Attention and Kindness of Others :)

Do you have one of those cousins that are so kind and loving that even the mention of his/her name warms your heart? You sort of know that he/she is always keeping an eye on you even if not present. Well, I have one of those. Her name is Toghi. All of a sudden, out of the blue, she texted me today about a friend who has had a similar surgery. She was ever so gently asking me if I wish to consult with her.

Lo and behold, "the friend" turned out to be mine, as well!!!

I called her and we had a very long conversation. She generously gave me her time shared her good, as well as bad, experience with her Lap-Band surgery which she had had several years ago.

She had some great advice but more than anything else, she was trying to get me out of the floor called "Fantasy" and dropping me off at another level called "Reality". I also learned how different people's "Fantasy", as well as "Reality", can be from one another.

The most important lesson I learned today was to start exercising right after the surgery and NOT to wait till I lose weight. My surgeon had also suggested that I start walking at least 20 minutes a day, even before the surgery.

Another subject that resonated with me was what everyone talks about; strong sense of nausea and regular vomiting. I had read about it and had had long conversation with my close friend (whom I call my American sister, Mary) and another family member, Maryam, but the friend I spoke with today, put it quite in perspective for me by saying that nausea and even vomiting is a common part of this experience, particularly at the beginning, until I learn how/when to eat/drink. Of course, it goes without saying that if you eat/drink VERY slowly and in TINY bites/sips, there will be less nausea and consequently less vomiting.

Her overall view of her experience was that she had done many things wrong in the first year but she has done much better in the following four. She shared a lot more of her stories with me including the fact that she has lost over 100 pounds. We hung up the phone in quite a celebratory mood. :)

NOTE: This is NOT her picture. I selected it from internet. It shows a before and after shot of a woman who has lost 73 pounds