Why We Decided to Write This Down
We started this blog because we could not find what we were looking for when we were going through the process of deciding to have gastric sleeve surgery, and then going through it.
What we could find was plenty of before-and-after photographs, motivational content, and broad descriptions of how the surgery works. What was harder to find was honest, detailed, first-hand accounts from people who had actually done it – who had navigated the research phase with real uncertainty, who had chosen to have surgery abroad rather than through the NHS, who had experienced the complicated emotional territory of significant weight loss alongside the physical changes.
We are not medical professionals. We are two people who had surgery at Weight Loss Riga in March 2024 – James starting at around 30 stone, Kirsten at around 18 stone – and who have been living with the consequences, good and difficult, in the two years since.
James’s Reasons
James had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease for over a decade. By the time we made the decision about surgery, it had progressed to stage 2 liver failure and was heading towards stage 3. The liver function returned to normal within three weeks of surgery, which is one of the more striking outcomes of the procedure and one that is not discussed as prominently as the weight loss numbers.
The weight itself was significant – the joint impact on blood pressure, pre-diabetic markers, mobility, and energy was real and cumulative. But the liver disease was the primary driver. Surgery was a medical decision as much as a lifestyle one.
Kirsten’s Reasons
Kirsten’s situation was different. Managing Crohn’s disease alongside obesity creates a complex nutritional picture. The decision to have surgery involved careful consideration of how the post-sleeve dietary requirements would interact with her existing condition. Two years on, it has been manageable – more than manageable – but it required, and continues to require, more active management than a straightforward post-sleeve journey.
What This Blog Is For
We write about what has actually happened to us – the good months and the difficult ones, the physical changes and the psychological ones, the practical challenges and the unexpected benefits. We include sources and medical references because the subject is serious and because the information available online is not always reliable.
If you are considering surgery, we hope our experience is useful context. If you have had surgery, we hope there is something here that reflects your own experience in a way that is validating. If you arrived here by accident, welcome anyway.
Sources
NICE CG189 – Obesity: identification, assessment and management
BOMSS – Guidelines on the peri-operative nutritional management of bariatric patients
NHS – Weight loss surgery: overview
About this content
This blog is written by James and Kirsten, a couple from the UK who had gastric sleeve surgery together in March 2024.
We started this blog because we couldn't find any sources of content that details before surgery, the surgery and then life post surgery - so we decided to write one ourselves.
Everything on this site is based on our own experience and the research we have done along the way. It is not medical advice. Gastric sleeve surgery is a serious procedure and every patient's journey is different. Please always consult your own bariatric team or GP before making any decisions about your health or treatment.
Some posts on this site may contain featured or sponsored content, or affiliate links. Where this is the case, it will always be clearly stated at the top of the article. Our opinions are always our own.
Publish Date: 3 August 2024 | Last Reviewed: 7 June 2026 | Next Planned Review: 7 December 2027