I spoke with Dr. DeWitt's office yesterday and he said that I should have no problems during pregnancy!!!!  If I get pregnant he wants to see me during the pregnancy to keep track of things and make sure I am doing everything possible to maintain my health....now, to convince my dh that we **really** do need a third child!!!!

Hey! I went to see my dear Dr. DeWitt this past Tuesday for a post surgical check-up. I had been experiencing some pretty bad nausea over the past six months or so, to the point to where I was pretty much staying at home sleeping because it was the only way to make myself not feel icky....I was also having to take lots of phenergan and ambien to help me sleep. Dr. DeWitt went in exploratory at the end of Jan and cleared some scar adhesions and a small hyrnia. I am feeling much better, even though I still battle some nausea...I believe it is something that I will always battle, but the little purple pill is my friend and helping! I found it odd, though...that this was my first time seeing some weight gain, I was actually 216 at his office, when I am normally around 212...it was in the afternoon and I was having my monthly cycle....does anyone else experience that much of a weight difference during their cycle? Just wanted to reassure myself, or start really cutting back and exercising hard....Don't wanna gain weight 2 1/2 years after surgery! ~~emily

Did you use Dr. Jack or someone else? I'll be in Bham to see Dr. DeWitt on March 25th, in Gardendale, actually....I'd love to catch up w/ you sometime! Highest 325 Lowest 203 Current 212 ~~emily

Hey Y'all!!! I just wanted to stop in and catch you up on how I am doing. My surgery was last Thursday morning....I'm still a little blurry with all of the times that things happened, but when I went back for surgery, my wonderful dear surgeon, Dr. Jack, told my dh that it would be about 4 hours. After 4 1/2 hours my dh got worried...the surgery ended up taking right at 6 1/2 hours!!!! I could not believe it!!! Fortunately there were no complications, just a picky surgeon!!! He wanted everything to look good! He started with my breasts, did the reduction and lift (my dh says that "the mountains went to molehills!")....they are small...but I was a 36 LL, so, anything would look small to me! Then he moved to my revision tummy tuck and hip revision....then to my liposuction...and can I tell you...I am a week out today, and still having pain in my liposuction area!!! UGH! It is much rougher than I expected! Right now, I am okay with the way I look, but can not wait for the swelling to go down...Let's see if I can recap my losses.... Pre RNY(2005) - 325 Pre Panniculectomy(5/2007) - 225 Pre Reduction(10/2007) - 215 1 week post reduction - 205 ....just 5 more lbs...I really wanna be under 200!!! ~~emily

*~*I WANT TO SEE PICS!!!!*~* If you wanna email me privately to show them, you can! emmyjmommy@doorsbydecora.com ~~em

Actually Tanya, I feel like I did everything correctly! I watched what I lifted, and did not lift for as long (actually a little longer) than they told me. I stayed inactive as long as they told me to...I walked as much, or a little more, than they told me. I was careful with my incision (sp?). My most difficult thing was sleep...I did not sleep well in the recliner, and had to have medication to help myself sleep. I slept in the recliner for a little over a month or so, and am glad I did...I didn't want to chance rolling over on my tummy...or my kids (who come over during the night) to accidentally kick me. Let me know when you are having it done! If you have any other questions, please let me know! ~~em

Hey Sandy! I have to admit that my wheelpower has gone into low power over the last few months...my appetite is not really around, except for snacking...I am staying icky feeling and am seeing my surgeon and trying some meds to figure out what is going on. I need to up my exercise and get back to some serious protein intake (my hair has actually started falling out again). I'd love to say that I am re-motivated to get under 200, but right now, I'm just plain pooped! If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! Until then...I'll be around!! ~~em

Thanks Tonya! I feel good...not beautiful, yet...I hope to feel that way after my breast surgery! ~~em

Paula, thanks so much! I thought the same about you looking so much younger when you posted your current pic...you need to update yours, too!!! I have only had a panniculectomy (tummy tuck and over 20lbs of skin removed)...I will be having a breast lift and reduction sometime in September, I hope...my parents are on a trip and wanted me to wait until they returned so they could help w/ the kiddos. I love being able to look at my belly in the mirror and not be totally disgusted by it! It is also fun to try on clothes and them to fit correctly (except for shirts and dresses, I'm still having to fit my 34LL boobs...it is a pain!) You have been a great support and inspiration for me! Thanks! ~~em

You are an adorable soon to be mommy!!! Hope you are fairing well in this horrible heat!!! ~~emily

It is a very common side effect of the gastric surgery. I was just talking with my cousin about it yesterday (he's a dr.) and he said that b/cuz of our previous weight, our pancreas was putting out so much insulin that when we lost it all, it takes a good long while for it to even out. If you eat something (mine typically happens when I don't eat correctly, i.e. a lot of high sugar) wrong, your blood sugar shoots up and your pancreas puts out a tremendous amount of insulin, and then you bottom out. Mine has gotten as low as 42 -- which is dangerous and borderline diabetic stuppor (sp? close to diabetic coma). Be very careful and try not to let it happen too often, make note of what you have eaten when it happens. Hope that info helps!!! ~~emily

Tanya, I'm doing well. I am 4 weeks out of surgery and have lost 22 lbs (we think that about 17 - 20 of that was skin). I still have one drain (came home with 2) and am wearing a binder around my abdomen. I can not lift anything, but am able to work since I do bookkeeping. I still take pain meds, but only at night, that is when I have the most pain and they allow me to sleep through the night. I am also still sleeping in the recliner because my incision hurts when I lay on it. But I can tell you, after getting through the first 48 hours of questioning my sanity...I am very glad I had this surgery!!! Next to the gastric bypass, it is the best thing I have done...and I can not wait to have my breasts done (I will have revision liposuction at the same time)...I will look and feel better than I ever have! My surgeon recommended the panni first because he wanted me to be able to heal before doing the less invasive surgery....I'm very glad I did! Let me know what you decide to do!!! ~~em