LisaDouglas
One Year Post Op and Down 120 lbs!!!
Mar 22, 2009
I cannot believe that in three days it will be my one year surgiversary. The year has flown by ... there have been so many changes and new, wonderful experiences. It is hard to wrap my head around it all. The bad experiences have been far and few between. I think I have actually gotten sick three times. Foamies a few more times. But it was all from eating inappropriately. These are powerful deterrants to eating inappropriately, and I am so glad I have them. It keeps me doing what I'm supposed to be doing.I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to have my surgery. Thanks Independent Health!! And my wonderful doctor, Dr. Caruana, and staff. Lisa Naylon is our amazing support group leader. My husband, sons, family and friends have been so sweet, supportive, encouraging and patient with me. They are all so important to me. And I love them so much and are grateful to all of them. Especially my husband and boys -- who have to listen to EVERYTHING I blab incessantly about and, yes, I even make them feel my muscles from time to time (yeah, that's getting old!!). My Cult -- the girls from the support group who I have gotten very close with -- what a gift they have been. We all know exactly what each other is going through. And we enjoy each other's company so much. Not to mention the clothing exchanges, book exchanges, cosmetic exchanges, etc. And the coffee ... and dinners.
Exercise ... I enjoy it so much. Who knew?? It feels so good to know I am getting stronger all the time, instead of sicker all the time, like before surgery. I exercise 4 to 5 times a week, for at least an hour each time. I have gotten off all meds (except I recently needed to go back on a water pill for slightly elevated BP) AND my cpap machine. That means off of one other blood pressure medication, off of asthma meds, antidepressant, even allergy meds!! One of my doctors said that losing this weight has completely changed my body chemistry and that's why I could get rid of all those meds. My primary (who was originally against the surgery) said I was making a believer out of him. He told the nurses (who then told me) that I should be the poster child for this surgery and that he has never seen a more motivated patient. I felt really good about that and vindicated!!!
My labs are all great, and I am diligent about taking all my vitamins and supplements. I know I will always be good about my follow-up care. And I know The Cult will make sure of that. That's another way we help each other.
Shopping, which was once a necessary evil, has become fun again. I used to just buy whatever I needed that I looked the least offensive in. That was all I could hope for ... not to look offensive. But now I can actually buy what I LIKE!! It's an amazing feeling ...
Can I tell you how great it feels to not be absolutely EXHAUSTED all the time? Just getting through a day before surgery was absolutely exhausting. I would come home from work (and mind you, I only worked part-time), and I'd be DONE. Sit around and watch t.v. the rest of the night ... throw in some laundry if I had to, order some dinner. Now I hardly watch t.v. There is always something better, more fun to do.
I pray that my surgeon and other competent surgeons out there continue to save and change the lives of others, like mine and my friends' lives have been changed. I thought I was happy and living a great life before ... and I was. I had wonderful people in my life who loved me just the way I was. But now it's so much better because I can do EVERYTHING I want to do with them ... not just the passive things that don't take too much energy. And I will be here a lot longer than I was going to be when I weighed 120 lbs more!
I know I've gone on and on here and been pretty braggy too. I don't mean to be. I just can't believe what has happened to me. It's another one of the many miracles in my life. Thank You, God ... I am so grateful.
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About Me
In The Country , NY
Location
32.6
BMI
Surgery
03/25/2008
Surgery Date
Jul 23, 2007
Member Since
