Nathalie R.
wow... it's been too long
Jul 13, 2013
Well well well where has time gone? It has been quite a while since I have updated about anything. First things first I hope that all of my friends are doing well.
Let's see where do I start... I got married in June 2010 and moved with my husband to Oklahoma in August of 2010. He got an amazing job opportunity and we had to go. Since then we have added to our family and had an amazing baby boy June 9, 2012!! I had a pretty good pregnancy but struggled with hypoglycemia. With the hypoglycemia I had to eat often and I ended up gaining 44lbs
. I was beyond upset about it but I gained weight so that my baby would be healthy.
Right now I am struggling to get back on track and to shed the last 20lbs of my pregnancy gain. It seems that I fell off my wagon when it was going downhill and I am running desperately trying to get back on it. It just seems to be just out of my reach. I am going to see a nutritionist and work out a plan to get me where I need to be, where I am comfortable in my own skin again. I started seeing a bypass doctor in oklahoma and he was not a good fit. He made me feel really bad about my gain and didn't seem to want help me with getting on track. He had some unreasonable things he wanted me to do and since I didn't do them I seemed to not be worth his time.
well other than that I am great, hoping to come back to California and enjoying being a mommy!
8 months out or maybe not
Oct 27, 2010
In other news I have officially started my medication for Multiple Sclerosis. I started Rebif today. It is a self injectable treatment done 3 times a week. I did the first shot today with much hesitation but got through it. I guess I was just nervous about what it was going to feel like. It was almost like getting a shot of heprin in the hospital. Not bad at all and I am pretty sure I can give myself the injections even though my husband said he would do it if I couldn't. I am happy to have started since I am still young and want to give myself every chance I can to be as healthy as possible. I just want to lead as normal of a life as possible. I did start a new medication called Provigil. It is to help with my chronic fatigue. So far so good... day 2 and once it kicks in I don't feel like I need to sleep all day.
Now for the other other news :) OKLAHOMA... what can I say about Oklahoma. Well for starters it isn't California or Nevada by any means. I would say that I don't hate it here but I don't exactly love it here either. It is a place so foreign I don't know what to do. I am slightly depressed because I am out here, no friends, no job, and am alone most of the day. I know my husband has to work but I get so down in the dumps without a job and seeing people that I dont know what to do. I haven't quite figured out if it is just depression or depression brought on my my MS. Either way I am coping the best I can. I have applied at a ton of places and hopefully I will get a job soon. I just need to keep busy. Well I should go for now but promise to keep you updated on any happenings in my life.
Much love to my OH Family!!
Updates and NSV's
Sep 01, 2010
As for the update...
I saw Dr. Taller on the 9th of August and he said that I am doing well. He also cleared me to move to Oklahoma to be with my husband. He said that I am looking well, eating well, and losing well. Also just to find a doctor out here to follow me and if I ever need him to just call or email. So with that said we moved to Oklahoma. It was a long 2 1/2 day drive in a uhaul with 3 dogs. Luckily we have 3 small dogs or it would have been worse.
As for a weight update as of this morning I am 195 and wearing an XL shirt or a misses XL shirt and size 18 jeans. The jeans are too big but the 16's are just a tad too small. So what does that mean...
It means that I MADE IT TO ONDERLAND!!! I am so excited. I havent weight this for as long as I can remember... Probably sometime in middle school so... like 12-13 years. Some other NSV's are that I went up a flight of stairs and wasnt tired, fit in my boyfriends 73' camaro seatbelt with extra room, have tons of room in booths when we go out to eat, and can keep up with my boyfriend when we are out and about :)
Well that is all for now. If anyone has any questions feel free to email me or find me on facebook :)
*hugs*
Nathalie
Happy updates
Jul 29, 2010
I suppose I should give an update since I haven’t given one in a while. So my last updated ended with me having had 9 endoscopies. Well after that blog I had 2 more for a grand total of 11 endoscopies. They were able to dilate me to 16 and it seems to be working well for me. I have been practically worry free since May 28th(my last endoscopy). I am still on the nausea meds but other than that I am doing well. I am able to eat and drink and have started to exercise. I have started losing weight again since I was in a big stall after leaving the hospital. I am trying to eat my meals and get in all of my protein but the eating part is still hard for me. I get in my recommended daily protein but eating is still that challenge. I am still not hungry and don’t have a great sense of full yet, so it is hard for me to want to eat.
