It's Close Enough To Tomorrow - ONE YEAR
It's still a few hours away, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get this done at the office tomorrow and I wanted to get it out there ---- it's long, so grab your favorite beverage and enjoy my ride!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't even know where to begin. I remember the first day I stumbled upon OH and I was awestruck at the transformation I saw. Then I joined OH and started reading, lurking about. Then I got really brave and started to post questions. Then I won the lotto and found the Texas Message Board and the VSG boards.
I started this wonderful ride at 275 pounds in mid-May 2007 with Dr. Harry Meyers in Dallas. Self-pay was the only way to get the surgery as it was excluded under my health insurance. I took money that I had received when my daddy died to pay for the surgery. He probably would not have approved, at first but would have eventually come around (or realized that I would do it whether or not he approved because I know no matter what he loved me!)
I started on a pre-op diet, for lack of a better word, to shrink the old liver before surgery. I had about 45 days to prepare. I read, read, read, asked question after question after question. I read some more. I became active on the TX and VSG boards. I posted a note to the TMB members 4 days before my surgery about all the things I'd learned from them and what I should and shouldn't expect, when to freak out and when to remain calm.
Surgery came and went. I came home the next day and weighed 260 lbs. and wearing a size 24/26 or 3XL clothing. I was going to ecstatic the day I saw 199 or size 12 or even size 14. I'd love to say I am at my one year goal of 160 lbs, but I haven't been home in ten days. The day I left for this trip I was at 160.6, so I can only hope that the lousy 6/10ths of a pound is gone. I'm wearing a size 6 or 8 depending on the cut in jeans / slacks and a medium top (and probably could manage a small here and there depending on the cut).
All the numbers look good and are impressive, if I do say so myself. Although losing weight and looking good are among the many reasons people choose to have WLS, I needed - no scratch that - HAD to get healthy. I had lost my dad to cancer, both of my sisters have chronic illness and are disabled and my mother has had a quadruple bypass and heart valve replacement. Somebody has to live in my family to see that my nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews are taken care of and that person had to be me!!
I was on the verge of being a diabetic, my joints hurt and I was a SLUG. There's a picture on my profile where I'm wearing a "cute" pink capri jogging suit - when I saw that picture in April 2007 I thought OH MY GOD I am HUGE (by the way - I weighed 294 lbs at the time). But 2007 was the year of the hysterectomy and a major staph infection that had me off work for six months for recovery (me and my wound vac - lovely picture!). I did lose close to 40 lbs, but it wasn't much fun!
Fast forward to April 2008 - I saw a couple we are friends with. Both had had their VSG in July 2007 and I had not seen them since. I didn't even realize who he was until he spoke. And I thought to myself "If he can do it, I can do it!" Learned what I could from them about the surgery and as soon as I got home, I made an appointment for my consultation. The rest my friends is history ....
I will never claim to be the perfect WLS patient. I am adamant about having blood work every six months. I take my vitamins religiously. I don't do a lot of exercise (and that's my one and only regret). I eat a few sweets if I want them. I don't count calories, carbs, fats, etc. I am not on a diet. I have changed my life FOREVER. And I now LIVE a life, not just exist in a world.
These pictures represent the night before surgery and just a few days before my one year surgiversary. There are days when I still see me "before" in the mirror, but I am beginning to see me "now" in the mirror as well. (Disclaimer: my photographer is not a professional and there may or may not have been a bit of alcohol involved - hey it was Times Square after an afternoon with friends!!
)
For every person who has offered one piece of advice or provided an ounce of support - THANK YOU. This ride is not over and I don't know where the bus stops but I'm not getting off until it's the end of the line .... and if you are reading this as a pre-op, I hope I've given you some insight and hope because if I can do it, YOU can do it too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't even know where to begin. I remember the first day I stumbled upon OH and I was awestruck at the transformation I saw. Then I joined OH and started reading, lurking about. Then I got really brave and started to post questions. Then I won the lotto and found the Texas Message Board and the VSG boards.
