All of my co-morbidities are GONE after bariatric surgery... and so is 140 pounds!

by Emily Gomez
(Keller, TX/Weight Lost Hope Gained Blog)

I had Laproscopic RNY Gastric Bypass January 22nd, 2009. At my heaviest I weighed in at 270 pounds with a list a mile long of co-morbidities and health issues.

I had High Blood Pressure (was taking Lisinopril), was Diabetic (was taking Metformin), obstruced sleep apnea (used a CPAP machine), restless leg syndrome (was taking Mirapex), anxiety (was taking Cymbalta), depression (was taking Cymbalta), acid reflux (was taking Nexium), joint pain (Advil and sometimes Lortab) and fatigue.

Heart Disease runs on both sides of my family as well as Diabeties and Obesity. I have struggled with my weight most of my life and took a hand full of pills DAILY just to stay vertical. Years went by that I sabotaged myself and my health with too much food, poor choices of food and lack of daily activity.

I knew I needed to do something but I had to be mentally prepared to make the LIFESTYLE CHANGE and not just think of this surgery as a "Diet". In hindsight, that has been the most important part of it all... you have to change you mindset completely.

Once I was prepared to do so, I started my Pre-Op process which was 3 months of nutritionally supervised diets, education, and a psychological evaluation. I went on a 2 week liquid or "liver" diet to shrink the liver down since it is so close to the stomach, thereby avoiding damage to my stomach during surgery.

I stopped all of my medicines, some of them the morning of surgery and others the first year post op. The only things I take daily LIKE CLOCK WORK are my bariatric vitamin supplements, which is crucial to your long-term success as well as good food choices and exercise. It will help you to stay healthy, enjoy life, and get your health back--these are all the reasons we have surgery, right? So, take your vitamins so you can continue on down the path of good health and happiness after surgery!

I lost the majority of my weight within the first year after surgery. I have lost 140 pounds and I would say that 130 of those came off in the first 14 months. I am 2 yrs. post op and the last 10 pounds have gradually come off over the last 10 months.

Having this surgery has given me my health and life back. It has given my husband and children the wife/mother they deserve. It has afforded me so many opportunities and new friendships. I will be forever grateful for my tool.

In November 2009 and just 10 months after surgery, I walked in the Breast Cancer 3 Day! I walked 20 miles a day, three days in a row towards the fight against Breast Cancer! I would have not been able to do this had I not had my tool in place to help me loose the weight.

I am now a Patient Adviser for my WLS Center in which I advocate on behalf of the patients and their care while in the hospital. I have learned so much about myself that would have never been possible before.

I am very involved in weight loss surgery support groups, not only through the hospital where I had my surgery but also through online weight loss support.

For me, social support is the 2nd most important tool in weight loss success (right behind logging your food, thoughts, and exercise....logging in a good online diet journal is THE #1 tool needed to ensure success).

I am finally living life to the fullest, but I can't do it alone. I have to use my tool, and other tools in tool belt to get the job done. I focus on the positive and not the negative. I choose my actions and the way things affect me, I choose to not be bonded to my disease that is Obesity and food addiction. I choose FREEDOM!!

My motto I live by goes like this....."What I thought was freedom with food was bondage, THIS is freedom!"

I hope this post found you well and of interest. Please ask any questions you may have, I am an open book. Support is crucial to our success and I am here for you because WE ARE WORTH IT!!!!

Finish Well my Friends,

Emily G.

Related Pages:
- Weight Loss Surgery and Obesity Health Problems
- Bariatric Diet (What you eat)
- Bariatric Eating (How you eat)
- Bariatric Vitamins
- Life After Weight Loss Surgery
- Types of Bariatric Surgery - Comparison of the 16 Established & Experimental Weight Loss Surgery Procedures
- Find a Bariatric Surgeon in My Area

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