Re: Long X-post - Update on Eleanor

[Guest guest]

Nicely put Eleanor...it really puts what long term posties feel...I

know for one I do!!

Huggles

> Well, last weekend (as some of you know) I was in Washington state

with

> a bunch of Grads. Had a blast!

>

> Some firsts, which relate just to me. Sorry if they sound

egotistical,

> but so there!

>

> I had NEVER been to a waterpark, and NEVER been on a waterslide,

except

> the little ones about six feet high in people's swimming pools.

Well, I

> went to a waterpark, didn't care how I looked in a swimsuit, and

went on

> waterslides. Again and again and again and ... I went so many

times my

> ankle started twinging from climbing to the top. I broke my ankle

back

> in the 80's, and I think that's where it was starting to twinge.

Did it

> anyway though. Also developed a real nice sunburn. Worth every

ouchie!

>

> Got blood drawn today for the first time in too long. I had

requested a

> long list from my new PCP, and she didn't give me any argument at

all.

> Just started checking boxes and writing in the oddball ones. So

the lab

> was almost empty, which was kinda nice. First the reception person

has

> fun looking up the code numbers on some of the tests. Then I get

sent

> right into the little room with the vampires, er, phlebotomists. I

had

> accordion folded the long strip of labels that printed out to go

on the

> test tubes. The look on the face of the lady who got to stick me

was

> kinda fun as she started unfolding, and the strip got longer and

longer.

> I explained I had had gastric bypass and track my own labs. Well,

her

> jaw dropped, and there were a couple of other ladies standing

around

> waiting for new victims, er, patients, and they all started

listening.

> It was like they didn't believe I had had the surgery! I showed

them my

> scar, and answered bunches of questions like what was my starting

> weight, how much had I lost, how did I feel, did I lose my hair,

etc.

> Kinda fun being practically an ambassador or something!

>

> Got my first Dexa scan a few days ago which showed in my lumbar

spine a

> T score of -1.0 which indicates I'm only twice as likely to suffer

a

> fracture as compared to a 30 year old white female. My T score in

my

> right hip was -0.5, which means a smaller risk. I think that's

pretty

> good at 47, but I'll get repeats on an annual basis to make sure

those

> numbers don't get worse.

>

> I'm now living in an area where no one has seen me fat. Heck, my

little

> boy (turning five August 30) doesn't even remember me being fat.

It's

> almost like a form of anonymity.

>

> I'm also starting to get scared. I'm now two years out, and have

> discovered that so far, I've gotten away with everything, except

for

> slight regains, but those are relatively easily dealt with. I'm

afraid

> of the Arrogant phase, with good reason. Right now I CAN eat

sugar, and

> I don't dump. I wish I did! Fortunately I do drink the protein

drinks,

> so I at least don't have the " grey ghostie " look. Hm, I wonder if

the

> lack of the grey pallor is part of what surprised those ladies in

the

> lab today? I did tell them I'm a firm believer in protein drinks.

> Anyway, I do NOT want to take this incredible gift for granted. I

know

> far too many who have had major regains and/or health problems,

and not

> all their faults. In some cases they outate their surgeries, but

in some

> cases, their surgeries failed. Anyway, I don't want that to happen

to me!

>

> I want to remain an active participant in my life, rather than

just an

> observer like I used to be. I want to be able to outrun my son, at

least

> for a few more years. I want to be able to continue not worrying

about

> whether I'll fit in seats in restaurants or theaters, or on

airplanes,

> or wherever. I NEVER want to walk into Lane or The Avenue

again,

> or worse yet, depend on those catalogs that I have FINALLY

convinced

> them I don't want any more, because they don't have clothing my

size.

>

> Now I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with my life! I

have no

> limitations, or practically none. I'm vaguely considering going

into

> nutrition myself, since I see a real need for professionals in the

field

> who have been there. Far too many of them seem unable to grasp the

> concept of malabsorbtion. Hey, if I don't malabsorb, then why did

the

> surgeon bypass any intestine, instead of just doing the lap band?

Oops,

> I guess they tend not to like it when I ask questions like that.

Spit

> disturber? Moi?!?

>

> On the other hand, I have many years of varied computer

experience, and

> I really do like working with computers, especially if I'm in a

> situation where I have a certain level of freedom to take a look

at

> where things can be improved and do it!

>

> Or maybe I want to become an interior decorator. No, probably not

that.

> But I do like using my creative brain in addition to my logical,

> analytical brain.

>

> What do I want to do when (if? don't even go there!) I grow up?

>

> Well, this has been something of a ramble. Two years post-op, and

life

> is good! Please God, don't let me lose sight of where I am, where

I was,

> and where I could return to! And if I can help others, either by

serving

> as an example, or by relaying information, or an example of

> don't-do-this-it-bit-me-in-the-butt, I guess that's a good thing

too!

>

> --

> Eleanor Oster

> eleanor@s... (personal address)

> www.smallboxes.com/gastricbypass.htm

> San , CA

> Open RNY (100 cm bypassed) 07/15/2003

> P. Fisher, M.D., Kaiser Richmond (CA)

> ~5'9 " tall

> 05/09/2003 319 Orientation

> 07/15/2003 ~290 Surgery

> Current 150-155 Goal until plastics?