I have been obese since I was a young child and it has always been an issue for me. I had a lap band surgery in 2007 which did not work for me and I had the band removed a few years later. I had sleeve surgery in September 2022 and I have lost 55 kilos in one year. I have had no issues with the surgery or recovery and can eat anything, just smaller
portions.

During my appointment with Dr. Patrick Moore, I felt at ease. He was competent, knowledgeable, and experienced while showing real empathy. I felt very safe in his care and confident in his credentials and expertise.

I just couldn't come to terms with the fact that I needed surgery, which would remove a large section of my stomach in order to lose weight. I tried for 35 years to lose weight on my own without any success. I kept putting it off and thinking that I could do it on my own but never could as I was always hungry and food was always on my mind. I was concerned about my quality of life after surgery and I thought I would never enjoy food again and my life would be miserable. I thought it wouldn’t
work for me and maybe I am one of those people who just has to put up with being fat. However, after surgery, I still love food and eat anything I fancy ...just in small quantities and feel completely satisfied and full.

Take it one meal/day/step at a time. 

Follow the instructions you have been given by your team. 

Trust the process - listen to your body. 

Make the most of the first six months when you can’t eat very much and you are not hungry. Find something you enjoy doing physically (for me that was walking) and get active so you have other pleasures and achievements besides food.

Before surgery, I couldn’t even walk one kilometre without sitting down and enduring incredible knee and back pain. Now I walk over 30 kilometres a week and 10-12 kilometres in one walk every weekend - this still blows my mind. It took weeks and months to build up to this but I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other and being consistent. Now I look forward to and enjoy my every second day 6km+ walk - not only does it help with my weight loss but also my mindset and overall feeling of wellness.

I had surgery at 48, I wish I did it at 28 and I am so glad I didn’t wait until 68!

The nagging issue of food and weight which was ever present in my life disappeared after surgery. When I wake up in the morning I am not thinking about breakfast. When I am eating lunch I am not thinking about dinner. My mind doesn’t wander in the middle of my day thinking for the 50th time that day how am I going to get rid of this weight? Six mouthfuls of yummy food make me feel like I have had a three-course meal and I don’t want anymore. The surgery has opened up a path that has led me to feel physical freedom for the first time in 48 years and with physical freedom comes emotional and psychological relief.

Best decision of your life – do it!