A Hamilton mother says a gastric sleeve operation she underwent to lose weight has left her with permanent brain damage.
Chelsea Connell, a mother of two, struggled with her weight after having her first child. In June 2021, at age 28, she paid £9,000 for the surgery at the private Spire Hospital in Manchester. At the time, she weighed 16 stone and wore a size 20.
Initially, the operation seemed successful. However, soon after, Chelsea began experiencing severe migraines, vertigo, and blurred vision. These symptoms worsened until she was unable to walk. Doctors later diagnosed her with Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a neurological condition caused by vitamin B1 deficiency, which led to irreversible brain damage.
Just three weeks after the surgery, Chelsea struggled to keep food or drink down. She recalls feeling as if she was dying and was repeatedly vomiting bile. Thanks to her mother insisting on further medical evaluation, Chelsea was admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Tests confirmed she suffered from severe malnutrition and thiamine deficiency, which caused the brain damage.
Chelsea criticized the private hospital for inadequate post-surgery care, saying they failed to properly monitor her eating and drinking habits before discharging her. She believes better follow-up care could have prevented her condition. She also suggested she might have received better treatment abroad, such as in Turkey.
Now 32, Chelsea lives with debilitating symptoms. She suffers from nystagmus, a condition causing involuntary eye movements that prevent her from focusing. She is registered as partially blind and continues to battle severe vertigo. Her health issues make it difficult for her to live independently, use public transport, or drive. She has had to modify her home and abandon plans to start a nail and eyelash business.
Despite these challenges, Chelsea remains positive. She no longer has diabetes or kidney and bowel problems. She has lost weight and now wears a size 12, weighing 10 stone. Most importantly, she is grateful for the weight loss that allowed her to have her daughter, who is now two years old.
Chelsea said she will not seek any further surgeries. “I’m happy and lucky to be here. I’ve got my daughter, and that’s all I wanted,” she said.
Spire Healthcare responded to the case, stating they are in contact with Chelsea to discuss her concerns and will review the care she received.
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