18th anniversary of my gastric bypass surgery

Tomorrow will mark the 18 year since I spent time in a bed of this size/magnitude. 

As stated in my blog post yesterday, I had surgery, again, a short time ago for a gallbladder related issue.  In 2001, getting on the surgical table was next to impossible.  This time, I was able to put myself on the table without difficulty.

During my time in the hospital, I was visited by the head of bariatric surgery and we discussed many things regarding the whole process of having the surgery, what happens after and long-term outcomes of most gastric bypass surgeries.

1. Relationships are tested to their limit and sometimes there is irreparable damage done

• At the time I had the surgery, the statistics were that 50% of marriages / relationships end post-op. This is something that I experienced.

2. Post-op depression

• I also experienced this.
• I also spent time having issues with other destructive behaviors.  This may not be everyone's experience.

3. Post-op regain

• This absolutely happens in nearly every case. Those folks that have true success after the surgery are the exception in my experience.
• The only way to be successful post-op is to accomplish getting whatever is "broken" in our minds addressed.

In spite of all of this, I am a success story.  Most people, when successful achieve a 30% body mass reduction.  As if this week, I am at 50% body mass reduction and I'm on a trajectory path to get closer to 60%, depending on the path I choose to take.  It's been suggested to me at this point, by a friend that is a medical professional, that I should start going down the path of muscle building, rather than concentrating on weight reduction so much, as this too will help with breaking down and removing the excess body fat.  Something that comes along with this, is consultations with plastic surgeons, in order to see what their take is on my progress and how much further I need to take the fat reduction.