We are so fortunate...

Sometimes I take for granted just how fortunate I have been in my weight loss journey with the wealth of knowledge I have had available from the very beginning when I first investigated WLS up to now when I come here daily and never fail to learn something new, pick up a good recipe, or just enjoy the companionship of people who have 'been there, done that' or are just getting ready to start their journey.

This really hit me this morning after reading certain posts and thinking back to something my daughter and I discussed when she was here. Her sister-in-law's mother had gastric bypass surgery over 10 years ago - when they still actually removed intestine and cut her from stem to stern to do the surgery. She never had the benefit of nutritionists advising her on her new special diet, her vitamin regimin, exercise or support to help her lose and maintain her weight loss. Sadly thru-out her journey she was never healthy, dumped constantly (of course after a while you would think common sense would kick in and say hey, I can't eat this or that) - but anyway she was never told the benefits of taking vitamins, B12, iron, etc. For her she really felt it was a magic pill that would make all her weight go away. After a few years she submitted to plastic surgery - again with surgeons who were not familiar with our types of excess skin issues and they basically butchered her body with that as well.

Sad to say she passed away just a few years following her surgery - cause of death wasn't determined attributable to her WLS or plastic surgery, but her daughter is convinced that if she had been given the same type of education, direction and support that I have received she would have lived a longer, healthier life.

Her daughter is in awe of the wealth of information available to me and the support from the doctors, nurses, nuts and everyone out here and has told me how fortunate we are now that all of this is available to us.

I try never to take any of this for granted, but in the day to day dealings of life I have to admit that I do at times, but I never take you guys for granted - I know you're always there when I need you and I try to do the same.

Wonderful thoughts to share... thank you!

Karen

Beautifully written ....Thank you Kathy and many of us feel the way you do.....

Thanks for the reminder Kathy, we DO have so much to be thankful for on our journey with WLS.  The info and support are priceless.

k

Yes Kathy we ALL are so fortunate.
This works because we are here together and so willing to share.
Even with those who will be slow to recognize the riches we have right here.
Thank you for reminding us all.

Dennis

You are so right. I approach my 5 year mark tomorrow. And I am still learning everyday. Even 5 years ago, there wasn't the info there is now. And I take each and every post from here and read it, and help if I can, or learn if I do not know.

And I always appreciate the suggestions and ideas I get and offer advice on what I can. Thanks for the post. The knowledge on here should never be taken for granted.

I am truly grateful for the informative support here and at Barix.

I would like to say that my guess is Dee should not have been cleared for surgery by the psych eval, and has a lot of issues to work on, if she has the opportunity to work on them, in therapy.  I had a lot of issues many years ago, and would not have been a good candidate for this surgery till 2005 because of them.  As it is, I must get back on track with my carb intake, and step up my exercise, which I have really slacked off on with broken bones lately.

Honesty in giving advice, and pointing out problem behaviors is more loving than letting people delude themselves in their denial.

Thanks for this post.

Trish

Kathy-
That was beautiful and wonderful to read.  Thank you for sharing this with us!!!

Much luv!!
Laura

A tragic story that brings to light exactly how fortunate we truly are.

Thanks for sharing, Kathy - and you are right - we are one fortunate group of people to have you and everyone else here surrounding us!

Boy you are so right. I have a cousin-in-law who had WLS 2 years ago. Last year she looked great. This year she looks like she aged 20 years. She's pale,haggard just not well looking. When we got to talking about nutrition and vitamins, etc she said she doesn't take anything, doesn't drink protein shakes, doesn't she her surgeon (hasn't for a year), never had her bloodwork checked. I was shocked! I tried to tell her what I learned here but she said what she doesn't know won't hurt her. YIKES!