Question for DS patients....a bit long

Howdy... I dont post all that often because as of yet I have not gotten past 8 weeks. In the last year I have been pregnant 3 times, to MC and I am currently 5-6 weeks. Before I got pregnant this time I went to a new OB and she referred me to a maternal fetal Dr. So I made an appt. My Vit D is low and that I know. The MF Dr said that she thinks my iron and vit B are low, because she said WLS patients always are. Then she asks me about my DS. At this point I am 7 years Post-Op and I could not remember every detail about my surgery, and of course the Dr had no idea what it even was. Lord save me from dr's, They always say it is an RNY and when you try to correct them they say "oh you got your stomach stapled". No that was not all that happened, but whatever. Anyway fast forward 3 weeks later and I get another positive pregnancy test. I call the Dr office and make an appointment.  Then this last Friday I get a call that says that my Dr does not want me to deliver at the hospital close to me, 15 min or so, she wants me to go to Swedish hospital which is 40 min away in the best of traffic and longer in rush hour. They want me to be see by a Maternal Fetal Dr for the pregnancy and if something goes wrong they want me at a hospital that can help. They also want me to see another weight loss surgeon. I was stunned but I said fine I will call and make appointments as you ask.  So I call the Maternal Fetal Dr office and when they finally answer they tell me they know nothing of me, they are referral only and they will not make me an appointment until they get my paperwork and review it.  That will put my first appointment farther out then my current one of May 21^st… I am so worried about the appointment that I cant wait longer than the 21^st.  Then I called the WLS surgeon’s office and the girl at the office wanted to know why I was calling if I had WLS and was pregnant…. UGH! I am going to at this point keep the appointment on the 21^st and see if I cannot reassure my OB that everything will be fine.  This entire back story was so that I could ask you ladies a question…. Did any of your OBs freak out because of your surgery?  What did you do to reassure them that this was not the end of the world and that you were normal?  What blood work are you having done? Thanks in advance… Sorry this is so long….

Oh yes I totally understand your frustration.  I've seen about four doctors since I got pregnant and I'm pretty sure all of them (or their nurses) asked me "Lap-band or Gastric Bypass?" when I told them I had WLS.  And about half of them still thought I had RNY even after I explained the DS.

My husband and I carry this little card around that my surgeon gave me and it's super helpful:
http://dssurgery.com/downloads/ds_surgery_info_card.pdf

Anyway, no, I have not had an OB freak out about my surgery.  In fact, they've been a little more blase about the whole thing than I'm comfortable with.  (My D is low and I'm pretty sure I'm anemic but nobody has even mentioned it.)

I haven't had much bloodwork done because of my crappy insurance situation, but I'd just recommend you get your normal follow-up labs done.  (Whatever you normally get done; get it done more often.)  Make sure your OB looks over them and fix anything that you need to fix.  Stay on top of your vitamins and protein!

But why on Earth do they need you to see a WLS surgeon?  Even if there was a problem of some sort, shouldn't they be talking to *your* surgeon about it not just anybody else that deals with weight loss surgery?  That just sounds dumb.

I am so sorry you are having to go through the bounce from one doc to the next routine...it is absolutely pathetic.  The ONLY reason you should need to see a WLS doc is to make sure you are getting the correct labs done and that you are not deficient in any vitamins.  I think I would give up on trying to explain the difference between RNY and DS because most docs are not informed enough to know the difference anyhow, and I don't think which surgery you have had would have a huge difference in the medical care you will need.  I hope you can get this straightened out soon.  I know you live clear in Vancouver...I live in Orting, down near puyallup, and the best surgeon I have found has been up in Bellevue (even farther from you), but he and his staff really are worth the inconvenience, and he does take on other surgeons' patients, which most will not do.  I pray you have a happy and healthy 9 months.  One thing I would force on your OB is to get your progesterone levels checked, as maybe for some reason your progesterone does not get high enough to sustain a healthy pregnancy.  I am not doctor, so do not take my word for it...it is simply a suggestion.

Good luck, and let me know if you want any info on the surgeon in Bellevue.  When I called with no referral whatsoever, I was still given an appointment within 2 weeks, so maybe they would be helpful for you too :)

Take care, rest, keep your feet up, and tell hubby pelvic rest until doc says otherwise :)

Laura

Thanks for the tip Laura... Funny you should mention Orting I was there yesterday! LOL My Company moved me a year ago to Auburn WA and I have not updated my profile... Good advice though so I will call them today!  Thank you for responding!

Hey There,

Congrats and my fingers are crossed for you to have a sticky baby!

I was about 4 years out from DS when I got pregnant.  My WLS wanted to see me EVERY TWO WEEKS.  (It's an 1.5 hour drive one way!)   I saw him about every 4-6 weeks instead to get my labs drawn.  He pulls a ton of labs.... zinc, copper, binding iron, ferritin, A, D, E, K, calcium, PTH, etc etc .  Everything you normally get on a yearly basis (hopefully) but more often to adjust.

I did have to update my D to 100,000 IU a day (Dry - from Vitalady) and start taking K (with a probiotic for absorption) and I took digestive enzymes to make sure i was absorbing some oil.  (I tried to take fish oil as well but wasn't always successful)   I have always taken a lot of iron. 

My OB works with a Maternal Fetal doctor..... so I saw my OB every month ****il the end, then every week) and the Meternal Fetal every month for an ultrasound....  (one U/S a month). 

You need to do what's right for you.... challenge what doctors and how much care they suggest and make sure you get the level you feel appropriate. 

(I wanted to see all these docs, wanted the ultrasounds, wanted the vitamin checks, etc)

Take care and keep asking questions!

Cindy

Thank you all for your information I will be calling some doctors today to see if we can get the ball rolling before my appt on the 21st!

I dont know anything about the DS but I have to say for the Vitamin D problem I'm with CIndy - Vitalady Dry Vitamin - my levels came up from dangerously low to normal in 3 months and I am taking 5000IU daily. On a side note they have multi vitamins specific for RNY and DS surgeries.

Thanks for the suggestions ladies today I went to VitaLady (her home store is 20 min away!!!) and I got a list of supplements that I should be taking along with a bunch of them!  Tried some new proteins mixes... It was great!!