A Year Ago...

[gowalking 10,790]

I'm seeing alot of posts from folks with January surgery dates and I can't help but think about how I was a newbie this time a year ago. I joined this site just shy of a year ago and read lots and lots of posts because I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was scared to death of what the future would hold...whether or not I would be able to live successfully as a banded person...and mostly...would this work when nothing else did.

A year ago I was morbidly obese, on blood pressure medication for years, and most importantly, in constant pain from arthritis in my knees. I was told by my doctor that I was not a good candidate for knee replacement and after seeing the report of my MRI, I knew I needed a new knee. I was risking not being able to walk and that was so scary that I decided WLS was what I needed to do. Mind you...I didn't want to do this...I needed to do this. So I was not in a great place psychologically but again...I had no choice.

Fast forward almost one year and I have lost 100 pounds. It turns out that my hips were worse than my knees and I had to have both of them replaced. I was fortunate enough to have lost the weight fast enough to plan the surgery six months after being banded. I had the surgery in early October and am starting to see the progress. I am dealing now with post op pain and soreness and not the crippling pain that had me bedridden for two weeks before the surgery and on pain meds round the clock. I am walking much better, I can go up and down stairs better, I have more stamina and strength and my future as an able bodied person is right in front of me. I can reach out and touch it and I truly feel reborn.

For those of you just starting out, please know that this can be you a year from now. You can post your own success stories and hope to inspire others and I am doing now. Oh....and as an aside, I'm off the BP meds and have seen all the other successes we've all dreamed about. I no longer fear airplane seats, restaurant booths, theater seats (oh how narrow they are in the old theaters in NYC), and chairs with arms. I can sit on the bus or the train and not have to worry about the fear in other people's eyes when they think I'm going to try to squeeze into the seat next to them. No one stares at me anymore. I'm not embarrassed by my cane anymore. I always thought people were judging me...a fat woman with a cane...yeah, look what she did to herself. Now no one thinks that. If anything, they see me as I am. Someone who is likely recuperating from some type of procedure. I know this because unfortunately, people are kinder. They notice and let me pass, or tell me to take my time. Such was not the case a year ago. But...I digress. This post is not about that...there are lots of other posts about society and how the overweight are treated.

This post is to let all you scared and unsure folks out there know that you can do this. I have all the confidence in the world in all of you and am looking forward to hearing wonderful things. For those of you struggling...newbies and vets alike, stick with this site. The folks here will help and support you no matter what.

Have a great day everyone. I'm off to the Y to do some biking before the snow starts. Bless you all!!

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,722]

go......a amazing woman you were/are and always will be

[SandyM 1,956]

Unfortunately you are absolutely right about how obese people are treated. I too have noticed a change in the way I'm treated. So much that I have become ashamed to ride my beautiful motorcycle. I'm so looking forward to nice weather now.

[mrsto 2,925]

Thank you for your beautiful post this morning. It's heartwarming, and you are amazing. Bravo to you for a job well done. You are certainly reaping the benefits for all of your hard work

[Bandista 7,466]

Fabulous post -- thank you so much!