9 months post op with photos

I used to be very active on the CA Forum so I am posting this for some of my old friends to let them know what became of me and my surgery. (Duodenal Switch) Hope some of you are still here on the CA board. I have missed you!

I just returned from my 9 month appointment. Everything continues to go smoothly for me. I am one of the many people who tolerate the surgery very well and have loved my DS from the outset. I have had few problems, but then I have been careful to follow the guidelines and advice that I have gotten from this board. I really don't know how I would have done without everyone's help and advice. I have been loosing much more slowly, 20 pounds in the last three months. I hope to lose another 20 by one year out and be finished. We will see, I just want to stay healthy!

I had been on four blood pressure medications. I was taking the highest dose advised for Metformin for my diabetes and huge injections of insulin; none of which was working well to control the diabetes and the damage it was doing to my body. My kidneys were failing and my liver sustaining damage. I am off all BP meds and have a reading of 110 over 70. I have reversed the damage the diabetes was doing to my body and I am off all oral medications for it. I take a very small long acting dose of insulin and am in hopes that soon I will be able to drop that. I was taking large doses of ibuprofen for hip and knee joint pain and limping when I walked. I only occasionally take anything for this and have freedom of motion that I will never ever take for granted.

Old habits are hard to break and I am still struggling to make myself exercise again. My mind keeps telling me it is going to hurt but I need to get in the habit. I plan to get plenty of exercise next month though. I have booked a trip (using DH frequent flier miles) for the family to the South of France!!! and we will travel into Italy, as well. Now to find a swimming suit that covers my flabby upper arms and legs!!  Actually, I am so thrilled with my good health that I don't give a **** about how I look. Thank you dear friends for all your support.
Here are a couple of before and after shots.




Nine months later.

Congratulations Gail. You look wonderful! You have done so well. Have fun in the South of France. Lee is there right now.

Oh Gail, you just look fabulous.  You waited so long to get approved for surgery and your pictures now prove it was worth the wait.  You'll lose the rest of the weight you want to lose if you stay focused and on track.  Keeping it off gets harder, but you can do it.  You proved you have perserverence.

Have a wonderful time on your trip.  Enjoy the sites as you walk all over the South of France and Italy.  And DO NOT worry about your flabby anything.  If people don't like it, they don't have to look.  As my sister said to me once when I was complaining about my bat wings, they are my badges of honor.  Well to be honest, my sister is a jerk sometimes.  Badges my ass.  But they are mine and I will embrace them as they are a part of me.

Continued success and enjoy life.

Stephanie

Thanks for your encouragement Stephanie. I have always been amazed at the variety of bodies that totally expose themselves on these European beaches and I love it! At my favorite beach there is a concession run by an obese woman in her 80's who has had way too much sun. She still enjoys the beach"to its full extent". I don't plan on doing the nude thing because I wouldn't be comfortable with it no matter what I looked like, but I like the fact that these people are so open and accepting. Unbelievably the beach I am referring to is on the outskirts of Cannes!

Gail, what an amazing transformation in both your looks and your health. You should be very proud of what you have accomplished.
    Have a wonderful vacation!

Larra

Congrats Gail.

it's been a long time coming but finally, you get your moment in the sun, after being on this board and watching and encouranging so many others for YEARS!!!

so happy for you.

t

Gail, you look fantastic! Congrats!!