I started this wonderful ride at 275 pounds in mid-May 2007 with Dr. Harry Meyers in Dallas. Self-pay was the only way to get the surgery as it was excluded under my health insurance. I took money that I had received when my daddy died to pay for the surgery. He probably would not have approved, at first but would have eventually come around (or realized that I would do it whether or not he approved because I know no matter what he loved me!)
I started on a pre-op diet, for lack of a better word, to shrink the old liver before surgery. I had about 45 days to prepare. I read, read, read, asked question after question after question. I read some more. I became active on the TX and VSG boards. I posted a note to the TMB members 4 days before my surgery about all the things I'd learned from them and what I should and shouldn't expect, when to freak out and when to remain calm.
Surgery came and went. I came home the next day and weighed 260 lbs. and wearing a size 24/26 or 3XL clothing. I was going to ecstatic the day I saw 199 or size 12 or even size 14. I'd love to say I am at my one year goal of 160 lbs, but I haven't been home in ten days. The day I left for this trip I was at 160.6, so I can only hope that the lousy 6/10ths of a pound is gone. I'm wearing a size 6 or 8 depending on the cut in jeans / slacks and a medium top (and probably could manage a small here and there depending on the cut).
All the numbers look good and are impressive, if I do say so myself. Although losing weight and looking good are among the many reasons people choose to have WLS, I needed - no scratch that - HAD to get healthy. I had lost my dad to cancer, both of my sisters have chronic illness and are disabled and my mother has had a quadruple bypass and heart valve replacement. Somebody has to live in my family to see that my nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews are taken care of and that person had to be me!!
I was on the verge of being a diabetic, my joints hurt and I was a SLUG. There's a picture on my profile where I'm wearing a "cute" pink capri jogging suit - when I saw that picture in April 2007 I thought OH MY GOD I am HUGE (by the way - I weighed 294 lbs at the time). But 2007 was the year of the hysterectomy and a major staph infection that had me off work for six months for recovery (me and my wound vac - lovely picture!). I did lose close to 40 lbs, but it wasn't much fun!
Fast forward to April 2008 - I saw a couple we are friends with. Both had had their VSG in July 2007 and I had not seen them since. I didn't even realize who he was until he spoke. And I thought to myself "If he can do it, I can do it!" Learned what I could from them about the surgery and as soon as I got home, I made an appointment for my consultation. The rest my friends is history ....
I will never claim to be the perfect WLS patient. I am adamant about having blood work every six months. I take my vitamins religiously. I don't do a lot of exercise (and that's my one and only regret). I eat a few sweets if I want them. I don't count calories, carbs, fats, etc. I am not on a diet. I have changed my life FOREVER. And I now LIVE a life, not just exist in a world.
These pictures represent the night before surgery and just a few days before my one year surgiversary. There are days when I still see me "before" in the mirror, but I am beginning to see me "now" in the mirror as well. (Disclaimer: my photographer is not a professional and there may or may not have been a bit of alcohol involved - hey it was Times Square after an afternoon with friends!!
) For every person who has offered one piece of advice or provided an ounce of support - THANK YOU. This ride is not over and I don't know where the bus stops but I'm not getting off until it's the end of the line .... and if you are reading this as a pre-op, I hope I've given you some insight and hope because if I can do it, YOU can do it too!
Woo Hoo sweetheart, it sure doesn't seem like it's been a year already. I remember you when you first came to the board, when Sara (my Cajun crazy ass sister, that needs to be HERE) was your angel and reported to us, and I've watched you blossom this year. What can I say other than you've worked it ladybug I'm so happy for you.
Hugs,
Hugs,
Proximal RNY Lap - 02/21/05
9 years committed ~ 100% EWL and Maintaining
www.dazzlinglashesandbeyond.com
Thank you, Dana. You have been one of the most supportive and eager people on this board - as well as patient as I asked questions and needed advice. Thank you.
I sure hope you make it to Dallas in September for the OH Conference so I can meet you!
BTW - Sara did drop in on a few post yesterday (maybe the NW from Tuesday night?)
I sure hope you make it to Dallas in September for the OH Conference so I can meet you!
BTW - Sara did drop in on a few post yesterday (maybe the NW from Tuesday night?)
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