1 year ago today........

(deactivated member)
on 5/8/09 9:40 am - Hagerstown, MD

I posted this in my live journal but y'all need to see this too.....this is probably what my surgiversary post should have been instead of that quicky LOL

1 year ago today at this very moment, I was recovering from gastric bypass surgery. That was the day that changed my life forever. I went into the hospital a miserable blob of jelly and came out with hope for my future because let's face it, if I didn't have the surgery, I probably would have been wheelchair bound or worse. At the age of 36, I wasn't prepared to live out the rest of my life like that.

1 year later from that day, I am here with no bumps in my road (other health issues but none surgery related) and I am the healthiest I have ever been. I have a new lease on life so to speak and I am grateful for this second chance I have been given. I can assure you it's not being wasted. and now for the umpteenth time, a picture show...before and after....

Before......see how miserable I was? This was 4 days before surgery. In this picture I was 440 pounds, wearing a size 7XL shirt and size 70 jeans....I had to lose 60 pounds prior to this picture taken....my highest was 500 pounds. At my initial surgeon's information orientation, I was 497 pounds and at the initial one-on-one consult with the surgeon, I was 475.

And today.....250 pounds and holding (plateau) and 20 pounds away from my goal weight. with plastic surgery in a year or so, that will drop another 15 - 20 pounds of skin. I'm wearing a L Shirt and size 40 jeans (although I can fit into 38's, they don't fit right in my thighs which are very problematic right now).

Just Brooke
on 5/8/09 9:49 am

You look so great! And you've worked so hard. Be proud!!

(deactivated member)
on 5/8/09 10:01 am - Hagerstown, MD

RNY on 05/08/08

thank you so much Brooke :) You have a lot to be proud of too :) *HUGE BEAR HUGS*

Beasley317
on 5/8/09 10:16 am - LA

RNY on 05/22/09

*sounds like a nature show host*

Here we have the West Virginia RNY Bear, more commonly known as the Stud Muffin....

Congrats sweetie! You have done amazing!

Erin

(deactivated member)
on 5/8/09 10:23 am - Hagerstown, MD

RNY on 05/08/08

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!! thank you so much Erin! *HUGE BEAR HUGS*

mst42
on 5/8/09 10:17 am - Ithaca, NY

RNY on 09/05/08

Amazing! You look great. I see crutches in the picture . . . still having problems?

(deactivated member)
on 5/8/09 10:24 am - Hagerstown, MD

RNY on 05/08/08

Thank you! I had an issue way back last year with arthritis in my knee and using the crutch helped me hobble around. that was before they drew out about 30cc's of fluid out of my knee and gave me a shot of cortisone (a normal joint only has about 5 cc's of fluid in it)

wlscand09
on 5/8/09 10:27 am - Tickfaw, LA

RNY on 03/12/08

Wow omg I was thinking 'there's no way he weighed that much' as I saw the pictures but I guess we all have our own body types. You look amazing. I hope you're proud, because you should be.