So, the past year has seen me lose 120 pounds (plus a further 25 pounds on the pre-op diet). My life has completely changed. Not only am I so much smaller (I was a size 32 at my biggest and I now shimmy easily into a size 10 - I even have a pair of size 8 jeans!) I am also so much healthier.
Pre-op I had apnoea, asthma, arthritis, angina, uncontrollably high blood pressure (even on 7 or 8 different lots of meds just for the BP), high cholesterol and was pre-diabetic. Now .... apnoea - gone; asthma - controlled (I have had it since birth so it is unlikely to go away completely); arthritis - so much better; angina - controlled; blood pressure - normal (I'm still on a low dose of one med, but hope to be off that eventually); cholesterol - normal.
Pre-op I walked with at least one walking stick, often two. Now, even though I'm going through a flare up of arthritis in my left knee (the damage has already been done there), I haven't used a walking stick in over eleven months.
Pre-op I could barely walk a few yards - now I walk for three and a half hours every day (even with my bad knee, I just walk a little slower at present).
In addition I have been learning to swim and ride a bike - two things that I never thought I'd do. I love my aqua-fit classes, which I will be returning to on Thursday.
One of my spare bedrooms has been converted into a gym - with lots of equipment .... all of which gets used!
I now have the chance to enjoy my life again rather than just suffering through it.
Has it been easy? Not really. The surgery itself was not without pain and I was so exhausted for the first couple of months - I really thought I had done the wrong thing for a while. Has the weight fallen off - well, yes and no. I have thrown myself into the whole post operative lifestyle by eating healthy, nutritional food and avoiding 'empty calories'. Also, exercise has played a vital role in my journey. People have to work with their tool and not expect to get good results without putting in the effort. They also have to remember that the operation will not cure the problems with their head - head hunger and comfort eating can still be an issue. I see a psychotherapist each week. It's not cheap and I know that it's not an option for everyone, but it has certainly helped me. Admittedly I was seeing her before my surgery for a couple of years (since my mother died) so we have built up a good relationship and she knows me well by now.
Would I do it again? YES!!!! Every year if I had to. Hopefully I won't have to because I have learnt and continue to learn how to live my new life.
I thank the NHS and the staff at Charing Cross hospital for giving me back my life.
Good luck to anyone just starting out on their journey.
Amanda x
Look forward to hearing how your first year went x
