Jason Taylor from Bradford, had weight loss surgery at Spire Leeds Hospital in February 2012, under the care of Mr Jeremy Hayden.
He shares his story with us:
“I maintained a healthy weight of 13 stone 7lbs until I was 21 when I stopped smoking after 10 years. Although I did put some weight on over the next 15 years, I had an active lifestyle playing football, rugby and working as a manager at Thornton Village (Bronte country!) so it wasn’t until I had an accident on 9 September 1999 that my weight really ballooned.
“I was visiting some local stables when one horse tried to kick another horse. Unfortunately he kicked me instead and I fell onto the floor. Both horses trampled over me which led to a fractured sacroiliac joint and compressed nerve. I was in hospital for some time and off work for 9 months. Although I did return to work on a part time basis, I retired due to ill-health in 2002.
“I soon got fed up being at home all day and not being able to do the activities I used to enjoy so I took solace in eating. My weight increased rapidly to 22 stone and although I did manage to lose 7 stone, I quickly put it back on and more!
“I got steadily heavier and my weight crept past 30stones (194 kilos). In my mid 40’s, a doctor friend expressed his concern about my size and told me that the chances of living until an old age were slim unless I did something about my weight.
“Although I didn’t see my GP immediately after that, the conversation did make me think about my future – particularly when I realised that I couldn’t walk more than 50 metres without having to sit down as I was out of breath and my feet and ankles were swollen. I thought I was at a point of no return and my life would soon end due to my own lifestyle, I would order two lots of curry from the indian take-away, one for now and the other for breakfast in the morning (cold of course), it was costing me over £100 per week just to feed my habit.
“Eventually I saw my doctor who was lovely and extremely helpful and she referred me to Mr Jeremy Hayden at Spire Leeds Hospital. Mr Hayden confirmed that a laparoscopic gastric bypass would be the most appropriate weight loss surgery procedure for me and I had the operation in February 2012. Mr Hayden and the nursing team that cared for me were lovely – very kind and very professional.
