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Surgeon Testimonial

Charles A. Svendsen, M.D.
I met Dr. Svendson at my pre-surgery visit on the date that my surgery date would be determined. He is the only one of the three Methodist surgeons I hadn't already met.rnI found him genuine, honest, direct and comforting. He examined me and answered my questions about surgery and recovery.rnI met him again the morning before surgery, then each day I was in the hospital. I felt he was genuinely concerned about my well being mentally/emotionally as well as physically. I really feel like he cares.rnI've known Barb Johnson, Dr. Svendson's nurse for several months as she leads the WLS support group for Park Nicollet/Methodist. I adore her. She's been a sage guide in the journey, a great source of information, and a wonderful comfort now that I am post-op and I'm really dealing with the challenges and benefits of surgery.rnThis program has a fantastic after care program. I've had my 1 week post-op visit so far. I'll have nurse visits at months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12. I'll have nutritionist meetings at months 1, 2, 5, 8, and 11 months. I can attend support groups twice a month.rnI am very pleased to have Dr. Svendson as my doctor (I think of him as Dr. Chuck, not out of disrespect, but out of admiration and appreciation) and Barb as his wonderful nurse. I'm truely blessed by having them both helping me in this process.
Jen's Blog
Jen's Blog

5 years in 2 weeks
posted on 7/29/11 5:25 pm
I haven't been on OH in almost 3 years. I just don't feel like I need feedback from the gang. I know y'all are supportive and have lots of suggestions, but I don't need em. So, I guess I'm not writing this post for any other reason than to document my stuff.

I will be 5 years out in 2 weeks. I had to go back and look at my old profile to see where I started. On July 29 2006, I was 299.4. I was at the doctor yesterday and I'm 260.1. So, I'm still down about 40 pounds from my worst recorded date.

I feel a bit better now that I've seen that. I thought I was all the way back to where I started. I got to around 170 and I've come back up.

I knew I was going to put on weight. I went into surgery having a bizzare condition of having a really high metabolism and still gaining weight. When I had to write my letter to the insurance company, I focused on being in pain and getting winded.

Well, the pain didn't go away. Before surgery, pain, carpal tunnel, depression and I forget what else was dianosed as cause by being overweight. After surgery, pain, carpal tunnel and depression stuck around. Since weight wasn't as much of an issue, I went to physical therapy asking for help to learn to stand and walk properly with my new balance. After evaluation, I learned about all kinds of deformaties I have. My feet don't both point forward, I can't completely straighten my right arm, etc. Oddities that can't be fixed because whatever reason they are there, there's no changing them. I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and eventually, some pinched nerves. I've been to a chronic pain program, I'm on a bunch of Fibro drugs and I've got a TENS unit to help with the pain. It's not as frequent at all, but occassionally I have flares.

I was never diabetic. I have never had heart or blood pressue issues. I don't hate my bodyshape any more than the average American women. OK, maybe less than the average. Surgery was for pain and surgery didn't do anything to fix the pain. I have a CPAP and the setting is the same as it was before surgery.

I regret having surgery. Yes, the origin of my pain is identified and has been treated, but it hasn't been worth it. I have a problem eating every day at every meal. My pouch didn't stretch and I can't eat a whole cup at once unless I drink with it.  I've gotten stuck and thrown up so many different things, my list of food is pretty short. I hate to eat with anyone because I'm very self-concious about how little I eat. I take really small portions and I stop eating before everyone else. Then I'm stuck sitting there waiting for everyone else to finish with nothing to do. I turn down dessert all the time. Last week I had a tiny sliver of key lime pie when I was at a social event and I started to dump - sweating, heart racing, the whole bit. I can drink a regular soda just fine, but I can't touch cake or pie.

I don't bother to sit down in a restaurant because I eat so little that it takes longer to be seated, place an order and get my food than it does to eat. Everything gets packaged to go.

I hate getting gifts of food from people. I still haven't found a way to say "no thank you" and have it stick. At this point, I'm just pissed off by the whole thing because no means no, damnit. With some people, I've resorted to turning down everything I can and just throw away the rest. It's such a waste. People don't accept how little I eat and are always trying to give me some to take with me.

On the other hand, if I'm going somewhere, I bring my own milk and some kind of protein snack. Always with me, I'm self concious that I'm carrying around 1/2 gallon of skim milk in my bag.

So, as I can see it, it sums up to either the fat girl not eating around other people and sneaking when no one's around or fat girl's snacking constantly. I feel like I can't win. Since surgery and I lst so much weight, I think I became more aware of how much attention other people pay to my weight and what I'm doing that may or may not affect it.

So, basically, I'm bitter and I regret surgery. I've gone through thousands of dollars of clothes and shoes in the last 5 years and I feel sick in one way or another every single day. My surgery was technically successful, but RNY surgery wasn't the right choice for me. And I'm stuck with it. 


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