Life-Changing Surgery Offers New Hope for Obesity Patient Sandra
A sleeve gastrectomy has given 48-year-old Sandra Tobien a renewed outlook on life, allowing her to envision a future where simple joys—like wearing dresses—are no longer out of reach. After years of battling obesity and its associated health complications, Tobien underwent a procedure at Diako Hospital in Bremen, Germany, marking a turning point in her journey toward wellness.
Tobien’s struggle with excess weight was multifaceted, impacting both her physical and mental well-being. She experienced a range of health issues, including “High blood pressure, long-term sugar, back pain, knee pain and shortness of breath. Even if you run like that, yes,” she explained in an interview. Traditional weight loss methods proved unsuccessful, leading doctors to diagnose her with obesity—a chronic disease characterized by excessive fat accumulation.
The Diako Hospital in Bremen offered a specialized solution. The clinic is the first in Bremen to be certified to perform obesity surgery, utilizing various surgical options to address the disease. Tobien learned of the hospital through her nieces, Viviane and Jasmin, and quickly recognized it as a potential path forward.
Despite obesity being a recognized medical condition, individuals often face societal blame, with suggestions that lifestyle changes are a simple fix. However, a bariatric surgeon at Diako Hospital, Elena Junghans, emphasized the complexity of the issue. “It is very important that we are aware, also as doctors, because this ignorance also exists in our areas so much that people say, it’s very easy, change your lifestyle. But it doesn’t work that way.”
Tobien underwent a sleeve gastrectomy, a procedure that involves removing a significant portion of the stomach and impacting the production of the hunger hormone. According to Junghans, this surgery doesn’t just alter physical sensations; it fundamentally shifts a patient’s relationship with food. “Not only does the feeling of hunger and satiety change, but also the sense of smell and taste. Many patients report after the operation that they can no longer eat what they liked before.”
Now, post-surgery, Tobien is looking forward to reclaiming aspects of her life she once felt unable to enjoy. “Dresses, wearing nice clothes. Yes, I’m looking forward to that. I don’t dare wear dresses anymore all the time. I don’t feel comfortable,” she shared, expressing her anticipation for a future filled with newfound confidence and freedom. Her experience underscores the transformative potential of surgical intervention for individuals grappling with the challenges of obesity.
Sources used: Own RTL research, Federal Office for Civic Education.