On another note I am much better emotionally about all of this. I know that Dr. Taller will be there for me when I need him and I trust him 100%. My first few months were definitely rough and I would never wish them upon anyone but I would do this surgery again in a heartbeat. I trusted my doctor with my life and I trusted him that it would get better… and it did.
And on a happy note my boyfriend of 5 years and I got married. So I am officially a married woman and couldn’t be happier. And on top of that he got an amazing job so he moved to Oklahoma for it and I am going to be going there on the 14th. We will be in Oklahoma City and I cant wait to have new adventures in a new place with him.
I will try to keep this updated more especially since I am doing well now. If you ever have any questions feel free to send me a PM.
**Hugs to all**
Nathalie
This sucks...
May 13, 2010
So I had RNY surgery on Feb 9, 2010. My first 2 1/2- 3 weeks I was good. I was on a liquid diet. No problems at all. As soon as I started to eat soft foods that is where my trouble began. By Feb 27th i was throwing up everything and by the 28th I could not keep water down. I was re-hospitalized on the 28th until March 5th at Scripps Mercy (where my surgery was done). While I was there I had an endoscopy and found to have a pinpoint stricture. Once I was released on the 5th I ended back in the hospital (Scripps mercy) on the 8th until the 16th... once again I had another stricture. Once home I had an outpatient endoscopy done at Kaiser on the 22nd and was readmitted to the hospital (kaiser) on the 25th, dilated again for the 4th time. I was released on the 30th and was once again admitted on the 2nd to kaiser. I was dilated again so that makes the 5th time... I was at kaiser from the 2nd until the 13th. At this point they refused to dilate me anymore since I was told by the GI docs that if it hadnt worked by the 5th time it wasnt going to work. They were going to send me home on IV nutrition until I could eat or drink. Only problem is they wouldn't dilate me again so that I could eat or drink. So I threw a fit and demanded that they send me to my original surgeon. So once released on the 13th my boyfriend drove me down to San Diego to Scripps Mercy to see my surgeon. He admitted me to the hospital and had me dilated again on the 14th (6th time). I was then dilated again on the 22nd (7th), 29th(8th), and 3rd (9th). I also had my gallbladder removed on the 26th due to developing gallstones in 2 months after surgery. I was released from the hospital on the 5th of May.
So as of now I am at home and driving myself nuts. I am so anxious about my stomach closing with a stricture again that I dont know what to do. My surgeon is great and has talked to me quite a bit since i got home to reassure me and try to help me through this process. I am on an anti anxiety med as of yesterday and it has helped a little. I just dont know what to do. My options if it closes off again are another endoscopy (hope 10th times the charm) or to have a revision. At this point it is my decision on what I want to do. My surgeon said if I am done he will do surgery. It is just up to me. For the most part right now physically I am doing pretty good. Emotionally I am a wreck. I just dont know how much longer I can do this. I am just so done. I cant help but think of the what ifs... I know everyone tells me to just relax and not think of it but being at home alone (boyfriend is at work, but took off Friday and Monday to be with me, he has weekends off) I have nothing better to do than to think of it. The anxiety med has helped me to calm down a little bit and I haven't been crying as much so I guess thats a plus.
I know it may sound silly but I am scared out of my mind with this whole process. I am trying to adjust to being home after a month of hospitalization. It is just so overwhelming and I really dont know how much more of this I can take. I dont regret my surgery... yet, I just wish this hadn't happened to me.
*added stuff* I guess that I have been thinking about this and I am just mad. I am mad that this complication happened to me, I am mad that I have been in the hospital for practically the last 2 months, and I am mad that all of the people who had surgery around the same time as me have been fine. Not that I would wish this upon anyone... since this is a living nightmare. I am so so so very frusterated. I am so done with this whole process. I am happy with the weight loss that I have had I just wish that my road to this loss hadn't been so rough. My surgeon is great, I have talked to him on the phone numerous times and even through emails. It is just emotionally I cant keep on going. I feel like lying down and giving up. I know that I cant but that is how I feel. I just cant help it.
Anywho thanks for reading and letting me vent.
A rough 5 weeks so far...
Mar 18, 2010
Also thank you all for the support you have given me. Without you all in my corner cheering me on I may not be as strong as I am today :)
8 days post op :)
Feb 17, 2010
As most of you know I had surgery on the 9th of this month. I am doing great so far. I just have some mild pain at the incision sites but nothing to do anything about. I am getting in all of my liquids now and all of my protein.
