Category Gastric Bypass Journey

When I was in my 6 months of preparing for Gastric Bypass there was one thing I never thought about…having extra skin after I lost weight. I was more concerned about being healthy…even though I love being thin and show it off in cute clothes, I did this surgery 100% to be healthy for my family, wearing cute clothes is just a perk! Anyway, the truth is I knew I was going to have extra skin, but I would much rather be around for my family, run with my kids, and see my grand kids one day then sit there and dwell on having saggy skin. Well, I am now down to 135lbs…yes I said it…135lbs! I have lost a total of 154lbs...

I have been writing a lot of about my gastric bypass journey and how I had to do things before and after surgery. I wanted to post this with my lowest weight before I started gaining a little back with this pregnancy…I know once I start gaining I am not going to want to write about how proud I am of myself and I am 100% not going to want to see the picture of me in a Tankini since I am going to have a bump…! haha.

I have lost a total of 130lbs due to Gastric Bypass Surgery, and a lot of hard work. I do not liking giving my whole thanks to the surgery, because the surgery is just a tool….you can misuse the tool and gain weight and not use the tool correctly. It takes a lot of hard work and determination to use your tool correctly and get the results that you personally want...

All I want to do is be able to eat one meal without feeling sick. Seriously, I just want to be able to eat one meal period. I am having the hardest time with this pregnancy and getting in food and most importantly…calories. Normal people are like “aww poor thing needs to eat all day” but if you try to eat all day with a stomach the size of your thumb and whatever you eat throwing your sugar levels off enough to make you sick…it is impossible.

So, I am sitting here almost 17 weeks pregnant and I got in maybe 650 calories so far today, and it is 8:30pm. I bought my favorite Phad Thai for dinner…it smells soo good, I literally eat 2 bites feel full/sick have to wait 1/2 hour until that passes, eat 2 more bites and wait… do you know how hard that is? I just want to eat...

Before I got pregnant I read a lot of about women getting pregnant after gastric bypass. My doctor does not recommend it until 18 months post op, at least. Do I trust him? Completely. Did I completely listen…almost. I figured a few months off wouldn’t hurt since I am very strict with my diet and exercise and I felt comfortable with my decision. I have read that women have gotten pregnant a few months post op, even a year post op and I always looked at them as irresponsible, not just to themselves but to the baby. I mean, I did this surgery to get healthy, and honestly at the time of surgery my husband and I did not want more kids.

What changed my mind about wanting kids? I was over a year post op and down to almost my goal weight...

Before Gastric Bypass the normal person takes a daily multivitamin a day…if that right? After surgery I was prepared for the daily vitamin intake, but nothing prepares you for having a stomach of 4 oz’s and trying to get in all your water, and vitamins….the vitamins were the only solid food that I looked forward to daily. After surgery you need to take the chewable, or ones that dissolve in your mouth as you sit there. They are big and do not taste good, and after surgery your tastes are already mixed up from only having liquids it gets upsetting. Would I cry when my son was napping? YES. Did I regret anything? NO. It was more being upset and ashamed that I couldn’t get in the vitamins that I know and prepared myself for that are so important...

….My surgery went perfect! I was up and walking the same day. I had to stay in the hospital over night for 2 nights. Some people can go home the next day to my understanding, but for me I was on Lovenox Injections once a day for a few weeks after because I have issues with blood clots (not surgery related) and they had to watch me for an extra night. It was not needed, totally precaution…but my surgeon is awesome like that and takes no short turns when it comes to his patients. (Seriously have so much respect for him, again, I say he saved my life)

For the first 2 weeks after surgery you are not aloud any solid foods…only clear…and have to be sugar free. Might sound like you can make a lot out of that, believe me you cannot…...

On November 1, 2010 I had Gastric Bypass Surgery. The morning of surgery I weighed in at 289lbs. I didn’t just make the decision to get the surgery lightly, and I didn’t get it just to be thin. It started about a year before my surgery date. I went to my primary care doctor for a check up and he informed me that I needed to either lose weight to get my blood pressure under control or I needed to start medication for it. I refused to start medication, it scared me that I would need to depend on a medication that would regulate something to do with my heart. I mean I was 26 years old! I decided I would lose weight….even though I have fought with my weight all my life I was more determined now then ever. Well, from that date on I realized how my body didn’t want to lose weight…...