Four Great Months

Today is my four month surgaversary. Wow, I couldn’t be happier with the decision that took me almost five years to make but has changed my life dramatically in four short months. In that time, I have reclaimed my health, reclaimed all those years of lost energy, and lost 98 pounds (112 if you include the 14 I lost the month pre-op – which I so do.) But I have to say, this is about so much more than the number of pounds lost. Here is a short (or maybe not so short) list of things that have happened over those four months.             I am off all diabetes meds and my blood sugars or low normal               I have cholesterol numbers that are almost (but not) too low               I have gone from a size 54 pants to a size 40.               I have gone from a 3X shirt to an XL               I am wearing the same size dress shirt I wore in my senior year in high school – and I’ll be 50 in October.               I exercise five or six times a week (instead of five or six times a year) and it doesn’t kill me to do so.               I actually have started to jog – and it doesn’t kill me to do so.               I got brave enough to sign up for my first 5K, the Koeman Race for the Cure in June this year and there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll be able to fini**** (even if I have to crawl)               I survived the addition of complex carbs to my eating plan without becoming a crack addict!               I am sure there’s so much more but these are definitely some highlights. I celebrate this decision every day. I have picked up some invaluable tools along the way. This board is certainly on the top of the list. My Gowear Fit system has been a real motivator and something that keeps me on the straight and narrow.               I still have my struggles. Every time I eat anything that might be pushing the envelope, I have mini-panic moments about slipping down that slippery slope. I can not for the life of me know whether clothes fit right – or more accurately when they are too big. The other day, I wore this blazer that had been hanging on the back of my office door for years because it was too small and I thought “wow this really fits well." Well I asked my wife that night how it fit me and she started cracking up because it was so big. But in order for me to even see this, she had to take pictures of me in it and show me the pictures – only then did I see how clownishly big it was. Thankfully, we can laugh together about these things.               Thank you everyone for the support over these months. For those earlier in your journey, know in your heart that this can work, as they say in AA, “if you work it." For those ahead of me, know I am watching with great interest to see the possibilities the future holds.

You are suh an inspiration to me.Iam 50 and hope to get my surgery with Dr Steele SOON .I HAVE EVERYTHING DONE AND HAVE BEEN APPROVED JUST WAITING FOR THE DATE.did it take you long after you got approved to get a date? Do you know the girl Erica that works with dr steele? she is my niece,and i have drove her nuts,im sure with all my phone calls .IM hoping i can get my surgery before dr steele goes on maturnity leave  .so please cross your fingers for me everyone .and thank you all again for all your help :)

I love Dr. Steele and I love Erica!  I think I got a date about 2 months after my approval.  (Well I got the date right after my approval but I had to wait two more months if that makes sense.)  So if you've been approved already, you should be good before she has her son.  If not, I'd wait - but that's just cause I love Dr. Steele so much.

Good luck - you'll do great.

thank you again.did you have to go on the liquid diet?

About a month before the surgery, she had me substitute a protein drink for two meals.  I still ate "solid" but healthy snacks and was able to "last supper" a lot of my last suppers.  I managed to lose 14 pounds in that month and she was thrilled by that and the impact the weight loss had on my liver.  It's the fatty liver thing that she has a real concern about.

Congratulations, isn't it awesome to be able to reclaim your life?

It's the best!

Wow Russel what a GREAT post... 

I too have this issue wearing clothes I think fit that are too big...  must be part and parcel of the surgery...

the first time i met her ,i thought she was kinda mean But everyone says she is very nice.I just pray i can get in before she leaves ONE MORE STUDID QUESTION,HOW LONG WERE YOU IN THE HOSPITAL? and thanks again for all your help

No such thing as a stupid question - I had surgery on a Tuesday and was out on Thursday evening - I had no complications so it was quick.  Listen to her when she tells you you need to walk, I was up within 6 hours of waking up from anesthesia and walking and I swear it helped.  I'd be walking at 3 in the morning cause I couldn't sleep.