​Rudzani Matshili
 
After a successful bariatric surgery at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH), Tanita Snyman (34) has healthier lungs, reversed pre-diabetes, and feels lighter having lost 38 kg.
"I feel so good. My heart and my lungs are as healthy as they can be. Basic daily tasks are so much easier now. I can walk freely, and I've even completed a 5km Spar Women's Walk - no more asthma pumps or nebuliser," said the now toned up Snyman
The 34-year-old underwent surgery in January 2023 after struggling with tasks such as driving, getting dressed and taking a bath, among other challenges. Her weight was reduced from 160 kg to 122 kg. Snyman shared her story in honour of World Obesity Day to inspire others facing the same challenges.
From the time she was a child, she struggled with her weight and has explained the toll it took on her life over the years. From battling infertility to constantly dealing with pain and discomfort and struggling with clothing sizes. To add to her struggles, she was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in 2019 and was told she would never be able to have children.
She explained that inactivity and being an emotional eater contributed to her weight gain. "In the last two years of high school, we could no longer find uniforms that fit me, so I had to have mine tailor-made. After matriculating in 2008, I was wearing a size 44/46 in denim. I was out of breath just walking to the toilet. I would fall asleep in the middle of a sentence, and I could no longer drive my car because my stomach was too big and my legs too short."
She said the wake-up call to take action about her weight came in December 2016, after a difficult breakup. Her introduction to the concept of surgery came from watching "My 500-lb Life", a TV show on the struggles of overweight people. "The show made me think, maybe I can get help. I had to step onto a butcher's meat scale to measure my weight. There I was, at 26 years old, weighing 210 kg."
"I started dieting and slowly lost weight on my own. I joined a gym. My starting weight was 167.3kg, and after three months, I weighed 139.95kg. However, I couldn't keep up with the routine, and over time, I began to gain weight again, reaching 180kg." As her weight slowly crept back up, she decided to undergo surgery.
"I discovered DGMAH and joined the waiting list. I attended my first clinic day in June 2022 and was approved for surgery."
However, there was a setback that delayed the surgery. "I had clots in my lungs, and if I had gone through with the surgery at that time, I wouldn't have survived." After returning for a follow-up, she was cleared to proceed with surgery and began a liquid diet at 166.1 kg.
"The surgery was a success, and I'm forever thankful to the whole team. Today, I am two years and two months post-op, and my life has changed in so many ways," she said.
The surgery varies, depending on a patient's income. For more information, patients can contact DGMAH's general surgery unit on 012 529 3660.