Hello, my name is Jeff, and this is my story.
Background
I am a 50 year old guy, married and a full-time carer for my daughter. Over the years, weight crept on. I’m tall, around 6’3”, and I can carry weight well – to a point! I wasn’t active enough, liked a drink and ate all the wrong stuff. At my heaviest I reached 40 stone. My GP was brutally honest with me – I was to lose weight or be dead within 10 years!
Over the next year I lost more than half my body weight. Astounding really. I was determined. After all, I had a lot to live for – my wife and daughter, who needed me for a start. I set a limit of just 1000 calories a day and I wrote down everything I ate. I also took up swimming.
Unfortunately for me, having lot such a significant amount of weight, other issues came as a result. I’ve been left with a lot of loose, unnecessary skin (the weight of it alone is around 3 stone). I applied to have the loose skin surgically removed. I was assessed for the procedure. However, my application was denied - not once, but twice. I was really disheartened. After all, I’d achieved my weight loss through gritty determination and effort. When I needed support, it wasn’t there for me. The weight started to creep back on.
Getting set for surgery
During the past 3 years, I started experiencing stomach issues in particular. I was being sick every day. I had diarrhoea, I was tired and bloated. My mental health was suffering. I was feeling both physically and emotionally unwell. Functioning day to day was really difficult. I was so exhausted. I wasn’t able to care for my daughter as well as I needed to.
I was admitted to hospital three times with gallbladder issues. On the second admission, I met Wendy Craig, Consultant General Surgeon. She examined me and spoke to me about her reluctance to perform the gallbladder surgery I required. She was really concerned about having to open me up and risk infection, because of all my loose skin. She spoke about the risks, and her suggestion to not go ahead with surgery immediately. Instead, she wanted me to lose weight first. She spoke to me about the benefits of losing weight again, both for the surgery itself and for my recovery afterwards.
I knew I needed to do this. It was the safest and most sensible approach. I had to dig deep. I reminded myself about how far I’d come before, and I went back to my previous eating styles. I’d have porridge for breakfast, crackers for lunch and an evening meal would be fish or chicken or other meat.
It was really hard. Eating would really upset my gallbladder. I’d start to avoid eating during the day and only eat in the evening, but I’d suffer all night. I gave up the booze. I used to drink a number of cans of special brew. That stopped. It’s very rare I touch a drink nowadays. The only lifestyle change I didn’t manage to address was smoking. That said, I do limit the number of roll ups I have, but having given up everything else, I couldn’t give this habit up too.
The third time I was admitted to hospital was for an infected gallbladder. I was taken to the Acute Medical Unit and sent for a scan. I remember being woken up at 1am, as they needed to drain it immediately. It must have been urgent, to have woken me and done it at that time of night! It was the most uncomfortable procedure I’d ever experienced in my life. A drain was inserted into the right side of my abdomen and Ms Craig said it might need to remain there for up to six weeks. In actual fact, it later fell out! I was in hospital for a week and I was in such terrible pain.
A week later I was readmitted. I couldn’t bear the thought of being discharged, not knowing when the final gallbladder surgery would take place. I wanted an end. I wanted a date! I said that, in the meantime, I would still continue to work on reducing my weight. Approximately eight weeks later (and another three stone lighter), I had the operation.
The surgery
I was admitted first thing in the morning. I was given advice and the plan for the day was carefully explained to me. I was apprehensive, but at the same time, I wanted the chance to be finally free of all the horrible symptoms I’d been experiencing over the years. I was as ready as I could be. I’d stuck to my side of the bargain. I’d lost more weight and no longer drank alcohol.
I was put to sleep around 10 am and I recall being back on the ward around 4.30 in the afternoon. Ms Craig came to see me. She’d done well – she’d managed to perform keyhole surgery, even though she said she really had to wrestle with my gallbladder!
I did stay in hospital overnight, but after the surgery, I made a really good recovery. There was no need for readmission. I just got a small infection close to my belly button, due to all my loose skin. Thankfully I spotted it early, and the treatment was really simple. Antibiotics got rid of it.
Reflections
I’m relieved keyhole surgery was possible. My recovery, as a result, was much quicker and less risky. On reflection, I’m glad I followed Ms Craig’s advice and lost weight again prior to my surgery. I don’t like to think about the possible consequences had I not followed this advice and just insisted on pressing ahead. It might have been ok, but then again, we’ll never know...
The gallbladder operation has made a positive impact on my life now. I feel much better. I am back caring for my daughter and enjoying pursuits I’d missed so badly whilst I was poorly. I love fishing and bird watching and being out in the fresh air.
Jeff