The woman had been dealing with a host of health problems for many years. She would doze off mid conversation owing to lack of sleep, not being able to walk or breathe properly. Her weight was on a constant rise.
There are many health risks associated with obesity and being overweight in general. In the long run, it can cause great harm to all internal organs, threatening a person’s mental and physical well-being, unless timely measures are taken to find a solution. In Mumbai, a weight loss surgery was successfully performed on a 42-year-old woman to address the multiple health issues that she had been struggling with, including asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes. While she was 130 kg before the surgery, she managed to lose over 40 kg, bringing her weight down to 90 kg in just six months! Read on to find out more about her case.
According to a statement shared by the hospital, Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, a bariatric and laparoscopic surgeon at Saifee, Namaha, and Apollo hospitals performed the surgery on the housewife from Mumbai, who had had to deal with her weight for many years. She apparently struggled more after her pregnancies, and despite her attempts at various things — like making dietary changes — she failed to lose weight. If anything, the patient consistently regained lost weight.
In her 20s, the woman developed high blood pressure; five years ago, she was also diagnosed with diabetes. By the time the patient turned 38, her health condition had worsened, leading to heart disease. The constant weight gain made her rely on multiple medications, which caused severe breathing and sleep difficulties.
Soon, the woman had crossed the 125 kg-mark. It made it almost impossible for her to lie down, for she could not breathe. She would spend her nights sitting upright on the bed. Even walking was a challenging activity, as it would leave her panting.
Such was her condition that the sleep deprivation would make her fall asleep mid-conversation with her family.
While a doctor recommended she use a BiPAP machine to improve sleep and alertness, her escalating weight restricted her movements. Her family finally reached out to Dr Aparna at Saifee Hospital.
When she came to us, the patient weighed 130 kg. She was suffering from severe obstructive sleep apnea along with various other health issues. During our consultation, she actually dozed off, which alerted us to the dangerously high levels of carbon dioxide in her blood,” the doctor stated, adding that the woman had also been suffering from kidney-related complications.
The patient’s case was thoroughly investigated to arrive at a solution. Nutritionist Shamika Girkar managed to draft a low-calorie, high-protein diet for her, which helped her lose 6 to 8 kg before surgery. It also improved her metabolic parameters. In fact, according to the doctors, this dietary change also contributed to the shrinking of her liver size, which is crucial for the surgical procedure.
The woman finally underwent a gastric bypass surgery, in which a small stomach pouch was created. The small intestines were rerouted to connect to this pouch, and the remaining portion of the stomach and the first part of the intestines were bypassed, resulting in significant hormonal changes that led to reduced appetite, increased feelings of fullness, and restricted food intake, Dr Aparna explained. She added that the surgery was a minimally-invasive one, performed under general anaesthesia.
“The surgery typically lasts between 60 and 120 minutes. Patients are encouraged to start walking within 4 to 6 hours post-surgery; they are discharged within 36 to 48 hours.”
The patient lost 40 kg in the last six months and is expected to lose more weight in the subsequent months. She is not on any medications for diabetes. Medications for her blood pressure have been reduced, too. She is able to sit and lie down flat, sleep properly without the assistance of the BiPAP machine. More importantly, she can walk and breathe.
Conclusion: Always consult with your doctor or a healthcare professional before making significant dietary changes for weight loss. They can provide personalized guidance based on your medical history and current health status.
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