Amy C
After years of infertility issues I decided to have gastric bypass surgery in an effort to control my lifelong juvenille diabetes and make an effort to have a child.
On December 13th, 2004 I had Open RNY gastric bypass surgery with Dr. Thomas Clark (AWESOME Doctor!). I recovered well and immediately saw and felt the results on my diabetes.
Two months later in February 2005 I started to feel funny, I had lost about 40 pounds and wasn't sure what was going on. Three pregnancy tests later I found out I was pregnant!!!!!!!!!!! One month pregnant! Which means I got pregnant one month post op!
Of course I was suprised and scared but knew that God had blessed us with this miracle. I was a high risk pregnancy b/c I'm diabetic and I have had one miscarriage in the past so I was scared. But things went well and on October 24th, 2005 my son was born via planned c-section due to his size, he was born 11.4 lbs and 21.5 inches long.
While I don't advocate getting pregnant early post op, if you find yourself in that situation like I did, consider it a blessing, not a burden and take charge. You can survive and have a healthy and beautiful pregnancy and healthy baby! My son is proof positive of that.
I am a student nurse due to graduate in July of 2007 and then take the licensure exam for RN.
Below this line is my old profile information if you want to read back and see how things happened step by step. _____________________________________________________________
2004
Updated as of 8/13/2004
I am scheduled for surgery! Woohoo! On December 13, 2004! I have to wait until December because of school, but I'm excited!!!!
CherokeeSummer
Updated as of 9/11/2004
Wanted to take a moment and say a prayer for all the families and victims of 9/11. May God bless you and keep you.
Lastest Update:
I have made the next step in the process by taking the computer test and the psychological evaluation in the Doctors office last week. The next step is for the office to attempt to get approvals from the insurance company.
I'm in nursing school now so I can't get scheduled for surgery until school break in December! Plus by that time I should have a good amount of vacation and sick time accrued to take off for my surgery!!!!
I've been to the weight loss seminar hosted by Dr. Clark and found it very interesting. I just switched jobs and have an insurance provider that will cover it. So, once I have accrued some time off I will be scheduling a surgery. I am a type I diabetic also.
I decided to go forward and update my profile with my "Wish List" to show what things I would like to accomplish as I lose weight! Hubby and I went for a walk tonight, I need to get back on a regular exercise schedule because I was doing Tae Bo and other kickboxing earlier but now I've gained back some weight and its noticeable!
Here is my list! Also, special thanks to my Profile Sprucer, Rene!!!! Her link is at the bottom of the page!!!!
My Weight Loss Wish List
• Ride a ROLLER COASTER again and FIT!
• Jog and RUN!
• Walk without getting winded
• Keep up with my professors in nursing school when on stairs or on floor and NOT feel winded.
• Buy clothes from thrift shops and not have to look really hard to find the big girl sizes.
• Not have to think twice about fitting in a booth, chair or seatbelt.
• Not worry about Hubby hurting himself when he picks me up! He still does now, but I always worry about his back or hernia!
• Be able to jog with our Husky (YIKES!)
• Paint my own toenails without having to STREEEETCHHH!
• Tie my shoes in the middle and not on the side!!!!
• Not have to struggle to get in my clothes
• No more stretch, lycra, spandex or anything of the sort in my clothing unless I want it to be there!
• Not worry about what others think in my bathing suit
• Wrap a normal size towel around me!
• No more SWISH SWISH when I walk!
MORE TO COME!!!!
10-23-2004 Update!
Hi all, just wanted to pop in and say HI! My 28th birthday is on Monday, October 25th and I'm thinking, hopefully this will be my last fat birthday! I would love to be 60-100 lbs thinner this time next year, that would be just AWESOME!!!!
Great news! I was unsure if I could get the time off for surgery but...I received good news this week! I was approved for the time off from work for surgery. I don't qualify for FMLA right now because I have not been at my current job for a year so I was stressed about whether the time would be approved and it was. The director said as long as my boss was ok with it, then it was ok. WOOHOO!!!! It will be unpaid so Hubby and I will not be buying holiday gifts this year and we will be trying to find "creative" ways to pay the bills but hey, at least our food consumption will drop a bit!!!! :):)
Well November is almost done but I wanted to put my update in anyway! It is now less than 2 weeks away from my scheduled date! My bp has been rising and my friend thinks it may be because of the surgery and my stress, though I haven't been too stressed about it, at least not consciously! LOL! Who knows whats happening subconcsiously!!!!
