First post RNY baby

Hi all...

This is my third child but, my first post op.  I am currently 15 weeks along.  Wondering if anyone here has had complications following their WLS and also got pregnant.
I have had chronic ulcers since my RNY (8/21/2007) requiring MANY MANY hospital stays, EGD's, surgeries and ultimately will need to reverse the bypass at some point. 
My most recent hospital stay was two weeks ago where I got two blood transfusions, an EGD and lots of other stuff.  The baby looks great because s/he is getting everything they need...and leaving me on the losing end.

I'm super excited but, also very aprehensive and nervous.  I am on chronic pain meds and am still losing weight due to the nausea/vomiting and pain. 

Anyway, just wondering if anyone else had been in my shoes?  Look forward to hearing from you.

Wow, I just wish you and your baby well. 

Oh God girl, read my profile. Sounds very familiar and completely understand what you're going through. My body did NOT react well to my RNY. We still don't know why. I developed chronic pain in my pouch about 6 weeks out of surgery. Started with a stricture and 2 ulcers and just went downhill from there. I too am still on one of my pain meds that I've been on since about May 2008. I started with one pain med in about July 2007, then my pain Dr. added another one to the mix in May 2008 cuz the pain was out of control. I was also on Cymbalta for it's help with chronic pain but I had to go cold turkey off one pain med AND my Cymbalta the day I found out I was pregnant. That was HARD. I had to stay on one of my pain meds because without it, I can't eat or drink at all. The dose I'm on is not harmful to the baby and was told not to go off of it by my OB. SO, here I am at 21 weeks.....and am having a hard time with nausea and vomiting (but it's under control with Zofran) and I'm not gaining weight, I'm losing. Have lost 9 pounds so far, but during the past few weeks since my last appt. I've lost 6 pounds by my home scale. I try to eat and eat and eat but it's hard for me. I'm still 200 pounds (6 foot tall with about 30-40 pounds of extra skin) so I need more calories that most average women but I can't even get in an average amount of calories.

I practically begged my surgeon to reverse my surgery in October because I was tired of everything that I've had to deal with since my surgery (4-23-07). She said that reversing it could make things worse or not guarantee that it would be any better at the very least. She said it could cause more problems than it would help. Turns out my misery in October was MORE ulcers and was in the hospital for 3 weeks that time. I've had many ulcers, EGD's, been on TPN more times than I can count, had 2 G-tubes placed to try to get nutrition in me somehow.......it's been a nightmare. I was about the best I'd been after I got out of the hospital in late October (in time for Halloween with my family) and then I found out we were pregnant the first week of Dec. That's when I quit my one pain med and my Cymbalta. I wasn't really needing the 2nd pain med so much at that point so I just ditched it and was able to cut my other pain med from 20mg. a day to 15mg. a day throughout my pregnancy so far. The Cymbalta was actually the hardest thing to withdraw from. 6 weeks of hell but well worth it for it not to cause a problem for our baby.

So yeah, I could write a novel on this subject. I completely understand what you're going through. If you read my profile, you'll understand. I spent more time in the hospital than I did home for 2 years! If you need to talk or anything, please feel free to message me or email me anytime! My email is [email protected].

Allie!  Thanks so much...I knew that I had recalled seeing someone on here that had dealt with chronic pain issues.  It's been really difficult.  I too started with a stricture at 6 weeks post op and then just 3 weeks later, was in so much pain, I thought for sure I was dying.  Had an EGD and they didn't find anything...but, I went in to the ER just a few days after that and on closer examination, they found an ulcer hiding under the rim of the anastamosis. 
I had a perforated ulcer in May 2008 and a revision of my pouch in June of 2008.  In July of 2009, my doc referred me to Johns Hopkins because I"m only about 90 minutes from there.  So, after a lot of testing and MUCH discussion, we decided it would be best to reverse the RNY and switch to a VSG.  That puts the duodenum back in place and stops the malnutrition--which we're pretty sure is the cause of my ulcer issues.  I had to stop taking carafate because it was actually making things worse.
I was on TPN for 6 months, have had 3 surgeries, am currently on the Duragesic patch for pain control.  I also take zofran and phenergan constantly and still cannot eat normally.  I have been steadily losing weight and I'm vomiting daily.  I've needed several blood transfusions and have spent nearly a week out of every month in the hospital since October of 2007. 
I had to go off of several of my other meds as well and it's been a nightmare.  But, getting a healthy baby is my goal.  I'm an OB/GYN nurse...so, I know what I'm facing and I know what my baby's facing.
I also have thyroid issues, a heart murmur, and a history of insulin dependent Gestational Diabetes with my last pregnancy.  I am seeing so many doctor's...it's ridiculous.

I'm SOOOO glad to know I'm not alone here...even though I wouldn't wish this on ANYONE!  But, it's so nice to know someone else gets it.  I will for sure PM you...and we can hopefully help each other through this!  Thanks so much

Lisa