Medley411

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I cant believe how normal life has become. The days of crazy exhaustion, hormone fluctuations, adrenal fatigue, insomnia knocks on my door from time to time but life is good. I have to stop and really think about how long it has been 5 1/2 years!

It has been that long since my surgery.  I don't think about it all the time, I have the diet worked out and I know what to do and when to do it.  I can live this way!  I have been on quite the adventure with depression and PTSD.... TGIF for the VA. I feel lucky to be one of the ones that has a happy ending. 

Whew what a wild ride it has been. Aside from the stomach ulcer things have been very smooth.  I discovered gummies for constipation, life is good again. Would I do this again, most certianly. The roller coaster is finally smoothing out. I am maintaining my vitamins pretty good, this round I had to get b-12 shots.  My thyroid levels have proved difficult to maintain. When I get that under control life will be most excellent.
I can tell when "things" are off, and maintaining weight is never a problem.  I am still waiting for some bounce back weight, I just cant maintain over 121 for long periods of time. Hypoglycimia has kicked in from time to time, but it only happens when I cheat and eat a no-no food!
I am not wanting for foods, these days, I have discovered such a wide range of foods I dont feel deprived. When I first joined this site, I thought I was to be doomed. Here I am 3 years in, I almost forgot to post and life is pretty darn good. 
It has taken this long for my family to realize I am not going to break if one of them touch me. I helped a co-worker move and they said I was really strong for a stick!  
Ah, well, 3 years have passed and I have made my mark in the electronic air space. What more can be done.

Aside from freezing all the time.. life is good at this point. Just kid drama.  Still not gaining weight.  The fiber gummies have helped tremendously! I was a skeptic, but they are working!  I check this place less and less.  The panic has started to wear off at this point.  I trust what my body tells me and I seem to be able to sense when something is not right. I am still tired all the time, but my labs are holding steady.  Been healthier and not in the hospital for bronchitis or asthma since surgery. New record for me. Now, if I can just schedule that colonoscopy (boo)

After having my thyroid removed life has returned to normal? I had a couple friends check in, glad to see they are doing okay. I am maintaining at 118. I have tried to gain, an it is not going to happen. I refuse to push the envelope again. I ended up not being able to poop!  I will stay on my daily ritual of foods and keep on truckin.
I do miss some foods, but I can have a bite of anything I want. I mean anything. Most days I stick to a regimen, but I have made discoveries too.  I have come to LOVE canned cranberry sauce as a side garnish with ham.  I used to never mix tastes. Now the mix of salty and sweet is divine! 
Many foods I ate before are no longer appealing. Cheap chocolate - tastes like wax. That includes the entire Little Debbie line. Anything that is found in a vending machine = Yuck! Fast food places, maybe a taco bell from time to time, or the top of a pizza at the mall. No Chinese, McDonald's, Burger King or Sonic. I don't miss biscuits and gravy at times, then at others, I have a breakdown at the grocery store. It has been one hell of a roller coaster.
I would choose to do this all over again. I stopped looking over my shoulder that the cancer would return in my esophagus. My hernia is back, but it causes me no problems and I choose to embrace my life.  I watch my sister-n-law struggle with breast cancer for over 4 years. Jesus, the pain is so intense at times she shakes, it seems cruel to let her keep fighting. She is fighting hard. I thank God everyday I was spared from that hellalous torture. 
I still look at skinny with disdain.  I do not look healthy and I know it. I have received so many compliments on my figure. I feel guilty for that. I thank them and move on. I have no urge to discuss wings or saggy butt skin with strangers. Vogue has nothing but hungry people in its pages. I think the models all need to eat, lots of anything.  
I am in therapy to deal with all sorts of issues that I am going through. Not all are weight related. Back to my weight. I do look forward to a 20-30 pound regain. I sit in a car seat and my butt goes numb. I lay down in bed and my legs and hips hurt from the bones sticking out. My figure literally scares my family and my husband. As long as my vitamins and adrenal panels return normal I am going to be okay. My hair is growing like gang busters and my doc says I have never been healthier.
For now, I am deeply grateful that my health is back, (still healing from an ulcer) and I am not suffering from the burning esophagus or the nightly struggle of breathing with COPD. I would choose to make this decision every time. I remember talking with my husband. We both chose what would give me the best chance. I believe we chose very well.
Until mother nature boots me out of this spot, this is where I will stay, happily and with a smile on my face.  I can live, and live well with my choice.  I do believe it saved my life.

