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BARIATRIC SURGEON PLASTIC SURGEON HOSPITAL
Brenda Johnson
Altoona, PA, USA
Post Op - BMI: 24.9
Surgery Type: RNY
Member ID: J1055126887
Contact: Click here to send a Personal Message
Surgeon: Victor F. Novak, II, M.D.
 

Click here for Brenda's surgery support page
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Hi! I am a 33yr yr old mom of 3 beautiful daughters and have been looking into this surgery for about 2 months although I actually had looked into it in 1993 the first time and found the only places at the time were in texas and California.I am very excited about this now that it is very wide spread and the mortality rate is much better.

I am 5'4 and 334lb and would love to to be able to run and play with my children. I am currently having back pain and numbness in my leg do to pinched nerves along with knee and feet problems.I would like any advice from anyone who has been through this and would like to talk about it .I have gotten so much frome this site .Thank You to everyone that has posted for us who are looking into it.



Hi it is now January 6.2004 and today I got a date for my first consult with a Dr. Victor Novak, I am so very excited.The doctor I had originaly gone through left the state and I am now starting over. I have the insurance you have to do a 3month diet in the pst 6mos. and I am hoping I can get my pcp to fix the dates for me so i can move on with this . I am only 1 month off s I hope it can happen and I have to get her to write a letter within a week to take with me to the appointment Wish me Luck. Ihope next time I post it will be with a date for testing and surgery.

Well I just went to my pcp and she did the letter for me and already sent it to my insurance and Dr. Novak so I hope it will do the job she included more than I thought and I felt it was good. My appointment with Dr. Novak is monday the 19th . I will update after that


Well Here I am I had my consult with Dr. Novak and I feel he is a very knowledgeable doctor I was a little torn ant first because he only offers open rny right now and even when he starts that he will not do over a bmi of 50 which i respect that he will do what he knows he can do and do well.
He was a little fast with me but he was very busy two consults and two checks while I was there and one was a problem so this is understandable.
It was quite a drive for me it is 1 hour and 40 minutes away so on the way home I got to thinking maybe I would wait to see about going lap with another doctor. So I called to tell them I wanted to think on it and I talked to Dr Novak directly and what a difference this made in my overall opionion He was very nice and consider it and understanding even telling me he would refer me to a doctor in pittsburgh who could do it. But after Hearing more about him and his procedures I feel confident in making him my doctor. He explained that his recovery time in hospital is 1 and 1/2 days and 2 weeks return to work and he does not do the very large incision. I am scheduled for a egd and gall ultra sound tomorrow wish me luck
Well I had my testing done what a breeze for all of those that are as scared as I was to have the egd please relax it is a peice of cake no pain and it is over before you know it.

I found out I have reflux so I am now on prevacid and he tested me for pilor and infection of the stomach hopefully this is negative .

I go to my support group meeting on monday the 26th and back to him in 3 weeks so lets hope the insurance gets on the ball and we get approved.

Well to start I found out I had to do the 3 month diet thing all over because my ins now requires a weekly weigh in. Which I did find out right after that last visit and I am now almost done with that although I have gained weight, not lost so I don't know how this will effect me. I had to have exrays of my back, hips, knee, and basically everything I said bothered me. I am now in the process of waiting to have my sleep test May 3rd and then finally I can submit that letter to the insurance I only hope I have not screwed things up because I am reading that now they want not only a weigh in but a doctor to talk to you so I hope and pray that we get through this I have not gone every week it is just enough to get out of bed some days I have been so depressed over this all lately everyone around me is having there surgery and it has been a year in the making for me. I am now up to 354 and counting ,I diet a day and then fall off and eat horibally then back on . I just cant wait to be on the other side.

