6 Year anniversary

WOW!!  I’ve come full circle! Six years ago I came here and found a group of people that understood things I could never share with most of my family and friends. Today I am 125lbs lighter, healthier, and happier than I have ever been.

 

          Not sure what the defining moment was (after 6 years), but in May I began the last stretch of my wls journey with my 1^st reconstructive surgery. Was supposed to have a circumferential LBL and medial thighplasty, but was unable to complete the procedure and only had the abdominalplasty (anchor incision w/muscle tightening) part. 

 

          This past week, I went in for the rest. After 10 hours of grueling surgery, I am home with a medial thigh lift, (OWIE!!!) and the completion of the LBL plus a little fat transplant to my formerly flat butt!  God sure knew I would never have made it through the entire procedure back in May. This one (no pun intended) HAS knocked me on my butt!! I know in a few more days I’ll be thankful but right now I’m too miserable to contemplate the new me.

 

          When I look back over the past 6 years I still cringe to hear people say WLS is the “easy way” to weight loss, or that “it’s forever”. Several of my friends have gained a significant amount of weight back, and easy?? hmmmm. Life changing is more like it. I can still graze and gain 5lbs overnite, but NOW I use the tool I have and know how to get back on track.

 

          Not here as often as I used to be. Lurking these days on the Plastic Surgery Forum. Over the years the names change as does the OH site, but one thing that stays the same… is that this is the BEST place to come, for support and encouragement. Many Many thanks to Eric Klein, founder of this site, and to his faithful staff!!

 

          My best wishes to all of you wherever you may be in this incredible journey.

 

Denise

 

Congratulations!  I totally agree - this procedure is not  "easy" by any means, and is not for the faint of heart!  It's not the be all- end all solution, but it is a tool!   I had surgery April 2006, and I'm down 117#s.  My sister has also had the surgery, and was down about the same - but has put on about 30#s.  That's what scares me.  I believe her gain is due to grazing, and on all the wrong stuff.  My plan is to try and keep the goal in the forefront, and keep the exercise up.  I have to "use" the tool - not just keep it in my toolbox! Good luck - and keep up the good work!

Thank you  =) It truly is a false sense of security, when the weight is falling off in those early days, to think you'll never hafta diet again.  I'm not sure enough emphasis is put the fact that the honeymoon period DOES come to an end.    I'm one of those controversial "weigh-every-dayers". I've found for me it keeps me honest, and when I see a gain of 4-5lbs for over 3-4days, I go back to the basics...protein, water, & exercise...Works every time!!    People will say you don't eat a lot at one time, ....I tell 'em yes, but I can eat a little A LOT !!! ...and that kind of grazing is scary for me. I  wish I had never tested the dumping waters either. Knowing you don't dump is a dangerous thing.     My motto has always been  NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN FEELS.  Best wishes to you (and your sister). Your plan will work for you. Denise

Hi, Denise, I had the same DR. that you had back in l999. Only went back for 6 wks. appt. with no problems.  After 5 years i have gain 30lbs. i noticed at that  time i had no restriction when eating or drinking.Do you still have restriction? I have developed hiatial hernia with Gerd. I can eat normally now, but have to count calories, i go to 1800 cal. a day. I know i have to get down to 1600 which i was consuming in the earlier years...How are you with your food portions? What is you secret for keeping the weight off? I not working for the past 2 years that might be why i gained, i have arthritis in legs so i don't exerise good.  thanks for any input..jane

Hi Jane    Dr Batay is in sunny Scottsdale AZ last I heard. Just had a round of plastics last week with Dr. DiNick at BTC (oops Barix), and their nursing care is still top of the line.    6 months after my WLS I was off all hypertensive meds and had no more GERD. Other than a bad scare 2years ago when I thought I had a partial bowel obstruction (had a kink in the gut) I have been one healthy gal!!    Don't you just hate that we come back to a point where we have to watch what we eat?? I don't really have a secret, I just know I have several friends that have gained back almost all their weight...After all it took to get to where I am, I guess I just won't let myself go back to my old life.     I am obsessive about my vitanims, but I hafta admit I don't always drink my water the way I used to, and I haven't had a protein drink in ages (til a few weeks beford this surgery). I do still eat protein first, and don't drink anything with meals.   Guess for me the secret is I liked the way I felt more every day and finally came to the point that how I felt, WAS more important than what I ate. Sounds corny but my whole attitude about food has changed. I still LOVE to eat...but I guess after all these years  I'm satisfied with knowing it doesn't control me anymore. have the    Best wishes to you Jane, Thank goodness we still have the tool to gat us back on track ehy?   

thanks denise, you gave me a lift that I can maybe get back on track, thanks for your advice...jane

I always like to hear stories from others that have had surgery further out.  I am 6 and a half years post-op at this point.  I want to have the skin removal, but I would like to have kids first and then do it.  Congrats on the anniversary.  Julie

Thanks Julie    I remember the first night I ever came to this site back in 2001. I think I read every profile from Michigan (OH was called AMOS back then, and it was a waaay smaller community), but I remember clinging to the words of older post ops and really wondering ....if it worked for them could this wls actually work for me??    After my surgery I was still a regular for about 3 years, and often wondered why oldies started to drop off of the board. .I was NEVER going to forget my past life and weight struggles. I was NEVER going to stop posting because I knew how much it had meant to me to hear their wisdom and practical advice....    Little by little though, I'd find I would miss a day here and there. Life took on a new demension for me, My husband and and son were deployed to Iraq, had 2 grandbabies, started working a bit....and pretty soon I also became  one of those absentee-oldies.     I guess its true what they said, WLS does give you a brand new life, and after a while you just get so busy living it that this site becomes more of a fond memory.      I do try to update my profile on my anniversary, and if something WLS related comes into my life. When I do come back I see new faces, and a new format, but the issues are still pretty much the same, and it does give me a change to send my very best wishes to all of you no matter where you are on this incredible journey. Denise