How do you feel?

okay, so I've done the "Do you  have any regrets?" question everywhere, but can I put a different spin on it?  Those of you who had surgery a while ago, how do you feel?  I don't want this to really have to do with how you look, but how you feel health wise.  Do you feel healthy?  Do you have energy?  Do you feel normal? Thanks for taking the time to answer!

Guess I'll be the first one...... Surgery January 31,2006 Let's see how do I feel ? I feel like I did when I was in my 30's. I am 55 this month. My diabetes is gone, my thyroid is lower, my cholestrol is down. I have more energy. I feel great!!!!! I would do this again in a heart beat. My sugery was text book..... Ellie

I give you a fresh 3 week post op feeling. I feel better every day.  As far as actual sensation feelings inside - I feel exactly like I did before surgery.  I have no sensation of my innards being rearranged. I don't have any real hunger pangs yet, I hear real belly hunger comes later after your body adjusts.  My head is what is taking the adjusting.  I look at 1/3 cup of scrambled egg and just know that there is no way that will satisfy me, and yet I have learned that 1/3 cup plus 1 bite is too much. Good question. Ted

I feel younger, more energized, alert, confident, and HAPPY!

I am just shy of 7 months out (surgery was March 6th). I had a complication and had a few week delay in getting back to "normal", but now, and for the past 4 1/2 months I have felt awesome!  For the first time in my life, I can actually "read"/"listen to" my stomach - before surgery I had never really FELT hunger, now I do if I go over 4 hours without a mini meal. Before I had a lead lined stomach - nothing was too hot, too rich, too sweet, too much etc....I could just eat and eat and never get full - I just got fatter.  Now it is a wonderful feeling to be able to listen to my body - I know what is too much fat, too sweet, and more than anything ...TOO MUCH!  I  My energy is awesome, I feel healthier than ever!  

Do I feel normal!!! Hmm . Since I was never really normal that is hard to answer. I was always obese. I feel as normal as anyone could possibly be, I suppose.  I am feeling great. Diabetes gone! Cpap gone! Kidney function greatly improved!  I can go all day. I don't have to come in for a nap first.  I'll be 51 next week and also 1 year out next week.  I feel fantastic!

I started out being a non-believer.  I thought the surgery would never help me.  I was wrong - I had surgery 10 months ago, No more diabetes ( I had it bad, 3 shots of insulin a day), no more high blood pressure, no more high cholesterol, no more sleep apnea, improved back pain, 100% less depressed, improved confidence and I am so happy I did it, I would recommend it in a heartbeat as long as your doctor says you are healthy enough to have the surgery.  If I could do it, anyone can!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you been to any support group meetings?  Mark

Nope, Mark, sure haven't.  None in my area and my consult was just scheduled today.

I think its great that you are asking questions.  We all have similar and yet very different experiences.  Weird how that happens but hey, we are all different so it makes sense.   I am 18 1/2 months post-op.  I have lost 120 lbs.  I recently had my first plastic surgery to shed the excess skin left from my weight loss.  I am thrilled with the weight loss and what plastics has been able to help me with that exercise won't fix.   Now to your questions.  I feel GREAT!!!  I am so healthy.  In the beginning, for the first 3 months I felt horrible.  I had no energy, felt sick to my stomach everytime I ate, no matter what  I ate.  I was pale, losing my hair and just plain felt like crap.  I had a very sensitive pouch.  I still do somewhat but I have learned to stay away from foods that make me sick (not as many as in the beginning thank the Lord, and when I choose to eat something I know will affect me negatively then I know I have to live with the consequences).  I was often asked if it was worth it and I told people that I refused to answer the question because I knew (and prayed) that this time would pass.  Well, pass it did.   At around 3 months post-op I began to notice I could finally eat without feeling sick all the time.  I finally found protein drinks I could tolerate and began to get my protein up and my water intake up.  (everything had such a bitter taste in the beginning, even water so I was not good at drinking a lot)  I started working out because I was feeling my energy return and I haven't looked back since.  I have more energy than ever before in my life.  I am healthy as a horse.  I was just telling a friend today that I have been to my PCM twice in 18 months and one time was for my yearly exam!  I have had a couple of colds but nothing worse than that.   I eat pretty much what I want with the exception of a few foods.  I stay away from white bread.  I eat only high fiber whole grain bread and then only one slice at a time.  I avoid rice and most pasta.  I eat potatoes once in awhile but very limited quantities.  I choose to eat protein/meat and veggies.  I can eat just about any fruit I want.  I also allow myself sweets from time to time.  Sometimes too many sweets.  I can eat one cookie at a time (more than one cookie in less than an hour and I feel nauseaus).  I stay away from milk and most ice cream.  I have a bit of lactose intolerance especially with milk.  Other dairy products are okay again in limited quantities.  I am okay with about 1/4 cup of no sugar added ice cream once in awhile.  I eat crackers regularly especially when I need that crunchy salty fix.  I can eat a few potatoe chips but I don't do more than about a small, small handful.  I have dumped majorly on chips so I usually avoid those.   Overall I feel wonderful.  I think most of us learn what foods we can and can't eat and we live accordingly.  I don't miss anything, I never feel deprived.  I love my improved life and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.  I love that I enjoy exercising.  I love that my husband, who is retired military, has to keep up with me now instead of slowing down for me.  I love that I have energy to spare.  I enjoy being healthy and look forward to many many healthy years ahead.   Sometimes my eating is so normal feeling (what I think would be normal for others) that it scares me.  I am ever conscious of what and how much I am eating so that I don't over do it and get back to eating until I am stuffed and stretch out my pouch to what it once was.  Often when I am concerned that I am eating too much, my pouch will remind me that I am doing just fine.  It's a neat feeling to be eating with others, have half of my food left over and feel totally satisfied.  Those are the times when I know that this has worked for me and I am grateful for the opportunity to have had this surgery.   I hope I have helped.  You will probably get many different responses but you will also likely find that most, although most certainly not all, of us post-op folks are happy with what the surgery has done for us.  Some have certainly have major complications and problems.  It is sad and unfortunate that this does not work for some or causes a lot of problems for some.  I pray for them because it breaks my heart to see their dreams fade away because while they have lost weight they don't feel good physically or emotionally and that takes away from teh joy they should be feeling.   Hugs, Robin