Malcolm’s Story

Hello, my name is Malcolm Taylor, and I have just had an extension to my life installed.

At the time of writing (February 2008) I am sixty two, and until four months ago had been fighting a losing battle with obesity. I was starting to experience knee and hip problems which were directly related to my weight, my blood pressure was high, and rising, I suffered from sleep apnoea and required a machine to help me breathe whilst asleep each night, I couldn’t walk far, couldn’t play with my grandchildren, and was not looking forward to growing old! Taking stock, I recognised that at 176cm and weighing 121.6kg I was 40 kg overweight and virtually a walking heart attack!!

I made enquiries about weight loss surgery and attended a seminar given by Gordon Padovan in September 2007. I consulted Dr. Padovan and we determined that I was a good candidate for either Lap-band surgery or a laproscopic sleeve gastrectomy. I elected to have the sleeve gastrectomy for many reasons, not least of which is… why would I want to reverse something which can so radically and beneficially change my life?

I entered Mount Hospital on the fourth of October at seven thirty in the morning, nervous and hungry, by eleven ten I was being wheeled back to my room, with five tiny puncture marks on my tummy. No Pain, no sickness, no drama!!! The procedure took around two hours, the recovery in hospital took three days, (I was home by noon on the seventh) and with the pre surgery guidance from Dr Padovan and the Dietician I was able to easily follow the simple recovery diet at home, returning to work within two weeks, and returning to a normal diet within thirty five days.

I am now four months post op, and have lost 26kg, my blood pressure is down from a dangerous 180 over 95 to a steady 121 over 70, I have reduced my blood pressure medication by over two thirds, and dispensed with my sleep apnoea machine as I now sleep soundly and naturally, …with hardly a murmur!

I have now set down one of the 20kg bags of cement that I was carrying under each arm, and have nearly emptied half of the other one!

Boy does that feel good.

Perth Bariatric Centre has restored to me the opportunity to live a long and healthy life, whilst still enjoying all that it has to offer.

My diet consists of normal every day foods, I am still able to enjoy a beer with my sons, or a good red with my wife, and life looks good once more.

Thankyou Perth Bariatric Centre, from me, from my wife, from my sons and from my grandchildren, the gift you gave me, is being spent on them.