trying2slim

Hello all. Joined the forum a while ago and was having problems and seeking help but then never came back on. Here is my story. I am a UK bander, had my surgery in 2007 at nearly 340lbs. My medical advice was to follow liquids for 4 weeks then purees for 4 weeks then transition o to proper food and that's where the nightmare started. I just dont know how to use this tool and I got little or no support from my provider. Did keep having fills and got to 8 ml in a large band and definitely had restriction and but I started to eat slider foods. I lost about 30 lbs through the liquids/music's but then started gaining and have basically not lost anything. Then a few years ago I started getting pain, had gallbladder out in 2012 and still investigating abdominal pain now but I have new medical help started on the nhs and they do the pain is my band. I have had 4 ml taken out last week and omg I can eat so much solid food! So anyway, now I'm starting again and trusting my band is not the cause of problems but I have 4 weeks before I can see the nurse and Dr again and I do not want to put weight on. So please would anyone like to buddy with me and help me learn the basics and start getting this right. I do t know where to start but know I want to give this one last proper shot before I think about what to do next. Thanks for reading x

Thanks so much for the advice given. I have loved the videos. ..Can't believe I have had a band so long and know nothing going really! I am very cross with my original provider. Anyway I have made a plan and so far so good and I'm learning to listen to my band.

Thanks so much for this i will watch them. I have now got Dr's in place but can't see them for a few weeks and just wanted a head start. Thanks again

I've got gallstones and maybe an ulcer! Hope your gp helps x x x

Hiya. Good luck with ww. Today I had my band checked and all is fine which is a relief so now hoping my gp with find out what my pain is. Gonna really stick to the rules so ad not to cause any damage now and hope things get sorted x

Hi all I did come on here when I was looking into the surgery but not sinve and I so need support from people who understand. I basically lost 3st then put on most of it and losing it again now but through sheer will power not the band. I'm in the UK and went private and went to all.my appts in the first year when it was free but they didn't seem keen to fill and I never got out of bandaged hell and then could.not afford lots of follow up appointments because I was made redundant. Anyway I have been poorly and looks like I may have gallstones but the pain was so bad in going to be referred to get my band checked too and I'm.praying I havent done myself damage. I know I didn't follow all the rules I was given and the longer I struggled the more I could eat and so I've gone back to basics in a hope of salvaging the situation and in hope my band and stomach are ok. I finally understand food has to be different for me. But I'm.really struggling with what to eat and how much and where to get Protein shakes in the UK. I was never given l loads of guidance. Any tips, help or support all appreciated. I am now back at almost 3st (42lb) off but need so much more!

Well today I had my xray and the band, pouch and everything looks fine. No sign of slipping or erosion my port was a little.bit tilted on its side but nothing major as he could still access it. He took out all the Fluid and its all still in there and he replaced it with fresh saline. Looks like I've had a lucky escape ad you here many horror stories and I know I haven't always followed the rules but on the other hand I had been half using it and some changes I have never tried to cheat like I have never had a fizzy drink since my surgery. So gonna let my gp continue to investigate my pain and use this second chance. My provider are sending ne some stuff in the post to support me and together we will get to goal. Just goes to show how important your after care is, and if I had gone back earlier I could have sorted this out quicker.

I'm using the choose and book system.for.my ultrasound buy my gp won't refer me for an endoscopy unless they rule out gallstones. Last night I was on.the phone to.my aunt who is a cardiac surgeon and she says she thinks I have some erosion which sent me into a panic. I really wish I hadn't done this now because if I have damaged myself I will be so upset. Basically a band makes you eat less and feel satisfied but that's just eating like a normal person and the only good thing to come from this for me is I've learnt I domt need it and can lose weight the healthy way. I've got my xray on the 23rd and hopefully it will show the band is in place. I had thought that if it looks ok I would use it until goal but now I think I will try and get it removed. How you doing?

I hope it works out. I'm paying for an xray with my private provider because the NHS won't look at my band until they have ruled out other things but I've been poorly and was very sick and now having reflux and I'm.worried about a slip if not worse from years of struggling with my band and not.seeing anyone. If it turns out to be my band making me ill then I've made it very clear I cannot pay but will at least be able to say I paid to get it checked and then argue from a clinical point of view if needed. I'm hoping just a slip and some swelling at the worst. If this band goes I'm not having anything else done its healthy eating and excercise. This has at least forced me to address a lot of my issues even I'd I've not used my band well in the process and all the weight I have lost has been through my hard work changing habits.

I'm having some tests done on the NHS for pain I'm having and if it turns out to be my band my gp said that the NHS might not be happy to do it but they would have to. I would write to your pct? If there is s clinical reason for it to come out and you cannot afford it I think they would have to.

Hi all Will a barium swallow xray show all complications including erosion? Thanks

Just thought I would update. I've seen gp and she wont refer me to get band looked and and is refering me for checks on my gall bladder and a parasite that can live in your gut. But I did call my private provider and spoke to a nurse who thinks I should go for a barium xray and general check up and they have now offered me a nutritionist so I think I'm gonna try and borrow the money for it. If my band is ok I wanna give this one last 100% shot!

As the title says really! Just wondering how any UK banders are doing and I would love to Know what you guys are all eating x

Thanks for the replies Cazzy I will ask about nutritionist. A few years ago I contacted another hospital but they wouldn't treat me.because I hadn't had surgery with them but may try again. I'm.seeing the gp.tomorrow about my referal to the gastroenterologist I really hope it is my gallbladder and not my band. I've been so foolish eating too.much just because I felt like I can. I'm doing small portions of mushies and I do feel full so I either have restriction or inflamation!

I'm.starting over too and on day 4 of the 5 day pouch test and determined to try and do it right this time. Good luck