3 Year Check-In... Good to see everyone else had the same idea

Hi all, I have meant to come on here so many times, and the few times I did I also saw we were all so busy. Soooo... Now is the time it looks like we really need each other. We need to celebrate our successes and encourage each other to keep it moving. So here goes. I celebrated my 3rd Surgiversary on 6/27. My very highest weight, which I found out from my cardiologist was 267 lbs (4'10"). My lowest weight following surgery was 147lbs (when I puked my way through Europe 2 years ago). My most steady low weight was 155. I am now between 168-173, so that's almost a 20 lb weight gain since my lowest weight. From everything my doc says and all of the reading I've done, this is fairly common. Do I like it, no way, but I do take some comfort in knowing I'm not alone. However, I do monitor myself, and if that scale goes over 173 I tend to panic and watch really carefully what I am doing. In the last two years I have had some serious health struggles, mostly with joint pain. I thought I could run after I lost 100 lbs and really messed up my hip. Tore the labrum in my right hip, had arthroscopic surgery in 2006 which let to the labrum completely disintegrating during the surgery. Here I sit today, 2 weeks (tomorrow) post-op of a total hip replacement. The osteoarthritis I suffered from prior to my WLS has progressed in all of my joints, so I do have a lot of pain, but I am hoping once I recover from the THR I can at least resume a decent exercise program, which I miss a lot. In the spring this year, my husband Cris who is just 52 and a cancer survivor, was diagnosed with Parkinson's Plus Disease, the same Parkinson's that killed his mother just a few years after her diagnosis 20 years ago. He is doing well now, but it's pretty tough knowing what it going to happen. It's funny that people don't know what to say when you tell them, and the first thing is always "They have come a long way in research 20 years". The fact is they (researchers) have not. The same medication and treatments my mother in law was offered are the ones they are still using today! I guess that not only will I be an advocate for cancer research but now I will be an advocate for Parkinson's research as well. With all of this stuff going on my emotional eating sometimes gets the best of me. I will ALWAYS be an emotional eater, the difference is now I recognize it, which I guess is is a positive. But there are a lot of positives. My type II diabetes is still gone, my bp is still great, I still don't have sleep apnea, my cholesterol and triglycerides remain normal. I still have fairly good blood work, with the exception of my Vit. D levels and some slight anemia. I have accepted my body the way it is with all it's curves and extra skin, which after 3 years doesn't seem quite as bothersome. I have a great job with a great company. I'm still able to do my photography. I still get compliments on how good I look...love it when people haven't seen me for a couple years. Overall, I'm very happy with my results. Would I still like to get to 125, bet your butt, do I realistically think it will happen, nope, and that's okay! I think we need to keep coming back to this board more often for reality checks. We supported each other so much in the first year, and I think it's now that we need the most support. How about it, anyone else with me on this one? Thanks for being there through the years. Love you all. Debra

Hey Debra~ I guess I'm not the only one going through a lot, huh? I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. That has to be extremely difficult for you both. Also, total hip replacement. Wow!!! I know how uptight and frustrated I've been to not be able to exercise. I hope that you will be back on your feet really soon. I appreciate your positive outlook. I am in total agreement~ on all accounts. I'm definitely up for some more support! I do think it's part of the reason that so many of us are struggling so much. Take care and heal quickly! Hugs, Kerri

Hi Debra. I agree with you. We do need the support of each other. It's getting tougher and tougher to stay on track. In my case getting back on track. There are no words to say about your husband's illness. I am so sorry that you are going through this. All I can do is support you here and keep you and hubby in my prayers. I pray that you get stronger and stronger each day. I say let's come here and support each other. I know that I need it even more than my first year post-op. Hugs, Lucy