So let's get things moving...stolen from tonight's support group..

So tonight when asked about your current status we were asked what is the positive and the negative of your surgey.  THis is great especially for those who are pre-op and thinking about srugery.  So let's have it:

Positive:  My children.  I am seting them up to a positive healthy life.  Especially my girls, they are really into eating healthy. It is great when your kids ask for yogurt and SF popcilces instead of cookies and ice cream.  My girls will ask me, is 10g of protien good?  Mom, I don't want sprite, I wan****er.  My oldest daughter would eat until she was sick to her stomach.  She has learned to recognize when she is full and stop.  Even through she really likes it and wants to keep eating.  They still have sweets.  I will take the by the ice cream palor as a treat.  But overall they eat really healthy and aware of what they put in their mouth.

Negative: I really don't have a negative.  When I decide to make choice, I am fully committed to my choice.  I am well aware of what I am going to do and accept the results of that action, good or bad.  I prepared myself mentally and emotionally.  I did not commit myself to this surgery until I was ready to make the healthy relationship with food and commit myself to what it will take to make a healthy lifestyle.  I did not commit myself to surgery until I could be complient with taking the vitamins as required.  I did not have surfery until I knew I could commit myself not to have soda for the rest of my life.
Sure, I have had my ups and downs.  Sure I have faced things I have not been prepared for and faced things not forseen, but I take the stuff in stride.  I eveluate what is going on and put an action plan in action.  Overall, I have enjoyed this journey, both the ups and downs.

I am so soon after surgery but I am gonna put out there what i think things are so far.

Also I am a Lap-Bander so this is reflective of that.

Negatives:
My stupid feeling of I cant do this on my own (without surgery), I now know that was a stupid way of thinking that has kept my buttocks large for so long :)
Not doing it sooner
I was a soda lover and kicking that habit was hard
Not being able to drink with my meals has been probably the single biggest habit to break

Positives:
Though I am only a bit over 3 weeks out, i am feeling so much better and have more energy.
I am excersing regularly now... welll at least for the past week (thought I feel great about it).
All of my medications have been reduced for my diabetes.
Doc is thinking of reducing my Blood Pressure medications.
My kids are noticing me getting smaller.  "daddy your belly isnt as big anymore"
With my healthier eating, it is filtering down to the rest of my family.

Thank you so much for posting this.  It really makes your vulnaable opening up what is so sensitive.  But this is also help for thos searching for what they need and to see the real side of what we go trhough.

On your negatives:
Do not feel stupid on thinking you could do this on your own.  That is a real and valid feeling.  It took me 6 years to come to the conclusion I needed this surgery.  I wanted to do this on my own.  I didn't want my inside rearragned.  I wanted to say, I did this all on my own.  I hsve the strength to do this myself.  But I cam to the conclusions, what I tried did not work for me, for whaever reason.  With this surgery, I am still doing this on my own.  Just the route I am taking is assiting me in acheiving what I want.  Just like WW works for some, and other things works for others.  Ultimatly, I am doing the work myself.  I choose what I eat.  I just have something that assists me in acomplishing my ultimate desire. I can still fail at this if I do not follow the plan and make the life long changes in my health and food intake.

Not doing it sooner. That is also very valid.  For me, I think I did it when I needed to.  Sure, I could have done it sooner.  But, I do not think I was ready for this sooner.  I did this at the right time when I was ready for what I neededto do.

Ahhh, a nice cold coke.  How I miss thee. But it is OK!!  I will be fine. (smile)

Don't drinking with meals I think is a very hard habit to break.  Especially since we have done it for so many years. You will get it!! 

Positives: 

Isn't it great to feel that energy?  Oh my, I did not realize how miserable and taxing weight can be on the body.

That is wonderful on the execising.  I will admit, I am laxed in that department.  I need to do it and know it is impariative to my long term sucess.  Keep it up!!

That is great about your meds!  I am diabetic as well and off all meds now and considered controlled. It is the best feeling in the world!!

I love the kid thing!  It is so important for them, because they look up to us.  I always say, everything I do, I do for my children, because afterall they are only a reflection of who I am.

AMEN on the last statment!!

Hey Melissa,

Neat post. My current status is 6+ years post-op.

