Lets chieck in and say HI!

Hi there to all the wonderful people on this Message Board. How is everyone doing? If you lurk, post or just read all Message Boards, just say and lets see how everyone is doing? As our December anniversays come up upon us, Do you look back at yourself 2 years ago? Yes I look back at myself, and I was going through so much insurance wise. I had been denied for Nov 17th surgery and was awaiting a new date. Did you find yourself a bit nervous and the time of your WLS approached? Yes I was a nervous wreck. The thought of the anesthesia scared me to death. I cried alot and was very moody. I stop discussing the whole WLS with anyone at work. I just talked to family. I did not want to hear any scary stories. Did find a sense of relief and Happiness as I did after your surgery , or were there regrets? I found a sense of peace, It was finally over. The pain from the nueropathy stopped immediately. As soon as I woke up from the surgery, I felt no more pain. That was the best satisfaction right there. Come on guys stop in and say HI Have a great day!!!!!! Lorraine

Hi Lorraine! It is always good to hear from you. Do you look back at yourself 2 years ago? Yes and no. I still feel fat. I still get on the scale every day hoping to lose more weight and I do, only it is very slow. I work soooo hard trying to get to normal weight. I haven't eaten any bad cards or sweets in forever. (opps, my daughter told me that TAKE FIVE candy was so great and she gave me a bite of hers, forgot about that) I exercise almost every day unless I am so busy that I actually run out of time. It is just something I want more then anything. The thing I look back at the most is that I am in such good shape now. I can even do the splits (only one way) and it seems like I can walk forever and not be tired at all. Did you find yourself a bit nervous and the time of your WLS approached? Yes, I didn't want to lose brain cells (which happens with anesthesia) and I thought that with any surgery there is the possibility of dying. I just didn't want to live the way I was anymore. Did find a sense of relief and Happiness as I did after your surgery , or were there regrets? Not once did I regret the surgery. I researched for 2 years, fought with insurance for 2 years (while continuing to research) and was super ready to have the surgery and the life style changes I needed to make. I am STILL happy with the results of the surgery. Not just losing weight, but the self-control that came with it. I still want to be able to jump and run fast. I still feel too big for those things. I really pray that some day I will be normal weight. I just won't give up trying to get to that goal. Take care and have fun today! Allison

Hi Lorraine On Dec 1 2005 it will make 2 years since I had wls.So much has changed,I have lost over 300 lbs,After wls all I could do was dream about what lies ahead for me.I hated waiting for results but they came,not as fast as I wanted but it all started to work.I didn't care what anyone said I was going to have this surgery no matter what.As wls approached I was very nervous but I didn't let it show.Wls is the best thing I ever did for me,it opened me to a new world and it saved my life,I know i'd be dead today if I didn't have wls.I am so happy these days and life is good..............steve

Steve, I can't believe you have lost so much.You have done so well. You have lost 2 people. You need to be so proud of yourself.I am sure your life has changed so much, words can't explain it. I think if I did not do WLS I probably would have been on dyalisis. I don't think my spelling is so good, but you know what I mean. Keep up your great work and this goes to 'EVERYONE" Thanks for answering my posts and lets keep in touch Lorraine

Do you look back at yourself 2 years ago? Yesterday, I found a skirt that fit me in 2003. I could wrap it around me twice. I just can't believe I've come all that way. Yet, I go and do stupid things to sabotage myself, like eating an entire candy bar after lunch. Me and chocolate. Just can't leave it alone. Did you find yourself a bit nervous and the time of your WLS approached? Not until they came in with the gurney. I was fine until then. Did find a sense of relief and Happiness as I did after your surgery , or were there regrets?I had regrets only for the first two weeks, until I got my blood sugar stablized. Once that was done, I was happy as a clam. Or a Dove bar. chocolate again. Bad Nona. Bad girl. Nona

