My 4 year surgiversary

I try to post here each year on my surgiversary.

1) to thank this forum for all it's support through my ongoing journey

2) to help me look back and remember where I have come from

3) to help me look forward and plan for another (hopefully) successful year.

It has been four years for me this week and I continue to reap the benefits of my RNY.  I am in a healthy weight range, my sleep apnea and borderline blood pressure, sugars and cholesterol have all resolved.  I now run 10k and am training for 15 (with an eye on the 1/2 marathon).  I had never run in my life prior to this.  I have this forum to thank for inspiring the running.  The list of benefits to my daily life, self confidence and psych are immeasurable. 

I did regain about 10-15lb but last year took myself to weigh****chers to get back on track and successfully lost the weight and am diligently weighing in monthly to work on maintenance.

The head stuff is the hardest to explain to those early in the journey.  I made a commitment to myself before surgery to work on this throughout my journey.  I have done TONS of work but truthfully still struggle.  However, I have learned and continue to learn a great deal about myself and am continuing to improve in this area.  I realize I will likely be refining this part of myself for the rest of my life.  It is NOT a quick fix despite the beautiful, apparently effortless, weight loss in the first year or so.  If I had one message to newbies it would be NOT to ignore this part of the journey.  It is the hardest and dirtiest part but honestly the biggest key to LONG TERM success.

I have not a single regret about my decision.  I continue to take my vitamins faithfully and have my annual bloodwork.  I have periodically needed to adjust certain vitamins so this monitoring remains crucial.  Don't get complacent and think "they have been ok for a few years so all is fine."  Keep monitoring each year for life.

I had one complication after two years necessitating very minor surgery (out after 24hrs and travelling by end of that week).  It was a small internal hernia that was leading to intermittent stomach cramping pains after eating in my upper belly.  Just a blip on my radar.

Wrinkles are one of those seeming superficial "side effects" of surgery that took me by surprise in how they bothered me.  Loving the slimmer me but hating the wrinkles, floppy breasts and hanging skin took a while to adjust to.  Plastic surgery is an option and I have explored it but over the last 4 years I have adjusted to this less-than-ideal effect of surgery and have sort of embraced all of the new me.  Maybe one day I will still consider some "adjustments" but for now am living the new me with gusto.

I love feeling my body working at its best (or close to it).   It is truly a blessing for me.

Andrea

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. It is very helpful for those of us at the beginning stages of our journeys. I wish you continued success and good health.

Tammy :)

Thanks Tammy and congrats on your awesome success to date! Look forward to seeing YOUR four year post one day :)

Congratulations Andrea!! You've done great

Thanks! Looks like you're doing great too!

Sounds like you are doing great. Congratulations. what you have posted about working on the reasons for eating is so important. I hope new people take it to heart