Health Update 2011

Looking back to last year I had a post titled "I wanna Scream"..I am happy to report that my health issues have worked out and all is clear. In Sept. 2010 I underwent Gastric Bypass Surgery. I am 85 lbs lighter than I was a year ago. I am feeling fantastic, and actually starting to like how I look. Having this procedure really saved my life. I had discovered during pre-op procedures that I had a malignant carcinoid tumor in the duodenal bulb of my stomach. That was removed and no more cancer cells were found. My hyperlipidemia and high blood pressure are completely gone. My energy level has increased and so my kids have gotten a better, faster, funner momma! I truly believe that this decision was the best for my family and myself. The hard part has been in dealing with people who think that the surgery was an easy way out. Let me tell you there is not one thing easy about this procedure! When I was told that it was in my best interest to have the surgery, I kept it from many people. The reason being that when I wasnt sure it would happen, I got alot of negativity. I figured that this surgery was very important and I needed only positivity around me. I of course told people after I had gotten through the first few weeks post-op. I have to reiterate to those of you who are still thinking this is an easy out for us, it is not! There is the first physical pain your body endures, then the first 4 weeks of self starvation, and the toughest part for me...the emotional part. You physical appearance changes so drastically and so quickly that for me it was very hard to deal with. Your life changes, your daily routine changes...but for the better. If you can do it on your own, then you are truly blessed. The truth is that many of us have never been successful at doing it on our own. The moment you finally admit that, that is when your life changes. So before you start off saying to someone "I am not an expert" to someone who has had or is going to have the surgery, please realize that (we) they are an expert because this is something that required physical testing, research, education, and even a psychological evaluation. So please tread softly with your words. Just be supportive, that is all we need.