I went to the doctor today and he said that I am doing great. I have lost 15 lbs so far and I couldn't be more excited. He said if I keep following the rules that I should be at goal within a year. I go back to see him on March 17 and then I should go back to work on the 25th. I am taking 6 weeks since I am required to do heavy lifting and my job doesn't really do light duty. Anywho I just wanted to leave a little update.
*hugs*
Nathalie
A long update
Feb 08, 2010
Hey everyone…
I just saw how long it was since I updated this… I guess I have been a little busy. The last few months have been trying for me emotionally and physically. I would like to say thank you to everyone that has been there for me. Without you I would not be the strong person I am today. These are just a few updates that I wanted to share.
In November I had this insane migraine which ended with a lot of right eye pain and eventually blindness in my right eye. I went to the Ophthalmologist and she said that I had Optic Neuritis. I went through a battery of tests with the final outcome being Multiple Sclerosis.
On a happier note all of my classes and waiting have paid off. I have a surgery date for my Gastric Bypass of Feb 9th. I go in for my Pre-op appointment on the 8th. I have complete confidence in Dr. Taller and he feels as though I am a great candidate. It is nice to be put at ease since he is cutting me open and rerouting my insides. I think I am pretty ready but no one can ever be all the way ready. I have all of my supplies and plan on getting a bit more before surgery day. So far I have been approved for 4 weeks off by work but will probably take 6. I am required at times to be able to lift heavy objects and with surgery I can’t life anything over 15 lbs until 6 weeks out. I will make sure that I call or text people to put out the word that I am ok. I should be in the hospital for 3 days but as we all know things can shift so I will post as soon as I am out and home so you all know.
I am determined to have a great 2010. Wish me luck everyone!!! **HUGS** Thank you again for all of the love, support and prayers. I really appreciate it.
So it's been a while...
Aug 22, 2009
On another note I have lost 4 lbs so far... slow but good for me. I can't jump into a diet hardcore or I am destined to fail. I have to gradually make changes and eat better. I eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, I get about 100 oz of water in, cut out coffee completely, cut out soda, and no more caffeine for me :) I am also logging all of the food I eat. This is really hard for me since I am not really good at it. I also have to increase my exercise. I try to walk for 30 minutes straight but my hips hurt so bad the next day that it makes me not want to. Kaiser has a chair dancing video that I might look into. Exercise while sitting down :)
Well that is my update for now. I will try to update more often.
Bariatric program update and *New* health problems
Mar 06, 2009
After I went to the doctor I got referred to the bariatric program. I then received a questionnaire regarding past attempts, my childhood, my adult life, and many other things. I filled it out without haste. I called the number and set up an appointment for the bariatric orientation. Woo hoo a step in the right direction. I went to the orientation and they all seemed really proactive. Good news is that the 24 week program is being reduced to 20 weeks.
On the other hand there is about a 2 month wait to get into classes 
. I just look at is god has a plan for me and it involves waiting to get surgery done and once it is done everything will be phenomenal. So now the first of many waiting games begins. I am just glad the ball is rolling. On a side note over the past month I have been breaking out in hives almost daily. If not hives just being really really itchy. I finally figured it out, why I was breaking out in hives. It was ....STRESS. I have a very high stress job and the people I work with are like kindergartners. They stress me out to no end. I was talking about some of the BS that was going on and broke out into hives.
that was my link I was looking for. So now at least if I feel stress coming on I can walk away and do some deep breathing and ward off the hives. (at least I am not crazy)The other health issue I have been facing is what my doctor is calling Restrictive Lung Disease. Basically I went to the doctor with a complaint of waking up with the feeling that a pillow had been on my face all night. I would then have to take several deep breaths to "open" my lungs. I felt like the were all closed up. If I didn't do the deep breathing then I would usually wake up coughing. So I have been referred to have a pulmonary function test. I hope it all goes well and the Restrictive Lung Disease sounds worse than it is. I am too young to have any lung disease.
He also mentioned that after I have the surgery that it would help this condition. He was also kinda bummed that it will take me so long to get into the classes. I am so happy that I have a proactive doctor for once in my life. He really seems to listen to me. Thank God!!Well that is enough for now and I will update soon.
Hugs to all of my OH family. Thank you for all of the ongoing support.
Nathalie
