Jennifer ~

I'm home!  I had my surgery last Friday, so I'm almost one week post-op, and doing really well.  I had a small set back earlier this week when some of the sutures under my right underarm opened up and the doctor had to re-suture them in the office.....NOT FUN AT ALL!!!  But....I got through it and am continuing to improve everyday.

I cannot believe the change in my body, and the doctor told me that he removed 16 pounds of excess skin from me!!  He says that I'll probably be about 2 sizes smaller now, which would make me a size.....wait for it!......TEN!!!  I have NEVER been a size ten as an adult ~ it truly is incredible, since I was a size 5XL before my RNY 3 years ago.

You helped me so much last week, and I wanted to thank you again for posting when you did.  I kind of believe in "signs", and last week you posted on what would have been my mother's birthday, who died on Christmas Day last year, and I was truly looking for "some kind of something" from her to let me know I was making the right decision.  And there it was!  Your post!  I hope that doesn't sound too weird, but it really gave me a lot of comfort, so thanks again.

Hope that week 4 for you is going great, and congrats on your new "you"!!!
Betsy
 

MrsLloyd,

I would absolutely do it again. I've lost about 130 lbs and been able to keep it off and my health issues that propelled towards making this decision have all resolved. I had a complication during surgery that was managed during surgery and hasn't impacted me negatively at all. I also have had a post op complication that was due to my own stupidity; my iron levels were stable for more than 2 years then started dropping. When we traced back, I realized that about 2 years ago I started donating blood to the Red Cross. It never occurred to me that the donations were connected to my dropping serum ferritin levels. I had an iron infusion a couple of weeks ago and will see my hematologist again in February to see if I need another infusion or if that did the trick . Of course, I won't be donating anymore; I'll just have to find other ways to support the Red Cross ;-). I personally am not a big fan of protein shakes, so I only used them for a few weeks post op and weaned myself off of them as soon as possible. Now I get my protein through the foods I eat and don't have any problem getting in 80 to 100 grams of protein a day. 

You are most welcome to read my profile blog and ask me any questions you might have.

Wishing you all the best,