Woman Paralyzed After Gastric Sleeve Surgery in a European Country

A 40-year-old British woman suffered serious complications after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down and unable to eat.

Despite doctors' assurances to Danielle Bells, 42, that she would never walk again, she was able to slowly regain her ability using crutches, and doctors predicted she would be permanently disabled.

Serious Consequences

In the summer of 2023, Danielle decided to undergo the surgery in Turkey at a cost of £2,995 – three times less than in the UK. She weighed 178 kg at the time and hoped to lose weight to live a more active life and play with her grandson in the park.

Initially, the results of the operation seemed promising, but she soon began experiencing difficulties eating and retaining fluids, symptoms that persisted for weeks and then developed into a health crisis, according to the British newspaper, the Daily Mail.

Complete Paralysis

By the end of December 2023, Danielle sought medical attention from the National Health Service (NHS), where it was discovered she was suffering from severe dehydration, requiring intravenous fluid therapy. However, her condition deteriorated sharply in January 2024, when she felt numbness in her legs and fell to the ground.

Surprisingly, she was diagnosed with "nutritional neuropathy" – nerve damage resulting from a severe deficiency in essential vitamins, specifically B vitamins, which caused paralysis from the neck down.

Danielle spent five months in the hospital undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program, gradually regaining sensation in her limbs. She was able to leave the hospital using crutches and is now able to walk without them. However, she noted that she "still has a long way to go," and she never realized the price she would pay for her dream of losing weight.

Nutritional Neuropathy

Nutritional neuropathy is a well-known complication following weight-loss surgery, affecting approximately one in six patients.

According to studies, it results from a severe vitamin deficiency, particularly B vitamins, essential for nerve health. This deficiency is caused by a reduced stomach size and appetite, which hinders the intake of sufficient nutritious food.

Doctors in Britain are warning of a sharp rise in emergency cases resulting from low-cost bariatric surgery abroad.

It is estimated that around 5,000 Britons travel abroad each year for these surgeries due to the cost difference, but many of them return with serious, potentially life-threatening complications.