Unable to determine if the tumor was benign or malignant, they took the whole thyroid. Been home 5 days and my voice is still weak.  I am not able to swallow water and most liquids without coughing and spitting up, not an ideal situation to be in. I hope it is only the scar. I am still managing, not sure what the loss of the thyroid is at this time. Nothing blaring has happened and my hair is not falling out.  Had a couple of hot flashes but I think that is due to a change in my taking progesterone, might need to up it again. Christmas is rolling around and I am still waiting for some regain weight.  I am down to size 2 and I refuse to buy anymore clothes. Otherwise there is nothing to complain about.  Time for a quick nap.

I can hardly maintain anything above 125!  Again I have slipped to 119. My brother-n-law is gaining.... He has started eating everything in sight. Pancakes, chips, pie and he is getting his gut back. My friend constatnly eats and gets so angry with herself for not losing any weight. I am shocked people go through this surgery only to eat their way out of it. DAMN! I have been waiting for the 24-36 month regain to happen . . . month 29 and nothing. I could stand to gain about 20-25 pounds.
I look at skinny with a new distain. People who are this thin by choice have mental problems.

NO WARNING, NO SYMPTOMS, 16 September, 2011. Felt a bit flush and nauseous so I lay down after my morning shower.  Decided I was not going to work., it was 518 am.  Husband kisses me bye as he leaves for work at 630 am. I answered the door, for a delivery about 930 am.  I could not stand up straight, my hearing was affected, I cant explain the noise "in my head". I passed out  and woke up with a terrible urge to go to the bathroom. I passed a black and red stool, I knew I was in serious trouble.  I called Hubby to come home it was a half hour drive  (BIG mistake).  Take my advice call 911, go to the front door and wait. 3 days an endoscope w/ cauterization of the ulcer; 3 pints of blood and lots of IV's later I went home alive and aniemic.   No bacteria found, my endoscopes were both good prior to this event. Be advised, take all your symptoms seriously! 

I cant believe it has already been two years. My goodness how things have changed. I have settled into a routine, and I am used to this life.
Living with RNY is not a nightmare yet. I have learned what to eat, and my life is considerably more enjoyable. I cant bitch and moan about missing donuts, ding dongs or cheeto's, I didnt eat them before. I do miss flour tortilla's and bread from time to time. If thats all, life is good.
I dont get on OH to much these days, the gossip and pissing on the site is so petty. If you dont get drug in and "moderated" a bit, you have missed the entire experience. Don't worry there is life outside the OH website.
Good luck if your new and reading this. Don't get sucked in when an attention whore berates you for being stupid, just ignore them and keep on moving.  

The last 18 months have been very interesting. Learning how to eat, take vitamins, and the ups and downs of the all the changes my body has been through.
Over all, I am maintaing well, activy level is pretty much normal and I cannot complain. My taste preferences have changed, but it is a minor issue.
One stomach bug which resulted in 1 stay in the hospital, but other than that life has returned to my version of normal. It will never be the same, but I have no problems with it.
I have drastically changed my views on how much food it takes for people to live. I am often appalled at the amount of food people eat on a regular basis. I have discovered so many things that shock me.
Children under the age of 1 are on acid reflux meds so they keep down thier formula. . . . . I am speechless.
the amount of children taking acid reflux meds are increasing. 
The more I learn the more I want to know. The things we still dont know.