I need help...my doctors are clueless and I am terrified...

I had my RNY in August 2008, I was a member of Kaiser at the time. Due to a crazy drunk husband and some abuse I left him and everything including the medical insurance behind. I did get custody of our son thank god. Anyway currently on medi-cal..and pregnant...only 5 weeks, these doctors don't know ANYTHING about gastric bypass and said oh wow you are officially our first patient who has had it..NOT GOOD! I can't get into Kaiser to ask them what to do, they won't let me back..and I need a list of what I should give my doctor for my labs, vitamins etc...does anyone have anything they can give me..I need to start taking more than just a couple of prenatals and my regular vitamins Im sure but they have no idea what...HELP PLEASE...and if you know what labs Im supposed to be doing and when that would be an amazing help...I think I am about to rewrite the book at this freakin clinic.

Don't panic :)  Congrats on so many things. Getting out of abusive relationship, caring for your son, and your new little one to be

Andrea U has put together some awesome information on her blog about Post WLS Pregnancy, including labs and vitamins!

http://wlsvitagarten.com/category/pregnancy-after-wls/ 

Do you get your labs done normally?  I think it's your normal labs, but just a litle more often. If you haven't had them done at all since you left/divorced your husband and need the entire list, then I'd suggest contacting Andrea U.  Best way I can say to get ahold of her (if she's not lurking and sees me coughing her up) - is to tell you to go to the 'Say Anything' board (follow this link:  http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/SA/discussion/ -  sign up is not required, it's open for everyone to the best of my knowledge).  Andrea has a sticky note at the top of the message board...you can click that and then click 'Contact me.' Andrea is the resident guru on labs and is very helpful.

Next thing to do....BREATH.  Don't worry.  Don't panic.  You and your baby will likely be FINE.  From what I've seen on here, you need to watch your iron and other vits and adjust supplements as needed.  Since you're almost 2 1/2 years post op, you're not likely in ketosis, so that should not be a worry.   

I hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy.  Even more important than that...I'm glad you got away from an abusive, unhealthy relationship.  It's probably the best thing you could have done for you, your little boy and this new baby.  I hope your current relationship is a much healthier one for all of you.  [[hugs]]

first congrats!.. 2nd congrats on leaving a crazy drunk!.. 3rd... take a deep breath... everything will be ok... replace a prenatal with your multi.. and follow the rest... you will need your labs ( the normal ones) every 3-4 months... you must eat carbs... everything will be ok :)

First of all.... relax. This is all going to be fine. Breathe. You are not a fresh post-op so that helps things out quite a bit.

We will help you out here... any questions you have someone here can normally answer.

1. Stay hydrated. This can be especially hard during the first trimester due to morning sickness. If you begin to feel dizzy/lightheaded and eating doesn't help... go to the ER to get IV fluids. Alot of us RNYers have to do that.

2. You need to reincorporate carbs into your diet. You might loose some wheight while pregnant, but you shouldn't loose too much and Ketosis is bad for the baby... especially in the first trimester.

3. Baby only needs about 300 extra calories so up what you're eating some, but there's no need to go all crazy. It will help keep your blood sugars steady if you eat 5 or so small meals all day... like when you are first out of surgery. A few bites here and there...

4. You need to be taking prenatals. I take generic ones from walmart and they work fine for me. I take 2 to combat the malabsorption. I also have to take iron because I am anemic even with out being pregnant.

5. You're doctor should run your labs right away to look for any deficiencies, but for the most part you should be pretty stable since your 2 years out. For my first post-op pregnancy my OB ran my bloodwork every month or every other month to make sure that things were ok. Anytime you feel off... have your doctor check your vitamin levels.

That's about everything that I can think of.... carbs, vitamins, water... just stay calm... it will all be fine.

Congrats! by the way :)

I don't have anything to add to what the other ladies have already said, but...

Are you really from Downieville?! I LOVE it there! My family vacations there every summer.

They have to give you access to your medical records.....atleast in our state.  Is that what you're saying is that they won't give you access?

Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule (45 C.F.R. 164.524) Kaiser is obligated to give you a copy of your full designated record sets (ie. medical records) within 30 days of receiving your written request.  Google Kaiser, find out who the Privacy Officer is for your state (I believe they have regions dividing up their HIPAA implementation regs), and write that point of contact a letter requesting all of your records including labs, office notes, all pre-op test results, all prior pregnancy and delivery records (including those labs), and basically everything they have reflecting your years of care with them.  They can charge you a fee, but they should tell you what it is first. It's possible that if you give your current providers a list of your old doctors at Kaiser and their addresses, your current doctors could request your records and there won't be a charge.  Exercise your right to access your records.  If Kaiser fails to give you access within 30 days, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, the agency that enforces HIPAA Privacy.  (P.S.  I'm an attorney who worked there for several years doing HIPAA cases.)  Good luck!

Oh, and I've also had two completely healthy babies/deliveries in 2007 and 2008 after having an RNY Fobi in 2003.  Just remember to eat healthy and plenty.  Graze, graze, graze.  Best to you, Girl. 

I had a miscarriage two days after I posted this But the doctor said that everything inside of me looks ok and there is no reason why we can't try again later. Thank you everyone for all of your kind words and support I really appreciate it...on a better note, I got a great job and as a bonus it has Kaiser benefits thank goodness...