5 Year Surgiversary

I cannot believe that 5 years ago, yesterday, I had the DS.  It has definitely been a life-changing experience.  No regrets!!!  I cannot emphasize that enough.  N-O R-E-G-R-E-T-S.  Yes, sometimes I have bad gas b/c I've eaten things knowing that is the end product and chose to do so - that's okay.  You choose when to do so and when not . . . and learn that some things are just not worth the painful bloating. 

I had surgery with a BMI of 48, and for the past year, year and a half, I've been hovering around a BMI of 26 - 27.  While I would like to be a little thinner, I know that if I really, really, really want that, then I can simply choose to stop eating 150gms of carbs/ day.  I make my choice, and at the end of the day, I'm pretty happy with being able to eat pretty much what I want and staying around a size 12.

That is, except for now, because I'm PREGNANT!!  I'm now 20 weeks along and things are going splendidly.  My little girl (yes, it's a girl!) is measuring and weighing about a week ahead of schedule.  I'm up about 8 pounds, and for my pre-pregnancy weight, that's a healthy gain.  Thanks to my DS, I'm not nearly as afraid of gaining weight b/c I know it will help me to lose it . . . along with breast feeding.

Weight loss surgery aside, my bout of lymphoma has stayed a thing of the past and has also helped to put life in perspective.  Life may not be perfect, but life is good!  I was also told that, due to the fact that I was in my mid-30's when I had chemo and that I stopped menstruating for 5 months, that it would be very unlikely that I would be able to conceive.  HAH.  My little one is my little miracle.

LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do think it's likely that I would never had met my wonderful husband if I hadn't had the DS.  It's not just a question of if he would have dated me at my old weight.  It's also that my perception of myself and level of confidence changed b/c of my new body image, reinforced by how differently the world treated me.  I went through a period in which I really resented that, thinking, "Am I really so different?", "Why didn't people treat me like this before?"  Yes, I still think a lot of it does simply have to do with physical appearance, but reality is - *I* am a different person as well.  I interact with people differently.  I'm pretty at peace with that.

Yes, I still have loose skin, but when I weigh the point of happiness I have in my current life against the health risk of an optional surgery, especially given a new perspective of how precious life is after beating cancer, I just can't justify the risk.  Each time I do, I think of Mickey.  I'm not sure how many here now knew her, but she ultimately did not make it out of an elective surgery and back home to her family and her two little girls.  I'm healthy and happy and if I forever have a couple of small rolls of fat that will be there no matter how thin I am, well so be it.

Life is good and I'm happy, healthy, thankful for the life the DS has undeniably helped to bring me, and so looking forward to being a mommy.

That is wonderful! Congrats on your long term success and on the upcoming birth of your little girl!!!

Thank you so much!  I hope all is going well in your post-DS journey :)

You have done so well.  Happy surgiversary, Lisey!   

--gina

Thank you, Gina!  You have been a terrific role model for so many of us DSers - thank you for your dedication and assistance!

Yes, life is good with the DS!  I am grateful every single day!!!  Congratulations!

Thank you so much!  I really like your pic :)  Me Want Cookies!!!

Your post was a complete JOY to read! Congrats on your Surgiversary and your new baby girl!!!! I have to give you a hug! HUG!

Awww, that's sweet .  I appreciate that & best of luck to you as well!

Yay, Lisey -- Congratulations on your surgiversary, beating cancer, getting married, and impending parenthood!  What an awesome post.

It took each and every situation you've encountered to bring you to now.  And it sounds like now is pretty great.