4-year surgiversary today

Today is my 4th RNY "re-birth day"... and tomorrow is my real birthday.  In some ways it is really hard to believe it has been 4 years, but in other ways it seems like surgery was a long time ago.  I really no longer feel like a "RNY patient"... just someone who happens to have had a RNY.  Having an altered digestive system is just part of my medical history that requires me to do take a bunch of vitamins (the same way having had Graves Disease and the thyroid oblation in 1990 requires me to take my Synthroid pill every day). 

Since I eat whatever I want to eat if something particular sounds really good, and I just make sure that I have a protein-forward diet and limit the "white carbs", sugar, and fat (as do many of my thin friends), I don't feel like I am "on a diet" or that I have any special dietary requirements.  Yes, I eat less than most people (even my very thin friends), but I am used to ordering small portions or items that are good as leftovers and I have several standard replies if a waiter or waitress asks worriedly if the food was ok.

I still struggle some days with being disappointed that I never got into a single-digit clothing size, and there are some days that I do not come here to OH at all because I just get annoyed by what i think is a psychologically unhealthy emphasis on "the numbers", but I am maintaining my weight at only 5-7 pounds up after 4 years without a burdensome amount of effort (whereas a couple of people I know who had surgery within a year or so of me and who did get into very small sizes are no longer in their smallest size clothes because they have re-gained already...  ). 

I saw someone this week who had only seen photos of me since my RNY, and of course she commented on how different I looked... but my reaction was very different than it was in the same situation a couple of years ago.  Two years ago I would have reveled in the "you don't even look like the same person" comment.  This week, however, although it was certainly nice to hear, it felt a little weird.  Two years ago I was still really getting used to NOT being a 330+ pound person anymore.  Today, I just feel like ME... and the me that I now know just happens to be 150 pounds.

(Now, if I can just get the belly pain resolved next week...)

Lora

Happy birth and re-birth day!

Happy Surgiversary to you Lora!! I always enjoy your posts and trust me, I hope I can even get down to a 10 1/2 clothing size from this gross 26-28 or 4X size I'm wearing now.

Glad to see it's possible to one day feel like an average every day person, I think that's most of our goals.

Take care!!
Wynter

Happy, happy days!!! Thank you for all your help and support and role-modeling on the site, Lora! Your contributions are invaluable!

Happy Rebirth day.  I don't get to come on here often, but when I do, you are one of the posters who always posts advice that make this journey easier.  Good luck next week with your surgery.  I hope they can finally get you some relief from your pain.
Mary

Great post Lora.  Happy Surgiversary!

 Happy 4th surgi-versary!!!!! Happy Early birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have done so well!!!!! I can only hope to do so well. Thanks for all your post!!! It is nice to get such knowledge from a vet!!

 Happy re-birth day, Lora.  Your post reveals a person comfortable with herself and who she is and has become.  I agree with you - the focus on the numbers is really frustrating... but very understandable early on.  Getting further out is a process of letting go, don't you think?

The way you relate to food is the way I hoped I would be able to ...  it was my goal even more than any weight goal..  to be able to eat in moderation and enjoy what I eat, and be able to stop when I've had enough.  And that is happening!

Bless you for all of your sharing.

Happy surgiversary and happy birthday for tomorrow!

I think it is difficult for people who are newbies, or only a year or two out from their surgery to understand how some of us are NOT WLS patients any more.  

How even though we still come to OH, this surgery does not define who we are or how we live our lives off of this Board.

How most of this journey is NOT rocket science but mostly common sense.

How we can't rely on our surgeons, PCP's or other medical personnel to always know or understand everything about our lives or what we need or want - that for the most part THAT is now our job.  

How WLS might mean changes in your life but will NOT change your life.   It will not solve everything that is wrong in your life and may even create some new problems!!!

That only our digestive system was altered - not our heads!

I'm glad YOU are in a good place at this stage of your journey.

"I think it is difficult for people who are newbies, or only a year or two out from their surgery to understand how some of us are NOT WLS patients any more. "

I agree. I probably would not have really understood the distinction during my first year, either, even though IU think that my surgeon's approach to recovery and post-op eating goes a long way towards helping her patients get to that point faster than some others.  She issues all the appropriate warnings about things that can cause serious problems and is very clear (and very firm!) about the behavioral changes that need to happen post-op, but she has her patients progress to soft foods within just a few days (unless they have trouble with the full liquids) and generally does not treat her post-op patients like "surgical invalids" (for lack of a better term) with a pouch that can be "ruined" by the slightest little thing. 

Lora