ellen

Hi everyone Someone was asking recently about getting tax back on the op (cant remember who but hopefully she's reading). Anyway Im very pleased to report that I got my full 41 percent back today (based on the full amount that appeared on my credit card statement - I hadnt realised until recently that the credit card company added on a few hundred euro in charges for a stirling transaction). Anyway the tax office didnt look for a letter from my doctor but they rang me and I assured them that it had been medically recommended. Forgot to ask you Laura what are you thinking of getting done in Belgium? I have a 'shopping list' as long as your arm and am planning to be like the new improved bionic woman as soon as is humanly possible!!! Hmmmmm... wonder does the tax office offer a rebate on teeny weeny neck lifts?????? All the best Ellen

Laura His name is Patrick Dedonckers. Website: BVBA Dr. P. Dedoncker and it gives you the full price lift. Lipo is 2500 for full body. Bear in mind there are limits to what is safe to extract in one go....... unfortunately. He operates from the same hospital in Vilvoorde as Dr deBruyne. I'll know more next week but he has a lot of admirers on another UK site I visit. Ellie

Dear Ailbhe My experience was that protein drinks kept me feeling full and absolutely killed any hunger pangs in between. (Generally high protein intake tend to have that effect whether its protein shakes or proper food after the first few days). After my op I used the protein drinks I got from the Healthier Weight centre in the UK - really nice. When they ran out I wasnt able to get them on the web as they dont deliver to Ireland so I used some Lipotrim sachets I had in the house from before. Hope all goes well for you and the pounds keep dropping off. Ellen

Elsie Very best of luck with the op. I knowonce its over and youre used to it, you will be delighted youve had it done. Regards Ellen

Hi All I recently had an appointment for an unrelated procedure with the surgeon who does lapbands in the Galway clinic. There was some confusion between my GP and him regarding my referral - she mentioned in the referral (by way of background only as it was not entirely relevant to the procedure) that I'd had a lapband installed. Apparently he responded that he could not see me (I assume he thought I had a problem with the band) for medico-legal reasons if I'd been banded elsewhere. So she explained that the referral was for a separate matter and then he agreed to see me, no problem. My point though is that the established (by that I mean hospital-linked) surgeons here in Ireland may not be falling over themselves to assist us patients who have been banded elsewhere. De Bruyne obviously is an exception to this. Best of luck to ye all. Ellen

Coco Fantastic work. You must be so happy with your new figure. My sympathy to those of you worried about the shenanagins at ACS. I hope things work out for you. I recken ye shouild descend en masse upon them and demand to see the slim and trim Helena .... can I be a fly on the wall, pretty please???? Ellen

Dear Atimeforchange It does sound like a possible slip seeing as this appears to have happened out of the blue when things were going well and not directly after a fill. Keep hounding them. It's an absolute disgrace that they are failing to be supportive to not just you but seemingly many people on this site. Maybe people should start mentioning the Joe Duffy show..... I have hinted at this on a number of occasions in the past when I felt hard done by (not regarding medical matters but other stuff) and it is quite astonishing how the attitude changes and things that were quite impossible a few moments earlier magically become feasible.... best of luck ellen

Hi Lil Firstly, congrats on your excellent weightloss. By my calculations from your ticker we are exactly the same weight now. I love it! In my experience the tax office seem to look for receipts when the claim is large - and especially if its substantially larger than previous years. I put down "gastric band surgery for obesity" which is essentially what my receipt said. If I were you I'd put down whatever the receipt from ACS says and if you're in a hurry to get your rebate I'd err on the side of caution and send in the receipts with the claim to save a delay of several weeks. In previous years I have always sent in my receipts (even though you dont have to) and I get my cheque 2 weeks later. This year I sent in a claim online and didnt send in any recieipts. 7 weeks later I'm still waiting due to the delay of them having to look at it first, then write out looking foir receipts and then its back at the bottom of the queue again when you do send the receipts in. It'll take way longer again if they start looking for GP letters. Coco You were asking about cost of arm lift. With the guy Im going to its carried out in a hospital not a clinic and it costs 2200 Euro under sedation (not general anaesthetic). He's got lots of fans on wlsinfo and is in the same hospital as Chris de Bruyne. Full body liposculpture (as opposed to liposuction which apparently is riskier, involves more bruising and more pain) costs 2500 and tummy tuck with muscle repair (which incidentally shrinks your waist by at least 4 inches) costs 2700. In due course I'll report back as regards the pain element.....don't actually care about the pain - just want to see bucketfulls of fat being hoovered out!!!!! Ellen

