Finding My Feet

Yeah, it does worry me. I have a partner who had issues on them after a short period of time. I’m told with MGB it’s a life long need to take them, and to take take vitamins too.

Hello everyone Long story short, I’m scheduled for surgery in a little over 3 weeks and I’m terrified! I had a band way back in 2007 which I did OK with, if you call throwing up almost daily in order to lose weight OK! The early months were great, I didn’t feel hungry, I coped really well with all the liquid stages every time the band was tightened and aside from the port discomfort which seems pretty constant, it worked how I expected it to. My issues came when I tried to eat solid food. I think the big downfall for me with the band was the pure unpredictability of how your stomach will react on any given day. Hormone fluctuations and stress and because it’s a day with an S in it, all made for a pretty difficult to gauge what I could or couldn’t eat. I ended up fully emptied for the last few years and still once experience a blockage which had me unable to swallow anything for days (and that is really scary!), not using it as a tool anymore, living on slider foods, drinking with food in order to avoid the pain and ultimately gaining back weight. In short, I was miserable. I had it taken out 4 years ago and I have now regained every sodding pound I lost before. Gah! I had spent a year or so convinced the sleeve would be right for me, kicking myself for not having gone that way in the first place. I convinced myself that that would have been like the band but with less of that nasty, sore blockage. It would be the tiny tummy I think I need to have in order to be the skinny minx I am in my head. So I headed off to the big smoke to see the big man to talk about the sleeve and was slightly miffed when he told me I was wrong. He said the pouch they’d have to potentially give me would be too big because of potential scar tissue from the band. “But it’s been out for 4 years!” I protested, but he continued with all the reasons MGB was a better idea and he convinced me he is right. So, after a brief rethink on everything and some gathering of funds, I’m booked. And terrified. Did I mention I was terrified?! I’m finding chat about living with the MGB a bit short on the ground. I think I have read everything I can find! What I’d like to know for you lovely lot, what do you know now you wished you’d known before? What is the reality of living with the MGB? What can you eat and what can you absolutely never in a million years even consider eating? I have millions of unanswered questions so please forgive my constant chatter. I’ll try not to be too irritating

Yes, If I miss a dose of Omeprazole I know about it. This is the one downside for me. MarinaGirl, with RNY, do you need to take PPIs every day?

Hi Lessismore, RNY was never even a consideration for me tbh as my surgeon prefers the MGB. Once I started researching it (see first post for my disappointment that sleeve wasn’t recommended!) I totally understood what the surgeon had said about the single reconnection. Post surgery, I am aware that I have a larger pouch as predicted by the surgeon, because of scar tissue, because I can eat more than you’d expect with the sleeve. So really my choice was between the sleeve and the MGB. But I am losing really well and really, really pleased I made this decision. I’m keeping a diary which I will stick on here shortly as I think a lot of us get on so well we don’t frequent the site that often. I really needed to read more but couldn’t find it. It’ll probably be the end of the week before I get a chance to post it all though. FMF xx

Yes! So far I’m very pleased (amazed even) with the weight loss. I thought I would struggle because I’m fairly certain I screwed up my metabolism with the band but so far so good

Hi Miss Apple, I’m still feeling a bit delicate. Overdid it a couple of days ago and am now paying with some back pain. Otherwise getting there. I’m in the UK so I travelled to Belgium to see Christian De Bruyne. It was cheaper and he appears to have more experience than the UK surgeons do. I’m pleased so far the proof is definitely in the long term I think. Biggest regret for me is that i left it four years from getting my band out to act. I was only ever going to end up back at my pre band weight. I should have done this years ago! What’s making you consider a revision?

Good luck with your journey Aussie Liz, I think the decision making part is the hardest bit xx

Hi Aussie Liz! I’m really good thanks. Surgery went well. I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of pain tbh. I’m day 9 now so still early days but already this “feels” better than the band did. Not having a dead stop when I swallow is good but will take some getting used to. I’m properly excited for the future now. That’s a feeling I can get easily used to Are you planning an MGB then?

Hi! I’m 4 days post op and feeling marvellous so far. Home and happy I’m struggling a bit to get enough fluid in but figure this is bruising/swelling and will ease by itself. Mission hydration is the important thing right now. How’s everyone doing now?

Hi again! I did it! Woop! MGB performed on the 17th, out on the 19th, home and recuperating well. Having been banded up until a few years ago, I’m already pleasantly surprised by the differences I feel. There has been less pain which is a surprise. I’m struggling a bit to get the required amount of fluid in but feeling awesome despite this. Roll on the rest of my life How is everyone else doing?

