6 months out - time to give back

[Guest guest]

Today is my 6 month surgaversary. I have gotten so much information and advice from this board, that I feel I owe it to someone to give back. I am forever lurking on this message board and posted a lot pre surgery, but have gone back to major lurkdom. But, I have read every day.

During spring break of 2010, my husband, my 3 daughters and I spent a week in the land of the beautiful people, sdale, Arizona. While sitting by the pool, completely covered (I always thought I could hide my fat) I was reading an Arizona monthly magazine. I saw advertisement after advertisement about WLS. One in particular, caught my eye, because it indicated you didn’t have to have a bmi of over 40 to qualify. For whatever reason, I never knew that the idea of self-pay existed. I had always thought I would have to get myself to a bmi of 40 before I could have WLS. At that point, I embarked on a week long project of researching weight loss surgery while on vacation. My husband was 100% behind the idea, although he wasn’t really sure it would work.

Thanks to this board, I came across VSG. I had been headed down the path of lap band and only after reading some very passionate posts about lap band did I decide I could not handle the upkeep. VSG seemed perfect for me. WLS would be a life long secret for me. I would share this information with no one but my husband and parents and sister. VSG would offer me the ability to keep my privacy. My weight loss would be consistent, not drastic, I wouldn’t need any maintenance and since I was going out of the country, I wouldn’t need to worry about finding a doctor to follow my care at home other then my primary doctor to do any labs needed.

There were some particular people that I followed on this board and by reading their posts, I discovered Dr. Aceves. (I am referring to Bipley, primarily her posts on OH and here) BLESSING! My husband would have gladly paid for me to stay in the states. However, I did my research and after doing so, there was NO ONE I felt comfortable going to in the states. No one’s results and stats seemed as good as Dr. Aceves. This is just my opinion based on my research. Everyone has to do their own. I scheduled my surgery for July 2, 2010. I traveled to Mexico by myself and had the best adventure. By the time I arrived in Mexacali, I had eaten (gorged) myself up to 208 pounds. I am 5’4â€. To arrive at a normal BMI, I would need to get to 145 pounds.

My surgery went off without incident, other then a very large hiatal hernia. Dr. Aceves repaired it for me and I noticed some relief immediately. I made some wonderful friends on my trip to Mexacali. I will always be grateful to the posters who turned me on to Dr. Aceves, to Dr. Aceves, Dr.Campos and their staff and the girlfriends I made on my trip for surgery. I look back on that trip with such positive and wonderful emotions.

The first month was awful. Nothing tasted good. I had a lot of regret and I couldn’t believe what I had done to myself. Fast forward 6 months later and my only regret is not doing this sooner. This has been a gift from the heavens. A gift. I love my sleeve. I love it. I look in the mirror and I don’t know who I am. I cannot believe it.

Today, I weigh 147 pounds. That means I have lost 61 pounds. I wear a size small in shirts and dresses. Designer jeans, I wear a 6. Old navy and gap jeans I wear a 4 or a 6. Old navy sweats, yoga pants, pajama pants, I wear a small. A fricking small. I can’t believe it.

Has every day been easy? No. 4 weeks before I left for Mexico, I started therapy. That has helped. I know what my issues are. Food has helped me through a lot of hard times. Food isn’t really there for me anymore. My husband and I are in the liquor business. That is a problem now too. Do I moan and groan about that sometime. Ya, I do. Alcohol, I can consume it, but it doesn’t make me feel very good. I can either drink socially or eat socially. I can’t do them both. If I do, I usually throw up, multiple times. Not fun. So, I don’t drink. Does that cramp my style sometimes? Yup. Do I get over it? You betcha. New Year’s Eve, I drank. I didn’t eat. I passed up all my favorites at the party, sushi, salmon, brie for a few glasses of wine. I ate a healthy dinner before we went out and I was the life of the party. I looked good and everyone said so. That tastes so much better then any party food!!!

This post is for anyone considering surgery. It has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. If you are early out and struggling, stick with it. You will be fine. Please believe me. This is a gift. Make the most of it. I am only 6 months out, but I couldn’t be happier. Best of luck to everyone and know that all of you who post on a regular basis have been a huge help to me. Much love.