Patient Success Stories
“I can’t do this on my own. I need help.”
My name is Glenn Wienski and I have been overweight most of my life--for probably 30 years, and got to my heaviest weight of 345 pounds during COVID. My wife and I were staying in a hotel so we were eating out every day. I ended up just gaining more and more weight and just could not lose it.
In 2022, I went to my primary care doctor, and he was concerned about my weight and said I should look into bariatric surgery but I did not want to do that at the time. I told him I thought I could lose the weight myself as I had done many years ago while training for a 5k. So I ended up seeing a cardiologist and he suggested the same surgery.
A year later, after the doctors suggested the surgery, my family and I went on vacation to Gulf Shores. I wanted to go to the historic forts but it was so hot and I was so overweight, I could not walk around. My knees were hurting, and I would have to sit in the shade while my wife and son walked around and took pictures for me.
That’s when I said, ‘I can’t do this on my own. I need help.’ That was in October 2023 and I had surgery in November 2023.
My primary care doctor recommended Grandview, and I went to the bariatric surgery seminar that Dr. Frey was leading. When we left the seminar, I asked my wife and son what they thought and they immediately said, ‘You need to do it’.
When I called to set up my appointment, I asked for Dr. Frey. I chose the surgery because of my age, 52 at the time, and because Dr. Frey thought I would be more successful with the bypass. He was right!
I currently weigh 188 pounds and can do everything now! I used to have to wear knee braces just to go bowling.
Now, I can go bowling with no pain.
I can walk with no pain. I go on long hikes, sometimes close to 15,000 steps in just two hours, and I was never able to do that before. I sleep better. I am no longer snoring. I have so much energy that I got bored at home and picked up a second job just to get out of the house more.
My biggest surprise from this journey has been my knee pain being gone. I thought I had arthritis in both knees and would eventually have to have knee replacements. But it is no longer an issue.
I really focus on keeping my weight at my target number. I still chart my calories. I enter my food log, and I try to make sure that if I do eat a little more or have a little snack that I get more steps in that day with a little walk or even just walking around the house more. I also go to the gym at least 3 to 4 days per week and try to get at least 15,000 steps in a day.
I would definitely recommend this to others. My friends and family were thrilled after I had the surgery. My extended family lives up north so my son suggested me not telling anyone and to see their surprise during our next visit. So in the summer of 2024, my mom and stepdad flew down to visit us. They almost walked right past me in the airport when I went to pick them up because they did not recognize me.
The whole staff have been amazing from the receptionist to the nutritionist to Dr. Frey. They have always been encouraging and supportive and that has meant everything!