cayamin

Anyone out there had WLS under the NHS in uclh London? How was it? Can you share your experience?

I too am not sure which surgery to have. i wanted the sleeve but my surgeon told me he thinks the bypass will be better for me as i tend to crave sweet stuff. i am also very nervous about having my innards moved around. I asked him why the sleeve is more popular and he said that it seems more straight forward than bypass and surgeons like doing the sleeve as its quicker, but in reality, its a very similar operation, short term risks are the same for both, known long term risk of sleeve is weight regain. for bypass its a twist in the bowel (though not so common- 2%) which will need surgery to fix,also nutritional deficiency is more likely in bypass than sleeve. you have to take the same amount of Vitamins for life, forgetting to take them once in a while will affect you more with the bypass than sleeve. Bypass has better long term results whereas with the sleeve 20% will not get the results they want mainly due to their genetic makeup. End of the day the choice is mine, my surgeon says i am a good candidate for both but recommends bypass for optimal results.He told me i can let him know which procedure i want on the morning of surgery, so i have till 16 March to decide!!

I started my journey in mid August 2016 when i went to my GP to be referred to the bariatric clinic in the hospital. i'm a 'healthy' obese women with no comorbids. after getting a green light for surgery, i called the hospital yesterday to ask for a surgery date. they gave me 16th March (with warning that it can be changed...typical NHS) So if surgery will be in March, thats 7 months from beginning to end under the NHS. not too bad.

i am waiting for my bypass surgery date. i recently read that 90% bypass patients end up in the hospital at one point due complications. is it true? i know complications can and do happen, but its still a scary statement. I am 31, my bmi is 41.8, h-5f 7in, i have pcos but otherwise no comorbidities. I wanted to have the sleeve but my surgeon told me that the bypass is a better option for me. he claims that 20% sleevers don't get the results they want and the bypass has better long term results. He says the risks are the same for both, its just half hour longer procedure. My surgeon has a lot of experience and has done over 1500 gastric bypass surgeries. So how come the sleeve is much more popular than the bypass?

I researched a lot into the sleeve. At the consultation, Jenkinson told me that i will be more successful with the bypass. i'm really nervous. i dont know many people who've had the bypass, as the sleeve is much more popular. people tell me that i can trust him and he knows what he's talking about, and he really does sound knowledgeable. i'm just not too excited to have my innards moved around. Also, it seems to me, according to what I've read, that there is a higher risk of complications with the bypass. i couldn't ask Jenkinson too many questions during the consultation as i didn't know much about the bypass. i am thinking of making a private appointment with him to ask him why he thinks the bypass is better for me, and to answer all my questions. i am ready and looking forward for surgery and i know complications can and do happen, but still i wanna feel that i am making the right choice.

I will also be having him. waiting for my surgery date. heard he is a wonderful, experienced surgeon.

i wish you luck and hope all goes well. they are a wonderful team. may i ask who your surgeon will be?

thanks to all who replied. My surgeon told me that as there is diabetes and obesity in my family from both my parents side, and i tend to crave sweet stuff, he feels that i will be more successful with the bypass. it makes sense but i still have this funny feeling.... i do a lot of research, most people i know had the sleeve and the few that had bypass are all doing fine. i know its hard work and i will try and do my best and hopefully all will go well.

i am at the UCLH in London. I havent lost much weight since my first appointment, just 4lb. i am struggling.

Hi. i am 31 and also have pcos and struggled with my weight all my life. i weigh 19 stone 5lbs, height 5.7. otherwise i have no co-morbidities. My GP referred me to the NHS hospital in August and i had my first appointment in September. I met with a surgeon and dietitian in November, got accepted and now i am having my pre-assessment on 4th Jan. im not sure about the weight you already lost, but once you have your appointment at the hospital they expect you to either keep your weight stable or lose.

GinaCampbell, i just read all the posts about your WLS journey, so sorry you have to go through all this. i hope you will have a full recovery soon!!. I live in London, UK and i am also having my WLS done under the NHS. I am having my pre-op appointment on 4th Jan. After reading your story, i have to say i became quite nervous!! No one is guaranteed that everything will go perfectly for them. One thing you mentioned which i agree with you is that they do not give much information about the risks of surgery. You have to do a lot research yourself. i read (and still read) a lot before i made my decision to go for WLS and i'm in contact with people who've had the surgery done in the same hospital as i will have. I just hope and pray that this will be the best decision i will make in my life (and not, G-d forbid, the worst!!)