Well it is now April 28th and I am officially done with my 3 month diet which I did not do good with I did follow and fall off a good bit I did keep up with my excerise but it did not do much good. Went to see Dr novak on Monday I was a bit upset he did not even look up to talk to me. I drove 1 and 1/2 hours to spend 10 minutes in his office. I guess cause I am not ready to be scheduled yet I still have the sleep apnea test on May 3rd and then I will be done with all insurance qualifications for them. I go back to Dr Novak end of May i am going to start hounding them the week after I get my sleep test though so maybe they can get my packet toghter and sent and be approved before that and get me scheduled these 5 minute office appointments are rediculous. He also told me to excerise more and lose a few more pounds so I am trying the akins again if I can hold out for the month it will get some off me but it will be hard but then again worth it. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers and hopefully I will be posting a date soon.

May 8 2004
I am finally done with all requirements of my insurance. I had my sleep apnea test done on May 3 last week and I am going to start hounding them Monday May 10 about getting all the paperwork together and to get it sent in to see if I get my approval I hope after going through all of this twice I don't know if I can do it anymore. I am only hoping they will not hold it against me that I could not be in my docs office every week do to my schedule and getting back and forth. But I kept a log and talked to the assistant on a regular basis so I hope . Keep your fingers crossed .I go to Dr Novak end of month so I am hoping to get a date then or sooner would be nice if my approval comes through.

May 27th
Well
Dr Novak's office finally has everything required by my insurance. I sent them my letter and the diet log I kept overnighted today. So, hopefully they will have them by noon tomorrow and will either be able to get them sent out tomorrow or Tuesday next week. Then it is all up to my insurance. Just awaiting the approval from there.I will let you know as soon as I hear .

June 7th 2004
Well just got home from my appointment wiht Dr Novak and he is finally submitting my papers hopefully tomorrow so all I have to do is wait now He did say see ya next month but maybe sooner if it comes through quicker possibley June 30th for surgery keep your fingers crossed for me.

June 15 2004
Well just went into my insurance web site to find out i have been rejected it sucks because I can not find out why til tomorrow I will call them first thing. Then call the doc and see what to do from here. I am very upset.

June 17 2004
Well they denied me for a stupid tsh blood test'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">blood test ,so I went first thing yesterday and got it and they should have sent the results to Dr. Novak and I hope they submitted an appeal I am calling first thing tomorrow to make sure they got it and it was sent in. This is not even on there requirement list and it was done in august of 2003 but that was to long ago. well I will update when I here again.

June 24 2004
Well I called the insurance and Dr novaks office Monday Tuesday and Wed and my insurance told me it was still in appeal process and to have my drs office call the authorization dept because I should have heard since it was just the stinkin blood test but Jodi said no they would not call till Friday they give them a week and I was not to call the office back .I know they are busy but I also now I am just a number to them and I want to get this done and not another month or what ever from now and I hope I do not wait just to hear I need yet something else. Well enough griping I will post soon I hope good news.

June 24 2004
Well here I am again Guess What? I just went into my insurance and I am APPROVED woooo hoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am calling the drs first thing tomorrow and I hope to get a date. Will post again soon

Well It is June 29th I talked to the dr office yesterday and they told me the files were on his desk to do the scheduling for July and August I hope to hear soon I am so excited and not a very patient person as I am sure you can see by my post. But I am trying I keep saying I am approved it will be just a little time .But when??????????? okay I feel better I will let you all know . Thanks to all of you for listening or should I SAY READING . tAKE CARE.

July 6th
Well needless to say no date yet I called Friday July 2 and they told me just to come in for my appt on the 12th and I will get info then. So I hope it means a date ,she did say It could be by the end of July but with my luck who knows.




