Hollie313

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All to often we hear the wonderful things about bypass surgery.  For me, I lost 130 pounds, got my liver enzymes under control, am no longer pre-diabetic and even gained a daughter out of the deal.  However, I had the scare of my life on September 6th.  I went out of state for vacation and started having the worst abdominal pain imaginable.  I was pregnant and thought I was miscarrying.  My mom talked me into going to the mini hospital up the block from our hotel.  After doing a CT scan, they discovered I had a ruptured fallopian tube due to an ectopic pregnancy and my abdomen was filling up with blood.  I was rushed via ambulance to the main hospital in Chattanooga.  They needed to do emergency surgery because a ruptured fallopian tube can be a life or death situation.  How does this coincide with my bypass you ask???  They quickly tested my blood only to find out I was SO malnourished that it took over 7 minutes for it to clot.  This is NOT ok for surgery.  I could have bled out, if they didn't test my blood.  I was not thin malnourished, but literally malnourished in the sense of vitamins, proteins, etc.  I ended up having to have a blood transfusion and 4 packs of plasma before they could do surgery and stop the internal bleeding.  Aside from the devastation of losing the pregnancy and a fallopian tube, I had to face the facts that I may be at a normal weight yet am FAR from healthy.  My point is not to scare anyone, but to make you VERY AWARE that it's easy to become lax after 3 years post-op.  It's easy to think you are doing ok (I truly thought I was getting in my protein, but I was guilty of drinking with meals.) and then find out your not the hard way.  It's easy to stop going to your yearly follow ups.  It's easy to start sipping with meals.  It's easy to forget vitamins here and there.  Please, please, please take your dietary instructions seriously.  Do NOT allow yourself to become lax over the years.  I am very lucky to be here writing this. 

If anyone had told me what my life would be like now, I wouldn't have believed them.  Life is SO much more than I ever thought it would or could be.  Since having RNY, I've lost over 130 pounds.  I have normal blood pressure, normal cholesterol, normal triglyceride levels, normal sugar levels and best of all normal periods - which gave me something I longed for and never thought I'd have....a child.  RNY straightened my hormones right out & corrected my PCOS issues.  I had my daughter in April 2014 and probably would never have had it not been for surgery.  My husband and I tried for 12 years to have a child and could never get pregnant.  We saw specialists and were told we'd probably have to do invitro.  We weren't willing to do that and gave up on the idea of being parents.  Then, it happened when we least expected it...thanks to my cycles being regulated by RNY. Every time I see Dr. Chengelis I thank him and bless the day I first walked into his office.  He (and I) saved my life.  I'm currently 158 pounds and in a size 12 or 14 - depending on the brand.  Yes, I'm still considered overweight by BMI standards, but I'll take that any day over my old size 28 and almost 300 pounds.  I no longer have the social anxiety issues I used to have.  I no longer am lethargic and lazy.  I no longer dread walks, summer, malls, clothes shopping and going out in general.  I remember wondering if I had made a mistake after having the surgery.  I remember wondering if I was making the right choice prior to deciding to have it.  I am SO glad and thankful that I did.  I would make this decision 100 times over and over, if for no other reason, to be given the opportunity to be this little girl's mommy.

I had my RNY done this past Wednesday.  While Dr. C was in there, he saw that my hernia was larger than he anticipated, so he went ahead and fixed it.  That evening went great.  I felt great after surgery and slept like a baby (thank you morphine drip!)  What I did not anticipate was the amount of pain I would feel once that drip was discontinued. 

Thursday I was miserable.  I was in so much pain that I was getting seriously nauseous.  The hospital decided to keep me an extra day.  I'm not sure if that was a good idea or not.  I had the worst time sleeping and was just overall crabby.  I found myself upset, wondering why the hell I did this to myself and was there any way to turn back.

I think I underestimated the seriousness of the surgery.  I think I underestimated how much and how often you engage your abdomen throughout the day.

Anyhow, I came home on Friday.  Today is Sunday.  I'm finding as each day passes that I am able to move more and more without feeling like someone is tugging at my incisions.  I am able to get down more water every day.  I'm struggling with protein, but working at it.  Has anyone else noticed their sense of smell increased TEN FOLD???  Ugh....my poor brother dropped by to see me and I almost barfed. ( he had just gotten off work from the plant and had that smell ) 

I'm just praying that soon I will be one of these people on here who can say "I love my RNY".  At this moment, I am doubtful.  I also know that this will pass and I just need to keep looking ahead and pressing forward.  I've been able to walk up and down my block, but by the end my incisions on the right side hurt like hell.  In fact, I don't really feel the other 4.  I just really feel the 2 on the right....which they told me I would.  I guess that is where most of the instrument movement takes place.

Well, hoping that I feel better soon.  =)

Well, I've gotten past the difficulty of the pre-op diet.  I literally felt like I was ready to eat my poor dog...lol.  As of today I'm down 7.3 since last Tuesday.  I've not been perfect, but I've tried to be as best as I can. 

The tough part was actually telling my brother about the surgery.  I told him last night and cried and cried when I tried to explain all the reasons why.  You see, his mother in law had RNY done way back in the day.  She had tons of complications.  As I explained to him, this procedure has changed so much since she had it done in the early 90's.  I also explained to him that I KNOW she isn't compliant with her eating habits.  (she gained most of her weight back)  He understood and agreed.

My brother and I are 10 years apart.  We have the same dad, but different moms.  His opinion has ALWAYS meant the world to me.  In fact, just typing this is making me teary, so I'm going to stop.

I just got back from Dr. Chengelis' office.  It's official.  We have a date for May 9th!  I have my sleep study tonight (yuck) and then they will send out for my authorization number.  I'm so excited.

Yay!  Today in the mail came the letter I've been waiting for.  The letter from the Weight Loss Center stating that I am good to schedule my 1st consult with my soon-to-be surgeon.  =)  When I made the decision, last October, to do RNY this day seemed so far away.  And now, here it is.  It came so quick! 

I finally, after waiting forever it seems, have a date for my sleep study.  I'm scheduled for 4*12.  Then, I go back for my 6th visit to the Weight Control Center.  After that, it'll be time to move on to the surgeon's office!  Yay!  This process has been long, but quick all in the same breath.  I'm so ready for a change. 

SOOOOO happy to see nothing, but glowing reviews about my surgeon.  =)

5th month visit complete.  Down a pound, only, but I'll take it.  Next month is my last month before seeing the surgeon.  They are thinking May or June for my surgery.  SO excited.

Completed all pre-op steps except for my sleep study.  I've already seen the neurologist, so they are supposed to be calling me this week to schedule it.  I'm thinking I'll be pro-active and call them so I can get thsi over with!