Elsie Vilvoorde is about 15 ( 3-4 stations) minutes from Brusells Midi by train (going in the direction of Antwerp (signed Anvers / Antwerpen). Dont know exact cost but it wouldnt be more than 10-15 euro max. The Campanile hotel is literally next to train station. Apparently you can get good rates on ratestogo.com. De Bruynes home consult (Melbroek) is 5 km from Vilvoorde. Hospital is about half a mile from Campanile hotel - I know some people walk there in the morning pre-op (perhaps not back though!). The hospital / hotel will call you a cab whenever necessary. The additional €300 sounds steep enough. I believe I read on another website that a cab from the airport direct to Vilvoorde is about 25-30 euro if you didnt want to bother with the train. I must double check that though. I emailed the Campanile on Friday as regards availability and rate and will let you know when I hear - I used my office email address so cant access it now. Oh Yes, the main thing people say about the Campanile is to bring a laptop and DVDs to watch films on as the TV is poor - only Flemish channels. The Eurovolley is more basic and you should bring a travel kettle!! Ellen

Hi Nina Hope everything is going well post TT and lipo and that you're getting buckets-full of morphine. How painful has it been? Are you happy with your shape? How bad is the swelling? Slightly off topic.....Is Dr P easy on the eye at all? I remember once I had a nose job done in Ireland about a hundred years ago. The result was poor but, boy the surgeon was gorgeous! (I've since had the nose rectified of course!). Your Dr Pascal's website is addictive. I cant stop my myself wandering in and out of the mega lipo silhouettes section thinking it would be such a handy solution and if Nina can do it......why cant I? Ellen

Elsie So youve set a date? I'm so pleased for you. I'm certainly a much happier person since I got banded. I had around 3.5 stone or so to lose ( depending on how I define my target weight) but it was and is and always has been a major issue for me. I'm just reaching the stage now where I can buy nice clothes and I must say its enjoyable. I hope the op goes really well for you. All the best Ellen

Ailbhe I wish you the best of luck with Vilvoorde and your op. I'm heading over there in March for some lipo and an arm lift with Dr dedonckers who is a colleague of Dr de Bruyen in Jan Portaels hopspital. Can't wait. De Bruyen will defill and refill my band as I'll be getting a general anaesthetic for the lipo. Let us know how you get on. Are you staying in the Campanile or where? Ellen

Gerri Hmmmmmm. I sent in my med 1 in early January and got a letter out a few weeks later advising me I had been selected for an "assurance check" and to send in all my receipts which I duly did a fortnight ago. No word since but I'll let you know when I hear. I thought it would be straightforward for that kind of claim once you had a receipt from a hospital. Aaaaah, in my mind I've already spent the rebate. Oh dear, I better start tightening my belt!! Will you be able to get a GPs letter saying they recommended the procedure? Ellen

Hi Everyone Coco, those recipes are delicious. Thanks. Elsie A friend of mine enquired recently at the Galway Clinic and was told that the cost of the band there is 15,500! I got him to ring back and double check it was for the band and not the bypass as it seemed so high, but they confirmed it was for the band alright. It includes lots of pre-op tests and a 4 night stay in the clinic. Not sure why one would want to stay in for 4 nights though just for a band.... Best of luck with your decision. I wonder who is the surgeon in the Beacon and what kind of experience has he had. At least with De Bruyen you know youre getting someone very experienced....and of course the price is nice. Ellen

Nina Wishing you very best with your surgery (which must be soon now). Ellen

Hi So tired I believe its a couple of years. Having said that I read some posts from a Dublin woman on another site who had paid for her surgery in England herself and then having lost the weight she got referred by her GP for an abdominoplasty publicly but after 3 months she applied to be moved to the Treatment Purchase scheme and had the job done free privately by a plastic surgeon in Dublin within 3 or 6 weeks. I wonder could that scheme be used to fund a lap band op abroad given that the delay here is so unreasonable.... Belgium does seem to be a very attractive option and Drs. de Bruyne and Dillemans in particular certainly seem to have a lot of fans in England from what I read on the wlsinfo site. I'm certainly thinking of the Belgium option for cosmetic work once I lose the weight as the costs here are just too ridiculous. Best of luck with your research. Ellen

Hi everyone Hope things work out well for those of you having difficulties with the band and waiting for fills at the moment. Has Dr De Bruyne come to Dublin yet? Any update? I was at my GP recently and was told that a Mr McAnena in Galway is now doing bariatric surgery. I believe he is well thought of. I went to him privately a few years ago re something unrelated and will be going to him in the next few weeks for a routine test so I may find out more. ......and to think he's been doing this on my doorstep all along while I've been trekking over and back to England!! Anyway, I can report that this restriction thing is good. Ive lost 10 lbs in 3 weeks and before that it took me 3 mts to lose 4 measly lbs. Mind you Ive been on the treadmill 4-5 times a week for 45-60 mins reliving my misspent youth as I listen to Meatloaf. All the best Ellen

