Why I Opted for the Gastric Bypass

Why I Opted for the Gastric Bypass

Today makes a years time from the day my cousin Maurice died. I can not say we were close at that point in time. It had been months since I had seen him or his family. And I felt guilty for that. Everyone feels guilty for not having been closer when someone passes away... But we were very close as children. They say your cousins are your first best friends, and they are right. He was the first one I told my secrets to, the one who saved my a$$ so many times, and the one who did things with such a zest for life it brings a smile to my face.

It appalls and disgusts me today that it has been an entire year. Thats 365 days, 52 weeks, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, or 31,536,000 seconds that we have had to be without his vibrant precense. That his five children and close family and friends have had to be without him.

He was the reason I made my final choice. The Roux En Y (RNY) bariatric surgery was a last ditch effort to be healthy and not have the same fate. That and our family history is ridden with so many diagnoses that its easier to say what our family didn't have when doctors ask us about it. Hell I already had Type II diabetes, kidney disease and a fatty liver and I was only 27 years old...

The 2 weeks pre-op were hard but not as hard as the weeks to come. No one is perfect and we all certainly make mistakes. I still do to this day and I am almost 9 weeks post op now. I was told to have 3 protein shakes a day and 1 light meal with veggies and protein. I typically did 2 shakes a day (they were absolutely disgusting!!!) and 1 regular meal a day which I would typically allow to have carbs in it. I would still go out to eat although I would try to make the healthiest choice possible. During those 2 weeks before surgery I still lost 6 lbs just doing that.

No one wanted me to truly do it. My family tried being supportive, but they were scared for me. My boyfriend kept telling me he thought I could do it all by myself, but I didn't think I could. My 4 year old had no idea what was going on, but got the gist of being gentle after she saw me in the hospital and saw my "boo boos." A really awesome friend and her fiance took my daughter for 5 days after the surgery to allow me time to heal and acclimate myself.

Surgery details to come next blog! Also keep your eyes out for my video blog on youtube!!