Hubby and I went to the 3.5 hour pre-op educational class about 2 weeks ago and learned a lot of things about what to expect. Plus we got some free samples, gotta love freebies!!!!
Then I had my pre-op bloodwork drawn and an EKG and Chest X-ray done. I was given my pre-op instructions and the scheduled time of my surgery. It is scheduled for 07:30 AM. Woohoo, we need to be there at 05:30 AM. YIKES!!!!
Tonight I had an exam at school and a week from today is my Final exam and my pre-op appointment with the Doctor!!!!
Gotta go, need some ice cream, some sleep and to get ready for work tomorrow. I have a long day, work and then cpr class!
It's almost time!!!!
Hiya! Hubby and I just got back from the grocery store after buying our December mainstock of groceries! We usually get most of the stuff at one time and little things that are needed througout the month. We got my post op supplies which include: Chewable vitamins, baby wipes, soups, broths, sugar free fudgicles and popsicles, 100% no sugar added apple juice and grape juice, crystal light, 3 boxes of the carb sensible carnation instant breakfast, several jars of no sugar added applesauce for the mush stage, instant grits for the mush stage, egg beaters for the mush stage, 1% skim milk (YUCK!), sugar free pudding mixes, refried beans (fat free) for the mush stage) and then the supplies to make baked ziti this week for dinner since it is one of my fave meals to make. YUMMMMMMMY!!!! I may make it tonight! Got Hubby and his Dad some frozen chicken breasts and some noodle packs and such to make. Neither one of them eat much so they will be ok fending for themselves!!!! Also got the first CArnie Wilson book to read after my final exam on Tuesday, already read the second one. I hvae to wait to read this one though because I really need to study for my exam! Our wedding anniversary is Monday and we are planning on going to Olive Garden. Good thing it is preop. HUGS to all!
Update: Hubby and I went back out to the store and I told him that for our wedding anniversary I would like to have a cute pair of jammies and slippers for the hospital stay. We went to Wal-Mart and got the cutest set of Eeyore jammies and a pair of fluffy blue slippers with glitter. LOL!
Yeah comfy and cute! Of course, I am breaking them in right now!!!!
UPDATE!!!! Tonight we had our class holiday party and it was fun, they all suprised me with a get well card that was very cute and funny! Tomorrow I start the bowel prep process so I'm really looking forward to that NOT! This morning I started to eat a leftover piece of cold pizza for breakfast until I remembered that it will be FORCED out of me tomorrow so I changed my mind halfway through and gave it to Hubby. I then made some scrambled eggs and a piece of whole wheat toast! Much smarter idea, I think!
I have lots of emotions going through me, cried some yesterday, hugging my bari bear. Hubby and I have named him "Nate Bear" after my father in law who's middle name is Nathaniel. I slept with my bari bear last night and Hubby thought that was cute, he told my classmates at the holiday party tonight LOL!
Thanks for your prayers all! I have faith!
You're Brigitte Bardot!
What Classic Pin-Up Are You?
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Post Op Update:
Hi all, I'm home! The first day was a blank one for the most part but they got me up and walking. Ice chips only. IV infusion and morphine pump, luvinox in tummy and toradol for pain. IV infiltrated that night. Moved to other arm. Day two, up and walking catheter out, up to pee, water and ice chips. IV infusion and morphine pump, luvinox in tummy and toradol for pain. Day three I was feeling that someone lied to me when they said it would get better because I felt worse. But...then IV infiltrated again. Decided to keep it out and give me percoset for pain - whoa, totally different person! I was able to get out of bed on my own and that was amazing. Day four - I'm still a bit stiff adn the drain removal felt very strange! But I'm home, drinking my lunch of CIB and apple juice from the hospital. I don't know if I'll get used to all this burping though wooowsers!!!! I had lots of wonderful visitors and callers, it was a great and amazing feeling of support. My Husband was AWESOME, he helped me with my cycle because of course it came the day before surgery - he had never changed pads before (sorry to be graphic but I wanted to get the whole picture here). He stayed at the hospital every day and night, only leaving to eat and take care of our dogs and make sure his dad was doing ok. As we speak he is cleaning the house so I have no fall hazards and because mys ister and her boyfriend are coming to visit tomorrow. He is a wonderful MAN! Thanks for all your prayers everyone!!!!
