Kelsey Marie

Okay, so some basic information up front. I'm 24 I started taking Seasonique birth control the October after I turned 18. I've always been very regimented about taking it, only missing about 5 pills in all that time. I haven't had sex since March. Before I had the RNY, both a urine and blood test confirmed I wasn't pregnant. So okay, with Seasonique, you get your period once every 3 months. I started my current pack in the beginning of August, so I should have my scheduled period at the end of October. That's how it's always worked for me. And they are always short, light, simple periods that last 3-5 days. I had my surgery on August 27. Two weeks after that, I got a period. At no time did I miss any of my pills. My surgeon said that my surgery was late enough in the day that I could take the morning of the 27th and it was small enough that I could resume taking it the next day. The period lasted a whole 7 days; it was bloody, like a scene out of Carrie, I was an emotional wreck, and the cramps! I thought the cramps were going to kill me. I talked to my mom and a friend who's a nurse, and we all agreed that since I just had a huge surgery, it messed with my hormones, overrode the birth control and caused the period. I could live with that. Then, another 2 weeks passed (this is the time of the month I would get a period if I wasn't on birth control; in the past, I have spotted during this time for a few days, which is totally normal). I got another Carrie-worthy period, well, still am. I just started my last month of birth control, which I'm hoping will end it. But I also know that it means that in two weeks (if everything goes as it normally would), I'm going to be an emotional wreck with horrible cramps. I don't know what the period will act like. I'm just wondering if any other women had anything similar after their surgeries? I'm not going to lie, part of the appeal of the Seasonique is so I don't have to buy tampons every month.

Well my boss is very sympathetic to my multi-periods and gave me the name of her gyno, who was a guy, but there is a female in the practice also and I can get in to see her at the end of October. So I have a little bit of a wait, but at least I know I'm not alone in this and it gives me some time to do some research into other forms of birth control.

@@gpmed Did your gyno say like they are never ever recommended, or just for a little while after?

@@gpmed My gyno moved earlier this year, so she set me up with my last prescription of the the birth control and that was the last time I saw her, and it was before I went in to see the surgeon to start the RNY, or any WLS, process. And until this, it hadn't been on the top of my list to find a new one. I'm not so much concerned about pregnancy, you have to have sex to get pregnant. But I do worry that I'm habitually taking a pill that's not working. Although something that lasts for 3 years worries me as well. I don't plan on having kids in the next 3 years, but what if I change my mind? That's always been my worry with implants, I can't just stop it at the end of a pack. But that's a whole different thing!

@@leanne1126 I feel better knowing that I'm not alone. I've thought about going to my Gyno, but I have to find a new one because the one I was using moved, so it's an extra hassle. I'm tired of getting my period. Thank you for letting me know I'm not alone.

Waistline: 38.5" Weight: 224.2 lbs. Bust:45.25" Hips: 47.5 Neck: 15" Wrist: 7" Bicep: 15" Forearm: 11.5" Thigh: 28.75" Calf: 17.75" Weight Lost: 40.8 lbs Total Inches Loss: -21" BMI Reduced: -4.7

So this morning I was looking in my closet trying to figure out what to wear to work when I saw "the dress." I bought "the dress" back in March for my birthday from Old Navy (I bought it online). When it came in, it didn't fit. Not, just barely didn't fit, but like really didn't fit. I had to un-button all the buttons to get it over my head, the elastic band around the middle was stretched out all the way, and then I could only re-button about 2 of the buttons and they weren't attractively buttoned either; don't even get me started on how the sleeves fit. I never returned it, it just sat in a bag at the back of the closet (eventually I hung it up). Well, this morning, I saw it hanging there, and there weren't any other clothes that I really wanted to wear this morning, and so I thought I would just see how it's fitting, knowing that I had other dresses I could quickly put on when it didn't fit. I undid all the buttons, stretched out the band as far as it would go, pulled it over my head, and began to button. Then I realized that it fit. The waist was cinched. The buttons buttoned. The sleeves were loose. The chest of the dress was loose. I began to tear up. I ran to the mirror to see what it looked liked and it looked great! I couldn't believe it. I know I had the surgery to better my life, but this part is definitely nice too.

So Thursday marks my 4 week mark since my surgery. It's been a crazy ride so far! Here are my current measurements. Waistline: 38.5" Weight: 227.3 lbs Bust: 45.5" Hips: 48" Neck: 15" Wrist: 7" Bicep: 15" Forearm: 11.5" Thigh: 29.25" Calf: 18" Weight Lost: -37 lbs Total Inches Lost: -19.25" BMI Reduced: -4.2 I love watching the inches fall off as much as the weight. It really is wonderful! My waist hasn't looked like this in years!

