14 Years Post Op RNY

14 years ago I had my roux en y surgery in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It was my first surgery besides my wisdom teeth removal so I was quite the nervous wreck. No big health problems so I worried that I was trading good for bad. My bmi at my highest was 51.

The GOOD - no medications, no big health issues, mobility is good, no worrying about fitting in backseats of cars or other tight spaces. One size does fit all.
This body moves well and these legs are strong and bring me many places although they crack like the Dickens when I bend. Lol. I'm hitting 50 years of age in a few months.

The BAD - osteopenia from wrong calcium (take citrate, please!) but once I switched to the right calcium I had no more further loss. Reactive hypoglycaemia kicks my butt on the odd, odd occasion but I've learned to manage it very well. Iron is perpetually low and needs refuelling.

The UGLY- the food issues (binge eater) continue to be my struggle. It takes perpetual work to dust myself off, pick myself off and get back on track but I do it....constantly. I was the chubby kid, overweight teen and obese adult. This "lifestyle" is not naturally imbedded in my brain. It's work to maintain it. And yes I've had regain. But I gain, freak out, cry on my scale and throw a little tantrum with my scale and I realize that to keep it off it's ALL ME and MY FOOD CHOICES and I'm going to have to be consistent to keep it off.

The SUCCESS can be attributed to staying in support groups, attending wls conferences, talking with other patients, seeking help when I need it from self help books, weigh****chers, mindful eating classes. Whatever I can find I will often try for a while and it helps me to repurpose and refocus.

• No one said it would be easy. It isn't. Long term it's the hardest work you'll ever do. But it is definitely worth it

Your before and after pictures are amazing.

I love posts like these! Thank you for sharing your struggles and successes! Every bit of this is KEY to working at a post-bariatric / Post-op lifestyle.

Congratulations !

You look fantastic and thank you for the honesty!

Awesome post! Love this info. Congratulations to you! Well done!

You look fabulous! I am getting ready to have my surgery on August 19th. I am very excited. How tall are you Dawn? I love reading people's stories on here.

I am five foot three