I love food. Ever since I was young, I love eating yummy food. Food was like my best friend, my comfort zone. Growing up, I never knew what food can do to our body.
My overeating habit all these years has contributed to my massive weight gain. Prior to the surgery, my weight was rocketing sky high at 147kg. Been at 147kg was such a struggle.
- I had high blood pressure.
- I was panting all the time, imagine yourself carrying a 100kg bag on your body the whole day long.
- I felt tired all the time. I felt sleepy most part of the day, not having enough energy to focus on something.
I was suffering badly from sleep apnea. With minimum sleep at night, I had a terrible day time sleepiness/fatigue. I felt tired and sleepy most part of the day and for too many times I dozed off easily while doing something. (Especially after a hearty lunch meal.) I had dozed off a few times while I was driving and the worst ever was hitting someone’s car at the traffic light.
Realising how bad and dangerous it was, I finally took the courage to set up an appointment with Dr Cha at SDMC. Months before making the appointment with Dr Cha, I went through online information (YouTube especially) about what bariatric surgery is.
I underwent bariatric surgery back in October 2017.
I am losing sleep and could barely sleep at night.
Post-Surgery Experience
First few weeks after surgery was not the easiest moment of my life. The images of myself been wheeled into the operation theatre, the theatre light, the anaesthetic doctor keeps flashing back in my mind. I am losing sleep and could barely sleep at night. Took quite a while (a week or two) for me to get back to good night sleep.
When it comes to food and drinks, I think I am very lucky to not have a complication as some other patients might have. Of course, I constantly remind myself to go slow with my small and tiny stomach, following strictly on a liquid diet for the first few weeks.
At times I was pushing myself hard by consuming half solid food too soon and make myself vomiting and feeling nausea too many times. I was mentally stressed at that moment; asking myself what had I done to myself?
I threw out in the car after eating two pieces of chicken nuggets.
I was not able to eat like how a normal people would, no longer find the joy of eating like before. I still remembered once I threw out in the car after eating two pieces of chicken nuggets.
I too have certain weeks whereby my weight was stagnant just like others. I still monitor my weight now and I believe the most difficult part after the operation is that I still have the mindset that I want to eat this and that, I want to enjoy food like before.
But slowly, I am changing my mindset and habit away from overeating. I learn to nibble a little bit and feel satisfied and grateful to have a taste of food that I love in a small quantity.
The Weight Loss Progress
I created an excel chart for monitoring my weight. I recorded my weight and take a picture of myself once a week (for 60 consecutive weeks). I want to record the physical changes to my body and in number.
The photos and numbers definitely help me to see how my body is slowly shrinking and encourages me to stay focus on the path to a healthier life.
I took another drastic step by not eating rice and noodle since my surgery day. As of now, I still am not eating rice and noodle. I think it helps but it may not apply to everyone.
Looking back, I am glad that I took the best decision to give myself a chance for a better living lifestyle. It is coming close to 2 years after my bariatric surgery.
What a physical transformation! I have gained so much life, I have gained so much happiness and confidence and move to the next phase of my life. I am living the healthiest that I can be at the moment.
Thank you, Dr Cha, for giving me a new life. Always wanna tell you how grateful I am to you! See you soon at next meet up!
