Re: My 1 year anniversary! Long!

[Guest guest]

, thanks for sharing your wonderful story. I am 5 weeks away from

surgery in Spain and hope that in Jan.of 2002 I am doing as well as you are

at this moment. Thanks again Debby Demers

My 1 year anniversary! Long!

Hi everyone,

Forgive my cross posting but I wanted to be sure to reach everyone I wanted

to thank. As usual, only you will probably understand what this day means

to me - my husband doesn't quite " get it " .

This is a momentous day for me - it was exactly one year ago today that I

went into Mt. Sinai with the skilled Dr. Gagner and had my body and life

changed forever. I am very melancholy on this anniversary for many reasons.

One reason is that is was a very powerful time in my life - I had decided to

finally take the plunge and do this drastic thing to myself to get control

over my weight once and for all, and last year at this time, even though I

was confident in my decision, I had no idea if I would even make it through

surgery, if I would be " ruining " my good health by doing this, if it would

be successful, or if I was being selfish - what if something did happen to

me? I would be making my family sad by voluntarily doing something that may

harm me. Thank God all of those worries were for naught and here I am a

year later, healthy, down 99lbs and feeling confident and proud of how I

look again. I will always look at the time leading up to surgery, surgery

and my recovery fondly - mostly because it was a major event in my life, but

also because I have met all of you wonderful people. Without you all, I

would have been lost - pre-op, post-op and during the many plateaus! Some

of you have become extra special and I would like to thank you by name.

Please know that even if I didn't mention you by name - you all have been a

source of great support and friendship.

Thank you to:

Jill - my angel and mentor in this whole process - and giver of the

wonderful ice crusher!

Duffy - my surgery sister - we will be forever bonded by this date.

Patti M - who was in Mt. Sinai the same week we were and who became a local

friend.

Patti S (Patti Milkmaid) - my initial consult buddy on 10/6/99 and

commiserater on slow loss.

Laurie N. - another Gagner friend who lent support and who I finally met in

September.

Max - who visited me in the hospital and was a great source of support.

Andi Gedlund - a Gagner friend and Mt. Sinai employee who made sure I was

getting good care there.

Nancee W - from PA - a Gagner friend who I had the pleasure of meeting in

April.

Out of fear and that need in all of us to do as well as others do,

throughout the last year I have often felt panicked and like I wasn't doing

well enough - and truthfully at 1 year post op, I was hoping to be at my

goal of 170 but I am 16 lbs away - not allot but as always, the last few

pounds are the hardest to loose. Not being at goal is disappointing - like

I should have done better - but at the same time, I realize I am healthy,

have tolerated the surgery and life post-op without incident and I have been

having a hell of a time eating lately around this holiday season - so to put

it bluntly, I feel blessed and like I have nothing to bitch about at all!!!

I thank God and Dr. Gagner for giving me another chance at this life I am

now leading as a " normal " looking person and again, I want to thank all of

you for being here for me and sharing my journey. We have a great thing

going here - support, fellowship and caring. Here I go into my second year

of post op life!!

[Guest guest]

Ah, Stepherlie -- You were so newly post-op when I came along. Time

has flow and life is VERY good, don't you think!

Regards -- Margie in Austin, TX

5'4 " , pre-revision 275#, 12/13/00 down 53#

RNY GB in 1987, revision to DGB/DS 02/01/00

Dr. Crookes, USC University Hospital, LA, CA

> Hi everyone,

> Forgive my cross posting but I wanted to be sure to reach everyone I

wanted

> to thank. As usual, only you will probably understand what this day

means

> to me - my husband doesn't quite " get it " .

>

> This is a momentous day for me - it was exactly one year ago today

that I

> went into Mt. Sinai with the skilled Dr. Gagner and had my body and

life

> changed forever. ... I want to thank all of

> you for being here for me and sharing my journey. We have a great

thing

> going here - support, fellowship and caring. Here I go into my

second year

> of post op life!!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ....Darlene in Fl. here (again). That was a wonderful post and by the way congratulations on your 1 year anniversary. I want to thank you for sharing all the feelings that you did. You know, most of us here wear three (3) masks:

1) the way we see ourselves

2) the way others see us

3) the way we really are

I love this site because we can feel comfort in being (3) the way we really are. We share on almost everything (from stinkies to poop wipers, et. al) and it is a very comfortable place. We all have that common denominator and can identify with one and other; and, I especially appreciate you as a post op, returning here to this site; it gives us pre-ops strength and courage ("to change the things I can") and the wisdom of experience to give us hope. Although we might not always like one and other, I feel we truly do love one and other knowing how we all feel inside.

I also want you to know I am still thinking of you and your dear Beans as the holiday season approaches. From experience, I truly commiserate. Congratulations in your new life, and I for one, am really glad you are here.

Happy Holidays, .

Love,

Darlene