JULY 12 2004
WELL YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THANK YOU KRIS IN DR NOVAKS OFFICE I HAVE A DATE AUGUST 4TH I DO PREOP JULY 28TH I AM SO HAPPY CANNOT WAIT .
July 23 2004 Thank yOu Dr Novaks office once again I am now scheduled Aug 3 up a day wooooooooooohooooooooooo
Kris I truly think you are a wonderfull person .
July 28th 2004
Well I just finished with my preop had it done yesterday.Found out I am a bleeder weird wasnt a bleeder through any other of my surgeries but the phlebotomist did say it is not always accurate. Only 5 days till the other side. I can not believe it.
July 31 2004
First day of liquid diet oh my what a day it is it is only 6 pm and I am starving although I do not think I have drank enough either.
Okay I am so very happy I have an angel Gen Gen has agreed to be my angel I am so very deeply touched. This is a great ending to a very difficult day. Thank you so much Gen Gen You made my day Hugs and God Bless
August 2 2004 11:30 PM
Well it is only 11hrs till my surgery I have to be there at 900am they said surgery around 1030am so I wanted to post one more time as a pre op.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY OBH FAMILY FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND HELP THROUGH THE LAST MONTHS AND TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HERE AT HOME THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME AND SUPPORTING ME EVEN WHEN I WAS NOT MY NICEST. WITHOUT ALL OF YOU I WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS ON MY OWN. SO,GOOD BYE TO THE OLD ME AND ON WITH THE NEW BIRTHDAY FOR ME. HEY WHO WOULDN'T LIKE TWO BIRTHDAYS!!!LOLO THE HEALTHIER AND MORE ACTIVE ME THAT CAN LIVE A LONG AND PROSPEROUS LIFE. OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT THE LIGHTER ME. WELL GOOD NIGHT ALL AND I WILL SEE YOU ALL ON THE OTHER SIDE THE LOSER SIDE THAT IS . GOD BLESS AND LOVE YOU ALL!!!


August 8 2004
Hello everyone I am on the other side and I still cannot believe it. I am still sore I was cut breast bone to belly button. I had alot of adhesions so it was nescessary. Dr novak would not have cut me that big if not necessary. I have been doing really well I actuall got all my protein in yesterday and I am about half way there today. Still working on the liquid 64 ozs though. Almost making it Doc said as long as I am trying and getting close .Been keeping up with my walking go up and down the yard the girls say there walking me. Oh well as long as they help.Dr Novak called yesterday to check on me and said I was doing very well keep it up. That is a nice pat on the back. My mom and husband and girls are just unbelieveable taking acre of me. I will never forget this this for the rest of my life. I will owe them eternally. Well just wanted to drop a line. Let you know how things are. love Brenda



August 21 2004
Well went to Docs and got my bandage off and he would not tell me excatly what I lost between 17and 20 pounds pretty good of course Iwas hoping for more but I think thats why he did not want me to know he was very happy with my progress my incision looks great adn I even got a hug so I will take it. I go back in 2 weeks on the 30th so I will update then.Love and hugs to all Brenda



August 30 2004
Well went for my check up and I have lost a total of 26 pounds. I had lost 19 the first 2 weeks and only 7 these past two weeks. Dr noveak said it was good but I should of lost 30 to 35 so I am now on regular food 1/2 cup twice and ay and my liquids. The only thing is I can only eat 1/4 cup so I do not know wht to do I guess I will just keep doing it like I was and eat 4 times 1/4 cup or who knows I am also walking a 1/2 mile a day now and he wants me up to 1 mile twice a day till I go back. I am also going back to work on the 13th which I am really upset about. I did not want to go back for the 12 weeks which he originally told me I could have and now after surgery he told me no 6 weeks. I was hoping to have time to adjust to food and be with my girls for a while.But I guess I will adjust I just have to learn how to deal with two women who I work closely with that are very non supportive and would love to see me fell. I have to learn to turn my anger another way when they upset me. So I do not want to eat everything in sight and lately when I get upset I get sick and do not want to eat and that is not good either. Well I will just have to work on it till then I can do this. Well thanks to all of you and I will keep you posted.Love Brenda



Sept 23 2004
Well I went back to work on Monday and it actually went very well.I am glad to be back and sad to leave my girls but maybe after christmas I can go part time so I am looking towards that.
I am having a hard time with all the compliments and being told to display myself for everyone. But I guess it will get easier as I get used to the new me. I cannot wait to go to the docs on the 27th I think I have lost 40 - 50 pounds now but I want an exact. I am down almost 2 sizes and that is great. Clothes I have not been able to wear in 2 years I am wearing. I can now wear alot of my rings I have not worn for a year. I am just bubblin over with energy and love this new life. I still need some work in getting in my water. But I am working on it.
well off to bed I work early tomorrow. I will post on MOnday after my doc appointment.love ya Brenda



