5 yrs out

I was 5 yrs out on the 17th.  I had my DS for my diabetes and was a light-weight.  I lost 65lbs with the DS and 20lbs before surgery.  I had maintained that loss until a relationship breakup and put on 12lbs.  I was able to get 4lbs off before my 2nd round of PS and that dropped the other 8lbs off depending on the day.  I'm generally between 140-143.  At 5'1", I'm still overweight.  But my DS stopped at 150 at 5mo out, then at 9mo I lost another 10lbs.  At 2.5 yrs out I had PS - lower body lift, breast lift, arms and sm thigh lift (only in the groin) and a full neck and face lift.  This last Jan I went back and had an upper body lift to get rid of the extra skin and fat on my upper body. 

Where the DS and losing weight made me look normal, the PS made me feel normal.  It doesn't matter if I'm in clothes or not, I feel like a regular woman.  No extra panni, or droopy floppy boobs.  The excess skin between my legs is gone too, along with the batwings which weren't bad, but I didn't like them and I was having everything else done at once so, did the arms!  

Last Oct, I jumped out of a perfectly working airplane with my sister at 13000' - awesome adventure.  I went on the longest zipline in the world at over 5800' in Alaska.  I can go to water parks and keep up with the kids, until the thighs complain and tell me I really am 60.  I've bought little black skirts and heels for dancing.  I love my DS and my Body by Sauceda.

Oh yes, diabetes gone, high blood pressure gone, high cholesterol gone, plus I'm no longer extremely obese.  

Down side - still have several BMs daily, but had that problem before my DS.   

AWESOME  THANKS FOR POSTING

Interesting, glad you are doing so well. Thanks! -Michelle

Thanks, considering this or gastric bypass...glad to hear that your positive results have stayed...thanks for your inspiration.

I couldn't have handled a RNY.  I wanted the DS for my diabetes.  I didn't want it resolved and if I gained weight again, it could come back.  I like having a perfectly working stomach with my pyloric valve in place.  Plus, the DS has the best stats for keeping weight off.  I can eat pretty much what I want.  If I gain a few pounds, I go back to protein only and it drops back down.  I like to be able to eat when I'm out with friends (generally take a box home with 1/2 my dinner).  No problem with food sticking or having to chew until it's liquid.  No dumping with the DS either. 

Chris,

What did Dr. Rabkin say when your DS stopped after 5 months? 

I wonder about my DS, and if it is stopping.  I lost 50 lbs in 2 months, and the last 2 .5 months to lose another 10 lbs.   This is the first time I've read about someone else with a similar weight loss, top weight and heighth as myself.

Because my diabetes was fixed, my bp normal, cholesterol normal, I was a success.  I'd been 140 and 150 at different times in my life and it seems to be a set point for me.  Maybe if I really went back to 30 carbs and all protein, I might drop more.  Maybe if I started heavy exercising too.  I started living life again.  When my psychologist asked if I was ok at 150 at Rabkin's Christmas support group, I looked down and said I'm in size 9 jeans that look absolutely small when they come out of the dryer and large tops.  Hell yes, I'm ok with 150.  Then Jan came and I wasn't doing anything different and lost another 10lbs.  2 yrs later I had PS and still 140.  I do have problems keeping my potassium up and have to take a prescription to keep around 3.2-3.8.  There are a few of us who are still in the overweight category.  

Happy surgiversary!!  

Thanks Gina!  Your surgiversary is coming up soon too. 

Yay!!!   and I can't wait until I get a body by Sauceda, too  LOL   just one more semester, then I can plan!!!     Mary C