XPOST- 3 year surgiversary and photo whoring- LONG

I cannot believe how fast time can fly sometimes- I was enjoying a great visit with family last night, walking around a shopping outlet, when I realized that yesterday was my 3 year surgiversary. I mentioned it to my hubby and he said, "oh cool", and I realized that my friends from OH were probably the only people who would appreciate the big deal it was to me to still be at goal 3 years out.  So, even though I am not on here much anymore- we will chalk it up to technology problems as of late- I wanted to come and recount my journey and celebrate with all my friends here..

I was never a heavy girl. When I was young doctors often told my mother I was too thin.  When I was in my late teens I filled out some and sat comfortably in the area my hubby likes to call "thick"- I weighed about 160 lbs or so (I am 5'5) and was quite comfortable there, although I exercised my way down to 135 to be "healthier".  Then I got pregnant. I gained about 50 lbs with my first daughter and had a very rough pregnancy and birth- I ended up having an emergency c-section.  After her birth I never lost any of the weight that I gained, and eventually I just got used to my new body. Then I got pregnant again. I gained about 55 pounds with my second daughter, and again never lost it after she was born. Eventually, by the time both my girls were starting school, I weighed around 245 lbs.  I know that 245 is not so bad as to be earth shattering, but from my perspective at the time it was bad enough for me to want to lose it badly. At this time I had high blood pressure, GERD, and sleep apnea that wasn't corrected by a previous surgical attempt.  I tried to diet it off and it didn't work, I tried to work it off and it didn't work. Finally I heard of the lap band, and decided to talk to my doctor.

We had just moved from Texas to New York and the first appointment I had with my new doctor I asked about WLS and he agreed to give a referral to the surgeon. A week later I met the surgeon and she agreed that WLS was a good option for me, but disagreed about the lap band- she didn't think the lap band was a great procedure and thought I was a good candidate for gastric bypass. Although she thought bypass was best for me she took the time to go over all the possible surgical options in depth and allowed me to overrule her and choose the sleeve. She laid out my preop requirements and I had completed all of them within about 3 weeks. I was then scheduled for surgery and had it November 6, 2008- about a month after meeting my surgeon for the first time.

The first week after surgery was HARD. I was not in any real pain to speak of, but I woke up with the most awful migraine of my life (I was told it was due to the anesthesia). The migraine led to nausea and I ended up back in the hospital dehydrated because of it. After about a week, however, these problems subsided and I have loved my sleeve ever since. I spent a week on full liquids, three weeks on soft foods, and then at a month out was cleared to eat normally- or my new normally at least.  During my preop phase and for the first six months after surgery I met with both my surgeon and a nutritionist regularly. Although I know it is not the common wisdom right now, they both clearly instructed me to eat regularly- almost the same as I had preop- just no drinking calories i.e. milkshakes and soda. I never went low carb or low fat, and never made bariatric type substitutions. I continued to cook for and eat with my family as I always had.

I reached my initial goal of 150 lbs in about 5.5 months. I then continued to lose down to about 130 in the next two months and at that point I started eating everything I could fit down, as I was not happy at that weight.  I managed to level out at 140 and still stay between 140-145 today. I have been maintaining my goal weight for over 2.5 years now. For me this has been easy. I eat every couple hours like clockwork and I never feel deprived. I love my sleeve still.

All that said, this has not been without physical challenges. After reaching goal my surgical team offered me a tummy tuck. This was a few years ago and at the time I chickened out at the last minute- my panni really was not so bad. As time went on, however, it bothered me more and more until I decided to go ahead with the tummy tuck. About three months ago I had my full tummy tuck with muscle tightening (no lipo) and I was up and moving within days. Since that time I have been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia and pellagra (niacin deficiency). I have always taken my vitamins and minerals without fail, so the niacin problem came as a big surprise- although the iron has been an issue for me on and off since menarche. The doctor referred me to a hematologist and I am not receiving weekly iron infusions. The doctor also prescribed high dose niacin pills to correct that deficiency.  My flagging energy is beginning to return, and the hair loss I was suffering due the deficiencies has waned. I was caught off guard when the hematologist said that in his practice gastrectomy patients (WLS related or not) make up about 75% of his infusion patients- no one had told me that the sleeve would complicate my anemia issues.

I recently had a checkup with my primary doctor (he is monitoring me closely due to the niacin issue) and he relayed to me that he has recently had a large percentage of his bypass patients return to him with significant regain and demand another surgical option.  I reminded him that I didn't have a bypass and he remarked that was probably for the best- and I can't help but agree. I look and feel great, and although I am in my 30s and my girls are now 8 and 10, I often get flirted with by much younger men and told that I look to be in my low 20s- I take that as a testament to my health and new lifestyle.

One other thing I want to talk about- I recently gave up artificial sweeteners.  I drink a lot of coffee and tea, and since my one rule from my team was not to drink all my calories, for some time I had been sweetening them with Equal (aspartame).  When I started having issues with my deficiencies I was looking for understanding of possible reasons why considering all the supplementing I had been doing. In this research I came across information about artificial sweeteners that scared me into cutting them completely out of my diet, and the diet of my entire family.  I urge any of you who use fake sugars on a regular basis to really look up what it is you are ingesting and the possible ramifications on your health...

Anyway, on the pics.. Here are some before and afters of my journey...

BEFORE:
 

 

 

 

AFTER:
  
 

 

 MY AWESOME BEAUTIFUL LITTLE SISTA ....Congratulations on you surgiversary!!! I am soooooooooo happy for you!!!! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!! before, AFTER, and in between ... I am sooooooooo happy for you and so honored to have met you IRL....

Sorry to hear about the problems you are experiencing ... glad you have been diagnosed and are being treated and on top of the issues ...

KEEP ON BEING THE BEAUTIFUL YOU ... MY BEAUTIFUL SISTA!!!

Love those legs!!! I am scheduled for thighplasty and knee lift in 8 days ... and chickening out ... AGAIN ... I think I am going to wait and run home overseas and have it done... or maybe just leave it be for the time being ... decisions decisions ... LOL

CONGRATS!!!! Love the pics!!!

Thank you love! I feel lucky to know you too and I hope we meet up again! As for your surgery.. well, damn woman.. you look amazing already! If you have cold feet I undertstand- when I backed out of my TT the first time I was already naked and on the table! LMAO! If you go ahead I will be thinking of you and I wish a speedy and uneventful recovery!

Congratulations, you look great!!  Glad you are getting your energy back and your doctors are keeping a close eye on your iron levels. 

I, too, am a coffee and tea drinker and use artificial sweeteners.  I use less than I used to by slowly decreasing the amount I put in my coffee over time, and I now drink my tea unsweetened.  I don't think I will ever get to that point with my coffee, though.  Unsweetened coffee is way different than unsweetened tea.  What do you use in your coffee now? A friend of mine mentioned Stevia as an alternative as it is natural, but I haven't researched it yet as to what it is or how safe it is. 



 

I have honestly just begun using sugar in the raw in my coffee and, like you, drinking my tea unsteetened. I keep stevia on hand for my hubby but I refuse to use anything that hasn't been studied long term- and stevia is made from a plant (rebiana)but there is more there that just that. I quit the equal cold turkey and went through some yucky symptoms, but I am glad I did- now I read labels like a hawk!

Beautiful!

Thanks Michelle!

You look fantastic!

Great success!  You should be very proud of your accomplishments!

Thank you- I am proud of these past few years. Not only did I get my weight under control, I also went back to school and earned a Bachelors, Masters, post grad certificate, and so far half of my PhD... I really took it to be a starting over point!