Hi, I’m scheduled for MGB on 17th.

Thank you BostonWLKC I will take all the reasurance i can get! I do think having had one experience and things not working out how you thought they would makes for a very nervous second time round. I’m still reading everything I can get my hands on. I wish there was more chat from MGBers. I guess people are out there getting on with life which is a good sign.

Hi everyone. I suffer from depression at times but have been "stable" without meds for a few years now (thanks to CBT). I've found that despite being chuffed to bits with my weight loss & am generally in good spirits, the depression monster has been making the odd appearance and just reminding me he's about. I've found making sure my vits and minerals are up has helped loads. Just drinking a slim fast shake if I'm on the go is an instant pick-me-up. I'm very well restricted at the mo and never seem to get hungry, which is great, but the flip side of that is that I can get very tired if I forget to look after myself (mad isn't it?). Almost without fail my grumpy/bitchy/downness starts when I'm lacking nutrician. I'm also really having my eyes opened to the self-medication cycle I was in with food. The fact that I feel so much better with proper nutrician now instead of a constant flow of crap is a revelation to me.

OMG! Never mind the lap band, a tummy tuck and lipo before you're 13?!!!! What is this childs mother thinking? And the doctors want stringing up. This is disgusting. I don't think weight loss surgery should even be an option until you are 18. I would consider 16 for seriously overweight patients but only after extensive talks with the child AWAY from the parents. Not every fat child grows up fat. I know plenty of people who were chubby kids (and with a BMI of 31 this girl falls into that catergory) and grew up to be slim adults. Most cite puberty as their turning point. At 13 I doubt this girl had "done" puberty and had a chance for her body to settle down again. I seem to remember it was a long process of a couple of years. I can't believe any medical person would mess with a child's body for cosmetic reasons until they'd been through puberty. Sickening!:angry

Sorry Zuchinno. I hadn't realised you were yet to be banded. Ignore the idiots that sent you this. I'm sure you've done your homework and spoken to plenty of Dr. Rumbauts previous patients. If there was cause for concern someone would have flagged it up by now. We have a similar problem with this sort of scaremongering in the UK. Going to Belgium (and paying less than half the price) is akin to visiting Witch Doctor according to the overpriced clinics here. They've even got celebs on the payroll armed with suitable horror stories. It's all just a lousy sales pitch. Ignore them and be comfident in your decision. xxx

I note the use of the word "cheaper", not inferior or non-approved. I would take scare tactics like this with a huge pinch of salt. To send a photo like that is a despicable thing to do to someone who's already had their op. Personally I would lodge a complaint against them for underhand tactics. At the very least they need to direct people to the source of this claim. In all of the thousands of people on this site I've never heard of this, and you'd think the victims of such surgeons would be screaming from the rooftops! :confused:

I've been lurking a while (the way we do) and thought it was about time I did the decent thing....... So, hi! I'm from the UK, 1 week post op and feeling blinkin' marvelous.

I'd be very interested in finding some ways to even out my pear shape too. Even when very slim I couldn't run. How do you build up to it Jacqui, or did you find it quite natural?

I've just introduced myself in introductions, I thought I'd come and say hi to my counrtyfolk. Hi! I'm Emma, from Cambridgeshire, 1 week post op and feeling great.

Thank you Mrs D. Wow, look at what you've achieved. Well done, what an inspiration. I'm very sorry you've had problems though. Damned MRSA, it's an epidemic here isn't it? Is it just the UK with this problem? Are you managing to keep it off? Sorry for the barrage there, I'll get me coat!

No. Absolutely not. Everyone is welcome. There are a few people done (terible term sorry) elsewhere, but not enough, so come along! It's really handy to have other peoples experiences. xxx

Belgium with Dr Marc Focquet. He's the sweetest lovliest man. I'm so pleased I went to him!

Hi, Don't worry about your weight now. Any protein calculations are done on ideal body weights. Makes it a little easier to keep to doesn't it! If I were eating enough protein for my NOW body weight and going to the gym I'd end up looking like MR Universe! Or Popeye heheheh....

Thanks guys. (why do these smilies come out blue? V.Odd!) I'm a member of another forum and one of the other members is a genius who put a weight loss resource together. The tickers are part of that. It's a nice little community (Hi Tazza!) and most of us, but not all were banded by the same doctor. It's at Gastric band surgery :: Index if you want to join us. New blood is always welcome. Where is everyone from here? I'm from Cambridgeshire.

Good Luck although you won't need it, you'll be fine. I was quite sore early on but the turn around was very quick and I've spent the last few days feeling fantastic. See you here soon