk and move like anyone else. I no longer need my handicapped tag. I still have some pain, but I will for the rest of my life. However, it is nowhere near what it was and I no longer take heavy painkillers. If you are thinking about having this surgery, do it if you can. It will change your life.....Cathy