Gastric Bypass Has Changed my Life!!!!! I Am Finally Living! - Washington, DC

After years of being overweight, I finally decided to go forward with the gastric bypass surgery.
My highest weight was 262 (5'3 frame), but the scale seemed to like 257. I had high cholesterol, high triglycerides, pre diabetic, PCOS, sleep apnea, migraines, back pains etc. I decided I did not want to be morbidly obese anymore. I was tired of being a slave to food and waste my life away.

I started the program at Sibley Hospital in May 2014 with Dr. Brian Long and it is probably the best decision I have ever made. After six months of hard work with the nutritionist, I was able to lose 30lbs+ on my own, but I still qualified for the surgery and went forward with it on Nov 2014.

As of today, I am at 154lbs and it is not even a year from surgery yet. I didn't have any complications with the surgery or post surgery. I didn't even experience hair loss since I was on a high protein diet or it could just be luck. The most difficult part is remembering to CHEW your food SLOWLY and not drink water with your food.

I know it's still early to give a review on my gastric bypass surgery, but a day does not go by where I am so thankful I went forward with it. Actually, I just had my labs done recently and everything came back perfect and normal. There's no better feeling in the world!!

My only word of advice is to be mentally ready for surgery. This is a big decision and it takes a lot of hard work on your part, but the results are totally worth it and you deserve it!!!

It's been a little over a year now (one year and almost a month) and I'm down to 139!! I'm doing low carb again and losing more. I'm hoping to reach 125.

So far, everything is good, except that I cannot tolerate desserts. A lot of sugary dessert will definitely give me dumping syndrome now :(

Wow!!!!!!!! It official has been over two years since I had gastric bypass (November 17, 2014). I never thought time would go so quickly. I can still remember the day I walked passed the weight loss clinic at Sibley. I was going for a gyno appointment at the hospital and as I walked into the office, I turned my head and saw the weight loss clinic sign at the end of the hospital corridor. I swear it felt like God himself was dropping hints at me and this was his final call to me to finally do something about my health. That was the exact moment that completely changed my life – when I saw the sign. Also, earlier that year, I had sinus surgery and now I was getting ready to have a tumor removed from one of my ovaries. My endocrinologist had just told me there was nothing else she could do for me. I could barely walk and my feet hurt every time I woke up in the morning. I was sick…..literally sick…You know, I never thought I would get emotional regarding my struggle or what I have been through, but as I am writing, I am overcome with the need to cry. It’s weird. Maybe it is mourning the old me.

Now for those that haven’t had surgery and are afraid, please note that this was the BEST decision of my life. I have never regretted going forward with surgery. Again, it was the BEST thing that could’ve happened to me AND my family. Now my mother doesn’t have to worry about me dropping dead from a heart attack anymore. Poor thing can’t call me anymore telling me that she’s worried that I’m going to need insulin or that she has nightmares where I die. Instead, now she calls me to make sure I am home safe. I have to remind her that I am 30 and not a kid anymore. Hahaha.

Also, as much as I hate to admit, I think the six months of nutritional counseling prior to surgery really helped me get ready for the surgery. I hated waiting six months to do the surgery, but it was really for the best. So for those going through the process, hang in there and if you can stick to it for six months, you can stick to is for the rest of your life. I know if I would’ve had surgery a couple years prior to 2014, I probably wouldn’t have been mentally ready.

As for any sort of regret. My only regrets is all the money I spent on food and my stretch marks. I wish I had a body free of stretch marks, but hey even my skinny sister has stretchmarks—my only consolation hahaha

This has definitely been a journey for me. The “old” me was worried I would not recognize the “new” me. Instead, it is the “new” me that doesn’t recognize the “old” me. I look at older pictures and I can’t even recall looking like that. It’s like looking at a stranger. I still feel like I am the same person and I feel like myself, but those older pictures is what reminders me that the “old” me is no longer in existence and I am a new person and the “Old” me is certainly dead. Hmmmm maybe I should burn an old picture and put the ashes in an urn. HHAHAHA. Okay I know I have a weird sense of humor hahahah

Now weight wise, I have been good. I've stabilized between 140-142. I wanted to drop more weight, but I really haven’t tried hard to lose more. I need to get back to the gym and cut out happy hour LOL. I still get on the scale at least twice a week. It might seem obsessive, but I get on the scale weekly to make sure I don’t gain weight. It’s fine to not lose, but I am vigilant about not gaining weight, specially after traveling/vacationing/holidays. I just joined a new gym and moved into an apartment that has a small gym as well, so it will be easier to work out now and my work life is not as hectic anymore. So I am hopefully, I will probably be 130 in a couple of months. I’m also signing up with a personal trainer. I told him I need to build a booty. LOL

As far as any complications, nothing really but the dumping syndrome. Which actually is a good thing, since I feel like it prevents me from ever pigging out or having bad food (sugary). I can’t even do a scoop of full ice cream sometimes. Oh god and eating a whole cupcake?? it is definitely a killer. So I just take a few bites here and there.

Oh yes, and I had an arm lift and a breast lift/augmentation in Jan 2016- need to make a review for that one.

Anyway, I am writing a mini novel to you guys, so I’m going to stop now. hahah