Tazza

Hi, I was surprised to see that there's not a UK specific group, anyone know how to get it started? I know that a the WLS site has a lot of members but you have to pay :omg: and I'm saving all my money for the op! Anyway, this site is more fun - I find the tickers fascinating!! Any ideas?? :help: Tazza

Hi, Anyone had (or is going to have) the Easyband Telemetric Adjustable Gastric Band (TAGB)? I am going to Belgium to be banded by Dr Foquet (hopefully) and he is just starting to do this new band with no port. Just wondering if anyone has any experience of it. Thanks,

Hi, I currently have 8.5mls in a 10mls band and have had 4 fills and was banded almost 6 months ago, I have only lost 14lbs. Unfortunately I have only a tiny and occasional restriction and strangely was feeling quite a bit of restriction at 7.5mls before my last fill. My surgeon checked at the last fill and there is no disconnection and more than likely no slippage as I haven't experienced any pain. So what can it be? I am going back to the hospital in Belgium where I was banded on 13 November to try and work out whats wrong. But in the meantime I can't stop thinking about what it could be - errosion, port infection. I'm terrified of need to be re-operated on as I am self-pay and can't borrow any more money. Any ideas?? Thanks

Try BOSPA - The British Obesity Surgery Patient Association it's the British Obesity Surgery Patient Association - it gives details of surgeons and fill providers all over the UK.

Hi Foxytri, I had my band and all my fills done by Dr Marc Focquet - he is great and absolutely recommendable. My surgery cost around £3,200. I wouldn't have my surgery done over here as the hospitals are too dirty.

Hi GC53, Thanks for your observation!! :car: My post that you quoted was made on 21 January 2007 and at the time there was no UK specific area or threads. They created all this in response to my original post. Hope that clears things up for you :car:

Hi, I was banded in Belgium (with no problems at all and only £3,100) and when I came back I went to see my GP and she has made referrals for aftercare to the NHS Dietician and my nearest NHS Bariatric Unit which is in Chichester, which is where Dr Shaw Somers also works. Don't rule out the NHS and what they can provide for you.

Hi, I was banded last week on the 9th May and am 6 days post-op now. I have healed really quickly not even needing any pain-meds since getting home and have been active and out and about since 3 days post-op. Last night I noticed a hard lump that has formed around the port area under the skin which is a bit sore and very itchy. There is no redness on the skin surface so I do not think it is an infection but just wondered if this is a normal reaction to a foreign object in the body and if it will go away on its own. I also experienced horrendous shoulder pain in the back today for the first time after having some porridge and it spread all the way down my arm and into my hand even though I haven't had any gas pains since 4 days post-op. Is this usual or should I be concerned?? Yep, back on the liquids tomorrow but I was STARVING!! Thanks,

Hi, I just went back to work 9 days post-op and found that my desk is at the same level as my port. I tried adjusting the chair height but not much relief there. My port was really sore by the end of the day and it hadn't been bothering me much prior to that. I'm hoping next week will be better!

Hi Deanna, Thanks for your concern and quick post but the pain went away earlier this evening after a few long 'burps' and some crushed up paracetamol. I was a bit worried though as I could not use my arm properly but it was definitely food related. I think this is what they call 'a learning curve', hopefully I will learn but just wondered if this is likely to continue and if anyone else had experienced it. Thanks,

Ooh, thats interesting, just noticed that Dr De Bruyne and Dr Focquet have the same London address at 4 Upper Wimpole Street. Wonder if they office share!

Hi, Anyone had (or is going to have) the Easyband Telemetric Adjustable Gastric Band (TAGB)? I am going to Belgium to be banded by Dr Foquet (hopefully) and he is just starting to do this new band with no port. Just wondering if anyone has any experience of it. Thanks,

Hi, I had my consultation yesterday for the Easyband and am having the op 9th May. Dr Focquet told me that Allergan have just bought out Endoart and he anticipates that because of this Easyband should be available on the US market quite soon. I'm glad of this new development as it means hopefully that more people in the UK will be fitting this band and therefore have the adjustment equipment available, in case of an emergency this would be good. Dr Focquet also told me that both he and I have the card that is necessary for adjustments, so therefore I can get adjustments wherever there is the available equipment. Excited!!:clap2:

