Renee Evans
Me & Emily 5/2007. Me & Katelyn 6/2007
July 18th, 2005
Hello. I am going to start my journey to surgery before & after (when the time comes).
I am 31 years old with 2 little girls. Katelyn will be 3 yrs old and Emily will be 2 years (such little bundles of joy!!!). I have been with my husband Scott for 12 years total and we have been married for 8 1/2 of those years. I work for the State of NJ.
I started having a weight problem when I was 18. I felt comfortable in my relationship with Scott and I didn't have to worry about my appearance to please him. I knew that we would be married at some point in my life.
After we were married in 1997, about a year later we wanted to add to our family. Unknown to me, my weight had made me infertile. I had irregular monthly cycles & sometimes wouldn't even have a cycle. Starting in 1998, for 4 years I went to an infertility specialist and had all kinds of tests preformed. Everything would come back fine. Then I started a diet and lost 45 pds., stopped going to the specialists (4 years was long enough), monthly cycles were normal and got pregnant on our own!
I had Katelyn on September 13th 2002. I did not gain a lot of weight carrying her. The weight I did gain was all baby because she was pretty big. After my 1st pregnancy I maintained my weight and when Katelyn was 6mth old, I became pregnant with Emily. Emily was born on November 18, 2003 1 mth early. Great pregnancies for both! After Emily, I started packing on my weight again and regained everything I lost and a little more. I am now infertile again at 266 pounds.
I have thought about having surgery for about a year now. It is a major life style change. I know I can handle the change and will be very happy with the outcome. I want to make sure I am healthy for myself, my kids & my husband. My sister in law had this type of surgery done with another group and I still can't believe how much this surgery has changed her life. My mom had this surgery done with the group I chose to use, and her life is just incredible now too. Such amazing changes. They are both full of energy and look great!
I am tired of buying clothes in the plus size section! Tired of my back, feet and knee hurting. I am just plain flat out tired of being overweight. If I don't do something know, the weight will eventually take a toll on my health.
I have already started getting prepared for surgery. I went to a seminar that Dr. Onopchenko. At this point, I already knew I was ready for this type of change. The seminar Dr. Onopchenko gave was very informative. He did not speak in the so called "doctor language" that some people may not understand. He was very strait forward and honest about the good and bad outcomes of the surgeries. Dr. Onopchenko did not concentrate on one type of surgery (like other groups do). He recommends what type of surgery is best for your life style. I was impressed.
I made my appointment to see Dr. O for my first office visit. This was on April 15th 2005. Everything went good. Office staff is very nice and Dr. O didn't make you feel uncomfortable at all. He answered all my questions. I then received my packet of information for tests and classes that need to be done prior to his office requesting approval from my insurance company to have the surgery done.
As of today, I have had: Upper Endoscopy, Sleep Study, X-ray of chest, Pulmonary Function Test, Blood Gas Count, Ultra Sound of my legs (due to varicos veins), Attended 1 support meeting, 2 Nutrition Classes (not too happy with the staff), Psychological Evaluation, Ultrasound of gallbladder & everything else inside.
I still have to complete: gyn exam, blood work, gastric emptying scan, 5 more nutrition classes and 1 more support group session. I should be done everything the 1st week of August 2005.
As the days go by, I keep thinking about having this surgery done and hoping everything will turn out OK! I will type at another time!
August 30, 2005
I haven't typed in awhile because I have been busy with appointments, work and tending to my 2 beautiful little girls!
Well, I have completed all of my pre-testing requirements for surgery. I just received a phone call today from Dr. Onopchenko's office and my surgery is scheduled for September 13th 2005. I was alittle upset with this date...only because it's my daughter Katelyn's 3rd birthday. I am alittle hesitant to keep this date! Guess I can look at it this way...Katelyn will be my little guardian angel that day!!!
This is the toughest part for me. I have Katelyn who will be 3 and Emily who will be 2 in November. I am not scared to have this surgery done because its going to be a great tool for me to utilize in losing the weight and keeping it off (finally). I am just scared to be put to sleep. I know the morning I am leaving the girls, its going to be the hardest thing I ever had to do.
I am going to type later. I have some things I need to tend to right now.
September 6, 2005
7 more days until my surgery! I just want to get it over with so I don't have to worry about being put to sleep. I have been doing really well the past couple of days (not thinking about it). I had my pre-admission testing this past Friday. The nurses I met at the Atlantic City hospital were very nice & informative. I also met the Anestheoligist. He explained what he will do with me the day of my surgery. I have my boot camp this Thursday. Then I have my final office visit with Dr. Onopchenko on Friday. Looks like everything is moving along. My insurance company, which is NJ Plus, BCBS approved me very quick which was nice.
Thanks to everyone who has written to me wishing me luck with my surgery. That was very nice of everyone. It helps reading the nice posts.
I will type more later.
