6 month Surgiversary!

Thank you for this, it took time and courage to post and I am very thankful to read this. As I am just starting my journey and waiting for appointments, I appreciate a post like this that gives me something to look forward too.

Great post! Congrats on your 6 month success!

Very inspiring post, thank you for taking the time to lift us up :)

When I wrote it, I didn't really think it was inspirational but apparently it is. That's great!

I've read so many threads that are negative. Not necessarily here but in other places. When I was considering doing this, I got really scared and thought OMG I'm never going to be normal again and scared that I was going to have all these terrible things happen to me.

I was sitting here yesterday, (after my workout :)) and it occurred to me how wonderful my life was and how losing all this weight had changed so much for me. It also occurred to me that I had a fairly easy go of it unlike many others that really struggle. I wanted newcomers to know its not all bad.

To be perfectly honest, I did have some struggles but nothing lasted long and it resolved. Within a day of coming home after surgery I was diagnosed with a bowel obstruction and off I went into emergency surgery to have it fixed. No troubles since. I had problems with lactose but that resolved and that's it. And then I had, (guys look away), vaginal cellulitis that was crippling for about a week. That came fairly soon after I went back to work. Basically, my immune system went kaput for a bit but it bounced back. With all of that, I still believe I had an easy go of it.

Others have ulcers, digestive issues, pain, gallbladder trouble, strictures etc. I haven't had to deal with any of that. I read about one woman who did nothing but vomit for the first 3 months after surgery. I'm not sure how I would have coped if that had been me.

So instead of all the negative stuff I really wanted people to know that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and that life can be normal and you can feel good and be healthy. Instead of talking about all the depressive stuff that can happen, why not highlight the highs?

I'm a strong believer in being realistic but also being positive. Some people get "down" when they get realistic. You have to walk the other path. Thoughts create moods. Have good thoughts, change bad or sad thoughts and create positive and uplifting moods.

So much more can be accomplished if you lift yourself up.

First off I want to say...wow you have done amazing! I am from Hamilton and just had my first nurse appointment at St Joes and will be going to the social worker appt and nutritionist in November. Reading your post is just what I needed today. I went to my appointment and when I had to weigh myself I left feeling so down on myself and thinking...how did I let myself get here! I know I am going through all of this for the better but I feel so disappointed in myself and almost mad at myself. I sometimes feel I question myself...can I do this. I hope these are normal feelings and that I will get through all of this. Anyways thanks for listening to me and thank you again for your wonderful post!

Those were my thoughts EXACTLY.

You can do this. It doesn't matter what was in the past. What matters is what you do now, and what you do going forward.

Change is what's required. Do it slow. Pick one thing to change and when you've dealt with that one thing, choose another.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Go to a support group BEFORE surgery.

You will do great.

Thank you for all the information. I am considering surgery. It seems I am where you were a year ago.