Hi Coco Glad to see yore back on youre feet again. Not too sore I hope? Hi Elsie Excellent news that Dr de Bruyne is coming to Dublin in February. Will he be operating in Belgium and doing fills monthly in Dublin like he does in the UK? Super news for us all if that is the case. I have been reading lots on wlsinfo and he really is incredibly highly thought of there. I'm sure youll be in very safe hards. I have been emailing his colleague Dr dedonckers re my tummy tuck and lipo - i believe in planning ahead!! I cant believe its so much cheaper in Belgium minus the mrsa and for a fraction of the UK and Irish cost - and you get a highly experienced surgeon to boot.....my credit card is deeply saddened that i didnt discover this 6 months ago! Ellen

Hi Paulina Hang in there. I read a quite comforting quote on another websiite recently. The gist of it was that most people (some exceptions) cannot expect restriction until fill 4 or 5. Apparently if we were given substantial fills early on our stomachs would swell unbearably and we'd become ill. Therefore to avoid this they give us tiny fills initially which are intended to familiarise the stomach slowly to the notion of the band without incapacitating us altogether. If this were emphasised to us sufficiently beforehand it would prevent the feelings of failure and disenchantment many of us feel for the first 4-6 months when we stop losing say 2 weeks after the op and even start gaining and dont experience lasting restriction until much later. In most cases howevr this is not emphasised and disappointment results in the short term. Light at the end of the tunnell? Yes but i think we have to find comfort in the fact the it will happen slowly and that we'd be in a worse position if we hadn't had the op...... Best of luck Ellen

Nina Very best of luck with your surgery. I look forward to reading your posts when you have it over you. I'm just starting to investigate the tummytuck options available now. Am now at 12.5 stone and will need to get down to 11 or 11.5 before I take the plunge. I'm based in Ireland and i don't see anything about high lateral tension tummytucks here on google so i may have to travel. Can i ask you a few questions please, is there noone in the uk using this technique - is this why you need to travel to France? second question i have read somewhere that most surgeons think its safe only to take 4 kg or so in lipo. Is Dr Pascal using a different technique or something which allows him to safely extract more? Third question, why do you need to remain in France for so long afterwards? Is it your personal preference or stipulated by the surgeon? As I have 3 small kids I could stay for maybe a week but probably not three. I will need a hernia repair (which i could get done here separately), mini tummy tuck and about half a ton of lipo. Ellen

Penny If Youre still unsure as to whether to plump (!) for the band or bypass I'd recommend you have a look at the UK websight wlsinfo.org.uk. There is a fair bit of discussion on that site weighing up the one versus the other. Ellen

Very best of luck with the veins Coco. my sister in law had that done and is in flying form. Do you get a general or local anaesthetic for that op? I hadnt thought about the fact that the new doc in Cork might be with HSE only. I had just assumed he'd be operating privately cos the Bons in Galway (before they changed their name) was a private hospital. Yes I kinda like the wlsinfo website (not as good as this one of course!). Lots of delicious tales on it about tummy tucks and such like which I can fantasise about as I pound the treadmill - even though I'm amillion miles away from being ready for such delights as tummy tucks. Ellen

Coco I read some posts on a UK site (wlsinfo - very good site by the way) today from some people bewailing the return of their surgeon to Cork in January this year. His name is Mr O Boyle who is currently in the Hull Royal I gather. From the sound of things, his patients think he's wonderful. This must be the man starting shortly in the Bons. The posts I read were from patients who had had the Roux en Y operation - I think thats what its called. Ellen

Hi Kermit Your post made me laugh. Well done on making a start on the AquaAerobics. Between that and your next fill Im sure youll find things speeding up. I was very slow to accept the need to live by the "rules" of the band, especially the need to move on from mushies, to stop drinking with meals and to take up exercise. But once I got the longed for restriction all of a sudden it became easy to not drink and I got the motivation to move my lazy legs for once. (Because of my overfill I cannot claim virtue on the solid food front but hopefully that will happen too.) Best of luck with your fill. Ellen

Penny Oh yes, I forgot to say in my last post that I have had major heartburn/acid issues for the last few years following my pregnancies which involved lots of sickness. When I had my op in September they discovered I had a massive hiatus hernia which they fixed during the op (free of charge incidentally). Not a single rennie has entered my mouth since that day, I have literally not had a seconds heartburn since the hernia was repaired so Im surprised that Prof Ammori raised this as an issue for you - I thought that hernia repair was not uncommon during the band op. The other thing I forgot to say in my last message was that the only time I experienced discomfort from the fills was the last time when I got twice the amount as I had previously. The other times I had absolutely no discomfort and enjoyed my shopping spree in England. Ellen