anniegs

Well I'm back and banded and everything went ok! Iwas so nervous - never been under the knife before, but everything was fine and the hospital were great. I could never have driven home though and I'm glad lulu was able to bring me back. The anasthetic has worn off now, I ache a bit and feel tender, but I'm functioning ok and can see that by the end of the weekend I shall hopefully be in control again. I already feel a difference, although I'm only on liquids - I don't feel the horrendous hunger pangs I used to - or is that just getting over the op? I'm also desperate not to do anything to damage my new 'pouch' so am being careful. Have just been on the scales and they register a 3LB loss! So far so good..

have you started dating yet??

Dear liberty s you have been very inspirational to me on this site - often I just browse through esp when feeling a bit low and I always find your words very wise - so thankyou for that! I feel like I was probably tightened too much - but as it took so long and a flipped port before I got a fill I am loathe to have a defill - also am with The Hospital Group who have been rubbish! However my question is why oh why does all the junk (sweets chocs & biscuits) go down so easily when good wholesome food - like this omlete I'm trying to savour for breakfast - why does that all get clogged up :-(` annie

I don't want to burst anyone's bubble of enthusiasm - but being banded is bloomin hard work, it certainly isn't a magic tool :-(

how did you qualify for a freebie?

The hospital group is a complete waste of time - I've had no contact with them - it's impossible to get any help from them - I so wish i went with another provider.

Hi Mrs D do you have details of Derby or Stoke groups? Thankyou annie

My sister was approved for nhs banding due to her diabetes - however she has been waiting for the op for over a year and has had to jump through hoops - and still no date set! If you pay for it these companies arn't too bothered about the BMI mine was about 38 and I weighed same as you and I certainly wasn't going to gain weight simply to get the op which I'm paying for! Whatever you do - DO NOT GO THROUGH THE HOSPITAL GROUP!! good luck

hi - I haven't posted for a while as I was very disillusioned with my lack of progress with the band which was fitted beginning of march 07. Then I had a flipped port which required a 2nd surgery which was painful. Now 6 months since original surgery - I have just had my first fill and it took ages under xray as the port had flipped again!! anywya the dr fertled around and then gave me a good shot 6.8ml! Well I must admit it hasn't been the magic pill I was hoping for or the miraculous weight loss I wanted (1 stone) however I have joined a slimming world group and that has helped a lot. I think its just going to be slow and steady (please God!). keep posting as these threads (specially UK) are really helpful. annie

BUPA sounds like the best way to go - you have unlimited fills - apparently, or BMI group.. whatever you do - don't go through the hospital group!!

hi - I am also with hospital group - absolute waste of time - i was given a support number by a lovely lady when i first joined up - and he#ave tried contacting her loads of time - to no avail. when i call the hospital group head office everything takes so long or they just forget! My band was fitted march and I started off well, but with no restriction i just went back to my old ways and worse (disillusion set in) Eventually i got a fill date in sheffield, but when i turned up (100 m round trip) they discovered the port was flipped - so I have just come back from another op to reposition it, (that took about 6 weeks to organise) now i have to wait again for a fill.......... aaagghhh .. i daren't think of the money, but just pray when i eventually get the 'fill' things will speed up. In meantime i have joined slimming world and am doing quite well!!

re the liver thing - what i wanted to ask when they requested I shrink my liver, is how do they know its been shrunk (having not seen it to begin with>>> my pre op diet was rubbish - I was just trying to educate myself into eating 3 times a day, instead of the terrible 'grazing' !

Oh god that sounds so negative - sorry bout that

Please let us be happy and slim!! I know weight shouldn't make any difference and I am constantly chastising my kids at school and my own children for making assumptions on a person simply from the way they look... but honestly I feel so much more confident when I'm less heavy, and like I can get on with life. This op has been drastic for me (like everyone on here) and I'm so fearful that it'll just end up being another failure for me.

