I cannot believe it has been SIX MONTHS  since I had my sleeve done! WOW ~ the time has just flown by!!! Before surgery, I'd see WLS comments saying that it was THE best decision they had ever made. I honestly couldn't relate, but now I can. I've had absolutely no problems whatsoever. From day one I could drink more than they were requiring and have had no problems with keeping hydrated or getting my protein in. I'm beyond thankful that I've been so richly blessed with a successful surgery, speedy recovery and problem-free first six months. 

I haven't weighed in over three weeks - for various reasons - but have lost steadily and have gone from a size 28 to a size 16. I've still got quite a way to go before I reach goal, but I'm very thrilled with my progress so far. I am really hoping to be at my goal weight by my year anniversary - The best NSV - Non Scale Victory - for me has been the tremendous increase in energy and stamina. I have more energy and am able to do more things now than I've been able to do in the last 20 years. 

Other NSVictories have been:  1. Being able to ride amusement park rides with my two three-year old grandchildren.  2. NOT having to carry a seat belt extension with me on my flights back and forth to see my Dallas Gbabies. 3. Not hurting anymore - Back, Buttocks, Legs and Knees especially, and that's not even including the mental and emotional pain that I'd lived with for the past 20 years. I'm finally feeling good "about myself" as well as feeling wonderful, physically. 4.  Being able to play with my grandchildren; able to get up off the floor; run with them; go down the slide with them at the park; carry the 9 month old Gbaby up and down the stairs without the fear of falling with her, or my knees giving out on me. 5. Able to clean my house and yard without being totally exhausted. I could go on and on, but these are just a few of the things that instantly came to mind. 

So now, I join those veteran comments that I continually saw before surgery. WLS was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I'm thankful beyond words for another chance to regain my life. I'm thankful to be really living again instead of just surviving. I'm looking forward to this last half of my life. I'm looking forward to getting the old me back that I had before my weight gain over the last 20 years.

Thank you, God, for providing for me in so many ways. Thank you for my WLS. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to "really live again".

I'd be glad to help encourage anyone who is about to have surgery and/or those who are just a few days/weeks out from surgery. I don't know much, but I'd be glad to help any way that I possibly can. I'll be praying for each and everyone of you.

Blessings....Susie

Good Monday Everyone,

I think this is going to be a GREAT week.     Today I am so grateful that the good Lord let decided to let me live another day.   I am so grateful for my life.     We ALL have so very much to be grateful for and we should be grateful everyday when we wake up that we have been given another day to make better choices than the day before.     Today I am grateful for my family ( as always ).    Grateful that I have a home even though it is not as big or fancy as some people.....grateful that our bills are paid and that we have food in the cabinets and in my refrigerator.     Grateful for my WLS and the weight that I have lost and for the most part kept off for 7+ yrs.  Next month I will be 8 yrs. post op RNY.    I am SO grateful for that life-changing decision that I made almost 9 yrs ago when I attended a seminar.    Yes I did say 9 yrs.   I procrastinated almost a year before my surgery....then I decided to just go ahead and do the surgery.    BEST decision I have ever made for my life.    Grateful that I can run and play and sit on the floor and do silly things with my 14 month old granddaughter.   Life is SO much better than it was for me at 273 lbs.    I will NEVER ever forget how I felt then and I am SO very grateful for that.    Grateful for the people who attended my OH Support Group yesterday.    Grateful for life.    PLEASE share if you will what you are grateful for today and have a blessed day and week.

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

"Anything is possible, It's your choice whether or not you choose to make IT happen."

Labs are KEY!!  And you must make sure your doc knows the additional labs bariatric patients need to have monitored (there used to be a great list of them here on OH somewhere).

For bypass patients eating well and taking your vitamins isn't enough.  My diet isn't the greatest, but it's not the worst.  My diligence in taking my vitamins are the same way ... I take them more often than not, but still not consistently as I should.  After all, it took me 7 1/2 years to spiral down to into this condition, and it progresses so slowly you don't notice it.

Your digestive system is like a water filter.  There are several "layers" the water must pass through to remove all the impurities and each level strains out different impurities.  Part of our digestive system has been removed and therefore the nutrients that were absorbed by that section cannot be digested and abosorbed.  There's a very strong possibility I could take iron supplements all day long every day and still be anemic.  And it creeps up so slowly we don't notice how critical it's become until we're truly critical.

Bliss....next month i will be 8 yrs post op RNY.   TRUST me.....I do and always have listened to the ones who had surgery before me.   I do try to get in ALL my protein and sometimes more.    I always have taken my vitamins too.    Bless your heart.   I'm going to put you on my prayer list.    So glad it didn't kill you because it seriously can.   I see your from Keller.   I lead a supprt group there once a month and I'd love for you to join us sometimes if you could and felt like it.   I hope your levels come up so that you feel better soon.    THANK YOU for sharing your story with us all.     We ALL need a reminder of what can and does happen to others.

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian