网曝门事件

In a crisis, Jenny Azevedo wastes no time 鈥� she acts swiftly. She鈥檚 a charge nurse at 网曝门事件 Health Portland鈥檚 emergency room, where she saves lives, calms anxious families and helps people navigate some of their toughest times.

So when Jenny鈥檚 own health reached a critical point, she knew she had to make a major change.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been a bigger person and carried extra weight,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e tried pretty much every diet out there but nothing seemed to stick with me. I鈥檇 lose a little, and then I鈥檇 just yo-yo, up and down. Finally, when my highest weight was 302 pounds, I got to a point where I said enough is enough.鈥�

At work, Jenny was feeling the effects of extra pounds. She鈥檇 get so fatigued, she鈥檇 drink lots of coffee and power drinks to perk up. On lunch breaks she鈥檇 take naps. Even at home, just trying to sleep, she couldn鈥檛 get comfortable. 鈥淚鈥檇 flip and flop, my hips would hurt, and my shoulders would hurt,鈥� she says.

Perhaps most concerning, Jenny鈥檚 blood pressure was consistently high. That marker is linked to a host of health problems.

Jenny talked with her doctor about options, including weight-loss medications. Her doctor suggested she contact Oregon Health & Science University, an 网曝门事件 Health Portland partner, to see if she might qualify for weight-loss surgery.

鈥淭hat springboarded things,鈥� Jenny recalls. 鈥淚 reached out to OHSU, took their online assessment tool and found out that, yes, I would likely be a candidate for weight-loss surgery. I was both relieved and a little bit nervous.鈥�

The plan takes shape

Jenny met with her surgeon, Dr. Ryland Stucke, at 网曝门事件 Health Portland. He explained more about what the procedure would involve. Gastric sleeve surgery, it鈥檚 called, reduces the size of a person鈥檚 stomach to lower their food intake. It also helps reduce hunger signals to the brain.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 make the final decision until after I met Dr. Stucke and got an in-person vibe with him,鈥� Jenny says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 great. He鈥檚 super nice and has such a great bedside manner. He and his team answered all my questions. They were very straight up with me about what to expect. Hearing the team鈥檚 support for Dr. Stucke, and how they talked about him in glowing terms, made me feel comfortable.鈥�

Another part of Jenny鈥檚 presurgery plan was meeting with nurse practitioners, dietitians, physical therapists and psychologists. The goal, over several months, was to prepare physically and mentally for surgery and life afterward.

鈥淭he biggest thing they told me was to start thinking about healthier eating habits,鈥� Jenny says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been a fast eater 鈥� I just shovel it in because I鈥檝e gotta get back to work. I had to learn to eat slower. Many times I caught myself shoveling, and I thought, 鈥榃ait a minute. Chew those bites. Pay attention to swallowing.鈥� I even started setting a timer for eating. I鈥檇 try to finish a meal in 20 minutes instead of 10.鈥�

Jenny鈥檚 medical team also gave her a binder full of information. Studying it helped her learn what to expect and what her daily life might look like before surgery and afterward.

鈥淚t was nice to have a timeline,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 could set myself up and stockpile certain things, like my favorite protein shakes.鈥�

The support Jenny received from her sons, husband, friends and colleagues made a huge, empowering difference too. 鈥淭hey told me, 鈥榊ou are so strong minded, you鈥檒l be able to do it.鈥欌��

Counting down

The months leading up to surgery seemed to stretch on, Jenny says, but the day of the operation flew by. A close nurse friend from work took her into the presurgery unit and stayed with her until surgery time. Others checked in and helped too.

鈥淚t was comforting being at the hospital where I work,鈥� Jenny says. 鈥淚鈥檝e been there for 17 years, I had my son there, and I know pretty much everybody. I鈥檓 comfortable there.鈥�

The surgery, which Dr. Stucke performed robotically through four tiny incisions, took about an hour. Afterward, while Jenny was in recovery, Dr. Stucke checked on her.

During recovery, 鈥渢he nursing staff, CNAs and support staff on the floor were really sweet,鈥� Jenny says. 鈥淚 wanted to go home as soon as I possibly could, so I was all gung-ho to get up and get out. They made it really easy.鈥�

After one night and part of the next day in the hospital, Jenny was discharged. The pain wasn鈥檛 bad at all, and liquid Tylenol kept it under control. 鈥淚 felt really comfortable after the fact, and everything healed nicely,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 had internal sutures and some glue on the outside, and everything looked great. I never had any issues with healing in that area, which was good.鈥�

In the following days and weeks, Jenny took it easy. She took 10 days off work, avoided lifting heavy things, and only drank liquids for the first week. After that, she slowly tried a bit of soft food. 鈥淚鈥檒l tell you, eating a little cottage cheese and an egg was amazing,鈥� she says.

Since then, Jenny continues to lose weight steadily, a bit at a time. By eating wisely and exercising regularly, she鈥檚 coming close to her personal goal, which is to weigh less than 200 pounds. So far, from her highest weight at 302 pounds, she鈥檚 down to 212 and counting 鈥� down now, instead of up.

鈥淚 feel amazing,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible to see my body change. One of the greatest things is being able to shop at a normal store again 鈥� not having to go to specialty stores and find ugly clothes and worry about them fitting. At my heaviest, I used to wear a size 22. Now I can wear a size 12 or 14 jean.鈥�

At work, Jenny鈥檚 natural energy and stamina have returned. She doesn鈥檛 need power drinks, and she doesn鈥檛 nap on her lunch breaks. She used to drink four cups of coffee 鈥� now she has maybe one. Squatting down to reach low shelves doesn鈥檛 make her knees ache and pop now, and she can perform demanding tasks without sweating and getting exhausted.

At home, Jenny says it鈥檚 easier take laundry out of the dryer without having to wide-stance her legs or worry about her belly getting in the way. She鈥檚 sleeping better as the hip and shoulder pain have stopped.

Even her family members are taking note. Her preteen son joins her in strength-training exercises like lifting kettlebells. Her husband takes walks with the family. And everyone eats the turkey Jenny sneaks into meatballs in place of ground beef. 鈥淏etter habits are spilling over into the whole family,鈥� she says.

Passing it on

Jenny credits the medical experts who helped set her on a healthier path. 鈥淚 have nothing but great things to say about Dr. Stucke and his team,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he program is absolutely amazing.鈥�

For others considering weight-loss surgery, Jenny shares four main points of advice:

• Pace yourself. When deciding on weight-loss surgery, it鈥檚 important to conquer the inner head part, Jenny says. 鈥淚 would say 90% of it is a head game,鈥� she explains. 鈥淵ou really need to understand it and have a conversation with yourself about whether you鈥檙e ready. Research it, meet with the team and trust your gut.鈥�
• Give yourself time. Make gradual eating and exercise changes. 鈥淵ou really have to pay attention not only to what鈥檚 on your plate, but what鈥檚 in your head and body,鈥� Jenny says.
• Seek support. Whether it be with friends, family, co-workers or online support groups, look for ways to connect with others on your journey. Ask questions, be open about what you need, and lean on your support team for advice and encouragement. Use all the tools and resources they offer you.
• Go forward with confidence. In reality, obesity and the way people lose weight still has some stigma around it, Jenny says. But don鈥檛 let that stop you from making the right choice for your health. 鈥淵ou shouldn鈥檛 feel shameful because you鈥檙e doing something to save your life,鈥� she advises. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing, when you lose the weight and have better nutrition and health, how much better you feel.鈥�

Take our free assessment and learn more about our  to find out if you may be a candidate for surgery.