John Williams

Name: John Williams

Age: 53

Pre operative weight: 198kg

Date of operation: September 2007

Current weight: 97.2kg

Before

Hi, my name is John Williams, I am 53 years old and I had a gastric bypass in September 2007.

I have been yoyo dieting since primary school and at the age of 52 I was at my heaviest weight ever of 198kg.

Life before surgery, well, looking back at it, I never really had one. I couldn't do things I use to, like shooting, fishing, walking, travelling. I struggled to walk up the hallway to go to the toilet without getting out of breath. Shopping and socialising....ha, I couldn't do it. It was time for a reality check for good.

I made the appointment to see Mr Richard Stubbs, who told me what I already knew, I was morbidly obese and if I didn't lose weight, I would be dead within a few years. After two interviews and a lot of soul searching, and talking to my wife - I also watched the DVD which is given to all patients several times and found it very helpful - I decided to go ahead with the surgery.

I headed to Wellington from my Greymouth home by car and then the ferry as I was too big to fly. Mr Richard Stubbs and his wonderful team, operated on me on September 13 2007, two days before my 52nd birthday. I was up walking late the next day and managed to walk further and further each day. I did have a setback on the third day as I have a high pain tolerance and didn't need all the pain killers that were prescribed, I hallucinated for a while, but this was quickly sorted by the doctors. After eight days I was allowed home. The staff at Wakefield Hospital, I can't say enough about them, even the cleaners have time for a chat as they work. I have a full top body suit of tattoos, and the doctors took the extra time to glue my cut back perfectly. The scar is hardly noticeable.

It is 18 months since the operation and I now weigh 97kg - 101kg loss. I can now do things again, going out, I have just been to Australia, driving the car, sleeping properly, things other people take for granted. I've painted my house and roof. I can now get into my boat and go fishing.....life is good again.

Before the operation I had sleep apnea, high blood pressure, onset of diabetes, high cholestrol and no quality of life. As soon as I had the operation, my glucose returned to normal, my blood pressure is 120/80. I no longer snore according to my wife, and my cholestrol is normal.

The only thing I have to watch now is the type of foods I eat and the quantity. I have a multi vitamin daily and every two to three months I have a B12 injection. This is the only medication I now need. I am thankful that I had the finances to enable me to have the bypass, my only regret is that I didn't do something about it when I was younger. If you are thinking about having a bypass, I would recommend you GO FOR IT!!

Regards

John Williams

April 2009