A 4 year Journey

[mi75 1,241]

What a journey it has been. I am 4 years post VSG. When I decided to have surgery it was out of medical necessity. I was at a point where I was almost non-functional. Although I work in a busy industry, I would spend most of my work days parked behind a desk because I could hardly move or breathe. I had multiple health co-morbidities including PCOS, insulin resistance, weight-induced asthma, heart valve prolapse, GERD, Barrett's, fatty liver, hypertension, and more. I always SWORE I 'wouldn't be that patient that regained'. In fact, I was actually one of my surgeon's most successful patients for some time.

I was the prized patient, I followed every rule, instruction and diet point to the T. I lost a lot of my initial weight very quickly. After my initial weight loss I was feeling good, changed careers, moved and set about having a new life. But then I had a devastating loss in my life, and several life changes followed. I had some significant regain and had health problems again start to surface. I spent a lot of time online asking for help and researching all of the ''reset' options. What it took me a while to realize was this: I KNEW what to do. I just had not come to the place where I was 100% committed to doing it.

Thankfully, last fall I got some really unfortunate health news. I say thankfully because it was THE thing I needed to kick me in the pants and get me back on track. I have been completely focused since that day and have successfully lost all of my regain and am now within 20 lbs of my ultimate goal. I am looking forward to having my plastics done at that point and will feel like my long 4 year journey has been fulfilled.

I will always identify as a WLS patient, that part never goes away. I still have great restriction with my sleeve and since getting back on track, I find that my restriction is improved.

I feel great and wanted to offer my story because I know that most of the members on the forum are newer than me, and hopefully my story will inspire you or spark some questions.

[KimTriesRNY 1,853]

Thank you for sharing!

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

Thank you for sharing your success. I wish you continued improved health, and to reach your goal.

How was your Barrett's and GERD after surgery? And now?

[mi75 1,241]

Barrett's is now clear- no further positive biopsies in 4 years. GERD was mostly gone within 4 months post op, but I had regain and it flared. Now that I've lost my regain it actually persists but turns out from a recent EGD that I have a pretty huge hiatal hernia too, doc feels like if the GERD doesn't clear up by the 6 month mark, she will do a fundo to fix it.

[ecl.larsen 1]

Thank you for sharing. I am 4 years out also. I lost about 100 pounds. In the past 2-3 years, I have let it creep back up. I need to lose at least 30 pounds now. I do not exercise much at all. I have realized that I have to get control or it will all come back. I have lost 7 pounds in a week by Portion Control and smart food choices. I’ve got to keep going.

[mi75 1,241]

You've got this! For me, I had to get extreme but found that pure Keto works great for me.

Hubs and I have tried cycling up on our carbs and we both feel miserable AND find a lot of our health issues quickly creep back. So for us both, it's pretty much long-term ketosis.

I feel very blessed to have had the surgery, and would do it again for SURE. People ask me "don't you regret the surgery? don't you wish you had just done keto in the first place?". And I answer them, "NO". my surgery was the first step, maintenance via Keto is the long haul