There are still times when I feel like this was a bad thing because I'm feeling sick some, or have diarhea or what have you but everyone keeps telling me it will get better so I shall have faith!!!!
2005
Hi all! Well it is now January and I'm back at work and school. I went back full time but it was too much for me at 3 weeks post op so we cut it back to 1/2 days for 2 weeks. It really does help because it gives me more time to rest and more time to exercise. I know I will have to find ways to fit exercise in after I return to work full time and still be able to do work and school full time and study and enjoy my family.
Decided to take the one month measurements and stuff and share them with everyone!
Measurements
Pre-Op
Weight - 301 (Highest 313 in 8/2001 - lost 20 on Weight Watchers)
Chest - 57
Waist - 55
Hips - 63
Thigh - 27.5
Calf - 17.5
1/3/05 (almost one month post op)
Weight - 278 (updated 1/15/05)
Chest - 55.5
Waist - 52
Hips - 61.5
Thigh - 28
Calf - 17.75
Total Loss
Weight - 23 lb (updated 1/15/05)
Chest - 1.5 in
Waist - 3 in
Hips - 1.5 in
Thigh - (gained .5 in) lots of walking?!
Calf - (gained .25 in) lots of walking?!
LOVE n' HUGS!!!!
Update again...
As of today, 1/29/2005, I am down 32 pounds!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!
Hubby and I went to the gym tonight and swam, it was GREAT and I didn't even care much about my body in a suit, except I think my boooooobs are shrinking away! :):) Check out the drop in my BMI, that is just awesome!!!!
February Update!
Well I'm back at work and school full time, and while I do get tired more easily, things are definately getting better. My problem now is finding time to exercise. I have time tonight but am not feeling well so hopefully will be able to go to the gym tomorrow night!!!!
As of two months out here are the latest weights and measurements!!!!
Starting Weight - 309 (I thought it was 301, turns out it was not, it was 309!)
Current Weight as of 2/13/2005 - 264
Measurements:
Weight - 264
Chest - 53.75
Waist - 48
Hips - 59.75
Thigh - 27.75
Calf - 18
Total Loss -
Weight - 45 pounds
Chest - 3.25 inches
Hips - 7 inches
Waist - 3.25 inches
WooHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I see the nutritionist this week because I'm not eating enough and need to get a better idea of what to eat and all that jazz!
Today, Hubby and I cleaned out my closet and clothes hampers (2 full ones) and got rid of baggy saggy clothes (taking to the Disabled Veterans Thrift Store) and hung up the clothes that I haven't been able to wear because they were too small (but now they fit, most of them anyway!)
Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have I told you all lately how GREAT my Hubby is! Smooches to him right now!!!!
March 2005 Update!
Ok, I know I'm a little slow on this updating thing! Turns out, I'm pregnant! I'm super excited and scared all at the same time but we have decided to put our fears away and trust and rely on God. We know that this was unexpected and therefore we consider it not only a blessing but a gift.
I'm three months post op and have lost to date 52 pounds. My OB wants me to stay the same so I am trying to increase my food consumption but I'm experiencing morning sickness (all day) so it is challenging to eat but I'm working on that!
I am considered a high risk pregnancy because of being a Type I diabetic, because of being only 3 months post op and 8 weeks pregnant and because I have had one miscarriage in the past, in 1999. I am in much better health now than I was then so that is a source of inspiration for us.
Will keep you updated!!!!
April 2005
We are still pregnant and quite happy! Experiencing morning sickness throughout the day and evening but that is fine with us. Just a great reminder of this wonderful miracle!!!!
Still losing weight but only a little and the OB is ok with it because I still have plenty of meat on my bones! :):):):) He said the baby can take what he or she needs from that!!!!
May and June 2005
Hi all, here is the (late) update!!!! Still pregnant and loving it! The morning sickness has gone but I still have an aversion to meat and eggs! I do love carbs though and apparently that is pretty common in pregnancy!!!! My blood sugars are very good, much better than they ever have been. I have a few bad ones here and there but my overall control is excellent. I'm down about 57 pounds now, I will have to double check in the morning (if I remember). I rarely remember to weigh myself now because I'm not concerned with weight loss, just with a healthy baby. My doctor (OB) does weigh me every week though. But that is in the afternoon after having eaten food and drank water and wearing clothes.
