3 Year Post-Op Surgiversary!
Hello, All! Today is my 3-Year Post-Op Surgiversary! Three years ago yesterday, I had my surgery with Dr. Alvarez.
I cannot begin to tell you in all the ways it has changed my life for the better. I have had no side affects except for heartburn. I have lost 110 pounds. I was able to lose about 90 with the surgery and then have had to "diet," for the rest of it and still have about 50 pounds ideally to go. I consider this a huge success. That I was able to lose so much weight and feel so much better was almost incomprehensible three years ago when I could hardly get off the couch for the rest of the day after a grocery-shopping trip.
Now, I actually have success when I "diet," to lose more weight (although it comes off very slowly and I do have to work at it). My VSG tool is still with me 100% working on my behalf and the efforts I make are not only easier than before, but I am able to obviously eat less (I do not think my sleeve has stretched much; I am able to eat about a cup of food at a time), I can be more active with much less pain (I am not pain-free because of some health issues I will talk about next), and the weight will eventually all come off. I am confident of this. Plus, I look "normal." So, I do not stand out anymore. I look like a 40 year old woman who is slightly overweight. I can live with that! So, even though I know for health reasons I still need to plug away at the weightloss, I am in no hurry and I can do it!
Since my surgery, we found out I have celiac disease. We speculate that celiac in my case has also led to Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms - thus my pain. We are working on it. Celiac is where the body cannot tolerate wheat or its protein, gluten. I also have a sensitivity to dairy. So, I should no longer eat either of those things. That has been a challenge with learning all about how to still get in the proper nutrients, but I have embraced it and am doing well with it and a side-product of cutting out gluten and dairy: my heart burn has gone away completely and only comes back if I somehow consume them! Amazing and so worth it because heartburn as I understand it can start to erode our esophagus and so long-term heartburn is not good (but I did not want to take prilosec for the rest of my life so I was really having severe heartburn for a while).
Anyway, that is my story. Not your perfect, "I lost all my weight and I am at goal!" story, but one that is in my opinion perfectly okay for me. I am extremely happy and wanted to share all of this with you. Best of luck in your endeavors!
Becky
I cannot begin to tell you in all the ways it has changed my life for the better. I have had no side affects except for heartburn. I have lost 110 pounds. I was able to lose about 90 with the surgery and then have had to "diet," for the rest of it and still have about 50 pounds ideally to go. I consider this a huge success. That I was able to lose so much weight and feel so much better was almost incomprehensible three years ago when I could hardly get off the couch for the rest of the day after a grocery-shopping trip.
Now, I actually have success when I "diet," to lose more weight (although it comes off very slowly and I do have to work at it). My VSG tool is still with me 100% working on my behalf and the efforts I make are not only easier than before, but I am able to obviously eat less (I do not think my sleeve has stretched much; I am able to eat about a cup of food at a time), I can be more active with much less pain (I am not pain-free because of some health issues I will talk about next), and the weight will eventually all come off. I am confident of this. Plus, I look "normal." So, I do not stand out anymore. I look like a 40 year old woman who is slightly overweight. I can live with that! So, even though I know for health reasons I still need to plug away at the weightloss, I am in no hurry and I can do it!
Since my surgery, we found out I have celiac disease. We speculate that celiac in my case has also led to Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms - thus my pain. We are working on it. Celiac is where the body cannot tolerate wheat or its protein, gluten. I also have a sensitivity to dairy. So, I should no longer eat either of those things. That has been a challenge with learning all about how to still get in the proper nutrients, but I have embraced it and am doing well with it and a side-product of cutting out gluten and dairy: my heart burn has gone away completely and only comes back if I somehow consume them! Amazing and so worth it because heartburn as I understand it can start to erode our esophagus and so long-term heartburn is not good (but I did not want to take prilosec for the rest of my life so I was really having severe heartburn for a while).
Anyway, that is my story. Not your perfect, "I lost all my weight and I am at goal!" story, but one that is in my opinion perfectly okay for me. I am extremely happy and wanted to share all of this with you. Best of luck in your endeavors!
Becky
Becky
Congrats Becky! You've done so very well. I'm so happy that you feel "normal" again. That's the goal isn't it? To feel normal and be able to be active with less or no pain. Amazing success and I know you'll take the rest off at your own pace. Thank goodness the sleeve is there to help you. All the best to you and thanks for sharing your story!
Deb
Deb
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
You must permanently change your lifestyle if you want your weight loss to be permanent. You can do it!
Congrats 
You've done very well! Thanks for posting your success story!! And, good luck.
You've done very well! Thanks for posting your success story!! And, good luck. www.sexyskinnybitch.wordpress.com - my journey to sexy skinny bitch status
11/16/12 - Got my Body by Sauceda - arms, Bl/BA, LBL, thigh lift.
HW 420/ SW 335 /CW 200 
85 lbs lost pre-op / 135 post op
~~~~Alison~~~~~
Happy Surgiversary!! I'm glad you stopped by and are enjoying life!!!! 
Becky, congratulations on your weight loss so far!
I have hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease) that is believed to be triggered by gluten sensitivity (not as severe as celiac disease). I have found that all the "gluten free" alternatives are generally made with white rice flour, or other 'white' flours-- not something that I can handle (super carb sensitive).
While it may be off topic a bit, there's a great book out there (The Paleo Diet) that talks alot about grains (especially gluten) and their role in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. It's a great (riveting!) read, thought I'd share!
You've done amazingly well, I can't wait to be able to "diet" and have it work!!
I have hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease) that is believed to be triggered by gluten sensitivity (not as severe as celiac disease). I have found that all the "gluten free" alternatives are generally made with white rice flour, or other 'white' flours-- not something that I can handle (super carb sensitive).
While it may be off topic a bit, there's a great book out there (The Paleo Diet) that talks alot about grains (especially gluten) and their role in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. It's a great (riveting!) read, thought I'd share!
You've done amazingly well, I can't wait to be able to "diet" and have it work!!
Thanks for the book suggestion, Smardeepants! I know what you mean about the wheat substitutes and basically their being mostly simple sugars and high carbs. I have found I cannot eat them and won't eat them. I do mostly "protein and produce," like Dr. Alvarez told me to do at the time of surgery anyway. Turns out he knew what he was talking about all along! ha ha I am one of those, "prove it!" people who always has to find out the hard way! ha ha
I am glad you found out your Hashimoto's was probably gluten related. That will save you so much grief down the road. Do you know that even gluten sensitivity is linked to cancer and heart disease, too? That is my motivation for staying away from gluten. My Mom has celiac disease which we found in her at 60 years of age, but she had already survived ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and a double heart bypass. She is my miracle and if we would have started her on a gluten-free diet at the equivalent of my age, we might have been able to prevent some or all of this. That is my hope for myself, too.
Thank you for sharing and best of luck to you!
I am glad you found out your Hashimoto's was probably gluten related. That will save you so much grief down the road. Do you know that even gluten sensitivity is linked to cancer and heart disease, too? That is my motivation for staying away from gluten. My Mom has celiac disease which we found in her at 60 years of age, but she had already survived ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and a double heart bypass. She is my miracle and if we would have started her on a gluten-free diet at the equivalent of my age, we might have been able to prevent some or all of this. That is my hope for myself, too.
Thank you for sharing and best of luck to you!
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