Four Year Surgiversary-long and boring, LOL.

I have had family from out of town and am just now finding the time to write this post.  My four-year-surgiversary came and went on Friday without a huge amount of reflection from me, but then a few things happened this week that made me stop and marvel at this wonderful gift I've received.  
1.  DH and I were chatting with an acquaintance, and he mentioned that he'd lost 50 pounds and how much better he felt.   I shared my weight loss with him and his eyes just about bugged out of his head.    He couldn't believe I'd ever been overweight.   He just kept shaking his head back and forth.   He finally came up to me later and took me aside.  He asked me, "Do you ever worry about gaining your weight back?   Does it really stress you out, because I worry about it every day!"   I had to think about that one for a minute.   I told him that no, I now trust this surgery to do what it's supposed to do.   I explained to him that for the first time in my life, I'm not terrified of gaining my weight back, and that now if I feel my eating gets a bit out of control, I rein it in by cutting carbs, and the weight falls back off.    It's so much less complicated now!   I told him that it took me a LONG time to trust that this would happen though.    I just feel so darn normal.   That faith in my body not betraying me is one of the best gifts of the DS.
2.   I mentioned earlier that I started taking a zumba/cardio kickboxing class.   I took my 17-year-old daughter to it last week, and she works out every day at our local gym, and is a state-ranked swimmer.   She was so impressed that I could keep up with the class.  Her arms were sore all day!
3.   DH and I went to a party this weekend.   I wore a long black skirt with a form-fitting black top and just tied a long gauzy metallic scarf as a sash around my waist.   I got so many compliments from the men at the party, and lots of snarky looks from the females, LOL.   One of DH's friends kept telling him how hot I looked.   It made me feel really good about myself.   
4.  On days I don't go to my zumba class, I walk the beach for about three miles.  Barefoot.  In the sand.    Amazing, huh? 

My labs are doing better.   My D is up to a 30, which my endo doc says may be as good as it gets for me.  I'm waiting to hear back from him about the rest of  my labs and we are planning to reconvene to discuss where to go next.  He might put me in a study he's doing with the Sperti D lamps, and he wants to discuss my situation with other endo docs at an international endocrinology conference in Toronto in October.   He says all and all, he's seen a LOT worse in bariatric patients, but that he remains perplexed as to WHY I'm not absorbing such huge doses of D.   He stated that I'm the first patient he's ever seen who has not responded to 200 k iu's of dry D.    I'm no longer taking the D infusions.  He stated that they are too short acting, but he is considering putting me on oral calcitriol as a supplement to the sublingual D and oral dry D.  I am also taking transdermal calcium cream along with oral calcium, and I'm anxious to see what my new labs have to say.   I'm probably due for another iron infusion soon too.
My weight ranges anywhere from 122 to 130.    I am about five to ten pounds heavier than my very lowest weight.   People keep telling me nowadays how good and "healthy" I look, and I think that it's because of the slightly higher weight.    I'm too old to be too skinny, LOL.    I eat pretty much what I want, but still keep an eye on the carbs.    I don't follow a low-carb regime, but a lower-carb one, meaning that they are not the focus of any meal or snack.    I never feel deprived.  If I really want something, and the timing is right, I eat it.  

I am still having significant problems with peripheral edema and no one can seem to figure out why.    My weight jumps up (to the higher weight I mentioned) my legs become noticeably larger, my ankles and feet are puffy, and my pants don't fit, then all of a sudden, I pee and poop more for a couple of days and the weight is gone.   It's bizarre and disconcerting because I hate my "larger" size.    I still think it's hormonal, but no one else seems to agree with me.

Okay, I've rambled on enough.   I love this DS of mine.  Aside from having my children, it's the best think I've ever done, and as so many people state, I'd have this surgery once a year for the rest of my life just to feel and move the way I do.
 

Happy 4 years to you! Mrs. Julie you are one fantastic DS'er and have inspired so many, myself included! Thank you for all you do!

Lisa

Congrats, Julie! I am proud of you and how you have grabbed onto your health and taken control.

You look beautiful and you ARE beautiful. Thanks for paying it forward here like you do!

Nicolle

And you as well - I learn so much from YOU!

Julie,

I just want you to know how awesome you are!!!  Seems like you are always paying it forward and I never hear you whine about anything, including your worries about your D levels.

I wonder if you added the transdermal D if it would help any??



Michele

Congratulation on 4 years, Julie! You are a great role model. I have always looked up to you and I read your every post. I have learned so much from you and I'm very thankful that you continue to stick around and pay it forward. I love your grab the bull by the horns attitude. You are such a beautiful person inside and out!

 You have seriously rocked your DS and your new life, and that is so awesome!  Thank you for sticking around, helping SO many, and paying it forward so eloquently.  You do quite a service here, and I know I for one, am grateful :)  Congrats to you!

4.  On days I don't go to my zumba class, I walk the beach for about three miles.  Barefoot.  In the sand.    Amazing, huh? 


I'm so jealous.  I can't wait to be there!  Julie, you've done awesome and you're a major inspiration of mine! 

You will - you will!   Start out somewhere - anywhere - and it just gets easier and easier.   Now, at this weight, exercise seems almost like an out-of-body experience.

 Congratulations! Sounds like life is pretty damn good! And you're not the only one that 200 K of dry D didn't do jack for...my D keeps slipping and that's the dose I've been taking. I'll keep you updated on my transdermal D. And thank you for everything that you do on this board, you are amazing!