Hubby and I are both very excited about the baby!!!! We have a level II ultrasound next week so we may be able to find out if our baby is Mr. Gabriel or Ms. Rebekkah, either way we are looking forward to seeing the little one on the screen again, it has been a few weeks since we've peeked in on the little one with an ultrasound. We do have a rented fetal doppler so we can listen to the baby's heartbeat, which we do daily. I feel flutters alot now which is really cool and I think I felt the first kick the other day as we were listening to the baby, we heard movement and I felt something at the same time so I think it was a kick or a jab!!!!
Very cool and we are feeling very BLESSED! Thanks be to God!!!!
My 6th month post op blood work shows me as anemic, which is to be expected I guess with surgery so recent and being pregnant. I'm taking an iron supplement plus my prenatal vitamins.
Prayers and Love
July 2005
Hello everyone! Sorry I'm not updating as often as I should but I will try to get better at least until the baby arrives!!!! I don't think I have updated this part but we are having a baby boy!!!! Gabriel will be his name so he will have two middle names but that is ok, I do too! I am presently 26 weeks pregnant and we are really enjoying this whole adventure. He kicks me and jabs me a lot and I LOVE IT! I keep telling him to keep it up. I know that he loves my bladder as a trampoline and I told Hubby today that we are buying Gabe a trampoline when he is old enough for one!!!!
He has been growing just fine and I have only gained a net gain of 3 pounds for the whole pregnancy. I was at 253 when I found out I was pregnant and now I'm at 256. I had some losses in there, down to 251 and then back up, but the net gain is 3 pounds and I am now 5 months pregnant so I am definately not complainging LOL! Especially since he is growing according to the last two ultrasounds. And my tummy is getting bigger too LOL!!!!
I have some new pictures posted online at my yahoo album, the website is: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cherokee993/album?.dir=/5af4&.src=ph&.tok=phKskYDBntcdNJNa
So check them out when you get a chance, I will try to keep updating there!
As for my surgery results, I think things are still going along well. I am still anemic but that is to be expected being so early post op and being pregnant. I can eat pretty much anything with no adverse problems, I stop when I'm full (most of the time!) and I don't push it.
Good luck to everyone out there in any part of your journey!!!!
Open RNY 12/13/04
:love: Suprise! We are Pregnant! 26 weeks, Due 10/31/05! :love:
Baby Boy!!!!
Type I Diabetic x 16 years (since age 12)
Semester 3 of 6 - Nursing School!
August and September 2005 Updates!
Hi all, sorry I'm soooooooo bad at this! We are doing great! The baby's room is all ready for his arrival though I do still need to fold up and put away all of his blankets, I washed them all but haven't put them away yet.
We had a 3D ultrasound done last week at 32 weeks pregnant and it showed that Gabriel looks a lot like his Daddy!!!! Dave is of course super happy about that!!!! Also the ultrasound showed that he is approximately 5lb 5oz which means he is a big boy for his age! Docs don't seem to be worried about it and baby Gabe is doing very well on his weekly tests. We go to the OB 2 times a week for fetal NST monitoring and for ultrasound to check my amniotic fluid levels.
I've gained a total net of 8lbs as of last week when I checked. I go by my scale at home b/c I weigh nekkid and without food or drink in me - first thing in the morning!
I can still eat pretty much anything, just in small amounts. My pregnancy cravings are mostly ice cream, hershey's chocolate with almonds, potato chips and sweet pickles LOL!!!!
My Hubby is Awesome and has done such a great job on the baby's room! I love it and I love him for all that he has done!
October Update
Hi everyone! We're hanging in there at 36 weeks pregnant with Gabriel! He is moving around quite a bit these days especially with his favorite music (Metallica). He gets the hiccups at least 2-3 times per day which is wild!!!!
We are still doing good on the weight gain, my scale will probably show an 8lb gain since the last time it showed a 5lb gain and it has been a few weeks. My doctors scale usually shows about 10-12 lbs gained but then again I'm usually in there in the afternoon fully clothed after eating food and drinking water during the day. Whichever the case may be - the baby seems to be growing quite well so if I gain weight that is fine with me!
