I was stunned!

I ran into an old friend tonight who had RNY about 7 1/2 years ago.  She is about 41 years old and I couldn't believe what I saw . . .   she looked 70 . . . I kid you not!
She said she hasn't taken a vitamin or supplement in more than 6 years . . . never has her labs checked and doesn't have a clue how much protein she gets in  . . . she said she had the surgery to get thin not healthy . . . . WHAT????

I'm 52 and I felt like I looked 20 years younger than her.  I was stunned . . . she is small about 110 lbs maybe 120 . . and very tiny, she has lost about 160 lbs,  but I would rather have some meat on my bones and be in-tune with the health of my body.  And here's the kicker she works in the medical field . . . . .

So I will continue to take my vitamins  . . not to say there haven't been days when I forgot them
I will continue to exercise . . . even if I'm not loosing any weight
I will continue to be aware of the protein my body gets and if I never get to my goal weight I can say I had my surgery for the right reasons . . . how about you?

Me too!!! Thanks for sharing. I feel sorry for your old friend.

Kristy,
That is so sad to see someone like that. Unfortunately, that is what you see happen sometime. My Dr. said he is amazed at the people that have WLS, either RNY or band, and don't come back for follow-up. What are they thinking of? Follow-up care is SO vital for anyone with WLS.
I couldn't think of not doing supplements and not doing the proper follow-up.
I'm so glad that we realize we had surgery for the right reason-health!
Deb

Oh man, I call those people who had WLS with no follow up and not taking vitamins....
The Walking Dead!
Your friend is not educated enough in WLS.
You be her mentor if you can.

So many issues come up post surgery.

Thank God I only did this for my health. I didn't plan to look like a Barbie doll when I got to my goal size. I know I have to exercise and eat protein first.

I know how to deal with my reactive hypoglycemia. I know when something isn't right with my body and I demand the best of care for me.

Yes for most of us it's about our health.
For the few that just jumped into surgery...yes it's just about getting thin. Your friend will become a causality. I did work with a LPN that had surgery years ago. She was as white as paper, still overweight, ate 4 candy-bars at a time, never saw her take her vitamins and she died way too young. She never got to enjoy retirement and she worked hard all of her life.

Oh man!  People like that give WLS a bad name.  How can she not realize how unhealthy she is and what danger she's putting her body in?  I know they had a lack of nutritional education back 7.5 years ago for WLS, but c'mon... how can you not realize the importance of vitamins when you look in the mirror and see an unhealthy person looking back at you?

I agree.  Vitamin, exercise, protein, healthy food choices.... I'm on it for life!  That's what I signed up for when they cut me open.

BTW Kristy - you look WAY younger than 52. 

Unfortunately, I deal with 3 of these people in my daily life. 

My sister in law is 1 year older than I am (44).  She looks like she is in her late 60's.  She still goes by the standard that all she needs is her two sf bugs bunny vitamins a day and she is fine.  She has health problems as long as your arm.  She has had a heart attack because her potassium levels were so low.  She gets iron infusions.  She gets b-12 shots regularly.  She has seizures.  She gets so dehydrated that her lips and fingers crack and don't heal.  And she still refuses to take any suppliments.  She also doesn't follow her diet plan, doesn't get in protien, eats way too much sugar and dumps on aregular basis.  She went from a size 28 to a 8 and is back up to a 22/24 again. 

Her son has the same issues, the both state that RNY was the worst thing that they ever did, and try to pursuade everyone that they know of that is thinking about surgery not to have it.  They are the poster chiidren of WLS Failure.  They always tell me, that it will catch up to me some day, and I will have the same issues within 5 years.

The third is a lap band patient that thought it was a magic pill and she would instantly lose weight without changing any habits.  She has stated it was the worse decision she ever made.  I tried to educate her before she had surgery, but she thought she knew everything.

I guess my point is that they are out there everywhere, but I hope for every one that there is, there are 5 of us to outspeak them and show new paitents that there is hope. 

Pam
(stepping off her soap box now)

Wow, hard to believe that someone would go through all of this and then not take care of themselves.  No, it's not easy to make a total change in your life, but it's the only way...  I can't imagine that she hasn't been to a pcp in six years without getting a lecture of some kind.
I do sometimes forget to get in all my calcium, but the next day I try again.  Tuesday I go to my pcp and I imagine he'll want to do some bloodwork.  This is the first visit with him since my WLS.  I hope he'll be happy with my loss.  This stall is really frustrating, but I know everyone goes through it, and it will pass.  I just didn't expect it at only 4.5 weeks out.  I'm just going to keep what I'm doing and see if it doesn't start falling off again.  I'm doing everything right, except probably not enough exercise.  Maybe I'll have to up that a bit.
Jan

Kristy, thanks for posting this as a reminder to all of us how important vitamans are and how important follow up care is!     It's sad that people like that give WLS a bad name only because they are not following the rules for life.  I know there are times I forget my vitamins but forgetting and not taking for 7.5 years are two different things!!

I'm thankful I did a lot of research before my surgery and knew what I was signing up for going into it....I'm in it for my health....being thin is a bonus. 

Ironically I ran into an old co-worker a couple weeks ago.  She moved to Phx. about 4 mo's prior to my surgery she knew about my surgery, but has not seen me since.  First she was shocked at how much I had lost (I worked with her for over 3 years and she dieted with me for most of those years :)).  Second...and the most telling, her sister in law had the surgery about a year before me and looked "much older than me", man, that made me feel good, since I"m not really happy with my turkey neck LOL!!!

But seriously, I am sorry to hear about your friend, that's so sad.  Personally I did this for my health, the "looking good" is the icing on the previable cake, when I get my labs it still makes me smile at 21 months out.  I am still tickled when my sugar, non fasting level, is below 100 and my bp is 115/75 WOW, that's what it's all about.

I just wish people like that would come on sites like this and learn as much as they can. 

Live healthy....that's what this is all about!!!

Edie