New here.. a little about me and my journey.

[Lyndi84 6]

First and foremost hello to everyone. I am new here. My name is Lyndi and I am 34 yrs old and love in Western Canada. I had RNY surgery Dec.7,2017.

All my life I have battled with my weight. I have always been the fat girl. In 2014 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, stage 3 hypertension (extreme high blood pressure), high cholesterol and problems with my thyroid. I also suffered through horrendous menstrual cycles. I once had a menstrual cycle for a year straight. It just started one day and never stopped. The doctors couldn't find any reason why other than it could be weight related. In November 2014 I slipped on the ice and fell the result..I ended up with severe arthritis in both knees due to the trauma from the fall. My right knee also ended up out of alignment and no doctor would fix it because I was morbidly obese.

In February 2015 I approached my doctor and asked him to refer me to a local clinic that specializes on obesity. If I could get into this program that the clinic offered I could get weight loss surgery and it would be covered I wouldn't have to pay for it. To get into the program it is only by referral and is known to have a long wait list. But I knew I needed to do something as I knew I didnt have much left in me. So fast forward 18 months and o finally got my acceptance to the program and had my first appointment on August 2016. It was well worth the wait. They gave me access to a dietician, psychologist, a doctor and nurse. As well as various specialists and classes focused on helping me make the changes that I needed to make. As well as classes that talked about what to expect after surgery. In September 2016 I hit my highest weight. When I stepped on the scale and saw the numbers I cried. I weighed 517 lbs and had a BMI of 74% !! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I weighed that much. I knew I was big but never thought that I was that big. In May of 2017 just 9 short months after joining the clinic I met my surgeon and signed my consent forms for RNY surgery. I started my liquid diet August 1st 2017 and was on Optifast shakes for my liquid diet for almost 4.5 months.

Because I was so morbidly obese I needed to get my BMI down to a safe number. Here in Canada they wont do weight loss surgery on you of your BMI is over 55% as it just isn't safe. I got my BMI down to 57% and my surgeon agreed to proceed with the surgery as I had no history of prior surgeries so she said that makes it a lot easier as well. I had surgery 7 months after meeting my surgeon and signed the forms. On the day of my surgery I was 412 lbs I had lost 105 lbs in just over a year prior to surgery.

I am currently 9 months post op things have been great. I've had absolutely no complications of any kind. I have no food intolerances and can eat anything. I am very much in practice of everything in moderation. My dietician told me that there was no reason I couldnt enjoy the foods i used to in moderation. So I do.. I haven't gained any weight or anything. Although at 9 months out it has started to slow down a lot. I currently weigh 337 lbs. In total from my highest weight I'm down a total of 180 lbs. I've lost a complete average sized man..lol I feel great but I am still a work in progress.

I still battle a few demons daily, I still struggle with self worth and self esteem. But every day gets better. The hardest part through all this has benlem dealing with the Hair loss is does nothing to help me with my self esteem issues. But I am been reassured that it will grow back.

The split picture I want even at my highest weight. I was only about 430 lbs in the picture with the black sweater. But I am wearing the same pants in both pictures.

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[LaurynLove 12]

Congratulations on choosing to change your life! You look great! I myself am gearing up for my last appointment 9/11/18 before my info is sent to insurance for approval.

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[Lyndi84 21]

Congratulations on choosing to change your life! You look great! I myself am gearing up for my last appointment 9/11/18 before my info is sent to insurance for approval.

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Thank you. It has definitely been a life changing experience, but one that has been worth it. I wish you luck on your journey.

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[KimTriesRNY 1,853]

Congratulations on your success so far! I hope you continue to reach your goals!

[Orchids&Dragons 9,046]

Welcome to the forums. This is a very friendly and supportive community.

Congrats on everything you've done so far. You're an inspiration! Best wishes for further success!

[Frustr8 7,886]

And Hi from me? Which of the Western Provinces? Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta or British Columbia? All,beautiful,places and your presence has to make yours the most special! Such,pretty areas. I was in BC for the 100 year Celebration of Confederation. And OMG that was 51 years ago.

[Lyndi84 21]

And Hi from me? Which of the Western Provinces? Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta or British Columbia? All,beautiful,places and your presence has to make yours the most special! Such,pretty areas. I was in BC for the 100 year Celebration of Confederation. And OMG that was 51 years ago.

I'm in Alberta. There is a lot of beautiful scenery here. Jasper, Banff and Lake Louise are probably the most popular in Alberta. Where are you from?

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[Lyndi84 21]

Welcome to the forums. This is a very friendly and supportive community.
Congrats on everything you've done so far. You're an inspiration! Best wishes for further success!

Thanx. It hasn't all been easy, but it has been worth it. I'm glad I've found someone to share my experiences and can relate to others.

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[Frustr8 7,886]

Lyndi84 I am in Central Ohio, in a small city,named Mount Vernon. Population 19000 if you count dogs, cats and bunny rabbits. I am old enough 72 to have been in BC and not on a school trip!
But my dream, and it's one I have yet to achieve, had this dream since young adulthood. I WOULD BEFORE I DIE LIKE TO SEE THE PEACE RIVER COUNTRY! There I admitted something few outside my immediate family ever knew. Will I ever get there? IDK but it is a pretty dream.
As the lyrics in South Pacific said
You gotta have a dream !
But if don't have a dream ?
How you gonna have a Dream come True?
I had my RNY last Wednesday Morning at 7AM, that was a dream come true.
This was at Ohio State University-Wexner Medical Center in Columbus Ohio, a Totally,wonderful place.
Now I have something weird, 5 days post surgery and the entire left side of my left abdomen is
purplish, warm to the touch and swollen, not where the left side ports are, they are exempted, I DO NOT know what caused,it, so I have to return to my surgeon Dr Needleman, have him doa strong look over, after that who knows? Hope I don't need readmitted, it is a very fine place but there's no place like home! And it,looks like an alien took me over.🍀👼

[Lyndi84 21]

Lyndi84 I am in Central Ohio, in a small city,named Mount Vernon. Population 19000 if you count dogs, cats and bunny rabbits. I am old enough 72 to have been in BC and not on a school trip!
But my dream, and it's one I have yet to achieve, had this dream since young adulthood. I WOULD BEFORE I DIE LIKE TO SEE THE PEACE RIVER COUNTRY! There I admitted something few outside my immediate family ever knew. Will I ever get there? IDK but it is a pretty dream.
As the lyrics in South Pacific said
You gotta have a dream !
But if don't have a dream ?
How you gonna have a Dream come True?
I had my RNY last Wednesday Morning at 7AM, that was a dream come true.
This was at Ohio State University-Wexner Medical Center in Columbus Ohio, a Totally,wonderful place.
Now I have something weird, 5 days post surgery and the entire left side of my left abdomen is
purplish, warm to the touch and swollen, not where the left side ports are, they are exempted, I DO NOT know what caused,it, so I have to return to my surgeon Dr Needleman, have him doa strong look over, after that who knows? Hope I don't need readmitted, it is a very fine place but there's no place like home! And it,looks like an alien took me over.[emoji256][emoji72]

I've never been to Peace River myself but I've heard only good things about it. I'm sure you will get there one day soon. I've heard of Mount Vernon.. funnily enough I've never been to BC myself.. would love to go one day though. I am sorry to hear about your stomach.. I hope it all gets cleared up soon and is nothing serious. My left side was more bruised than the right and I bruised badly because of the blood thinner injections I had to have after surgery. I was told to expect more bruising on the left side than the right as a lot of the work and such was done on the left.

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