Alex (LOL)
September 9, 2005
I had my last office visit today with Dr. O. Everything went well and we have decided to put my surgery off for about a month. While having all of our pre-tests done, the GI doctor found that I had a very small problem digesting my food. So just to be on the safe side, Dr. O wants me to start taking my Reglan to help digest my food fully and have a gastric empyting scan done again to see if the problem will improve. I would rather be safe than sorry. Im thinking that if the scan doesn't improve, I may not be able to have the gastric bypass surgery done. The whole reason to have the bypass surgery done is to be healthy. I have to correct one problem at a time. Well, thats my entry for today. Type more another time.
September 13, 2005
Today is my daughter Katelyn's birthday! Just wanted to wish her a very Happy 3rd Birthday!
September 15, 2005
My original surgery date was scheduled for September 13th and was cancelled. I have to undergo a repeat test of my gastric emptying scan just to make sure I am digesting my food correctly now. Test is scheduled. Then I received a phone call the other day and my surgeon would like for me to have a Esophageal Manometry which is a test to see how I swallow. Im not sure quit yet as to why my surgeon is checking this. But, the test won't hurt, so I don't mind. Give me all the tests you want, the more the better I guess!!! My new surgery date is now scheduled for October 5th.
Kisses I am feeling a lot better about this date rather than the date I had before. Plus, I think if I didn't have to have a new test and a repeat of the gastric test, surgery would of been cancelled regardless because I got sick. I had a cold, fever and headaches like you wouldn't believe. So, the 13th just wasn't going to happen for me.
I am actually getting a little excited about getting the surgery done. I still have to keep it in the back of my mind that it could be cancelled again based on my results of the 2 tests above. And if I am unable to have surgery, that will be fine for me too. I would just have to really, really, really get on a diet and stick to it no matter what if this happens.
Well, I will type later. Im going to go and read some of the wonderful posts on here. I really enjoy reading them. You get a lot of ideas and answers! Bye for now.
September 27, 2005
Hi everyone. I went for my repeat gastric emptying scan and all is well with that! My food digested. That was great news to hear. I am starting to get more excited about having surgery now. It's only 8 days away and boy will the time fly by! I have to have one more test on Sept. 29th 2005 and I hope this will turn out good too. I started selling some of my clothes that I know I will not fit in come next summer. Its exciting. I don't feel that my surgery will be cancelled this time and I just wish the day would get here so I don't get anxious and start thinking about bad things! Its all normal though when you have mixed feelings. I think everyone goes through this. Well, Im going to type another time.
September 29, 2005
I had my Esophagel Manometry test today which is a test where the doctor inserts a very thin tube through your nose and puts it down your throat to check swallowing. Then once this tube is in the correct place, you have to drink water as the doctor takes pictures of your esophagus. It was not painful at all. It just felt weird having something shoved in your nose!!! From what the doctor could see, everything was normal. My surgeon just wanted me to have this extra test prior to surgery because no one could figure out why I wasn't digesting my food correctly prior to this.
Well....6 more days until surgery. My mom talked me into getting a pedicure with her tonight. That was very relaxing. I wanted to do something relaxing before my surgery and that seemed to be the ticket. It was fun even though I never wanted to go before. Now I think Im going to be hooked on this. I do get my nails done, but I my as well add this too. Feet and hands should look pretty!!! Hopefully the next time I go, I will be alot lighter!!!
October 4, 2005
Hi everyone! Tomorrow is my surgery and so far I am doing good. I had to take a "happy pill" yesterday and today. Guess they are working pretty good because Im not upset about anything!!! Im in the process of drinking this "crap" that will clean me out for surgery. And when I say "crap" I really mean it. It's not good at all. I just would like for the surgery to be done and over with so that I can rest better. I am nervous because this is a big change for me. But it will all be worth it in the end. I will be able to physically do more & not be tired.
My 2 little girls will be staying over my inlaws house the day of my surgery. They are excited about going to mom-mom and pop-pops. They have alot to do this week while I will be in the hospital. It will keep their minds off of me a bit. Friday when I am out of the hospital, I will stay over my parents house and Katie and Emily will come and visit. Daddy will have to take them to the babysitter in the mornings while I am away. This should be intresting because I am the one who always take the kids to the sitter. I don't think he will have any probems though, as long as he listens.
Today was my last day of work. I got done at noon & took a ride over to my other work location to tell my co-workers I will talk to them on Friday. Everyone has been really great about me getting this surgery. It is a personal decision I chose to do to help my health.
I will type more when I get out of the hospital. I have to start packing my bag & getting things together for when Im home.
Talk to everyone soon!!!
Renee
Me @ 266lbs w/my brother Jason
November 18, 2005
Today is my daughter Emily's birthday! HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY SWEETIE !!!
February 28, 2006
It's been almost 5 months since my surgery. I have lost 79 pounds now. I had a very BAD recovery. The bypass itself was a success! No problems there. I came out of surgery around 2pm on the 5th of October. At 4pm, I was in the recovery room. I remember (even though I was still out of it) complaining of such pains.
