Post your stories

We have a few new people who are having surgery in the next few days and the thought occured to me that we should share our wls stories.  It's been a while since I felt that anticipation of surgery, but I shall never forget the events leading up to and afterwards nor the support from the ladies here.  So, here's my story: 

I remember the last few months before I finally had wls.  Someone on here said to me that getting approved and getting a date for wls was like a roller coaster ride, and they were right on with that.  I had so many dates that I felt like the town wls *****  My iron levels were too low, I had pneumonia, my white count was too high, I had pneumonia. LOL.  Finally, I had a week when everything looked good and my pcp called the surgeon and said, now.  Do it now.  And within a few days, I was on my way.  I called Jan and said for her not to tell anyone until my husband called her and said I was out of surgery because I had this feeling that I’d get on the operating room table and the doctor would say, wait, is that a pimple on her ass…no way…we cannot operate with a pimple on her ass.  So, I kept my fingers crossed and when I was on the operating room table and they were trying to get an IV in and finally they did a central line, I breathed a sigh of relief and counted back from 100 and made it to 99 and woke up on a respirator and listened as the lung man said that they couldn’t take me off the vent yet and I didn’t care, I even thought, well, I might be on a vent but over time, I’ll be a normal size.  Who cares.  I can do this vent thing. LOL.  Fortunately, the vent came off as I became more alert.  I, like many of you, got out of the hospital on one day and went back to work the next.  I was tired, and had trouble eating, but it all passed.  Jan and I both talked about having buyer’s remorse and I did for about a week. 

The weight peeled off.  I mean from one night to the next, I could see a difference as many of you will see after you have wls.  It was not easy, no way.  I found out that wls left me lactose intolerant, I have never been able to eat sugars or a lot of the sugar substitutes, and I am not good with meat.  I developed an ulcer about a year ago and the doctor said it was a result of stress and not eating.  I eat, but I have never been able to eat more than three fourths cup of food at one time.  For that, I am happy.  Not the ulcer, but the inability to eat a lot.  My son, who had wls a year ago, can eat an entire happy meal burger.  In spite of all the not so serious complications, I would do it again in a minute.  I love that I can buy things out of any store, use any restroom, sit in any chair, walk, run, ride a bike, hike, sleep anywhere without pain, and can get up and down on the floor with my grands.  If I listed all the things that I can do now that I couldn’t do before, it would take pages and pages. 

The support that I have gotten from my friends here has been overwhelming.  Karen C managed to get me into a bathing suit before wls and that gave me the strength to go swimming long before wls and to continue afterwards, not matter how bad I looked.  Jan kept telling me that my day would come and she was right, my day came.  Margo, Darlene, and all of the  on-the-forum-older sisters kept telling me that I would be able to do and eat and drink like before, just not as much.  I’ll never forget Janet telling me that I could drink coffee.  I had been told no coffee.  So, all of my information that came from my doctor’s nurse was not always fact.   Even when I don’t post, I come here and read and still learn.  There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t peek in and get my OH fix. 

Good Morning Jeannie!

Ah yes, I was still flying high when we met in Mountain Home, AR that July morning. I had had my surgery in Feb of 2005 and in June of 2006 I went on a "road trip." I flew to St. Louis, visited family, then rented a car and headed out. For 3 weeks I zig and zagged doing a "combo" trip. Genealogy, historical sites, family and meeting online friends from OH. Along the way I met Pat B, Sharron B, Laurie I, Marylyn, Debbie S, Jan C, and Jeannie M.

Jan and Jeannie were still pre surgery and I had at that time lost 170 lbs. I had my life back and I was a shouting testamonial! My journey is on my profile. I won't repeat all of it here.

I like to think that my mother gave me my life two times. One when she gave birth to me, the second time when she loaned me the money for the surgery. I jumped through hoop after hoop, still not getting insurance approval. "Even if medically necessary (377 lbs, hbp, hi chol, acid reflux, stress incontinence, replaced knees, numb extremities, sleep apnea. . medically necessary? You betcha) we won't pay for it!"

Best darn decision I have ever made for myself. I felt better the day after I had surgery than the day before. And I continue to do well. I'm strict about taking my supplements. Unfortunately I have slid a bit on my food regimen. I've gained back about 15 lbs that I'm now trying to take off. All in all I feel wonderful and would do it over again even if I had to take out a loan to do it. Jeannie, thanks for the reminder of how far we have come!

I remember that trip to meet you and thinking that you would be the determining point in my decision to move on.  I thought if she looks okay, then I'm moving forward.  There you were looking every bit as healthy as everyone else.  Plus, you were so uninhibited with talking about your experience and what we might expect.  You were right, best damn decision ever.

