Mum who lost 18st starved to death from gastric bypass op left her unable to eat
A MUM starved to death after struggling to eat following a weight loss op, an inquest has heard.
Kimberley Wall underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2008, after fearing her obesity would kill her.
But, over the next ten years, her weight plummeted from 23 stone to just five stone.
The former nursery nurse and hairdresser could only manage two mouthfuls of food, and was so weak she could barely walk or get out of bed.
Despite repeated attempts by doctors to treat her, the mum-of-three from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was admitted to Fairfield Hospital in Bury after her condition deteriorated.
The 44-year-old died a week later after tests revealed she'd suffered heart failure due to malnutrition, in part caused by her op, an inquest heard.
Last week a coroner concluded there were no errors with the surgery itself, but said Kimberley died on October 8 last year, from long-term complications.
Kimberley had the operation at a private hospital on the NHS after she began comfort eating when she suffered a miscarriage at the age of 18.
She subsequently complained of suffering crippling stomach pains, nausea, fatigue and low self-confidence.
Speaking about her decision to have the operation in 2014, Kimberley said: "I knew it was a drastic step, but I'd tried every diet under the sun without any success.
"Now I've gone from being too fat to move to being weak and undernourished.
"I thought the operation would give me the life I'd dreamed of - but it turns out I couldn't have been more wrong. I could barely eat any food.
"Whatever I did manage to swallow made my stomach turn. I felt sick all the time.
"I completely regret having the gastric bypass. I wish I'd never done it. It's just such a shame that I had to get to this point to realise that I was happier when I was overweight."
Struggling to eat
Her mum Muriel Stephenson told the inquest into her daughter's death: "She started to gain weight about 18 years prior to death and it was a steady increase until she reached about 23 stone.
"She had the gastric bypass operation in 2008 and it was deemed to be a success and her weight plummeted in the first year.
''She loved the fact she lost so much weight but she could hardly eat anything.
"It would just be a couple of spoonfuls and then by that stage she had had enough and she was also often sick.
''As time went by she became more and more depressed, paranoid and worried about everything.
''Over the last couple of years was very frail and could hardly walk or get out of bed.''
Back and forth to hospital
The inquest heard Kimberley was repeatedly admitted hospital over a six-year period before being referred to see a specialist.
Ms Stephenson said her daughter suffered stomach pains but failed to get any answers as to what was causing her pain, and each time was discharged.
"She needed carers," she said. "The hospital thought she had an eating disorder, but we strongly disagree with that.
"She wanted to eat but couldn't manage to."
Last August, Kimberley was admitted to hospital again, this time she was frail, in pain, confused and weighed around five stone.
Her blood pressure dropped so low she was transferred to Intensive Care before her condition improved and she was sent home, her mum said.
"We were away when we got a call from our other daughter saying Kim had collapsed at home and was admitted once again," she said.
''When we got back we went straight to the hospital where she was on 24 hours a day oxygen.
"She was a little breathless but able to hold a conversation.
"At 1.30am we got a call from the hospital to say she had deteriorated and that we should go but she had died before the family where able to get there."
Eating disorder ruled out
Kimberley's GP Dr Richard Darling said following her op, a review highlighted that she was struggling with food toleration.
He told the inquest there were concerns she could have Crohn's disease, but it was ruled out along with bipolar disorder.
''She was referred for counselling with a local mental health service for symptoms of depression and anxiety but she deteriorated and she was referred to the Gastroenterology department as she suffered nausea and abdominal pain after eating," he added.
''We discussed the eating disorder but Kimberley said she didn’t feel that was the case saying, 'It’s not that I don’t want to eat - I do but I can’t'.
"She was prescribed some food supplements and a dietitian reported she was managing well with eating and her weight was increasing.
''I didn’t refer her for an eating disorder as I didn’t feel her problems were related to an eating disorder.
"I always felt the problem was as a result of her surgery and that was consistent with what Kimberley was saying."
Op does have risks
While the doctors who performed Kimberley's surgery were not on hand to give evidence at the inquest, medical expert Mr Khurshid Akthar, a consultant surgeon said a full assessment would've been made to check if it was the right option.
He said most patients lose up to 70 per cent excess body weight - but warned the operation comes with complications and risks.
''All patients need some supplements and have to take minerals and vitamins - then there's a life long supplement that you have to take," Mr Akthar said.
"There is a recognised complication where patients say they have pain or some problem with eating or malabsorption.
"No evidence that malabsorption was happening here but it is more likely had that malnutrition was happening as she not eating enough.''
Nicola Rimmington a lead nurse at Fairfield hospital, who cared for Kimberley, told the hearing: ''She walked with a frame and could only manage one set of stairs.
"She was very thin with multiple skin breaks in her shins."
Ms Rimmington explained a malnutrition assessment was carried out and Kimberley was referred to a dietitian.
''She took small amounts of food and liquid but a nurse who attended to Kimberly said her condition changed and her breathing was none responsive and lifeless," she added.
"I do not believe any nursing contributed to her loss but there was a delay in referring to the dietitian and two staff who failed to follow through with observations have been spoken to.
"Lessons need to be learned about nutrition.''
Medics did investigate
Recording a narrative conclusion the coroner Matthew Cox said: ''Following the gastric by-pass procedure Kimberley could hardly eat anything after a couple of mouthfuls and struggling with food retention.
''She was referred to gastroenterologist and psychiatric services before her GP referred her urgently to a dietitian due to on going problems with eating.
''We've have had little information about the operation itself as those who treated her are not here to give evidence.
MOST READ IN HEALTH
"But there are risks as well as benefits to the procedure. Kimberly's problem with nutrition is a rare but recognised complication of the gastric bypass surgery.
''Given the extent of the problems Kimberly went on to suffer she had problems with anxiety and depression and this exasperated the eating difficulties.
"It is clear to to me the source of her problem was investigated thoroughly over the years.''
