5 year Anniversary

[Guest guest]

Hello DS family,

Today is my 5 year anniversary of my life changing surgery. I know that some of

you have been thru this with me since the beginning and your friendship means

the world to me, but you newbies don't have a clue who I am or what has brought

me to this place. So here goes....the good, the bad, and the ugly...

I started out at 345 lbs (surgery day I weighed 135- why do we lose before we

have surgery?) and am 5'4 " (on a tall day-lol). I did not have any health

issues (except IBS). My blood pressure -120/70, My cholesterol - 164, no

apnea, no diabetes. I was just sick and tired of being sick and tired. I have

researched WLS's since 1983. I just couldn't live with the RnY. Then thru her

dad, I met Amy. 3 months later I had my DS 12-20-01. I spent that Christmas

eve at the Shilo with 3 other DS'ers. And Christmas we drove to B-town to my

sis's to see my niece who has since gone to be with God. It was an emotional

month.

My goal was to be able to walk into a room and not have anyone notice. I wanted

to weigh 154lbs. Oh and I also wanted to be 5'7 "

..

My weight loss was on the slow side. I watched anxiously as others sped by me.

I ate my protein, took my supplements, and exercised. I was as good as I could

be....

18 mos later I weighed 215 and had a panni and an outer thigh removal

(read-saddlebags). I lost 27 lbs of fat and skin that day.

My panni is perfect- absolutely perfect. I love it. My surgery would never

have been a success in my head had I not had the panni. Did I mention it is

perfect?

My right leg is great- no outer hanging bulge....My left leg is horrible,

horrible, horrible! I still have a huge hanging bulge, and a scar that runs

underneath the bulge that gets sweaty and rashes in the heat. Dr K did my

panni, Dr Bae did my legs. Dr K said he would fix my leg, but I cannot do

another surgery right now- not mentally or financially. So I live with it. My

inner thighs are horrendous and I would probably lose another 20-30 lbs by

having my legs done....but that is 8k and again, I cannot do another surgery-

mentally or financially.

At my 2 year weigh in I weighed 187lbs. For a millisecond.....

My actual weight stabilized at 192, where I stayed at for about 9 mos, then it

started to creep up slowly no matter what I did- good or bad.....

At 3 years I was back over 200. 204. When I freaked Dr K said I was not to

worry my labs were perfect, and I was healthy and 199 was just a good BM away.

I have never in the last 2 years seen the 190's I am now stabilized at 210. I

fluctuate between 204 and 215, but mostly stay at 210. I can live with this. I

would rather be at 187 and I will be actively trying to get there this next

year.

But I am a food-a-holic and enjoy it and all that goes with eating....so there

you go.

Dr K says he can fix our bods but not our heads...boy is he right!

I do have butt issues. Our multiple bm's do cause problems.

I worry between bathrooms, I have hemorrhoids (from birthing babies) and now

fissures from pooping extravaganzas. Both are extremely painful. Extremely.

But l lived with them until their bleeding caused my anemia. Then last May Dr Z

did a hemorrhoid-ectomy, a fissure-ectomy and a sphentorotomy. This was the

most painful surgery for me yet. I still have not healed. Dr Z thinks it is

due to the frequency of my BM's. So there you go.

Speaking of going....I still go 3-8 times daily. No matter what I eat or don't

eat.

I have tried it both ways.

All in all. I am happy with where I am and what I did. I do weigh 20lbs more

than my lowest. I did lose 160lbs. I still wear the same clothes I did at 187

(go figure). I can sit comfortably in theater seats, airplanes, chairs with

arms on them do not frighten me anymore. Booths are to far away for me to sit

at and my feet still don't touch the ground.

I can walk into a room and nobody notices! I am not that poor woman anymore...I

am invisible! WAHOO!!

I can live my life fully and wonderfully every day....doing what ever I want (as

long as a bathroom is close! lol) I carry a can of ozium with me...what a

wonderful freedom!

As my dear friend Pat says, I love this surgery!

Would I do it again, in a heartbeat.

I know that the majority of my success goes to the wonderful patience and

guidance of the love of my life. My mind would have broke into a million pieces

a long time ago, if not for Mike. And the support of my friends!

But the thanks goes to Dr K and his wonderful staff, Dee and . What a

wonderful gift from God they are.

And all the praise goes to my God and the wonderful things He has done in my

life. Answering my prayers, and bringing me all of you to share my journey.

What a wonderful life!

Merry Christmas to all with love,

Sharon in Onyx

12-20-01

Dr Keshishian

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