Post by Girlrocker on Apr 20, 2014 13:36:10 GMT -5
I like the blog aspect of the My Story board, and thought I would throw my hat into the ring as well, especially given a) my nature to write um 'long winded' 
and to share my history. I'm going to be 53 this month (GAH!) Finding this support community after going five years without one (I used to be on Spotlight Health, which was discontinued) was lifechanging when I started looking into a revision. I thought it was so left field and came to found out how common it was, many people like me with RNYs or lapbands struggling and turning to the DS.
I'm deeply appreciative and grateful for the time experienced people give, who remain on the board to share their knowledge, a picture of what this will be like further down the line. It got me through all of this both times at the rodeo. I'm still friends today with many people I met 'in real life' from our Spotlight days in 2002, we had teams organized by city/stage, local and national get togethers. I had mentors then too, still my friends today, and I'm forever quoting the things they said to me as a pre-op and newbie. And have been very fortunate to meet many people in our community here, since I live in Los Angeles, and very close to the Verdugo Hills hospital Dr. Keshishian practices from. He has grown to specialize in revisions and very serious, difficult cases and people come here from all over the US and out of the country to have him as a surgeon - and virgin surgeries too. I was off work 5 months recovering from my revision, I took a lot of extra time I had coming because my job was/is very toxic and stressful. I had the time, so when people traveling in from Alaska, South Africa came in, myself and others started meeting people as in person angels. And then it became, hey, you're coming here for surgery, hollah if you want to have someone to talk to in person. It has been an amazing experience, I have met wonderful people - some have become friends, some I never see or talk to again, but each time is meaningful, adding to my own journey as well.
There's no question I too like to be here now to pay it forward as I have been given so much. I can't imagine my RNY and all the complications and problems I endured without the support system I had; and again, when I came to the decision of a revision. It's good for me to be able to share with other revisionistas; and I also truly appreciate seeing the surgery process again from the eyes of newbies, all the changes since I had surgery the first time, all the new resources, foods, options available now, and reading about everyone who is in between newbies and long-timer. I am constantly learning, enjoying the company of this tribe, online and in person when the opportunity presents itself.
I'm nearly 2.5 months out from my revision now, amazing to believe! I have a 3rd hernia, going through menopause (oy) and hope this time to finally get my insurance on board that just 'maybe' fixing my muscle is medically necessary, despite the obvious cosmetic benefits.
In quick summary: I've been struggling with my weight my entire life, really became an obesity problem by the time I was 17. An addictive/compulsive/emotional eater. My idea of the 4 food groups were bread/pasta/potatoes/rice. My trigger foods were/are bread, pizza, and used to be french fries but that one amazingly really nipped, not sure how/why, just glad. Every diet you can think of, 3 sizable losses/regains from ages 30-40 when I was really trying to not just lose but change the way I was thinking about food. Added exercise as a staple from age 30, saw a therapist, went on anti depressants. RNY when I was 40, lost down to 180 for a nanosecond, bounced back to 200 in a blink and struggled, and after 5 years, had to work quadruply hard to maintain, like bootcamp daily for a year. Then I had my revision at age 50.5 years old, and at last, I got to the finish line, hitting a goal weight I couldn't reach and finally learning to live a life that wasn't consumed with trying to lose weight. I thought I was done with firsts and NSVs but have learned the contrary, and it's been amazing to feel so peaceful, to have so much fun, revel in so many simple pleasures elusive to us as obese people. It's helped me a great deal in healing from the grief I felt losing so much of my time/life to struggling with this. I still wish I could have the DS first, and that I had been able to do this in at least my 30s. But my mantra is it feels good to feel good and I focus forward.
So, here's some before/afters, and below, links to my update posts from 3 weeks post-op to 2 years.
