Hi Friends.

Thought I'd post this before heading out to Water exercise class. I went to three doctors yesterday for some follow ups. My orthopedic surgeon was one of those appointments. I'm one year out from bi-lateral hip replacement and this was a regular follow up. The doctor is the head of orthopedics at The Hospital for Joint Diseases/NYU Langone in NYC.

You would think he'd know everything medical right? No so much. He had several questions about the band and how it worked. He really didn't understand and I had to explain that I am less hungry which allows me to eat less. But he asked about feeling full and I told him that full means you've gone too far and satiety is what we're looking for. I also had to tell him it wasn't a magic wand and that we still had to work the program.

He also didn't know that I had to lose weight even before seeing him to discuss surgery. He thought I was obese back in August of 2013 when I first met him. Little did he realize I was already down 70 lbs. Now, I'm down more than 140 and about the size I was back in 1977 when I got married. It was also the last time I was that small by the way.

My picture is part of my electronic records in the NYU system and my doctor said I needed to change the picture because I didn't look anything like that anymore.....and he removed the obese diagnosis that was still in the system. Said it wasn't applicable anymore.

Have a great day everyone.

That's awesome!

How funny did he even recognize you before he looked at your before pic lol , maybe he wanted to know info because you look so good and thing of wls. his self, a lot of Professional Doctors don't know about wls. unless they study for it, I know I have also been aske what the objuect in my stomach and body is lol but I try to tell them up front.

One. Year. Out. Yippee! All of that in the rear view mirror. Congratulations on a spectacular year. I'm sure that surgeon was blown away to learn the backstory -- what you had to do to get the surgery. You are courageous and indomitable.

I didn't even realize as I was looking in my emails that you were referring to me...lol. Sweetie, I am not courageous. My motivation was self preserving. I knew I couldn't continue to work if I was in a wheelchair. I knew I would become a huge burden to my children and I couldn't live like that or with that. I did what I had to and have been amazingly successful in reclaiming my life. All I feel is grateful. Grateful to the doctors who've taken care of me, to my family who have supported me, and to my friends..those who I can see and touch, and those who live here on this forum. I did not do this on my own and I am truly blessed by everyone who has helped me to get where I am.

I hope I never ever take walking or bending over, or sitting cross-legged, or being normal for granted. I'm a survivor and like many others, appreciate the littlest of things because was a time I couldn't be involved in any of it.