Lilackat

PeggySue I know exactly how you feel, hunni, I was where you are just one week ago! I had a band fitted on January 16th and lost 10 pounds pretty quickly then stuck. My surgeon hadn't put any saline in my band, I had no restriction once all the internal swelling went down and I could eat almost anything I wanted. Now I had done my internet research before surgery but, for some strange and unknown reason, I hadn't read anything at all about the need to have the band filled! I honestly didn't realise that I needed to get this done - and pay for it! DUH! Anyway, I went for my first fill with a surgeon who had come over from Belgium (where I had my private surgery) to Scotland to hold a fill clinic. I paid £90 (almost $180) and he put 2ml in my 9ml band. Now this seemed a very small amount to me and I explained that I did not want to go too cautiously. He told me I had to trust him and that if the fill he had given me wasn't enough he would add a quarter to half a ml each time I saw him. I don't know if you have read many chat forums on this subject, but most of the bandsters who contribute say that they need 4 - 5 fills or a half filled band to reach their "sweet spot". It seemed to me that my surgeon was being rather cautious to say the least and that, at £90 a pop, this was going to be an expensive and time consuming process (considering that the clinic only takes place once a month). Let's just say I felt like a bit of a gullible fool! So, I asked around - on the WLS forum - and decided to get in touch with a surgeon called Dr Galloway who carries out weight loss surgery on the NHS but also has a private fill clinic near where I work. I got a cancellation for Monday and went along to see him. I explained exactly how I felt and, unlike the other guy, he actually listened. He put another 2ml in my band then had me stay around for 2 hours guzzling Water to check my restriction. He also told me who to contact at his hospital should I feel too tight after a couple of days. Whilst this visit was expensive at £200 ($400), I would have paid the other guy AT LEAST twice as much to get the same restriction. Long story short, I now have the tight restriction I wanted and the happy prospect of restarting my weight loss - I've lost 3lb since the fill. What I'm saying to you is to look around for someone like Dr Galloway and tell them exactly how you feel! Your current doctor is not for you and if, as I suspect, you are paying him for your treatment, then you are the consumer and should be treated and respected as such! If he won't respect you, find a doctor who does! I hope things work out for you, my friend. Chin up! Kat xxx

Well done, keep going! The reason you can't believe it is - I think - that you've been trying and failing to lose weight for so long (or yo-yo dieting, that's worse) that you believed deep down that it wasn't going to work for you! That's how I'm feeling anyway.My surgery is booked for January 16th and I've hardly told anyone - probably because I'm afraid it won't work and I'll look like an idiot! Irrational, I know, but there you are. Anyway, best wishes and good luck to you.

Hi there I was looking for some sort of forum as I have my surgery booked for 16th January and I'm quite nervous about it. Can I join this one??? You all seem so supportive, you're just what I'm looking for!