Is it worth it?????? - ThinnerTimes

lealphachienne · 02-10-2007, 12:04 PM

This is a theme that has gone through my head recently. I have posted in seveal threads about how ironic it seems that I get more sick or have had more time in the hospital post WLS than ever before.

My NP put it all in perspective for me. I had my eyarly well woman check up this week. She was just amzed at how I am doing and of course, the rest of the office staff had tocome and check me out. After the chatter died down, I said I feel great, but I was concerned because of all the illnesses I have had and wonder if havin the bypass i just setting me up for more illnesses down the road.

Bless her heart, she said Marie, you are the healthiest person I have seen in a long time. You are living life and out doing things that people only dream of. I'm thinking to myself yeah that's right. We talked some more and brainstormed and this is what I figured out with her help.

1. I seem to be ill/having problems more often becasue I'm aware of my body now and seek help ASAP when things don't seem right. When obese, the last hin I did was go get help....waiting until the last minute, stayed secluded and just suffered through whatever.

2. All the PTO i had before was used mainly for sick time off. THis year, I hae it all planned for vacations!

3. I have exchanged a set of chronic, potentially incurable, high mortality risk for a set of acute symptoms that can be realitivley easy to treat. When obese, I was at high risk for a stroke or heart attack.....if I had remained fat...then the long term treatments for a heart attack and stoke are expenseive, time consuming, and may not even recover from if they occured. Now, the problems I have had are treatable, and easier to identify.

4. I am living life now....I am a normal person that has the usual normal risks that comes with just being alive. We are still human and things will still occur. There was a certain sense of security of being fat and knowing I'm going to die of x,y, or z and within a few years Now, I have no clue what I will die from.....which is scary as now, it's all unknown and up in the air. I can truly just takeit day by day.

5. My NP pointed out that regardless if any new problems is a result of having WLS, I am living life. Isn't that what this is all about?????

Yep!

Rachel · 02-10-2007, 12:25 PM

Oh I am so glad that someone was able to help ease your thoughts. You go on and enjoy every minute of your life you sexy thang you!!!

Dave in NY · 02-10-2007, 02:56 PM

Marie very well written. You might enjoy developing a list of all the things you can do now that you could not do when your were MO

I am sure it is a list to be rejoiced.

JenBear7 · 02-10-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lealphachienne

3. I have exchanged a set of chronic, potentially incurable, high mortality risk for a set of acute symptoms that can be realitivley easy to treat. When obese, I was at high risk for a stroke or heart attack.....if I had remained fat...then the long term treatments for a heart attack and stoke are expenseive, time consuming, and may not even recover from if they occured. Now, the problems I have had are treatable, and easier to identify.

I think.. that is one of the most motivational things I have ever read! You perfectly summed up exactly why I decided to have this surgery. The way you wrote that entire post was simply awe inspiring.. THANKS! And way to go on coming to peace with some of the things that bothered you! Kudos!

rainrain · 02-10-2007, 03:25 PM

for me?
From the roof tops:

YES!!!

Bella · 02-10-2007, 03:27 PM

You Go Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deb2 · 02-10-2007, 03:44 PM

Marie,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your thoughtful insights. I am less than two months out and sometimes, after reading some of the posts on here about the sickness that may be in my future, I get depressed and wonder if I made the right choice. Well, you articulated the benefits so well that I printed your note and am going to refer to it when the ole' "doubt" monster rears it's ugly head...

CeeCee · 02-10-2007, 04:25 PM

Marie, everyone's "second thoughts" should be as clear and insightful! You seem to be a woman of great courage and deterrmination. You've helped calm my own jitters- thank you!

lealphachienne · 02-10-2007, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave in NY

Marie very well written. You might enjoy developing a list of all the things you can do now that you could not do when your were MO

I am sure it is a list to be rejoiced.

I made that list a while back, before I had some of the "complications" I've had. For instance, one of the reasons I bleed so much when I do is because my cholesterol is so low that there's nothing to hold the blood back. Pre-op, it was 187-210...though i thought I ate healthy.....now, it's 137...as my NP said...no wonder i'm a spigot!

eyesthatkissu · 02-10-2007, 05:02 PM

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you are now more in-tune with your body. I think as an obese person when I didn't feel quite right, I just could never really identify a cause so I just suffered through. Was the pain I was having in my rear just because I was fat? I would convince myself it was and just try and ignore it. Now I know there must be some other reason for my symptom so I try and find out why. I'm so happy you pointed this out... and it's so true. Love ya bunches!