ObesityHelp

I don't even know where to start.  In a little over one year, I have had gastric bypass, a baby boy and hernia repair surgery.  I still have a hard time looking at photos of myself before gastric bypass.  I was so good about avoiding the reality of my obesity that I never let myself think about how I became so large or why.  Now I'm a whole person smaller and for a 5'1" frame, that's a HUGE weight lifted.  I have lost well over 100 lbs despite conceiving only 1 month post op (WORD OF CAUTION: BCP's DO NOT ALWAYS ABSORB CORRECTLY WITH RNY).  I had hoped to lose more in the first 12 months, but fate has a way of stepping in and teaching me that I was never really in control to begin with.

My baby is 6 months old and thriving!  I cannot imagine life without him and the adjustment has been easier than I thought it would be for my other 2 children.  Everett is happy and healthy and full of smiles.  His brother and sister adore him and I am truly blessed to have 3 wonderful children.

Now I am recovering from a massive hernia repair (OUCH)!  If I though previous surgeries or pregnancy complications were painful, I was a sissy compared to this recovery.  Holy crap does it suck.  But, I am surviving and hoping to be able to get back into more rigorous exercise after the 6-12 week lifting/straining restrictions.  I take it day-by-day and I know that I can get through this.

I have had a lot of people ask if WLS has been a regretful decision.  Mainly the medical personnel that have taken care of me during my very difficult pregnancy.  I have no regrets.  If I were to say anything that I would have done differently, I would have had the surgery sooner.  Yes, I'm still tired and worn out from the day-to-day challenges, but life is still good.  I suffered with iron deficient anemia and didn't have it corrected until symptoms were really bad. Though my bariatric clinic drew labs regularly, they were not proactive about treating my iron levels when they started to drop.  I had not educated myself on the numbers and where things should be.  I focused primarily on my B-levels that plummeted during pregnancy.  I was hospitalized more times than I can count, and so my focus was also about staying hydrated and avoiding hospitalization and risks to the baby.  I know better now.  When the numbers start to drop, it's time to change things up.  Don't wait until symptoms are so bad.  I was in a terrible brain fog for months with fatigue like I've never felt in my life.  Were it not for the daily migraines, I don't know if I would have even known something was wrong.  Many iron infusions later and my levels are finally up to "normal".  Thank God I had this taken care of before hernia repair, as I can't imagine how tired I would feel.  In any case, get your labs done regularly and keep copies of them for yourself.  Track the numbers and be assertive in getting the care you deserve.  Your body will thank you!

If so, feel free to send me a friends request via my email address: Spencerb52@yahoo.com

Everett arrived safely on May 6, 2009.  He weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long.  He is adorable and perfect in every way.  We couldn't be happier that he is in great health and we welcome our bundle of joy with love. 

I'm just about at the halfway point for this pregnancy and had my *18* week ultrasound today.  The tech was wonderful and the baby BOY measures perfectly for growth.  All of his organs are present, functioning and beautiful.  The 4 heart chambers were fluttering away at 155 bpm, the bones were perfect, couldn't ask for better news.  The HG persists, but knowing this baby is healthy makes it somehow more tolerable.

I also had my 6 month RNY checkup.  Where has the time gone?  I miss my surgeon.  She was wonderful and I had every faith in the world in her abilities.  The NP and nutritionist did quick checks and "forgot" to pull my lab results...I'll be calling to get those faxed to me anyway.  Everything is fine surgically.  An endoscopy last month while hospitalized  for HG revealed no strictures, no ulcers and a beautifully healed pouch.  No internal hernias. 

The good of it all is also the challenge: I continue to lose weight despite best efforts to stop the momentum during pregnancy.  I am down to my lowest weight in over 10 years, but I have a hard time celebrating because I know that rapid weight loss is not healthy for the baby.  Aargh - it's like that cartoon image of the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other.  Sometimes I am frustrated that I can't just be enjoying the joys of RNY as I had dreamed, but I know that this dream will become a reality soon enough and that the blessing of another child is a gift too.  What other time would I be pregnant AND losing weight?  NOT the case with my other two pre-op pregnancies.

So if you're still reading this blog, life is better.  I am blessed.  I am sick, but I am happy.  Only 4 1/2 more months and I can welcome this little boy into the world and our family.  He is already loved in our hearts!

Gastric bypass was s breeze compared to what I'm going through.

I had 2 great days with very little nausea and today the HG is back and it's worse than ever. Crawling on the floor from bathroom to bed, I am so frustrated! There is little to no support, no wonder so many women terminate HG pregnancies-it feels like I'm dying a slow, painful death. Logically, I know the end result (baby) is worth all of the sickness and then some, but it is so damn depressing and overwhelming. If the nausea and vomiting weren't enough, the absolute fatigue inhibits functioning even on the most basic level.

All the while, I see the benefits of my one week hospital stay are dwindling. I know I'm headed toward dehydration again and I am powerless. My kids are traumatized at having me hospitalized for a week; my daughter won't let me out of her sight...not even to go to the bathroom. I have a high tolerance for pain and sickness, but seeing the toll it is taking on my kids and DH is the worst part for me. Pray, I just continue to pray. Only 6 more months, just 180 more days. There's a blessing in this somewhere, if I can just keep my head out of the toilet long enough....