Losing Weight To Gain Confidence
For Muzaffar Khan, gaining confidence and the ability to move far outweighs (no pun intended) losing 50 kg in three months. Frantically fighting morbid obesity for years, Khan, who is from Lonar in Buldhana, arrived in Pune and underwent bariatric surgery in May at a city hospital. Today, he boasts of fine health and speaks of how happy he is to finally fit inside an autorickshaw!
Khan, who suffered from childhood obesity, underwent the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (surgery to achieve weight loss through reduction of the stomach) at the Jehangir Hospital on April 24, and was in the city recently for a routine follow up with his doctor. He said he found out about the surgery on the internet and consulted the doctors.
“I am so happy. I actually managed to travel by a luxury bus to Pune. After alighting from the bus, I hailed an auto rickshaw and, much to my surprise, I could actually fit inside it! Earlier, I would never even try to hire a rickshaw in Lonar, since I would never be able to get in,” said Muzaffar, who had traveled to Pune in an ambulance for the surgery.
It’s not just about fitting inside a rickshaw, for the 22 year old can now stand for more than 30 minutes at a stretch, something that he could only wish for a few months ago. Those were the days when he either remained sitting in one position or lying in bed for the better part of the day.
Khan is also ecstatic that he can get back to his studies now, which he had to leave since his weight got in the way. “I have lost 50 kg till now. I am going to appear for the Secondary School Certificate exams externally. I want to pursue aeronautical engineering and become a pilot,” he said.
His tendency to put on weight continued since his childhood and his lifestyle changed to such an extent that he could do only two activities eat and sleep. Khan never lived a normal life and always faced social stigma due to his weight.
“It was difficult to go to school. The students would taunt me because of my huge frame and massive weight,” said Khan. “People don’t tease me as much now, since I look more normal due to the weight loss,” said Khan. Sleeping was no less an ordeal for him back then, as he needed two to three pillows for support, because sleeping on his back without support would make him feel breathless.
Since diet is the only restriction following the surgery, he said, “I eat some noodles in the morning, a chapati for lunch and a small amount of rice for dinner. I get abdominal pain if I try to eat more.” Khan feels no weakness and is also on a regulated dose of multi-vitamins.
Among other things, Khan who lost 20 kg in the first month after the surgery, and 15 kg each over the next two months is very delighted that he can perform the Namaz (prayers) five times in a day. “Also, I have lost ten inches.”
“I don’t have to rely too much on my family members for small things. Now, with increased mobility, I’m doing routine things on my own,” he said.
Khan’s elder brother, who is a truck driver and the only earning member in the family, supported him to a great extent. Their father suffers from paralysis. “We had to sell half of the house to raise funds for the operation,” said Khan.
Bariatric surgeon Shrihari Dhore Patil, who performed the surgery on Khan, said, “Post-surgery, the patient will lose 50% of his current weight in a year and another 20 to 30% in the subsequent year. He will stabilise at around 100 to 125 kg. We have been carrying out this kind of a surgery since 1999 and over 800 such surgeries have been performed by us till date.”
He said, “In this surgery, we have shortened the length of his tummy so that his craving for food goes down and he eats less. With this, he will gradually start losing weight and will be able to lead a normal life. He will be monitored every two months for one year.”
According to senior marketing manager of the hospital, Sainath Pradhan, “Khan presented quite a challenge for the surgical and anaesthesia team. Shifting an unconscious patient weighing 265 kilos from operation theatre (OT) table to stretcher and then from stretcher to the bed in the ward was quite tough.”
