 
Vital Stats |
|
Gary |
Total Weight Loss = 8st 6lbs |
Age |
45 |
Lives |
East Sussex |
Surgery |
Gastric Bypass |
Weight before Surgery |
25st 5lbs |
Weight after Surgery |
16st 11lbs (1 year post-surgery) |
Gary
Gastric Bypass Surgery Patient
“It’s
amazing to no longer be on any diabetes medication”
Gary, 45, from Seaford, East Sussex,
is a Streamline Surgical gastric bypass patient: “I’m a totally different
person now. I can look in the mirror and I’m happy.”
“My weight problem started when I was at secondary
school. I started to get bullied, and I realised the bigger
guys were left alone so I began eating more to stop the bullying.
But even when school finished I didn’t stop. I didn’t
have many relationships and would turn to food for comfort.
I could easily have four packets of crisps in one go and
used to drink up to ten 2-litre bottles of fizzy drink each
week.
“I tried every diet – you
name it, I tried it. My weight would yo-yo as I lost interest
in the diet and went back to food. Nothing worked for me,
and my self-esteem was so low, I felt self-conscious the
whole time. On holiday there was no way I would take off
my shirt on the beach, no matter how hot it was. At work,
I was a manager in charge of around 30 staff handling a
large turnover and so I was quite successful. Yet I would
still hear comments and jokes from my staff and customers
about my size practically every day which made me really
upset.
“Ten years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
and over the last few years suffered with bouts of depression.
My weight definitely contributed to this – I believed
I was useless and worthless. Then one day I thought enough
was enough. I’d had enough of being fat with the jibes
and the embarrassment I had every single day.
“I spoke with my GP
and he referred me to Guy Slater. I was given all the details
of Streamline Surgical’s support groups and began watching
The Fat Doctor. The key thing for me was the fact they didn’t
hide anything, and then speaking to people at the support
groups confirmed to me that surgery was what I needed.
“Weighing over 25 stone and with
my health issues such as my diabetes I was an ideal candidate
for surgery. I found the staff at Streamline Surgical so
friendly and they treated me with respect and like a ‘normal’ person – it
was like a five star hotel! I am full of admiration for Guy
Slater and can’t speak highly enough of him. He has
given me back me life, probably about 30 years of it!
“I am no longer on any medication
for diabetes which feels amazing. I don’t miss any
of the bad foods I used to eat all the time and I can actually
look in the mirror now and not feel disgusted. I love going
out and shopping now and can buy clothes off the peg which
is so nice. I am so much more confident. Before I used to
have to put on a certain mask to try to get people to like
me and now I don’t feel that I need to do that – people
will like me for me.
“I used to cycle to work before I
had the surgery but had to give it up as it would take me
about 20 minutes to get my breath back. Now I have so much
energy and my fitness levels have improved so much. I can
cycle to work no problem now and I also walk a lot.
“My wife is so happy with the new
me, she calls me her “hunky, new fella!” I promised
her before we got married that I would lose the weight and
now I have kept my word after years of trying and failing.
Some of my friends don’t even recognise me which I
find gives me a complete buzz and helps my confidence even
more. All my family and friends have been so supportive and
they are pleased that I am finally happy with myself.
“Now I’m just waiting for
things to happen as the whole world has opened up to me. I
really want to go abroad soon as this time I won’t have
the embarrassment of needing an extension belt and having the
tray resting on my belly! This time the tray will be able to
fully go down and once I’m on the beach I can take my
shirt off without any anxiety. To anyone considering the surgery
I say do it, you won’t regret it”
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