After undergoing bariatric surgery, Robert Butchel became addicted to pain medicine.
Friends and finally have gathered to pay their respects to Robert Butchel, the star of TLC’s ‘My 600-Lbs Life’. Butchel passed away at the age of 41 after suffering a massive heart attack. At the time of his death, the morbidly obese man made wonderful progress, managing to drop more than 300-lbs.
‘My 600-Lbs Life’ Star Became Addicted to Painkiller following Bariatric Surgery
Butchel’s mother declared that her son has struggled with his weight most of his adult life but, during his last years, the man gave up all hope of losing weight, and ate like there was no tomorrow. The woman described his son’s food addiction as being a slow suicide as if the food itself became a powerful narcotic that his son needed to survive.
However, the man would find renewed hope after meeting Kathryn Lemanski, the woman who would later become his fiancé. Lemanski managed to convince Butchel to seek help for his weight and addition.
Soon enough, TLC called and asked Butchel if he’s willing to star in the popular weight-loss show ‘My 600-lbs Life.’ Butchel signed the contract and thus started the long road to recovery.
For the better part of the show, the man adhered to his diet and exercises and with a ‘little’ help from Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, he managed to drop from 842 pounds to a staggering 502 pounds. During Butchel’s bariatric surgery, Nowzaradan managed to remove several lymphedema masses Robert had on his right side of the body in order to speed up the weight-loss process.
Unfortunately, after the bariatric surgery, the man became addicted to the painkiller, and when his surgeon refused to give him more, he ripped out his stitches and refused to exercise and eat healthily.
Soon afterward, Butchel’s heart failed, being declared dead back in November.
Image source: Pixabay
