ukangel

Dear All I am looking at leaving the Hospital Group and to purchase a two year aftercare package from Surgicare. Anyone who has seen my previous posts will know that the Hospital Group have not met my expectations and fail in every part of the package that I paid for. I thought I would canvas opinion before I move to another company. Any information would be very greatfully received. Many thanks Paula

Just a quick update on the service that I am receiving form the Hospital Group. I went on Wednesday to Manchester for my dietician appointment and a fill. This is the first appointment I have had since July! When we arrived at Manchester we were informed that the dietician had left the company and there will no longer be one based in Manchester. So now there is no dietician. no support group and no fitness advisor! Luckily the nurse was there for the fill so our hour journey had not been in vain! I am so frustrated with the service i am receiving. Though aside from this I have joined slimming world and I am using slim fast and I am actually shedding my weight. The band is a tool that I am having to learn how to use with only the advice off this wedsite! I am so glad I found this website. I can feel another complaint letter coming on to the Hospital Group.

I can see the point you are making but when you have paid top money for a top service why should we need to go and find another provider. Paying to go with the Hospital Group was supposed to eliminate the need to shop around after the surgery. I feel completely let down by the service that I have received from the Hospital Group. I have since found out that they are a small family firm that is run on a shoe string. They just have good marketing!!!!! All I say to anyone thinking of having surgery with them is think twice...

Finally I have a response to my complaint to the hospital Group....I quote.... "The North of England is not to have a replacement advisor as there are two other ones to cover from the rest of the country!" "The Hospital Group reconsidered the use of Obesity Surgery Support Meetings and felt that patients respond better to individually tailored support from a dietician whether face to face or over the phone. Therefore we disbanded the group." "The letter ended that he was sorry to hear that they had not met my expectations. They treat a large number of patients and the majority go on to recommend the service to other patients. It is always regretful when he hears of someone's disapointment." I have yet to meet or talk to anyone who has something to is happy to recommend the Hospital Group

Yes you are right it is Good Morning.. I am sure when she looses more she will come out as having a little help!

Well after 8 weeks I have received a response from the Hospital Group with my complaint! They had no answers to my complaints and said that they have decided to stop support groups and advisors as they found clients did not find them beneficial!!!!! Are they for real! That is what I paid the extra for. Its a good job that I found this site or I would have gone completely mad!

Hi all I was banded in Feb 7th and I am down 43lbs A big achievement as I have just spent a month in Florida on vacation and eaten out ever day! I still managed to loose a pound a week. Not bad going. As someone said previously at least I have not put 43 pound on ! People are just starting to notice and friends are giving me really great compliments. Its so nice to see all my hard work paying off. Well done everyone you all look great.

I had my surgery in Feb and my scars had raised up also. I started using something called 'Bio Oil' You apply it twice a day and it is to help scars and stretch marks. It is definately working in reducing the scars and I have put some on my stretch marks to see if they help their also. I live in the Uk but would think it would be a world wide oil. I would definately give it a go. :whoo:

Hi All I am traveling to Florida for a months vacation at the end of July :clap2: and I am looking for ideas of restaurants and ideas of food off the menu that I will be able to eat.:hungry: On previous trips to the States I remember the portions being quite large and I am unsure if I will manage eating out without wasting lots of food. I have good restriction at the moment but would also like to enjoy being part of the family sat at the dinner table. Has anyone any good suggestions of great places to eat?

Then you will be the envy of everyone at the next ball. Not long now.

Hi Sorry I am one of the people dissing the Hospital Group and I am even taking legal action against them! I would however say that it is the aftercare that I have a problem with. The operation was fine although I did have to travel to Birmingham although I was offered Manchester originally! I was promised all my fills and aftercare in Manchester but have had to travel to Sheffield and Leeds for both my fills. Both over 3 hours away from me. The dificulty is in the North of England as the advisor left in February and they have not replaced her! There is no one to support you following your fill and to give the support that I have paid for in my £8.500 package! I only have three fills included in my package. 1 under x-ray and the other 2 by a nurse. I had an over fill 2 weeks ago and have not been able to have it rectified as the nurse is on leave and would have to travel to Birmingham to have Fluid taken out as there is no one in the North that can do it! I just wish I had shopped around before I signed up with them. Like I say though if you live down south these issues may not be occuring! I do hope this settles your mind a little as I know what a worrying time it is prior to the operation. Good Luck:clap2: I am sure it will be all fine for you x

Well it has made me really sit up and take notice after reading through this thread. Following my last fill 3 weeks ago I am only able to get soups and really sloppy food through my band at the moment. I have been really good and have been having slim fast shakes morning and lunch and then in the evening trying to have very small portion of shepherds pie with lots of gravy or veg in sauce but struggling to keep it down..... Then feeling very sorry for myself and also very hungry at this point I have cadbury chocolate desserts or skip crisps!! Its driving me mad as I should be loosing weight at a rapid weight but I am sabotaging my weight loss because my restriction is too tight. Perhaps it I could eat more crunchy food I would feel fuller and not be tempted by the food that can fit through the band but are the most unhealthiest!!! I have an appointment with my dietician on Monday and I am also booked in for a fill!!! I may use this appointment to have a slight unfil. It is such a fine balance!!

