Looking back - I made the right decision.
I gotta tell you folks that this journey is nothing short of amazing! My all time high weight was in the neighborhood of 395 lbs. I dieted and walked my tail off to get down to 388 - Whoopee! After being advised by my cardiologist and family doctor to consider bariatric surgery due to declining health, I decided "What the heck - nothing is working and I am getting no significant loss through diet and exercise - so I'll do it!"
I weighed 366 in February 2008 when I went for my first consult at Vandy concerning WL surgery. I was wearing a 3XL shirt and size 50 (tight) pants. On the day of my surgery, 4-28-08, I weighed in at 333 lbs.
Well, today - 8 1/2 months post-op - I weigh 195 lbs!! I wear a size L shirt, and size 36 pants ( actually, size 35 would fit nicely, but that's an odd size and hard to find). In fact, I'm even getting the "You are gonna get too skinny" and "Are you ever gonna stop losing?" comments. Who'd a thunk it?!
More importantly, I am no longer pre-diabetic, no longer have sleep-apnea, no congestive heart failure problems, and no more edema in my feet, ankles, legs and hands. My BP is routinely 128/66 to 130/68 and my heart rate is between 62 and 66. I have gone from 13 meds a day to only 1, which is for cholesterol and is precautionary protocol for treatment following heart surgery.
I can now function daily as a "normal" person. My energy level has increased at least 10 fold. I can walk without pain in my feet, ankles, knees, and back. I can exercise and train with weights again. I can do maintenance items around the house and actually finish them in a timely manner. I can ride my motorcycle without having to stop after just 30-minutes because I am fatigued. I can work all day, go to the gym, and still have energy when I get home at night. I can play with my grandkids withiout having to stop after 5 minutes because I'm short of breath or feeling lousy. And I feel great!
Yep - when I stop and think about where I was both physically and mentally just less than a year ago, it is nothing short of absolutely amazing to me what this surgery has allowed me to accomplish and the changes it has made in my life.
As has been said so many times before, weight loss surgery is definitely not a "MAGIC CURE". It requires committment and dedication to the program set out by the surgeon and nutritionist. It requires changes in our mental, physical and lifestyle habits. The decision to have WLS is a personal decision that one has to make on their own. It should be made only after weighing the potential risks involved, research, and careful consideration of the lifestyle changes and the committment that is required to be successful after the surgery. But for me, I KNOW without a doubt that I made the absolute RIGHT DECISION!
I weighed 366 in February 2008 when I went for my first consult at Vandy concerning WL surgery. I was wearing a 3XL shirt and size 50 (tight) pants. On the day of my surgery, 4-28-08, I weighed in at 333 lbs.
Well, today - 8 1/2 months post-op - I weigh 195 lbs!! I wear a size L shirt, and size 36 pants ( actually, size 35 would fit nicely, but that's an odd size and hard to find). In fact, I'm even getting the "You are gonna get too skinny" and "Are you ever gonna stop losing?" comments. Who'd a thunk it?!
More importantly, I am no longer pre-diabetic, no longer have sleep-apnea, no congestive heart failure problems, and no more edema in my feet, ankles, legs and hands. My BP is routinely 128/66 to 130/68 and my heart rate is between 62 and 66. I have gone from 13 meds a day to only 1, which is for cholesterol and is precautionary protocol for treatment following heart surgery.
I can now function daily as a "normal" person. My energy level has increased at least 10 fold. I can walk without pain in my feet, ankles, knees, and back. I can exercise and train with weights again. I can do maintenance items around the house and actually finish them in a timely manner. I can ride my motorcycle without having to stop after just 30-minutes because I am fatigued. I can work all day, go to the gym, and still have energy when I get home at night. I can play with my grandkids withiout having to stop after 5 minutes because I'm short of breath or feeling lousy. And I feel great!
Yep - when I stop and think about where I was both physically and mentally just less than a year ago, it is nothing short of absolutely amazing to me what this surgery has allowed me to accomplish and the changes it has made in my life.
As has been said so many times before, weight loss surgery is definitely not a "MAGIC CURE". It requires committment and dedication to the program set out by the surgeon and nutritionist. It requires changes in our mental, physical and lifestyle habits. The decision to have WLS is a personal decision that one has to make on their own. It should be made only after weighing the potential risks involved, research, and careful consideration of the lifestyle changes and the committment that is required to be successful after the surgery. But for me, I KNOW without a doubt that I made the absolute RIGHT DECISION!
BamaBob54 
ROLL TIDE!!!
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/2661045004_3d63fb2244.jpg[/IMG]
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ROLL TIDE!!! [IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/2661045004_3d63fb2244.jpg[/IMG]
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Denise M.
on 1/14/09 5:00 am
on 1/14/09 5:00 am
Dang, I guess I never paid attention to the small print--you're only 8.5 months out and you're already below goal? Woweeeeee!!!
I am so looking forward to being a normal person. My feet are KILLING ME from plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. I don't know that I'll ever be pain free, but I really want to have less pain. As in not being hobbled if I sit for more than 10 minutes. My joints just freeze up and I limp badly until I can get them moving.
Getting off meds, feeling less pain, feeling energy. Those are the things that are getting me through the pre-surgery 10% weight loss and those are the things that will get me through the pre-op diet and beyond.
Great post and thanks for the "food" for thought!
Denise
I am so looking forward to being a normal person. My feet are KILLING ME from plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. I don't know that I'll ever be pain free, but I really want to have less pain. As in not being hobbled if I sit for more than 10 minutes. My joints just freeze up and I limp badly until I can get them moving.
Getting off meds, feeling less pain, feeling energy. Those are the things that are getting me through the pre-surgery 10% weight loss and those are the things that will get me through the pre-op diet and beyond.
Great post and thanks for the "food" for thought!
Denise
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