Positives: New choices, challenges, experiences and blessings. This surgery has helped me face not only myself but the  meat & potatoes of health vs unhealthy. I've incorporated better eating habits within my immediate family & feel confident in passing that on to others whether I know them or we are simply acquainted. Walking almost daily has become the norm with my buggas & I as well as neighbors. Getting out in nature doing simple things such as gardening & park time used to be non-existent & now we cannot stay inside most of the time. My children know what is good and what isn't good and they've come to recognize how certain foods make them feel. We often opt to eat more at home than we do out & about which not only saves money but promotes togetherness not to mention savings cause we all know the pockets aren't deep for many currently. Its helped me work on my self esteem issues as well as that of my oldest bugga with the medical issues she's been facing. It will help with my youngest the older she gets. Its an overall blessing & I'm grateful for it everyday.

Negatives: I absolutely believe that more education and awareness needs to be welcomed, provided & accepted when it comes all the aspects in which I think we need to be "whole" which are mental, physical, emotional & spiritual. Having had 2 strictures, a pregnancy, bleeding ulcers, excess skin, rapid weight loss, facing addiction and more there needs to be more done to talk about these things even when they don't paint the prettiest picture. As for the surgery itself, its a risk and of course there are "negatives" but you have to push through them, do what needs to be done & realize that its a lifestyle change and we have choices everyday.

Thanks Melissa!

Kat!  6 years is just amazing!!!

Your positives are jsut amazing, and you know how strong I feel about the effects on the family.  You are so right about how different foods affect your body.  I was aware of this prior to surgery, but still engaged in that unhealthy eating.  That is part of the reason I choose RNY over DS.  My body could not handle high fat foods prior to surgery.  Having RNY, I eat the foods that has always made mefeel good.

You negative.  You are so correct on the lack of education out thereon this risks factors with this surgery.  We always her the pluses of this surgery with the surgeons but not always the negatives.  Especially the emotional journey we go on. I know you have been on one heck of ajourney and is a great face the realities of what we face.  And thank you for your hard work on getting that voice out there!!

This is a great topic.....so let's see.....

Positive:  I am living the life I always wanted to live.  I am confident, ride a motorcycle, and am extremely active.  I out do my hubby and son - leaving THEM behind (haha).  I've become more attuned to my body (we still battle it out).  I often think that I AM more comfortable in my own skin.  I am MUCH more adventureous and willing to put myself out there.

Negative:  This is not because of the surgery, but becuase of my obesity - my body does not move the way that I would like it too.  My hips will always be a problems for me, and impacts my running.  I constantly feel as if I am starting over again instead of progressing.  I am much more weight conscience (sometimes obsessed), but have realized that I am a work in progress and I have come a LONG way over the 3 years since my surgery.

THank you so much Jill for posting a reply!! 

Positives:  I agree, living you life the way it should be lived.  I want a motorcycle sooo bad!  I take country roads to work and think on the way to work, you know, I can get on a bike now and it would be great to ride on to work everyday.  I love the out doing part.  Esp. with hubby.  It is very funny. ; )  Being attuned to your body is very tough to learn.  Learning to listen to you body and it's needs instead of your head desires and wants.  Finding you!!  That is one of the best thing.  I do not think I have changed, I just think me is coming forth!!

Negative:  I am sorry about your hips.  Have you seen an orthapedic about it.  I went to one recently because of hip leg pain.  I have had this for years off an on.  He diagnosed me with IT Band syndrome.  It is very common in runners.  It is where the IT band is really tight and causes pain from your hips to your knees.  I went to PT for several weeksand I have learned some great stretches and techniques to do when my muscle knots up. 

I am 3 + years post op.

Postive: there are so many.  Having energy, helping others, taking care of myself & feeling better.  Physical health, mental health, self esteem. great support with this board

Negative: dealing with the hormone overload I now seem to have, body issues due to extra skin

Thank you for the reply!!

Oh, I can so feel you on the hormone overload.  Especially around that time of the month.  My coworker always jokes with me.  She says they need to circle the start date every month and everyone just need to stay away from me during that time.  I am usually even keeled and just go with the flow of things and not let things bother me.  But PMS, I have a bad list, and you do not want to be on that bad list.

My stepdaughters cycle with me so my poor hubby gets all 3 of us at the same time.  He signed up on pmsbuddy.com to get email reminders of when to watch himself.  lol!