By: Nanette Zora

Nanette Zora — Fri, 27 Feb 2004 22:02:37 +0000

Unfortunately, yes. Doctors, while discussing not getting pregnant the
first year post-op, tend to downplay it until it happens. The main reason
is so many things are happening, it is hard to remember to focus on
something that seems relatively easy to think of yourself. BUT, I know
that docs forget that some women have been infertile or doing infertility
treatments sometimes for a decade and that as soon as ovulation resumes
post-op, their first instinct is to get pregnant because it seems like the
time might slip away again.
Women’s fertility returns with a vengeance post-op. The incredibly fast
weight loss floods the system with estrogen… something that has been
stored in the fat cells for years and years. Women, like myself, who had a
couple periods a *year*, suddenly have normal, regular periods, sometimes
for the first time in their lives. Women who swear they are infertile
because of exorbitantly expensive fertility testing that proved they didn’t
ovulate, amazingly get pregnant right out of the immediate post-op gate;

they were infertile MO, but will not be infertile without PCOS, diabetes,
or their mountain of fat.
I think it is *imperative* of surgeons and psych consult therapists/docs to
implore women to use really reliable birth control for at least the first
year post-op… longer if possible. The body goes through so many
changes… ketosis, healing of the body, the organs, the intestines, the
old stomach, the new pouch, losing tons of weight, adjusting to tiny
amounts of food, trying to figure out a new metabolism, adjusting to a new
elimination system, trying to keep enough fluids in the system, and a
plethora of other aspects we are either not aware of or have no concept
of. And all of this is the physical… the emotional aspects are just as
dramatic.
Pregnancy brings on its own set of physical and psychological
changes. Combining the two (post-op healing and a growing pregnancy) can
wreak some whopping havoc on the body and mind. Not impossible, of
course, but something to be hyper aware of if you find yourself in that
position.
Barbara Herrera
San Diego, CA - 41 years old
Open RNY April 5, 2001
Dr. Julie Ellner, Alvarado Hospital, San Diego, CA
04/05/01: 344# / BMI: 63/ Body Fat%: 75%
04/05/02: 172# / BMI: 31.6/ Body Fat%: 28%
04/16/02: 165#/ BMI: 30.2
One Year Re-Birth Day: healed of ALL co-morbs, mobile beyond every
expectation, every pre-op dream surpassed a million-fold, and smaller than
any memory.

By: adrian_17

adrian_17 — Thu, 26 Feb 2004 03:07:21 +0000

In a message dated 5/16/02 9:04:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
msgardenia@… writes:
Is pregnancy so early out that common?? I want to wish you luck, and keep
you in my prayers. I have no advice…But I can only imagine how you must
feel right now. Let us all know what happens, and again…Good Luck.
Sincerely.
})i({August St. Amand- Maine})i({
Lap RNY Oct. 15, 2001 -158
Dr. PA Aslam- Augusta Maine

Comments on: Pregnant

By: Nanette Zora

By: adrian_17