‘I could not even sit comfortably’
Father of six beats diabetes with bariatric surgery and can now sit cross-legged and find fitting clothes easily
As his weight continued to increase, Hashim Al Musabi felt like he had to put his life on hold. The 46-year-old Emirati was spending long hours at the office, and he was always tired. Added to this was the diabetes, the growing backache and pain in his knees.
“I was unable to play with my children, and hours in an exercise bike had yielded no results,” Al Musabi told Gulf News.
Increasingly blurred vision proved to be the last straw for Al Musabi, and he finally sought help.
“My lifestyle was hard to change, especially given my working hours, but the physical difficulties I was facing became unbearable. In fact, I could not even sit for long without facing excruciating pain in my back, and walking was always a chore,” Al Musabi said.
The father of six underwent bariatric surgery in September 2016, with the support of his wife and family. Weighing 105 kilograms before the procedure, he has lost 36 kilograms since then, and said he feels well again.
He now weighs a healthy 69 kilograms.
Enjoying normal life
“There are misconceptions about bariatric surgery that suggest you cannot enjoy a normal life after it. In fact, I now have to see far fewer doctors now, and I do not suffer from diabetes any longer. It took just one month after the surgery to resolve this otherwise-lifelong disease,” Al
Musabi said.
While some patients feel uncomfortable in the run-up to a weight-loss procedure, Al Musabi was reassured by his surgeon, as well as psychologist who assessed his mental state before the procedure.
“I would recommend bariatric surgery to all overweight patients, but of course only a specialist can determine if you fit the criteria for the procedure. From my viewpoint, it has changed my life. I was unable to do something as simple as sitting cross-legged before the surgery; now I don’t have to give it a second thought,” he said.
The procedure has also brought about other subtle but satisfying changes to his life. Al Musabi is able to find clothes that fit him more easily. And while he used to be able to eat three shawarmas one after another in the past, he can now stomach only one at a time.
“I think I still eat the same food, but the portion sizes are much smaller and more balanced,” he said.