Almost 23 months out. Was it worth it?

Jun 24, 2011

A newbie asked is it worth it? And this was my reply.  I put a little time and effort into writing this so I thought I would save it here.

Was it worth it?

I would have this surgery every year for the rest of my life if I had to in order to have the quality of life I have now.

I was 50 years old, weighed 262 lbs and I couldn't walk a flight of stairs or go on a 20 minute walk with my dogs.  I sweated sitting in AC.  I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar.  The perfect storm.  Type II Diabetes killed both my normal weight parents.  I was so on my way to that.

I was sick every 3-4 months with upper respiratory illness.  I was a smoker.  I was in the doctors office every 2 months either for that or for chronic joint and muscle  pain.  PT.  MRIs.  Medications.

I had lost down to normal BMI many many times and gained it all back with more so many times I had given up on diet and exercise.  My metabolism was shot.

I wore a size 3x in clothes.  I hated clothes.  I hated shopping for clothes.  I didn't own a swim suit.

Now I am 52 years old.  I am 5'81/2 inches tall and weigh 145 lbs.  I wear a size 4 or 6 small.  Actually a lot of smalls are to big for me.  I can walk and walk.  I am not only training my own dogs but am teaching a class.  WITHOUT having to wear a hat to cover up my soaking wet head. I wear shorts and skorts every damn day every damn where.  I didn't OWN a pair of shorts or a skort two years ago.  I wore blue jeans in 100 degree weather.

I can walk stairs.  I can hike.  I have had ONE cold in two years (I quit smoking as required to have surgery and have been smoke free for 2 years and 20 days).  No more pain.  None.  My doctor doesn't know who I am because I never have to go see her.

My blood pressure? Low normal (no meds).  My cholesterol?  136.  My blood sugar? NORMAL.
I won't GET Type II Diabetes.  That alone makes it all worth it.  That alone.

I eat.  I eat when I am hungry which is about every 2 hours.  I understand that as time goes by this may stretch out to every 3 hours.  Whatever.  

I can't eat wheat gluten.  PITA.  I can't eat lactose.  PITA.  I can't eat much sugar alcohols. 

I have to watch my carbs to stay at this LOW weight for my height.  My choice.  I like being this thin and it feels normal to me so I watch my carbs.

The recovery was hard for me.  I had a hell of a time with anesthesia effects and hope to never have to have general anesthesia again (it was my first time).  I had a hell of a time staying hydrated for the first 3 weeks and had to go to the ER for fluids (no big deal).  I would go through all that EVERY year to have the results I have now at almost 23 months.

I take a lot of vites.  I know nothing about vites and labs but I know who DOES know and I listen to what they say (and not my surgeon or pcp).  I follow VitaLady with tweaks based on my labs.  I take extra calcium and magnesium because I am a bit paranoid about my bone health.

I don't exercise enough and I'm working on that.  If I exercised I could eat a lot more carbs.

This surgery did not fix my head.  It did not make me a better person or a more patient person.  A lot of people don't like me (in real life and on this forum) and I hate that, and I try to be a better person.  This surgery did not solve my love life or my social life problems.  This surgery did not solve my fiancial problems.  Or my family problems. 

But what it did do for me?  More than I can put in words. 

And everything I have to do to maintain my health now I would do in triple if I needed to and I would STILL be glad I had this surgery.

My only regret is waiting until I was 50 to change my life. 

And the only reason I am healthy today is because of a good surgeon and the vets here who pay it forward every day to people they don't even necessarily like because someone paid it forward to them.

I love my DS and I am thankful as HELL for OH.

Photos are on my blog page thing here on OH.

~Becky

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About Me
AL
Location
33.4
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DS
Surgery
09/30/2009
Surgery Date
Jul 10, 2008
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