So today was Day 12 of waiting, I couldn't take it any longer, so I called Aetna and I spoke with the sweetest woman in the world (and yes, she would have been the sweetest regardless of the outcome). I had to wait on hold for about 5 minutes while she looked up the information, but finally she told me that I had been approved to have the surgery! Tears started pouring. I asked her to confirm it, and she said yes again. I told her that she had just given me the best news in the world and that if I could, I would hug her. I've reached out to my coordinator at the office and he said the scheduler will be reaching out to me soon to schedule my Pre-Op and Surgery. It's all happening!

@ I didn't have to see an exercise specialist or submit proof of prior tries. I know that the first time I spoke with my nutritionist, we went over everything I tried. I also went over that stuff with my surgeon and the psychologist. The one thing I did have to submit was my weight from the last 3 (?) years, which I received from my doctor and submitted to the coordinator. Usually the surgeons office is able to get it from your GP but my GP was moving offices at the time so it was difficult for them to get the documents they needed, so I just went and got them.

@@leanne1126 Yes! I am so grateful for their Long pants, and my mom is grateful for their Short pants. Not everyone is the same height and has the same inseam.

@ Thank you!!! I really appreciate it!

I was (still do) have the pain. My surgeon couldn't come up with a reason why, but he prescribed me a mild muscle relaxer (Flexerill, but I'm not sure on the spelling). It helps greatly. The first couple days I took it 2 times a days, but now I just take it at night. The pain has greatly decreased.

I know I'm a week behind, and I'll get my Week 4 measurements up soon, life has been crazy. But here they are! Waistline: 39" Weight: 237.3 lbs Bust: 46" Hips: 49" Neck: 15" Wrist: 7.25" Bicep: 16" Forearm: 12" Thigh: 30" Calf: 18.5" Weight Lost: -17.7 lbs Total Inches Lost: -13" BMI Reduced: -2.7

I would talk to your coordinator. That's what I did. Pre-op at my first appointment, I was 260. At my 2nd nutritionist appointment I was 265. I was worried about the weight gain. I e-mailed my coordinator. With my insurance, Aetna, if I had kept the weight on, they wouldn't have approved me. I spent the month working the weight, and more off. The only thing that will totally ease your mind is asking your coordinator, they'll have all the answers.

So I had surgery Thursday afternoon and everything went perfectly smooth! I planned on being out of there Friday by 2 (because that's when my surgeon makes his rounds to check on his patients). I had to have a scan of my GI track and drink this nasty liquid to make sure that there weren't any leaks (it really sucks that the first thing I drink tastes like trashcan punch) and it was fine. The doctor came in after that (closer to 4) and said that everything was fine, except my pulse was "constantly" over 100, usually in the 120 range, and he wanted to keep me until it went down, even if that meant another night! Luckily I had my Fitbit on, and I was able to show that it was normal all day, except when they would come to do the readings, because the readings always fell right after a breathing treatment or right after I'd done laps around the floor. Finally, at 8, I was discharged. So that first day really wasn't normal. Yesterday, I kept it pretty simple. Made a nice little pallet on the couch, walked every now and then, but the thing that gets me is drinking. My doctor didn't really give me a range to aim for, but I know I'm no where close. Yesterday, throughout the day, I was able to drink about 5 oz of my Isopure Protein drink and about 8 oz of Water. The more the day goes on, the harder it feels to drink anything, even if it's been hours since I've had something. I woke up today feeling more enthusiastic, I guess because when I woke up, it wasn't as terrible to sit up. Water today hasn't been as much as an issue, I've had about 10 oz. I'm currently nursing about 2 oz of chicken broth. But when I tried to drink my Isopure today, it was a joke. I got about 1 oz in before my stomach said "Nope." I would get the pain behind my breast bone, which my surgeon said usually means you're full. I just don't know what to do, because I know that protein will help with healing and weight loss, and I know I'm only 3 days out, but this is scary.

So here are my second week of measurements, 3 days post-op. Already seeing amazing changes! Weight: 247 lbs Waistline: 42" Bust: 48" Hips: 49" Neck: 15" Wrist: 7.25" Bicep: 16" Forearm: 12" Thigh: 31" Calf: 18.5" Weight Loss: -8 lbs Total Inches Lost: -6.25 BMI Reduced: -1.2 I'm really excited to see what the results will be next week!

Thank you so much! That makes me feel so much better! And it makes sense, water and broth are the only things that haven't caused me to feel pain or anything. I'll work on that. Thank you!

I've tried the Nectar drinks, I had a horrible case of throwing up the Cherry one before surgery and now every time I look at the container, that's all I can think of.