The nurses at the hospital I was at kept saying it was just gas pains and it will go away. Well....the pain NEVER went away. To make a LONG story short, I developed a bleed in my abdominal wall right out of surgery.
The little pouch bag that you have for stomach fluids to go in (after surgery), kept filling up with blood (this point no one realized I was bleeding internally). It wasn't just a little bit of blood. The bag kept filling up every 40 minutes. A few times the nurses even had to change my gown because the bag overfilled w/blood. At this point, I guess the nurses were not smart enough to realize there was a problem.
It finally was around 11pm and the nurse for 3rd shift finally knew something was wrong with me because she had changed my bag 3-4 times since starting her shift. She actually was dumping my bag every half hour now. Thats how much I was bleeding.
The nurses and assistants tried getting me out of bed at this point, but I was so out of it, I couldnt even really keep my head up. She FINALLY called my surgeon. This was around 12am. My vitals were soooo low it was unreal! My surgeon got to the hospital around 1 am and started pumping me with fluids thru the IV. As soon as he started this, I said...Oh my god, I feel better.
Then of course I had to have a central line put in my neck. Which I dont even remember feeling that being put in. I had to have 3 blood transfusions because by 1 am that night, I had lost half of my bodys blood and was knocking on a door I didnt want to be knocking at! Im just glad the nurse on 3rd shift didn't let me bleed to death like the other nurses were!
I was then put in the ICU for 4 days and then back into a regular room for the remainder 4 days in the hospital. It was such a horrible experience. I was so misreable it wasn't even funny! The pain was just unreal.
If I didn't have this bleed that started, I would of never known I had the surgery done! I just was a "lucky" one who was going to have a major problem after surgery.
On the day I was finally leaving the hospital, I actually gained 10 pounds due to all of the blood inside me & all of the fluids that were pumped into me during my stay. That was the funny part about this whole ordeal! Go in to have a weight loss surgery, and gain 10 more pounds!!!
I did get depressed for about 2 months post op. It was tuff on me because I was away from my 2 little girls and almost died! Finally having reality smack you in the face is what got me depressed!
If I didn't have such a wonderful surgeon, I don't think Id be here today! I wasn't even a bit worried while being treated in the hospital by him. I knew he was doing everything he could to help me survive!
Now this brings me to today, February 28th 2006. I am went from a 22 jean size and a 22/24 top or XXL, down to a 12 jean size and XL or Large tops. Its such a wonderful feeling! Its a little strange though, I still see myself fat in the mirror, but...looking at pictures of myself I cant believe I am this thin now.
I am happy I had the surgery now and I will continue to be even more happier as the rest of the weight comes off! I haven't been in a size 12 in YEARS!!!!
Will type later!!!
May 27, 2006
I finally reached my 100 pound loss! Went from 266 to 165!!! This is what I look like now.
June 2007
August 7, 2006
Wow...it has been 10 months since having my surgery. I have lost a total of 118 pounds. 10 of those pounds I lost is what I gained while staying in the hospital extra days after surgery (yes I gained 10 pds in the hospital)(Not too many people can say they have)(LOL). I am feeling GREAT though!
It is just so amazing the changes I have went through since October. My confidence, energy & appearance are just insane. I am much happier now with myself and I can do more with my kids because I am not tired.
I can not express enough to everyone how much you will change whether you want to or not. The amount of attention you seem to find after losing weight can get out of hand at times. So be prepared!!!
September 2006
October 31st 2006
Happy Halloween!!!
November 2006
December 2006
Merry Christmas!!!
January 2007
Happy New Year!!!
Guess I will make my announcement. I am pregnant with twins! I am coming up on 2 months now and have had a few scans with a specialist! Everything is going good! No morning sickness, no weight gain. Nothing!!! This pregnancy will be baby's number 3 and 4 for me! Cant wait to find out what they are!!!
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
My weight has been very good so far with my pregnancy! I havent gained hardly any weight. Babies are doing great & are on target with their sizes and measurements. I found out that we are having 2 more girls!!! LOL... poor hubby!!! He is really doomed. I have not had cravings nor have I been eating junk food. I think a big reason women with or without the surgery gain a lot of weight during pregnancy is because of the junk they consume. I make sure I am eating my protein first as usual. Then if I do want some type of junk, I only eat a little bit and not everyday!
May 2007
June 2007
I am up to 172 now with my twin pregnancy. I am not doing bad at all. Its all baby weight. One baby is already 4 lbs and the other is 3lbs 3 oz. Good sizes for only being 7 mths pregnant. I actually am still wearing size small maternity jeans/pants and size medium tops. Anything else is too big. I was put out of work early due to extreme leg edema, cramps and a few other minor things. Mainly because of my leg. The swelling will not go down! The doctors want me to rest until the end now.
July 2007
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!
August 2007
THE TWINS SHOULD BE HERE ANY DAY!!!
