Happy New-Birthday to ME!

Today, I am six years new!  At this time, six years ago, I was knocked out on an operating table.  I'd been in surgery about two hours by now.  I had my gastric bypass surgery on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2004!  Surgery was at UCSF at 8 AM.  I had to be there at 6 AM.  I think we had to get up at 3 AM to get there on time.  It was quite a morning.

My friend, Vanessa, took me to surgery.  When we arrived, they took us upstairs in a big elevator with another lady and her husband (I found out later Kandy was also having surgery and we became friends when we met at our follow up appointment a few weeks later).  Per the instructions given to me pre-surgery, I was assigned a "comfortable gurney" and given a stupid hat to wear.  I got into my hospital gown and sat on the gurney with Vanessa, where we giggled about my stupid outfit and ugly socks.  I was so nervous and so excited.  But, as I like to say, I have the easy job...I get to sleep!

And sleep I did.  FOR HOURS.  They ran into complications and my surgery went longer than expected.  Most people say when they have the early surgery, they are somewhat awake by about 2-3 PM.  Vanessa didn't even get a status on me until 5 PM.  I don't really remember waking up until 7 or 8 PM.  It was a rough day.  I woke up to the worst pain I've ever felt in my life and body spasms.  My mom and sister came to visit but I was in and out of consciousness so I barely remember it. Vanessa just reminded that when they finally let her see me, I said, "they cut me."  haha!  That's all I was worried about.  I don't even remember that anymore!  Foggy brain!

And even with all of that pain, I wouldn't change my decision to have surgery for the world.  Despite my continued battle of the bulge, I am still over 125 pounds lighter than when I started.  My weight changes every single day.  Last Friday, I was up to 227 pounds, two days ago, down to 224, yesterday up to 226, today back to 227.  I still know that cardio is what I need to be doing. 

But today, I celebrate the 6th anniversary of my surgery -- my new-birthday as I like to call it (it's great timing since it's about six months from my real birthday...who doesn't need a mid-year celebration to keep the spirits up!).  Two years ago, I got a tattoo of a four leaf clover to memorialize my day.  Yes, I know...THREE leaf clovers actually symbolize St. Patty's Day, but I was hoping to give myself a little extra luck.  :-)

Have a safe and fun St. Patrick's Day!  And happy new-birthday to me!