32-year-old IT professional's remarkable journey from severe obesity to a successful recovery

Kolkata, 23^rd October: The pandemic that shook humanity, had its far-reaching impact through the quarantine, containment, lockdowns and other limitations, often questioning the very existence of mankind. A staggering quantum of people developed problems like hypertension, lumbar spondylitis, depression, obesity, and other critical health issues which further translated in comorbidity. The remnants of those years are prevalent in society today as well and will forever act as a reminder to highlight the spirit shown by healthcare professionals in the most testing times. Reiterating its dedication to healthcare excellence, Medica Superspecialty Hospital shared an inspiring story of hope of a super-super obesity patient, a 32-year-old IT professional from Rajarhat, Kolkata who is in the process of undergoing a multidisciplinary transformation under surgical expertise of Dr. Sumanta Dey, Robotic & Advanced Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal & Bariatric Surgeon at Medica Superspecialty Hospital, besides an entire team of specialists.

For Bhaskar Narayan Mondal (32 years) life completely turned topsy-turvy when his difficulties began during the pandemic. Faced with a complete loss of control over his lifestyle, his weight soared to 201 kg (BMI 68), categorizing him as Super-Super Obesity patient, a rare condition in medical parlance. Consequently, he developed several health complications, including Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), hypertension, back pain, and lymphedema (swelling of arms and legs). In sheer desperation to stay alive and get a viable solution, decided to visit Medica Superspecialty Hospital. Dr. Sumanta Dey, took charge of Bhaskar's case, and performed Bariatric Surgery. The doctors at Medica followed a multidisciplinary approach as the condition was affecting multiple organs in the patient. Supporting Dr. Dey in his quest to give Bhaskar a new lease of life was Dr. Amiya Kumar Mishra, Senior Consultant & HOD, Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Medica Superspecialty Hospital; Dr. Kasturi H. Bandyopadhyay, Senior Consultant Anaesthesiologist, DNB Faculty, Medica Superspecialty Hospital; Dr. Akshay Gadre, Consultant Anaesthesiologist, DNB Faculty, Medica Superspecialty Hospital; Dr. Tanmay Banerjee, Director, Medica Institute of Critical Care and Internal Medicine, Medica Superspecialty Hospital and Dr. Payel Bose, Consultant, Critical Care and Internal Medicine, Medica Superspecialty Hospital.

While explaining the issue, Dr. Sumanta Dey, shared, “Obesity is a growing health crisis that started during the pandemic. According to reports, around 4.4 crore women and 2.6 crore men were affected by obesity in India. Obesity leads to critical chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and certain cancers. When I first met Bhaskar, I understood we need to take a holistic approach. Bhaskar reduced about 20 kgs in a month thanks to pre-operative optimization, which was made possible by the combined efforts of our committed experts in physiotherapy, nutrition, pulmonology, and anesthesia. Despite the complexity of the procedure, the anaesthesia team led by Dr. Amiya Kumar Mishra have deftly handled the complexities associated with this case and have done a commendable job. Our critical care team headed by Dr. Tanmay Banerjee ably handled the post-operative lung issues of Bhaskar at the ICU. Bhaskar now weighs 153kg and he is hopeful that with the advised regimen, he would get back to his ideal weight over some more time. His ideal weight should be between 75-80 kgs. His journey highlights the critical role of self-motivation and willpower in overcoming difficulty.

Bhaskar Narayan Mondal, shared his story, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, I completely lost control of my lifestyle like many others. I already had issues with obesity, and this got worsened during Covid years due to a sedentary lifestyle.  I am grateful to the entire team of Medica Superspecialty Hospital for giving me this new life. I was determined to do everything to get back my life. Dr. Sumanta Dey explained me the entire process with precision so that I had no ambiguity on the surgical process, post-surgery complications and most importantly the time that this would take. Despite post-operative complications, the critical care team, led by Dr. Tanmay Banerjee, managed my recovery wonderfully. I owe a huge gratitude to the department of dietetics & nutrition under whose supervision I am still recovering.”

Mr. Ayanabh DebGupta, Regional Chief Operating Officer for Region East, Manipal Hospitals, (under which Medica Superspecialty Hospital is getting integrated) shared, “Bhaskar's journey is a powerful example that showcases the endless possibilities of our multi-disciplinary clinical team. This case reflects the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and importance of keeping our weight in check. Obesity management is a serious concern globally.  Bhaskar's story will surely inspire many people dealing with obesity that one needs to have a strong resolve to overcome any adversity towards a healthier future.