We often hear about load shedding since the beginning of the pandemic, but its effects remain abstract. Hospitals facing a critical lack of resources, The duty decided to put words and faces to statistics. Today, the story of Denis Pelland, who is awaiting bariatric surgery.
Since 2017, Denis Pelland has been awaiting bariatric surgery. For him, this intervention represents much more than weight loss: it is the symbol of a new beginning, of a healthier life. But the shedding which is currently raging in hospitals takes it a little further away from its goal.
“I know it’s not urgent, but it’s an operation that can change a person’s life,” says the teacher and restaurateur from Saint-André-d’Argenteuil, in the Laurentians. Father of three children, he does not hide his eagerness to leave behind the extra pounds that prevent him from doing family activities and enjoying life to the full.
“There are many things that I have wanted to do for years. He talks about cycling, canoeing and kayaking, all activities that he cannot do at present because of his overweight.
“When you haven’t experienced obesity, you don’t realize how disabling it is,” he says. It limits me in my daily activities, in my vacation activities. Just tying my boots is a challenge. And it’s not only physically that we suffer: it’s very difficult to live with on a social and personal level, but we don’t talk about it very much. »
Aged 47, Denis Pelland has been dragging his weight problem for more than 20 years. But it happened gradually. “Starting in my mid-twenties, I gained between 10 and 20 pounds a year,” he explains.
Over the years, he tried almost every diet. “I tried keto [régime cétogène] before it became fashionable, he laughs. Last on the list is intermittent fasting. It did not work. You manage to lose 10 to 15 pounds, but after that, you hit a plateau. And in my case, it’s an eternal plateau. This is where you start cheating and gain all your weight back…”
To (re)read: our series The faces of load shedding
Believe it’s possible
A few years ago he became more aware of the health problems associated with obesity. He saw his quality of life deteriorate. It was then that he decided to consult his doctor. Since 2017, he has been awaiting bariatric surgery.
“Bariatric surgery isn’t just a crutch, it’s what allows you to mark the beginning of a new way of life. That’s what makes you believe it’s possible. »
He is well aware that the operation will not solve everything and that he will have to make efforts on a daily basis. “You have to change your lifestyle because my body will always try to regain this weight. The surgery will help me control, but if I don’t put in the effort and a real life change, it will come back. »
Since 2017, he has had time to evolve his thinking and project himself into the future. “It’s part of the process of being on hold because there is psychological preparation to be done,” he admits. But in his case, the wait is stretching far beyond normal times due to the pandemic. Last June, after years of waiting, he was invited to an information meeting. Then, in September, he met the surgeon. “Normally, at this stage, it goes very quickly. But the surgeon told me that, under the circumstances, it would still take at least 6 to 9 months. And that was before Omicron arrived…”
Denis Pelland has the impression of finally seeing the finish line without managing to touch it. He is eager to achieve his goal. “It will have an impact on my quality of life and improve my longevity,” he summarizes.