After a hard day nursing, Rose Healey’s feet were aching. Wheezing as she struggled up the stairs, she felt like flopping down on the bed.
If only she hadn’t promised to go out. If only she could find an outfit that would fit.
“Suddenly, it all seemed too hard,” Rose remembers. “That was the moment I decided I had to do something about my weight.”
of course, it wasn’t the first time Rose had decided to shed the excess kilos – but this time she meant it.
“I’ve lost count of the number of diets I have been on,” laughs Rose, an Aucklander who has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for five years.
“As a teenager, I felt shy and self-conscious about my body shape. I was always big, but it got worse after I left home. I’ve always had a sweet tooth and once I started looking after myself, I realised I could eat cake whenever I wanted to.
“I tried the Atkins Diet, but I got headaches and felt tired. I reduced the amount of fat and sugar in my diet, but it was difficult because of my work. I work shifts so I eat at odd times and was able to have a treat to keep my energy levels up. I even tried diet pills, which were fine in short bursts. I would lose five to eight kilograms and then things would slip.
“I tried going for walks and exercising at the gym, but I always ended up feeling defeated by my efforts. I had started to hate shopping, too. I love clothes, but it’s so hard to find pretty styles in large sizes. I was a size 22 and 121kg – nothing looked right.”
Worse still, Rose’s bulky frame was causing health problems. “I was 27 and I had arthritis in my hips, caused by the strain from excess weight. It was very painful, especially when I exercised. I found it so discouraging and I was worried I could develop other complications from being overweight.”
With a newfound resolve, Rose decided to try a new technique to lose weight – surgery. “I met a doctor at the hospital where I work, who specialised in laparoscopic surgery. I went for a medical check-up, had blood tests and arranged to have time off from my job.
“I had heard it would cost about $21,000 for the operation in New Zealand. It was a bit cheaper in Saudi Arabia but, amazingly, I had the operation for free because the cost came under healthcare as part of my employment agreement.
“I thought long and hard about it because I’m a nurse and I know operations can be dangerous. This is a really big operation and I knew there could be complications like bleeding or infection. There can also be an internal leak from part of the gastric system. I weighed it all up and decided to go ahead.”
The gastric bypass procedure involves creating a stomach pouch out of a small portion of the stomach and attaching it directly to the small intestine, bypassing a large part of the stomach and duodenum. Not only is the stomach pouch too small to hold large amounts of food, by skipping the duodenum, less fat is absorbed.
Rose says, “I had the operation in oay 2004 and was out of bed the same day as the surgery. After five days, I went home, but two days later, I got a fever and had fluid leakage from one of the incisions, so I had to go back into hospital for another week.
“In total, I was off work for three weeks. For the first few days, I could only drink fluids. Then, when I had complications, I couldn’t eat or drink anything for a week. I had to have fluids and nutrients given to me through a drip. I didn’t want to eat but as my stomach started to heal, I began to feel hungry.
“Within three weeks, I was at the gym walking on the treadmill. But I had to drastically change my eating habits and eat soft foods to help heal my stomach. I also had to eat less. I now avoid sweet foods as they cause an unpleasant reaction. Foods that are high in fat are out for the rest of my life!
“At first, I lost weight fast. I set a target to be a healthy weight for my height. My surgeon wanted me to lose 70% to 80% of my excess weight. Now I can wear a size 14. The great thing was that after the surgery, I felt more motivated to exercise. I started going to the gym three times a week. It became easier to exercise as I lost weight.”
Now, Rose follows a balanced and nutritious plan of eating. “I can eat almost normal amounts, but I do have to watch my portions.”
And she still reads online about the operation she had, to make sure she is following the right regime. “I’ve met a few people who have had similar operations and we support each other. My friends in Saudi Arabia have also encouraged me. I still get a thrill when I look in the mirror and see my new look. The other bonus is all the attention I get from men. When I was bigger I felt invisible, but now I’m often chatted up and asked out.
“But the biggest bonus is the way I feel about myself. I don’t suffer from arthritis any more and it’s great to be fit, healthy and capable of doing things like going for a run. I feel more confident about myself and my future. I used to feel I couldn’t do everything I wanted to because of my weight. Now I feel I can achieve anything I put my mind to.” Story: Vivienne Haldane Pictures: photographersinc.co.nz
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