Hi suzanne how are you getting along? still in the land of size 16? thats's still a way off for me, but just taking a stone off I feel much healthier

hello guys - this is just to up date you .. I am still here and have healed well after surgery - just ready for the next phase (in the words of Tony Blair) that initial restriction (and euphoria|) felt after the op has faded now and I get awful hunger pangs.. am eating pretty much what I want but chewing and trying to be careful. I have an appointment in droitwich with a dietician, but no news about a fill yet.. I guess that'll be a while? In the meantime I returned to the gym and treadmill! doing about 2k in 20 mins. Good luck to you all and happy Easter! annie:Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny

Hello again people - I've been away because my computer has crashed at home! now back at work since being banded, doing ok - on all things mushie.. feel like I've taken my eye of the ball, so need all the support I can get. good luck everyone

sue - yes I am hungry! Although it's been a week since I had any 'real' chewable food. I've just been having fluids and soup/broth - but quite watery. Do you have some restriction already, I don't think I do yet! annie

sue i had my band day after you and my diet is 'clear liquid' for 2 weeks! I've been watering chicken soup down with coconut milk.. I dunno why but it gives a bit of kick and it's filling! annie

OMG Char that sounds terrible! isn't that typical I make a smug post then.. I guess everything I expected to happen to me and didn't - happened to you! so I really hope you'll make a good recovery. Here in UK I think it's pretty standard that patients stay overnight after surgery, it doesn't seem very good discharging you while you were still vomiting and possibly when you're better a strongly worded letter to the hospital would help. (I lived in States for a while and the hospital system drove me nuts - mind you ours here is no better). I'm also confused about the fills - as I didn't have anything apart from a band fitted.. presumably I'll get that when I'm healed? Anyway you take care and get well soon. annie

hello march bandsters - I had my surgery last tuesday 6th march .. and honestly I was so nervous - never been under the knife in my life so was totally green about what to expect.. well let me tell you recovering from the anasthetic was probably about as bad as it got, I was very groggy. The surgery was fine though, and today 6 days after, I have inspected the wounds and although they are clearly visible, they are clean and already healing nicely. I suffer from claustraphobia and had this bizarre notion that having a band around my stomach may cause me some sort of panic attack (I hate wearing any constricting garments like girdles or roll necks) but that hasn't happenened. I know everyone says this to help calm the nerves before you are wheeled down or they're about to start the GA - but it's true ..DEEP BREATHING - do not panic - you will wake up, the operation will be over and then you can get on with your life! I'm such a sceptic about most things (one of my failings) and having done so many diets over the years and obssessed about food for so long that I feel like this is IT! I don't know if it'll work for me, but 6 days in I feel cautiously optimistic.. (for a change). Good luck. annie

hiya march band people! I just gor banded on march6th .. it's been a slow recovery, and yesterday I stupidly had some quite thick soup/broth which I'd seived lumps out.. god I could hardly breath - and all night I was panicking I'd damaged the sutures or whatever! anyway ammuch better today and my daughter brought me some Bovril from the store (chicken flavour) and I have to say it's very satisfying with boiled water.. (do you have it in the states? well good luck to you who are about to go under the knife, I was so nervous pre op but these boards have been a life saver. The GA is worse than the actual op I think - once that was out my system I felt loads better!

Anyway 3 days post op and feeling better every day and managing to stick to the liquid diet (kids had a curry last night and I felt very sorry for myself this morning - esp as they'd left the debris for me to clear away!). dunno if i'm supposed to feel the band or doesn't that kick in till the first 'fill'?

Anyway 3 days post op and feeling better every day and managing to stick to the liquid diet (kids had a curry last night and I felt very sorry for myself this morning - esp as they'd left the debris for me to clear away!). dunno if i'm supposed to feel the band or doesn't that kick in till the first 'fill'?

Well I'm back and banded and everything went ok! Iwas so nervous - never been under the knife before, but everything was fine and the hospital were great. I could never have driven home though and I'm glad lulu was able to bring me back. The anasthetic has worn off now, I ache a bit and feel tender, but I'm functioning ok and can see that by the end of the weekend I shall hopefully be in control again. I already feel a difference, although I'm only on liquids - I don't feel the horrendous hunger pangs I used to - or is that just getting over the op? I'm also desperate not to do anything to damage my new 'pouch' so am being careful. Have just been on the scales and they register a 3LB loss! So far so good..