I can’t wait to go to the children Christmas parties with my son this year as whenever he used to ask me to dance with him I would always say “remember mummy has sore knees” and watch from the side but this year there is no stopping me making precious memories with my children
Jade
The gastric sleeve
A life long struggle finally came to an end last November
“I have always been overweight my whole adult life. After giving birth to my daughter Feb 2020 I was weighing in at 15 and a half stone and at only 5ft made me morbidly obese. It wasn’t just a number of the scales though, I had high blood pressure and terrible pain in my knees. I used to come home from work in absolute agony unable to walk they were so painful. I never had pictures with my baby daughter as I physically could not stand to look at myself and the rare time my partner took a picture of us I would be in tears for hours afterwards seeing how big I had got. I couldn’t join in with my older son at the park or soft play as I was just too unfit and big.”
“August 2020 came and I had enough. I started researching about bariatric surgery. I came across many companies but healthier weight stood out to me as Initially their website which was the first point of call I had with them was very informative. It told me all about the different options and benefits and cons of each procedure. I called them up which was a big step for me. I was so anxious and embarrassed I had gotten myself in this unhealthy position and was scared whoever I spoke to would judge me but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I initially spoke with someone at healthier weight who was so lovely and put me at ease instantly. They discussed different procedures and surgeons in my area. Within a couple of days, I had my first consultation with my surgeon professor Majid Ali at Glasgow Rosshall hospital.”
The consultation was a wake-up call
“There was no beating about the Bush and I was told I needed to make a change if I wanted to see my children grow up. The way I was eating was killing me. After speaking with the surgeon he cleared me for gastric sleeve surgery and I then dealt with the bariatric nurses at healthier weight until my surgery date. I got a date of the 13th of November 2020. The nurses at healthier weight were fantastic and were with me every step of the way. They spoke to me about my pre-op diet sent me booklets on what I can and can’t eat, how to. prepare and what to expect. They informed me about the Facebook community which I joined and instantly felt great knowing there were other people like me who I could get advice from. It’s a really supportive community to become a part of.
My surgery came and went and everything went smooth. I had mild discomfort but nothing horrendous and was very lucky as had zero vomiting or nausea.
I spoke with the healthier weight nurses every few days for the first couple of weeks. I was given a number to call them at any point which I did make use of and it was great to have that support carried on even after the procedure had been carried out.”
This Christmas will be different
As of today, I am 9stone 10lbs and I feel fantastic. I’m particularly looking forward to Christmas this year. I have so few pictures with my children as I couldn’t bare to look at myself before. So this year I’ve done something I would’ve never done before. I have booked a Christmas family photoshoot where I can get beautiful pictures taken with my beautiful children to display proudly!
I also can’t wait to go to the children Christmas parties with my son this year as whenever he used to ask me to dance with him I would always say “remember mummy has sore knees” and watch from the side but this year there is no stopping me making precious memories with my children.
Also for the first time in my life, I will be attending my works Christmas night out and will enjoy getting dressed up
