kahlana
It's been a year already
Jan 29, 2013
Wow the time has flown! It really does seem like only a few days ago I was nervously/excitedly preparing for the surgery and all of a sudden its been a year already. A lot has happened in the last year so I will try to update a little bit.
First, let me say that I have not had any complications from the surgery. I burp if I eat too fast and throw up only if I eat a little too much. In the past year that event has only happened maybe 4 times because I really do try to be good and not over eat my sleeve. The last time it happened I ate one piece of halibut too much from my celebration dinner. Note to self: stop at 4 pieces of halibut cheeks and save the rest for the next day lol. I was fine after but I really do hate throwing up. Other than that I have felt amazing.
I came up to Alaska last June to work in a fish processing plant. The hours were crazy long, the food not so great, the work exhaustingly mind-numbing, and sleep practically nonexistent until about September. but I managed to make it through very well and in fact had plenty of energy for going on hikes and playing tourista around the towns I worked in. I ended up moving to Sitka in November and lived on a WWII tugboat when I came back. That was such an adventure and I was inspired to start writing poetry again. I was really fortunate to have one of my poems read out on air at the local radio station. That kind of things makes you feel really good you know? So I am working on getting to know people in the community here and making new friends in the town here. My current plan is to be here for the next 5 years at least and perhaps buy a live aboard boat. I made some truly wonderful friends while living on the tug and found that lifestyle very appealing.
I broke up with the boyfriend back in Wisconsin due to some issues that had nothing to do with the surgery and everything to do with his growing anger issues. I am in general a really positive person and that kind of negativity was very draining on me and I couldn't be around that much anger all the time, so while he is a really terrific person on the whole I felt it necessary to remove myself from that situation. I think that can be one thing about having weight loss surgery that a lot of people don't maybe realise at first. But when you make a move to take care of you such as having this surgery, you also start looking at taking care of the rest of you too. You begin to look at taking care of your mental, spiritual and emotional well being not just the physical aspect. I am working to take care of and balance all aspects of my life now.
Still havent been able to quit smoking but i know I will find the one thing that will get me to quit one of these days. I really want to quit since it's a spendy habit and not a very comfortable one either since I have to go outside to smoke practically everywhere these days. And let me tell you, smoking outside in Alaska this time of the year is a cold prospect and quite a hassle, what with having to get on warm clothes, a heavy coat, good warm boots, a hat, gloves, and all for 5 minutes of standing outside in the snow and/or rain and cold. I can say it's helped me cut back a LOT though and I definitely don't smoke as much as I used to.
So I think that's pretty much all my news for now. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions about my recovery from the surgery or anything else I can help you with.
