SUCCESS STORIES - Helen

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Before the operation I felt fat and ungainly. I had no agility left in me and was unable to do a lot of the things that most people take for granted. I felt like everyone was staring at me when I was out and about. I couldn’t walk far and had no energy for any other pursuits.

I decided to have the surgery so that I would lead a longer and fuller life. I knew that if I had stayed at my pre-operative weight of 170 kilograms, that I would eventually have a heart attack.

Dr Cohen chose the type of surgery that we had agreed was best for someone of my weight, and for the length of time that I had been overweight.

There was nothing hard about having the surgery. Perhaps the most uncomfortable at the time was the naso-gastric tube, but other than that it was fairly straightforward.

Things have totally changed after the surgery. I have lost 70 kilograms and am able to buy clothes from “normal” shops and my choice has quadrupled or more. Before the operation I tended to sew my own clothes and now I have a choice. I am now more agile and I can do all of the other normal everyday things that we all take for granted. I have more energy.

I am very happy with the results of the operation, other than having to put up with smelly poos and smelly flatulence, all is well. That certainly weeds out the friends from the group.

Yes, I would do it all again. It was easy and I would recommend it to anyone who needs the operation.