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One Year Out And It's (Mostly) Smooth Sailing



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Hi everyone! I've just passed my 1 year anniversary and have been weighing the highs and lows of this past year. It was very hard in the beginning. I had a hard time managing my pain, was exhausted all the time, couldn't walk more than 5 mintues without wanting to stop, couldn't drink more than a tiny sip at a time, and felt like maybe I had made a terrible ( and vain) choice. Somehow everything has come so far this past year and now all that is just a vague memory. I can eat anything I want (in moderation), can drink liquid like I did pre op, can exercise without feeling like my legs are Jello, and am no longer dwelling on the thoughts that I might have made a mistake. I look at myself sometimes and don't recognize myself. But my mind still hasn't caught up to the changes, to the point that I went to an amusement park a few weeks ago and was slightly worried that I wouldn't fit on the rides (some old habits die hard). I know that is an irrational fear, that most of my pants are 2/4 and my shirts are small, just I couldn't shake that little voice in my head. The thing is, now I know that the ends justified the means. 9 months ago, I might have said 'no' if someone asked if I would do this all over again. I couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel yet. Now my body aches less, I look decent in clothes, I can eat a regular meal, and I don't struggle to walk up a few flights of strairs. IT was all worth it. To everyone in the early stages, one day you WILL get to this point.

NO BODY EVER SAID IT WOULD BE EASY, THEY JUST SAID IT WOULD BE WORTH IT!

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Wow, you look great!! Congrats on your successful weight loss journey and thanks for sharing your experience and before/after pics. Very inspiring.

:cheer2:

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YOU LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Great job! I wish you the best!

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Happy Anniversary!! Huge Congratulations to you as well....you look awesome! :)

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congratulations! thanks for sharing your struggle too!

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Happy surgiversary! You do look amazing. Congratulations!

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Happy surgiversary! Your story is truly inspiring and I am so happy for you!!!!!!!!!! :grouphug:

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CONGRATS!!!! BEST SAID "NOT EASY, BUT WORTH IT!!!!!!"

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Happy Surgiversary! Congrats on rocking the sleeve this year - you look fabulous!

Lynda

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Congratulations, and thanks so much for posting this!! I am 3 weeks out tomorrow, and I may refer back to your post for encouragement when I need it :-)

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
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    • ChunkCat

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      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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