September 27th 2004
Hi all I am just back from the docs and I had to post. I am now down another 19 pounds and I am now at 45 for 7 weeks out I am so happy. Never did I imagine I could be down that. In just a little less than 2 months. Thanks to all of you for the support you have given this is truly a second family here. Love and hugs to all Brenda
Well I was right I lost another 7 pounds it was officially 2 months yesterday and I am now 295 oh how good it feels.
Hi all I know we are only to weigh once a month but I am being bad got on the scale today and I am down another 10 pounds woo hoo. I am slacking on the walking though and boy do I feel it,it is getting cold here in Pa and I will have to start going indoors which I hate but I will just have to deal and get back on the ball with being back to work and runnin my girls dance ,baton and all the competitions and on and on but as we know excuses excuses.So," back on the ball" Brenda. I will update after my doc appt on the 28th.Hugs to all.
Just wanted to add a little wa hoo I am officially a morbidly obese woman and not severly obese woman any more what a great feeling to be movin on down.


October 29 2004
Well went to the docs and had a great visit I am now 280 so I am now down 67 pounds. Dr Novak was very happy,and so am I. Well short and sweet this month. Hugs Brenda
November 29 2004
Hi everyone I lost 16 pounds this month so far. I am having some problems but nothing major I hope. I amhaving a egd done on Dec 1st my 35th birthday what fun to see where I am bleeding rom Dr thinks I have a bleeding ulcer which is common and can easily be fixed I hope its easy. Ebverything else is great although I did not excercise alot this week due to being anemic now and feeling weak so after that egd I am back to the grind. WEll I hope everyone is well and had a great Thanksgiving. I will update after Wed.
Dec 2 2004
Hi everyone just wanted to up date I had my egd and I do have a
ulcer and it was bleeding. It has since stopped and I am now on prevacid and I return to Dr novak in 3weeks.I am trying to not only eat protein high foods but iron high foods now too. Doing okay lots of spinach. Well take care and God Bless Hope everyone has a Happy Holiday Love and hugs Brenda
Dec 24 2004
Hello all I had to post to say Happy holiday to all of you!!!
I also had to becuse I am officially under I have lost 103
as of this week. I am so very happy I did itforChristmas Mywish wasfor my b day on dec 1st but I am so happy and feeling so good this will bethe best christmas ever. Ihope all ofyou and yours have a very happy holiday!!!!!!!!




June 10,2005

It has been awhile since I have updated. It is just such a brand new life. I was busy before the weight loss but now my gosh the nergy and life I have missed. I wish I had done this 10 years ago. My life is wonderful my world is a wonderful place. I love playing with my children and being there for their every move and game . I am even joining dance with them this year . I cannot believe all I have missed . To all of you thinkin about it please e-mail me I will help you fullfill your every dream. This is the greatest. Love and hugs to all Brenda







HASH(0x8df9f08)
You're Brigitte Bardot!



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HOLY CRAP, THIS IS WEIRED
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347 July 12 2004
321 Aug 30 2004
302 Sept 27 2004
295 Oct. 4 2004
280 oct 29 2004
275 Nov 3 2004
260 Dec 2 2004
244 Dec 24 2004 103 pounds to date woohoo!!!
230 January 19,2005
225 February 3,2005
218 March 7, 2005
200 March 28 2005
195 April 13 2005 wooooo hoooooooooooo!!!! under the big 200
175 June 10,2005 Only 40 to go Never thought I would be here.
160 July 4 2005

Resources

Click Here - Sleep Apnea Information
Click Here - GERD Information
Click Here - Obesity Information
Click Here - Breast Cancer Information
Photos

347
July 4 2004 1 month before surgery
244 / 165
December 26th 5 1/2 months after surgery / June 2005 10 months after


Hospital Reviews

About Me
Altoona, PA
Location
30.9
BMI
RNY
Surgery
08/03/2004
Surgery Date
Jun 08, 2003
Member Since
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
July 4 2004 1 month before surgery
347lbs
December 26th 5 1/2 months after surgery / June 2005 10 months after
244 / 165lbs
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