A Quarter Century

“New year — a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately we write it. The choice is ours.” — Alex Morritt

Reflection is always best to do at the end of the year and at the beginning of the next. Today being January 1, 2025 I am very glad to see 2024 is over.

2024 was a rough year for me. I had emergency surgery in June. When you are in the Emergency Room after a scan and the Dr. comes in and tells you that you have a bowel obstruction and that the surgeon will be in to talk to you. This Dr. said they will be admitting me over night for observation and that the surgeon doesn’t like to do surgery unless they have to. Telling me about how they will just put a scope down the esophagus and get the obstruction fixed that way.

About 30 minutes later the surgeon pops in and says they are going to prep me for surgery within the hour. He explains the bowel obstruction and how it will need surgery to be repaired.

I was terrified because within 30 minutes I was told admitting me for observation to preparing me for emergency surgery.

A little back story is in order to explain what surgery was going to entail. In 2005 I had LapBand Surgery. The first year after surgery was not bad. But I, like so many others, gained the weight back and then some. In September 2022 I got a text from my sister-in-law Christie about a medication that was on the market called Mounjaro (which I will refer to as MJ here on out). It was having great success for people and weight loss. I figured well I have tried everything else so why not. I was lucky enough to get the coupon before the rules changed and I was able to get MJ for $25/month. The first year on this I lost about 60 lbs. The second year I lost another 20 lbs. So it seems the rapid weight loss caused the band wires to come loose and wrap around my lower bowels.

Fast forward back to June and emergency surgery. I am not the type to go to the ER. This latest visit was the 2nd visit to the ER in a month for the same symptoms. But the first time in they said everything looked fine and whatever I was doing to fix my symptoms was working. So the 2nd trip to the ER took me being VERY sick and weak. I had been throwing up green bile for almost 3 days. So to say the least I was toxic. The ER my first trip in made me feel really stupid for going in at all. So I was EXTEREMELY tentative about going in the 2nd time. I am very glad I did.

Prior to emergency surgery I begged anyone who came into my room to see if we could just get the LapBand removed since it was causing these issues as well as a few others. Over and over I was told no they couldn’t do that and to follow-up with the Dr. who did the LapBand surgery.

Surgery went well and I was only in the hospital for a day or two. After I got home I reached out to the Dr. who did my LapBand. Unfortunately she had retired but other Dr.’s had taken over her practice. I was connected with Dr. Cottam, who is probably the best Dr. I have had. He was very surprised to learn that the ER surgeons wouldn’t take the band out. But he quickly worked with the insurance company (the LapBand removal surgery was approved by the insurance within 24 hours of it being submitted). I was scheduled for surgery in September.

Dr. Cottam has also helped me get Semaglutide which is another version of MJ just not as strong. I am back to losing weight again after adjusting to not having the band anymore. In 4 months I had 2 surgeries and I can honestly say it has really taken a toll on me physically and emotionally.

I turn 50 this year and this is also weighing heavily on me and I am struggling a bit. But on a good note I will be going to NOLA (New Orleans Louisiana) for Mardi Gras this year which is only 6 weeks away from my 50th birthday. I am going to really try and enjoy this. Not only am I 80-90lbs lighter but it has been awhile since I have been able to see my NOLA family.

A lot has been going on at work from changes in management/departments to being harassed, demeaned, bullied, and yelled at by a co-worker. Management & HR have not really done anything that makes me feel like this is going to change anytime soon.

It was announced in December that we are moving over to a new department and a new manager. I am trying to stay hopeful that this newest change will work out in a positive way. I look forward with anticipation to the announcements that should be unfolding the week of January 6th.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!