Charlotte's story

"I just wish I'd done it sooner - I feel I've wasted so many years of my life!"

A freelance film producer from Bournemouth, Charlotte struggled with her weight for years.  But it was on a flight to New York that she realised that her health was being seriously affected.  "As we came into land, I suffered the most piercing pain in my head, like a poker going through it, and a blood vessel in my eye burst," she says. "I really panicked - my mum thought I was having a stroke."

Charlotte before weight loss surgeryIt transpired that Charlotte's excruciating headache was caused by high blood pressure brought on by her excess weight.  "At my heaviest I weighed 18½ stone," says Charlotte, who is 5' 4".  "My weight problems started when I was about 15.  Although I never really had a sweet tooth, I found it difficult to keep my portion sizes small. The weight just kept piling on."

Over the years, Charlotte, now 30, tried every diet imaginable. "I did them all," she says.  "Atkins, Slimming World, Xenical/Alli.  But each time I lost weight I ended up putting more back on.  On one diet I lost three stone and then put on five." 

Although she tried not to let it get her down, it inevitably did.  "I hated having my photo taken, hated the way I looked," says Charlotte, who has worked with Granada TV and also on the Jeremy Kyle show. 

"When you work in film and television, you're often surrounded by glamorous people and the pressure is on to look good. I just wanted to look nice.  But buying clothes was difficult - the only shop that had clothes that fitted me was Evans."

Charlotte after weight loss surgeryCharlotte's confidence was at an all time low.  And her health was suffering. "I had chronic back pain and chest problems. I was tired all the time.  It's a vicious circle - you want to exercise but you can't because you're just too big.  I just couldn't see any way of losing weight.  That was the worst thing. My parents even hired a personal trainer for me.  But although she worked me hard, I didn't really lose anything."

Charlotte was concerned too that her excess weight might hamper her chances of having children.  "I really want a family one day.  I was worried my weight would affect that." 

After the New York flight, Charlotte started to explore whether weight loss surgery was feasible.  "But doctors told me I wasn't heavy enough to qualify for surgery on the NHS, despite the fact I had a body mass index (BMI) of 43 and health problems." 

After discussing the situation with her parents, she decided to pay privately. "A friend who works in medicine recommended that I should go to Professor David Kerrigan, one of the country's top weight loss surgeons.   My friend said - if you are going to get it done, get it done by him!"

Charlotte did further research on the internet and found that David Kerrigan was medical director of Gravitas, the nationwide partnership of leading bariatric (weight loss) surgeons and clinicians. "I went to one of their information evenings and they told me all about the different types of procedure available," says Charlotte.  "After consultation with Mr Kerrigan, I decided that the gastric band would be the best for me.  I liked the fact it could be removed. It didn't seem too final."

Charlotte had her gastric band fitted in September 2009.  "I was only in hospital for one night," she says.  "I went in at 7am and came home the following lunchtime.  I was a bit apprehensive when I first went in though my mum was more worried than me.  But everyone was so friendly and calming.  They chatted to me as if I was a friend and that really chilled me out.  I didn't feel like I was having an op."

The gastric band operation went extremely smoothly. "I was up and about straight away and had the staples out two weeks later," says Charlotte.   "You can hardly see the scar - I was really surprised.   It's amazing what they can do with keyhole surgery!"   

Today, Charlotte weighs 11st 7lbs.  "I've already lost 7st and my BMI is down from 43 to 29," she says. "So far I've lost 75% of my excess body weight and I'm still losing - it averages 8lbs a month."

These days Charlotte not only eats less but also eats more healthily.  "Before, I'd skip breakfast, have lunch and then eat dinner late.  These days I might have a Weetabix or two for breakfast and maybe some fruit and yoghurt.  For lunch I'll have soup or half a sandwich made with brown bread and perhaps fish for supper.  I avoid rice and white bread, which are a definite no-no, along with steak. I eat far smaller portions now - one small plate of food and I'm full."

Losing so much weight has really boosted Charlotte's confidence. "Going shopping is such a pleasure now.  I love wearing dresses - they look good on me.  And I can get my calves into boots!  I can also wear high heels.  Before, I couldn't wear them without wobbling."

Charlotte also finds it much easier to exercise. "I walk six miles a day and love walking the dogs.  And I've joined a gym.  I can do whatever I want.  I used to avoid rides at theme parks because I thought I was too big.  Not any more - I'll try anything!"

If there's one thing Charlotte regrets is that she didn't have the op done sooner. "I keep thinking about how many years of my life I have wasted - and also about the amount of money I have wasted," she says.  "Over the years, I've spent a fortune on different diets and personal trainers.  The surgery would probably have paid for itself.   These days my quality of life is just so much better.  I have so much energy.  And I'm far happier - and healthier." 


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