Dec 1st will be 2 years for me as well. I look back now and can not even begin to imagine how I managed. A few nights ago I was walking and my 6 yr old grew tired and requested I carry him. He weighs about 56 lbs. I have lost about 115 yet carrying his excess weight really killed me. I wondered how I was carrying on a "normal" life prior to WLS. Was I scared prior to surgery? I was never so scared in my life. My last words to my surgeon were "remember Christmas is coming and I have 2 young boys who I love VERY much" than I cried. Do I have regrets? Not overall. I have had some setbacks-pneumonia, internal hernia and partial bowel obstruction, the finding and removal of a dermoid cyst along with my ovary...and I am at times disgusted to see this loose skin (my dr said I was young enough-35-that I might not need plastics) but yet I can do so much now. I play hockey with my boys, I went on all the rides at Disney, I enjoy the gym again, I can dress up for work and people actually comment on how nice I look...So the regrets are little. How about this question...what is your biggest fear now? Mine is going back to old habits. I notice here and there I go back to skipping meals and replacing them with pretzels, drinking regular ice tea instead of water, and picking through Riesen candy at work...I have low blood sugar issues so I seem to need food around all the time, even if it is just a bite. I forget at times to chew and in my rush to eat end up sick. So-here's to a SUCCESSFUL new year to us all...health, happiness and lots of willpower!!

I hear you when you talk about old habits. Getting the surgery was the best choice of my life. But now, being able to eat sweets is scaring me. I have to stay away from them because they're what got me fat in the first place. Once a food addict, always a food addict. It's like a drug, and I need to control that drug, not let it control me. Chocolate is the worst part. And donuts. But if I don't buy them, I won't eat them. The cravings will pass, right? Nona

Nonq, How are you? I find that I am a hard candy eater. I always was. I enjoy a mini chocolate now and then but................. hard candys are my weakness. They don't make me sick either. If I eat a peppermint it kind of lays in my stomach like a rock. I do agree, Once a food addict, always a food addict. I don't think those cravings will pass. I think its just an addiction we have to deal with. Hang in there and remember... We are all in this together OK? Love and ((((((((((HUGS))))))) to all of us. SOON TO BE....HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ALL OF US" Lorraine

I think I need to stay away from all candy. SO I am keeping some dried fruit in my desk. Hopefully, that will satisfy the sweet craving and not be too unhealthy. I know I will always be a food addict. I just have to take each day as it comes and try and control it before it destroys me. THanks for the helpful words. Cyberhugs back at ya. Nona

Hi Lorraine, I have to say that I have never regretted for a moment having my surgery. It was the single most important thing I have ever done solely for myself & would do it again tomorrow if it were necessary. I just wish I had done it earlier so I could have enjoyed my sons' childhoods more. Two years ago I had a hard time doing almost everything. I live on a dairy farm & feeding calves is my responsibility. I would carry two pails of milk into the calf building, feed one pail, then I'd have to sit on a bale until my heart would quit racing, my back quit hurting, & I had the strength to get up & feed the second pail of milk. In the summer I would sweat so much it ran into my ears & across my glasses. I was so ashamed I never told myhusband how hard it was for me. Today I feed calves without stopping to rest & even when it was hot the heat didn't bother me. I still hate feeding calves but not because of my weight. Was I nervous about surgery? Not for a minute. I had total confidence in my surgeon & knew this was someting I had to do. I was excited about starting a new life after my surgery. I never had any regrets. The only thing that bothered me was watching TV & seeing the food commercials. They made me angry, knowing I'd never be able to eat that way again but I got over it. I have to share something that happened today. Awhile back my surgeon's PA asked me if I would speak at a future support group meeting. She wanted a few "success stories" & even though I still have a ways to go to get to my surgeon's goal weight & probably never will make it, they consider me a success & someone who has something to share. I was flattered to be chosen & since I have no fear of speaking in public. I agreed to do it. Today I got the letter making it official. The meeting is Dec 5 but I have a small problem. I am getting my gallbladder removed & a bladder repair done that morning. I was so disappointed & called the office to remind them that they had just set up my surgeries and I'd not be able to participate. I will be spending the night because the bladder repair requires it. I told the nurse that I was hoping to come down to the meeting in a wheel chair, if only to attend & we decided that I still could plan to speak if I am up to it. So it kind of ironic. I am a "success" but I'll be attending in my pajamas just hours after surgery. Happy anniversary everyone! Dixie