Who are you going with? Which company?

I know it is so frustrating..... I have also joined slimming world too!!! and have been doing really well until last night when I gained a pound!!!! I have had another fill and the restriction is good but I am wondering if it is too tight. I can not get anything down until late afternoon. I have given up even contacting the Hospital Group for advice and use this site as my sounding board. I have made a formal complaint to the Hospital Group and have written all my complaints down in a letter and have not heard anything as yet. I have also sent a copy letter to my surgeon and the Healthcare Commission. I await their response!

Hi I had my second fill yesterday and was amazed that the nurse that completed the fill withdrew all the liquid from my port and then placed it back in plus the increase. Is this normal? It seems a really strange thing to do? Surely deflating the band all the way would cause movement of the band? It was so painful when she put the needle in. She explained that my port is really deep. Does anyone else have this problem? When I had my first fill I had it under x-ray and it was completely pain free. Positive though as it looks like the extra 1 ml has given me good restriction. :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Hi I had my band fitted in Feb 07 and I have been banded to ensure I am the right road to having another baby. I have one child who is an amzing 6 years old and unfortunately have had 7 miscarriages following. I have taken the bull between the horns and have embarked on this journey to lose weight so no one can turn round and say its my fault because I am overweight. I am two stone lighter alreasy and feel alot better in myself. Lets hope the 7 stone I have left to lose takes me on to the next journey I would like to travel! Good luck with your surgery and your journey x

Thank you this has put my mind at rest. If only they explained as they were doing the procedure my mind would not go racing off. Many thanks again

I know All the blurb they spout to get you to sign up with them and then its bye bye once they receive your cash. I am so disappointed. Well done you for loosing your weight. Obviously the band has worked really well for you even without the support from the Hospital group. Well done.

I felt exactly the same and only when I saw that there was absolutely no restriction before my first fill did I give myself a break. The band has not been filled as yet so it is just healing and is in place ready for your first fill and your restriction will come. Be patient. The healingis the important part and also the time for your mind to adjust to the change in eating habits. Good luck, stick with it you are doing fine x

I am glad you have had a good response. In the north there seems to be no movement with a support group. It was one of the main reasons that I went with the company was the lady that I met as the advisor. She was called JUdy and she had had the surgery herself and she met people individually and grouped people together if you wanted. I am so fed up with the service that I have received from the Hospital group that I am writing a formal complaint although I know that i will not be the first they have received it may get some action! I wish I would have found this web site before the surgery and then I may have researched the Hospital Group a little more! On the up side I have had my first fill and it has given me some good restriction. Praise the Lord something is going right for a change!

I am so glad I came online. I went for my first fill this week. It was done under x ray and they played it back to me after the fill. It was amazing to see the Fluid wooshing through the first time and then after he inserted the fluid you could see it pooling. He placed too much in at first and it was jumping up and slosshing down. He released some and I ended now have 6 mls (Not that I know how big my band is?) I feel exactly the same I finally feel some restriction. I also feel feally low that I can not eat! Go figure I have been waiting since feb to feel this feeling!!! :faint:

Hi I was banded in the UK on the 7th February 2007 I have not been given a date for a fill but feel that I need one. Is it too soon or is it ablut the right time for a fill? :hungry: I can eat way more than the small plate full that the dietician has described. I am loosing 1-2 lbs a week. Many thanks in anticipation of your help

You are such an inspiration. Well done on your great weight loss achievement. I am on the begining of my journey and it is so nice to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel and a life after baggy work out clothes!!!

That sounds exactly what I need. I know at the moment that there is a little restriction and I am also very nervous of eating certain foods but I also know that as time goes on I am becoming very daring and the portions are growing!!!:faint:

I have just returned from a two week vacation to Florida and found that as the two weeks went by I was able to eat larger and larger quantities. I had thought that my band had slipped as I could eat so much!!! But now I have read this thread I feel a lot better and reasured. I found that if I ate the salad at the begining of the meal I was full for the meal. I made a lot of healthy choices and stayed away from the bread. (Though it was so tempting) Quite liberating to not be focussed on food all day and for my husband to be the first to say 'Shall we eat' It was hard to pick of menus at time because the portions are so big and I used to eat a lot of steak ribs and chicken. I just had a lot of seafood and salad. I have not weighed myself yet but with all the walking i am hoping that my weight has stayed around the same.