I have to tell you, Jeannie, that I think this is a great idea. That is what we are here for...to share our experience, strength and hope with others.

I remember the day that I had to leave for my surgery. I remember it like it was yesterday. I got scared all of a sudden and thought that I didn't need it since all I had to do was watch what I ate. Then it hit me...I was 53 years old and never was able to do it before what would make me think I could do it now??? I went and once at the hospital everyone was so nice and upbeat and things were so busy that I soon forgot all about doing it on my own. What a joke that idea was.

I got through the surgery without a hitch but had problems fitting the water in. I told the doctor and he ran another upper g.i. and how I hate them...but he found that there was a lot of swelling so he had me on ice chips for 3 days and the swelling went down and I got to come home. So I was in for 8 days instead of the normal 3 or 4. I was glad that he didn't think I was crazy and really listened to what I was telling him.

As time went on it got easier and easier to take the fluid and the protein...as everyone will find. It just takes time and that is alright since we now have the rest of our lives to do it. I got my first solid meal of real honest to God food on Thanksgiving day. I ate turkey and felt like I was going to die. That was a learning experience for me. I learned and never forgot it either. ha ha
I have made mistakes along the way and that is alright. I will always make some mistakes since that is life.

I wouldn't want to change one step along the way. I have done so much changing and my life is so different. I am grateful that I was able to experience the different things that I have. I can enjoy life and know that I added years to mine. I can shop now without the use of one of those carts, I can buy clothes in the normal department now...and see the sizes that I take dropping. I am now down to a medium in some tops...I never thought that would happen. I am in a size small pants with some and I am learning that a new size is coming with the tummy tuck. It is just plain exciting to me. I still can't get on the floor because my old knees just don't want to help me get up. Neither does my back but that is alright. I can still do so much more than I ever dreamed that I could. I was given my life back to me. I can never repay anyone or anything for that.

As for health....I was taking 4 shots a day and oral meds for the diabetes. I went to a insulin pump using U500 insulin. That is insulin that is 5 times stronger..that is a lot of insulin. It had to be special ordered for that matter too. I stopped taking the oral meds 1 month before surgery and the insulin pump was gone 1 week before surgery. Nothing but diet and exercise regulates my blood sugar now. I had a A1C of 11 and now it is 4.9 which is even lower than my specialist asked for. How good is that? My heart is doing better now. I have Cardiomyopathy and CHF and my number that they go by is now 65 which is normal for a normal person without Cardiomyopathy. How can I ever repay that one? I couldn't no matter what I did. They first worried about the absorption of the meds but that is not showing a problem now. I will face that problem if and when I get to it. My back is not any better with the exception that I can walk in the store now. I still take pain pills for it daily but that is alright. It is what it is and it could be worse. They thought that I would be in a wheel chair and so far that isn't happening. I am grateful for that.......I can walk like a normal person and that is great.

In closing I would never change what has become my journey. I told the wls doctor that if I never lost another pound I would be happy for the rest of my life since I would never have been able to accomplish this on my own. I am a different person on the inside and the outside. I am a happy person and it shows in the things that I say and those that I do. I would take this journey again in a heartbeat....never doubting that it was the right journey for me.

You are like me.  I said after I lost down to around 250 that if I never lost another pound, it would be fine.  I did lose more but the point is that even if I had only lost a hundred pounds, it was well worth it.  I could never be doing the things that I do without having had it.  I'm happy you are doing so well in spite of your latest problems.

Jeannie, what a wonderful idea. My story is so boring.My daughter wanted me to go to a seminar, she wanted the surgery. I was so impressed I decided to go for it. I didn't have any ins. problems & could have had it right away. I wanted to wait until my daughter had it so I could help her if she needed it, she has 3 young girls. She was back in nursing school in 4 days. The only problem I had was nausia(sp) for a few months. I have lost over 100 lbs. and have my life back. I had kidney stones last fall & lost 20 more. Like Jeannie said I would do it again in a minute.

Nan

You know, my reason for checking out wls was because the doctor had told my son to have it done.  I was like you. I got approved right away.  I just had health issues that needed to be resolved before they would actually do the surgery. 

My story? Been there, done that, and doing it!!

I imagine it is difficult seeing repeat post so often.  Sometimes, though, I just like to remind myself and others of what it was like before and after.   My cat has fleas.  I know, off topic.  Way off topic.  She won't quit scratching and I frontlined her, we don't have carpet, I took her to the vet and he gaveher a pill to give her temporary relief and she has had a steroid shot. But she is driving me crazy and I don't see the fleas.  Okay, too much information.  Maybe she is allergic to me. LOL

my dog has terrible allergies, no fleas but she gets staff infections from it. scratching and liking all the time.