I found this ad for Easyband:-

Hi Southern Girl, I am having a consultation in London on Friday and the Surgeon that I had already chosen is going to begin fitting these new bands from 9 May. I think I will be nervous about being the first (or one of the first) but he has been fitting lap bands for many years in Belgium. The Easyband in Belgium will cost £4,000 - 6,000 Euro which includes one-night hospital stay and there is a company in Manchester, UK that have started fitting the Easyband for £8,950, so it seems your band is becoming popular. I know there is also a clinic in Canada that started fitting Easyband in January 2007. I think if you google "Easyband" you would get some info up or even "Telemetric Adjustable Gastric Band". The company that makes it is Euroart in Switzerland. I think they may be doing clinical trials in America. Below is some info; "Now, there is a remarkable development in band technology which entirely eliminates the need to needle-puncture the access port with all the attendant risks. The Telemetric Adjustable Gastric Band (TAGB) uses sophisticated electronics to close or open the band without the need for an access port of any kind. The access port is replaced by a simple electronic receiver, through which the telemetric signal is directed to either open or close the band. The main advantages of the TAGB are: No risk of access port infection No requirement for needles or puncture of the skin Highly accurate and painless adjustment Shorter time spent under X-ray evaluation No risk of Fluid leakage from the band The TAGB has been clinically evaluated and has been shown to be both safe and effective. In fact percentage excess weight loss is at least as good as with a conventional “hydraulic” band and may well prove to be better due to improved patient compliance with band adjustments"

Hi Sabine, I was reading your posts - I am thinking about getting the Easyband fitted in Belgium. I am having a consultation in London on Friday and the Surgeon that I had already chosen is going to begin fitting these new bands from 9 May. I think I will be nervous about being the first (or one of the first) but he has been fitting lap bands for many years in Belgium. The Easyband in Belgium will cost £4,000 - 6,000 Euro which includes one-night hospital stay and there is a company in Manchester, UK that have started fitting the Easyband for £8,950, so it seems your band is becoming popular. I know there is also a clinic in Canada that started fitting Easyband in January 2007. How is the study going? Do you know of anybody that has had any problems. My big worry would be needing an emergency un-tightening and not having access to the equipment. I thought I had read somewhere that adjustments can be done remotely over the phone but I can't seem to find that info again so maybe I imagined it! Below is some info for anyone reading this thread that is interested in Easyband; "Now, there is a remarkable development in band technology which entirely eliminates the need to needle-puncture the access port with all the attendant risks. The Telemetric Adjustable Gastric Band (TAGB) uses sophisticated electronics to close or open the band without the need for an access port of any kind. The access port is replaced by a simple electronic receiver, through which the telemetric signal is directed to either open or close the band. The main advantages of the TAGB are: No risk of access port infection No requirement for needles or puncture of the skin Highly accurate and painless adjustment Shorter time spent under X-ray evaluation No risk of Fluid leakage from the band The TAGB has been clinically evaluated and has been shown to be both safe and effective. In fact percentage excess weight loss is at least as good as with a conventional “hydraulic” band and may well prove to be better due to improved patient compliance with band adjustments"

Yeh, its adjusted remotely - no saline and no port. It sounds good just not sure about having the little antenna inside me though, might start picking up radio signals!!

Hi, I've just found out that underwear (knickers/panties) are not allowed to be worn during surgery at the hospital that I am having my surgery at. I don't feel completely happy with this idea especially as the surgeon gets to stand between one's legs to during the surgery anyway! Ewww. Is this the norm? I would have thought paper pants would be more hygenic than commando!!!

Wow, You all seem to have some great birth experiences with the pooping and the stirrups and the interns. I think I was lucky with my darkened room, gentle music, one midwife and no stirrups. I just had surgery on my hand two weeks ago in the UK and was not asked to remove my underwear, so my mind was just doing some overtime on the whole foreign country, unconscious, legs in stirrups scenario. Or quite possibly I am focusing on a minor aspect of the surgery to deflect from the more major aspects?? Quite possibly! Thanks for the laffs anyway ...

Hi, Me again - maybe I'm was just feeling a bit prudish today but I have definitely seen a photo of a lapband op where the person was in a chair thing with legs in stirrups and the doctor in between - that was just the mental picture I was going with. Seems to be a mixed response anyway with paper knickers and no knickers (so fingers crossed). Thanks,

I'm from Brighton and I havent been banded yet but waiting for a consultaton at the moment, I'm thinking about going to Belgium. Any recommendations or horror stories about Belgium!?!

Hi, does anyone know of any UK forums? Thanks

I live in England and cannot afford the prices here so am looking at going over to Belgium, much cheaper at 4,500 euros. I would really appreciate any recommendations. I also want to check the minimum pre-op tests I should be expecting to have, it seems every company offers different things. Thanks, Tazzamaraz