I'm on maternity leave as of 10/03/05 which was much needed, my body was getting tired even on a half day schedule at work. It's hard to get good sleep but I continue to practice LOL!!!! I Love being pregnant, in case I haven't said that recently!
Thanks be to God for working this miracle with us!
October and November Update
Baby Gabriel has arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was born on Monday, October 24th, 2005 at 11:52am via scheduled C-section. He weighed in at 11.4 lbs and measured at 21 and a 1/2 inches long!!!! Yep, he is a big boy!!!!
We are doing well and are enjoying life with him! Feel free to check out his photo's on our website link!
Amy
Wife to Awesome Hubby Dave
Mommy to Awesome Baby Gabe
309/243.5/150 (pre-op/now/goal)
March 2006
Hello everyone! Just wanted to give a quick update - Gabe is doing great! He is 4 months old and is weighing in at 20.8 lbs and measuring at 26.75 inches long! He is a dollbaby, a big one! His doctor says all is well and he is expected to be big since his Daddy is a nice tall man!
I returned to my job in December and gave my two and a half weeks notice so I could stay at home with Gabe while going to nursing school. I returned to nursing school in January so I am having a great time doing both! I just knew that I would not have any time with Gabe if I were working and going to school. So, we are sacrificing money but I feel that is much better to have time with our son rather than money in our pockets. As long as Gabe has what he needs we will take whatever time we can with him!
He is just a beautiful baby boy. He smiles a lot and laughs and really enjoys his goofy daddy! He likes to be held up high in the air, its realy funny to watch him laugh! We hold him above our heads (carefully of course!).
He enjoys bath time too and he has been laughing at the dog recently too!
Until next time,
Amy
Wife to Awesome Hubby Dave (12/06/97) :love:
Mommy to Awesome Baby Gabe (10/24/05) :love:
11 lbs 21 1/2 inches long at birth
309/278/234/150 (pre-op/delivery/now/goal)
Nursing School - Semester 4 of 6
July 2006
Ok everyone sorry that it has taken me such a long time to update. Lots of stuff has changed I guess!
In March my mother passed away at the young age of 53 years old. She had a year long battle with a very rare but aggressive form of cancer. Gastrointestinal stroma. If you hear of it, be sure to get treatment as soon as you can. She suffered a lot of pain and several surgeries but in the end infection and cancer ravaged her. The good thing is that we saw her two weeks prior (she was in a different state) and we were able to talk to her although I wish that I was there when she passed. She did something amazing though. She was on a vent and doing pretty badly and the docs gave her about 24 hours to live, she made the decision to be off life support and guess what? The next day she was awake and alert and talking and she even called me. We talked and I told her how much I loved her. She died the next day. I think that God gave her the strenght to say her goodbyes one last time.
I love my mom so very much and we didn't tell each other for a looooooong time but in the past year we have told each other and she has loved her grandson. I miss her dearly. I forget sometimes that she is gone and then something reminds me (we talked on the phone a lot but didnt' see each other much b/c we live in different states). And I think man, I miss her so much. I feel that she is watching over us though b/c sometimes Gabe will just laugh and look off in another direction and I think he sees his gramma! And his uncle (my Godbrother who passed away in 1998). Also his other gramma, my hubby's mom passed away in 1997 so Gabe has a lot of angels watching over him.
You may want an update on our wonderful son Gabe also! He is now 9 months old! He is weighing 28.5 pounds and measuring at 31 inches long! What a big boy! He takes after his daddy! He is wearing 18 months but mostly 24 month clothes LOL! That is my little champion! He has 6 teeth and I see two more trying to come in. He stands up great, pulls up, bounces, rolls, giggles, farts, burps LOL, claps his hands, dances around, snorts when he laughs, etc. He is adorable! I Love him dearly and thank God and my surgeon for the wonderful blessing of my son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm still in nursing school! I'm in my 5th of 6 semesters! I am hoping to go to Nurse Pracitioner's school once I get my RN License and then go on to be an OBGYN Nurse Pracitioner with speicality skills in Midwifery. Sorry for misspelling, I'm tired LOL!
