Reintroducing myself!

Hi all,

I wanted to reintroduce myself to the forum. This Friday, March 15, will be my 7 year surgical anniversary date! I received a great deal of support from this forum prior to my surgery back in 2012 and directly afterwards. Unfortunately, I received some terrible advice post-surgery from a friend who told me I should not define myself and my existence by a "surgery" and was encouraged to live my life in the "real" world and not on a forum. At the time I felt like it was sound advice.

What I did not realize at that time was that it was wise to do both. Interacting daily with like-minded people would not preclude me from living my life in the real world but actually enhances it. My friend who offered me this advice did so with the best of intentions and remains a close and dear friend to this day, his words were not meant to cause problems but rather to ensure I got out and lived my life to the fullest after surgery.

I have done well over the past 7 years, I've stuck to a post-surgical diet (for the most part, lol) and have always stuck to my vitamins and follow-up appointments (again, for the most part). I've enjoyed life since surgery and I know I would not be alive today had I not done it. I try not to give advice, but I will say this to anyone who is new to this world: stay on the forums. Stay here and get the encouragement and the accountability. I am back here after all this time because I have always done better while in this community. This adventure is a big, life-changing deal. It requires support and community. It was never designed to be done by yourself.

And with that, thank you all for still being here 7 years after I last logged off. I look forward to interacting with all of you and learning from you. Have a great day today!

Mike

Congrats on 7 years of vitamin taking. You are a rare bird. Statistically RnY patients have poor long term adherence to taking vitamins.

My biggest struggle with vitamins has always been the B12. For the first few years I did the once per month injection but it was always a struggle with my doctor's office. I would either struggle to get the script for the vitamin or I would struggle to get the needles. Eventually I went to sublingual but I've always wondered how effective they are.

Mike

I have used sublingual B12 consistently for 10 years and my labs always come back great!

I give myself weekly B12 shots. After I convinced my doc that I need that. (Blood work ) I have no problem getting the script. Needles? Amazon. Or local Costco.

I was talking a lot of the sublinguals but they did it help my blood markers. And I was talking a lot.

I've been taking Trader Joe's b12 sunlingual for 10 years with excellent numbers. Easy,cheap and easily dissolved. Make sure NOT to buy the one with folic acid. It tastes nasty.

Mike I am also back to OH boards after an absence. OH helped me with support and learning for a long time pre and post surgery back in 2009-2015. Then some life events pulled my attention away for a few years - one thing after another as the old saying says.

I have had some regain due to not devoting enough attention to self care over these recent years and am back at it full force.

Good to "meet" another vet!