Sharyl
One day after my RNY in the hospital, 2002
This was four months post op after my RNY in 2002
Making some thank you announcements at one of the charity concerts I produced; no one should ever be shot from this angle, whatever size
but I actually thought this outfit was slimming, what to wear for these things I had to do was a painful chore for me
In a pair of my favorite pants, red skinnies
Waited a lifetime to feel this comfortable in a pair of jeans, tank top and sneakers, hadn't worn any of these things since childhood/12 years old
2 year surgiversary
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/8520/post-year-surgiversary-rny-revision#ixzz2uN0uYaac
18 mos out
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/6977#ixzz2raG9elEJ
11 mos out
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/5598/11-mos-out-revison-rny
7 mos out
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=4711
6 mos out
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=4273
Leaving DS Cocoon, going back to work
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/4000/leaving-cocoon-back-work-after
5 Months Out Update
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=3938
3 mos out Update
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=3251
3 weeks out
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/756/new-wks-out-revised-rny#ixzz2rZyQLuGl
and to share my history. I'm going to be 53 this month (GAH!) Finding this support community after going five years without one (I used to be on Spotlight Health, which was discontinued) was lifechanging when I started looking into a revision. I thought it was so left field and came to found out how common it was, many people like me with RNYs or lapbands struggling and turning to the DS. I'm deeply appreciative and grateful for the time experienced people give, who remain on the board to share their knowledge, a picture of what this will be like further down the line. It got me through all of this both times at the rodeo. I'm still friends today with many people I met 'in real life' from our Spotlight days in 2002, we had teams organized by city/stage, local and national get togethers. I had mentors then too, still my friends today, and I'm forever quoting the things they said to me as a pre-op and newbie. And have been very fortunate to meet many people in our community here, since I live in Los Angeles, and very close to the Verdugo Hills hospital Dr. Keshishian practices from. He has grown to specialize in revisions and very serious, difficult cases and people come here from all over the US and out of the country to have him as a surgeon - and virgin surgeries too. I was off work 5 months recovering from my revision, I took a lot of extra time I had coming because my job was/is very toxic and stressful. I had the time, so when people traveling in from Alaska, South Africa came in, myself and others started meeting people as in person angels. And then it became, hey, you're coming here for surgery, hollah if you want to have someone to talk to in person. It has been an amazing experience, I have met wonderful people - some have become friends, some I never see or talk to again, but each time is meaningful, adding to my own journey as well.
There's no question I too like to be here now to pay it forward as I have been given so much. I can't imagine my RNY and all the complications and problems I endured without the support system I had; and again, when I came to the decision of a revision. It's good for me to be able to share with other revisionistas; and I also truly appreciate seeing the surgery process again from the eyes of newbies, all the changes since I had surgery the first time, all the new resources, foods, options available now, and reading about everyone who is in between newbies and long-timer. I am constantly learning, enjoying the company of this tribe, online and in person when the opportunity presents itself.
I'm nearly 2.5 months out from my revision now, amazing to believe! I have a 3rd hernia, going through menopause (oy) and hope this time to finally get my insurance on board that just 'maybe' fixing my muscle is medically necessary, despite the obvious cosmetic benefits.
In quick summary: I've been struggling with my weight my entire life, really became an obesity problem by the time I was 17. An addictive/compulsive/emotional eater. My idea of the 4 food groups were bread/pasta/potatoes/rice. My trigger foods were/are bread, pizza, and used to be french fries but that one amazingly really nipped, not sure how/why, just glad. Every diet you can think of, 3 sizable losses/regains from ages 30-40 when I was really trying to not just lose but change the way I was thinking about food. Added exercise as a staple from age 30, saw a therapist, went on anti depressants. RNY when I was 40, lost down to 180 for a nanosecond, bounced back to 200 in a blink and struggled, and after 5 years, had to work quadruply hard to maintain, like bootcamp daily for a year. Then I had my revision at age 50.5 years old, and at last, I got to the finish line, hitting a goal weight I couldn't reach and finally learning to live a life that wasn't consumed with trying to lose weight. I thought I was done with firsts and NSVs but have learned the contrary, and it's been amazing to feel so peaceful, to have so much fun, revel in so many simple pleasures elusive to us as obese people. It's helped me a great deal in healing from the grief I felt losing so much of my time/life to struggling with this. I still wish I could have the DS first, and that I had been able to do this in at least my 30s. But my mantra is it feels good to feel good and I focus forward.
So, here's some before/afters, and below, links to my update posts from 3 weeks post-op to 2 years.
Sharyl
One day after my RNY in the hospital, 2002
This was four months post op after my RNY in 2002
Making some thank you announcements at one of the charity concerts I produced; no one should ever be shot from this angle, whatever size
but I actually thought this outfit was slimming, what to wear for these things I had to do was a painful chore for meIn a pair of my favorite pants, red skinnies
Waited a lifetime to feel this comfortable in a pair of jeans, tank top and sneakers, hadn't worn any of these things since childhood/12 years old
2 year surgiversary
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/8520/post-year-surgiversary-rny-revision#ixzz2uN0uYaac
18 mos out
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/6977#ixzz2raG9elEJ
11 mos out
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/5598/11-mos-out-revison-rny
7 mos out
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=4711
6 mos out
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=4273
Leaving DS Cocoon, going back to work
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/4000/leaving-cocoon-back-work-after
5 Months Out Update
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=3938
3 mos out Update
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=3251
3 weeks out
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/756/new-wks-out-revised-rny#ixzz2rZyQLuGl
