It's my 1 year surgery anniversary!!!

I have my FINAL before and after on my page. My LONG journey is below..... (It's really long but I hope it helps and inspires others...) May 30, 2007 I have always been fascinated with butterflies, but until now I never really understood why: It's been one year today that I had Gastric Bypass Surgery at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, California. On this day last year I was determined to undergo this life saving surgery and succeed at it. I made a promise to myself that I would do whatever it took to get my life back. I was 20 years old, a full time college student and working full time but knew I had to put my life on hold to rescue my body from a future that was sure to be destructive. I was a habitual binge eater, unhappy, and unhealthy. I had high blood pressure, severe sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, joint pain, an enlarged and fatty liver, lose of a menstrual period. My weight was at an all time high of 265 pounds and my body mass index (BMI) was 45.4 that is considered extremely obese. I attribute a lot of my weight gain to the negative affects I had after open-heart surgery in 1999. Before that I played softball, soccer, and did gymnastics. After the heart surgery I found myself unhappy because I was unable to do the things I loved and found comfort in food. It took away the feelings of fear that something had been wrong with my heart. After I figured out it could comfort me through fear it became a friend and then eventually an addiction. I used food to suppress feelings I wasn't able to identify. At an age where appearance was everything, I was also embarrassed of the scare I had down the middle of my chest from surgery. I did everything I could to conceal the scare physically. I concealed it mentally with food. After a year of depending on my new "friend" to be there for me through all my emotions, I realized the damage it had done. I had gained a significant amount of weight in a very short time. By that time the addiction was dominating my life, without it I didn't know how to adequately deal with my emotions, I had a serious problem that I didn't know how to control. My first effort at weight loss was the Optifast program at Kaiser when I was 14. I was restricted to consuming 5 protein shakes per day in order to lose weight. The Optifast program, like any other program, only works if you are committed to it. As many times as I attempted the program, I never committed myself to it or any other diet. I gave some effort but after failing several times at numerous diets and thousands of dollars later, I ultimately gave up. The feeling of failure was becoming too much to deal with and would find comfort in the familiar food again. It is truly a vicious cycle: I ate because I was unhappy, and I was unhappy because I ate. My parents supported me through every weight loss program and diet I tried. They never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself. I don't know if I could ever thank them enough for the constant encouragement, support and love. They did everything to aid in my efforts at losing the weight but it was ultimately up to me to commit myself and I could never do that. It was difficult for me to accept failure, as I had never really failed at anything before I gained the weight. After 4 years of watching my weight rapidly increase, dealing with several conditions from the weight that require medication and my quality of life decreasing I knew that surgery was my last resort in order to live a "normal" life. By the time I educated myself on the surgery and realized it was a real option for me I was 18 and had already missed out on several experiences that a normal teenager has. The one I regret the most is not going to my prom. I owed it to myself to lose the weight to make sure I didn't have to live with anymore regrets. It took me over a year to get the approval for the surgery. In 6 months I completed the "Options" class which is required by Kaiser in order to be considered for surgery. I also had the required documented proof of attempting a weight loss program for 6 months from trying the Optifast program at Kaiser. When I was first informed of the classes I was extremely frustrated because I assumed it was going to be a typical "support group" where they will try to convince you not to have the surgery and I had already made up my mind to go through with it. After a few weeks I realized how crucial the classes were. I learned more in the class in 6 months then I did doing my own research for 2 years. I believe these classes should be required by all insurance companies, there are so many patients that go into surgery unprepared and not completely informed as to the life they will have after surgery. Gastric bypass is a life changing surgery that can save lives if used correctly. It is a tool that you have to understand how to accurately utilize or the consequences could negatively affect your health and eventually cause death. I feel very fortunate that I was able to gain all the information I needed in order to succeed after surgery. On May 30, 2006 I underwent Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery performed by Dr. George Zorn I was in the hospital for 7 days and then discharged home, my Mom and Dad were by my side the entire time. I was excited, scared and anxious to start my new life. I was doing great at home but was having trouble getting in an adequate amount of fluid. Only 2 weeks after coming home I found myself back in the hospital for 7 days, hooked up to IV's to re-hydrate me. Throughout the entire stay I never once gave up. I was determined to succeed no matter what obstacles I had to go through. After learning how to eat and making sure I was getting enough fluid I was surprised at how fast the weight seemed to be melting off. At 2 months post op I hit a plateau, which is very typical of a gastric bypass patient. I looked at the plateau as an obstacle and knew I had to do something to make sure it didn't discourage me. I was doing everything right except the exercise part. I realize now that exercise is the MOST important component after Gastric Bypass. After discussing it with my parents we all agreed a personal trainer would be a good option. My Dad and I met with a Lance, the sales manager at 24-hour fitness and I signed up for 20 sessions with a personal trainer. I met my trainer, Lisa, we set up my first session and I was given an outline of the personal training program. I was terrified during my first training session with Lisa; I had a membership for years but only used it a couple times. Now I would be at the gym 5 days a week, 2 days with Lisa and the other 3 for cardio. The gym was intimidating and I felt self-conscious but I knew it was necessary to go in order to reach my goal. Lisa is a great trainer; I wouldn't be as successful as I am with my weight loss without her. After my first few sessions I not only saw her as a trainer but also a friend. It was obvious she truly cared whether I was getting my exercise in. When I thought I couldn't finish a workout, she was there telling me I could. I never thought I would look forward to going to the gym, but when you're going to hang out with a friend with the same sarcastic, determined, and positive personality, it becomes fun. I was pleased with my weight of 140 pounds in February of 2007 and was 10 pounds away from my goal but was becoming increasingly frustrated with the excess skin I was left with after the massive weight loss. I was happy with my life but couldn't accept my body as it was. I knew the only answer to correct the damage done was to have reconstructive surgery. I met with several plastic surgeons, educated myself on all the risks and options, discussed it with my family, I made a decision to go through with it. My plastic surgeon, Dr. Tom Pousti is an amazing person. I felt so comfortable and was very impressed with the results of his past patients. We decided I would benefit from an extended tummy tuck, breast lift and breast augmentation. It was going to be a lot of surgery and a difficult recovery but it would close the final chapter in my life as unhappy and obese. I had the procedures done on May 4, 2007. I was immediately satisfied with the results. The recovery was more difficult then I thought and I wouldn't have gotten through it without my Mom. She is and has always been my best friend and my rock. She was there for me 24 hours a day for 3 weeks, giving me pain medicine, emptying my drains, making sure I was comfortable, driving me to doctor appointments and supporting me 100% like she has always done. I am so grateful to have a best friend and a mom as my biggest support. It has been a long and difficult journey but I wouldn't change anything. I have learned from everything I have gone through. I now understand why I have always loved butterflies. Until a year ago today I isolated myself in my cocoon, unable to live without my addiction to food. I have been set free by Gastric Bypass and the support of my family and friends and have now emerged from that cocoon, spread my wings and for the first time am able to fly. I am truly happy, confident and proud of the "butterfly" I have become. I know I will have obstacles that I will have to get through in the future but knowing that I have my Mom, my Dad, my family and my friends at my side I know I will always be free and able to fly. "Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, she became a beautiful butterfly." Karlie D. Bales

Wow! You did great--Congrats on your 1 year surgersary!! Enjoy your day!!

How wonderful that is. I know this has been a great journey and the transformations are huge. It story is inspiring.. thank you for sharing you journey with us.. congrats on your surgivsary... and many more to come.