WRIGGLE

Hi I'm interested to know if anyone has had Lap Band surgery done in N Ireland or is about to get it done. Has anyone had a consultation with Dr Kennedy in the Royal Hospital in Belfast? I know of one person who has had a consultation but want to hear of any others.

Hi Julesni Good to hear you have your banding done. Where did you go to? I had mine done in Leeds privately in was £7950 with Prof McMahon on 17 July 2008. I had my first fill done on 17 Sept but dont feel any different - I'm still hungry and eat loads. I have requested another fill so hopefully it will make a difference. I get filled the next time in Hollywood. Have you lost much weight yet altho I suppose its early days for you. I lost about 20 lbs on the pre-op diet but it was pergutory!! Where do you get your fills? Dr Kennedy doesn't do any gastric ops here in N Ireland but I was told he may start in about a year or so. Its a bit of a nuisance having to go England for ours!!!! I know of a Doctor from Liverpool who is starting up in Blackrock, Dublin soon. Its also not fair that we cant get in done under NHS as well!! Well I wish you well with your 'journey' its a big step for us all but it still takes a lot of motivation on our end and will power!! Do keep in touch about your progress. Regards Wriggle

Hi Flirtylass You'll be fine. It was a bit scarry when the realisation of it dawned that I was actually getting it done at last - but you'll be in good hands as I believe this Dr has done loads of these ops successfully. I had bit of a feast as well before my pre-op diet and boy did I enjoy it! All I was allowed for 10 days before op was milk/yogurt. This was to shrink the liver and I was starving!!! In fact I miscounted and was on it 11 days instead of 10 (could of had anothers days grazing!) I must say I dont feel any different at the moment - I could still eat the same amounts as before op, but I suppose until the first fill its maybe normal. I am avoiding rubbish though. Again, I wish you all the best it 'll be over before you know it and you can start your new 'journey' - new life. I'll be thinking of you. My only regret is that I didnt do it 20 years ago - but dont think it was available then! Warmest Wishes Wriggle

Hi Flirtylass Just wanted to wish you all the best for your op on 5 September. I have heard the care is very good there and it certainly is a saving on the cost as well. Do you have a pre-op diet to go on first? I found it tough but it was worth it. Please let us know how all goes. All the very best. Wriggle

Hi Angie I dont have any details of it, but as far as I know it is still under The Hospital Group. When I went for my initial consultation to Belfast, I met two young girls there who had went to Liverpool or Birmingham (cant just remember which) and had it done, so they were in to have their check up and they were telling me about their banding. I didnt even realise you could have got it done for £5000. One of them even said she done her own fills!! Dont think I could have done that! So if you ring that number I gave you they should be able to tell you all the details of it. Ask for Judy she's very helpful. Good luck. Wriggle

Hi Angie Glad to be of help. You must get initial surgery done in Leeds (obviously) and then you get your first fill in Leeds. This is because it must be done under X-Ray so they can monitor the liquid you drink going down and how fast or slow it goes. After that its all done in Hollywood. We flew with Flybe (i think) and the flights were something like £50 each return - so not too bad at all. My husband came with me and stayed in a Travel Lodge near the Hosp (about £78 for 2 nights) (about 10 mins walking distance) but taxi was only £4! He spent most of his time with me at Hosp cos its a private room and they dont mind that. You must fly over the day before to have your pre-assess done. We flew over on Wed morning early and home Fri afternoon. We had thought about staying an extra night, but the flight was at 7am Sat morning so it would have been pointless. Was most surprised and sorry to hear about your breast cancer and blood pressure. Would you believe I'm in the same boat!! Was diagnosed Nov 06 and had double mastectomy in the City Hosp in Sept 07! Waiting on reconstruction now. So I have had the band done for the exact same reasons as you!! You are extremely young to have this - I was 49! Another bit of useful info about Prof McMahon is that he was a cancer specialist before doing this!! :frown: Thats another reason why I went to him and he said he had a good look inside during surgery at my liver and everything was fine. I thought he might not carry out the op because of the cancer but it was never a problem at all. :biggrin2: I know I made the right decision about the band and I cant wait till I loose the weight and buy normal clothes! Another thing I should mention is if your BMI is under 50 the op costs £7450 - I had to pay the extra because mine was just over. You can check out what yours is on The Hospital Group website - its works it out for you. Dont be afraid to ask me anything else you want to know - I'm happy to help. Good luck for the future!! Wriggle :wink2:

Hi Angie Since I last left a message on lap Band Forum, I have progressed a bit further. Since there is no available funding here in N Ireland, I wasn't prepared to wait for a couple of years till it might start again so I went ahead and paid to have the gastric band done in Leeds with The Hospital Group. Prof McMahon performed the op in mid July for £8000. I do happen to know you can get it done in Liverpool for £5000 but the difference is you have to pay for all your fills and don't have 'aftercare' as such. Whereas the more expensive way you have aftercare for 12 months after and this includes all your fills. I'm not sure about a payment plan but its worth asking about it. I will get my fills done in Hollywood, N Ireland as they have bought over a clinic there and may in the future perform ops there too. But thats away down the line. I highly recommend The Hospital Group as they are very efficient and professional. Their hospital is spotless and the staff easy to deal with. I felt completely safe with them and Prof McMahon is very experienced in bariatric surgery and has performed quite a few of these. They set up a consultation in Belfast every so often where you meet him and ask any questions - get weighed and speak to your administrator. My administrator was Judy Eastwood and if you want the Hospital Group number its 0800 1383055 and ask for Judy. My consultation was on 30 June 2008 and my op was on 17 July 2008 as quick as that! So far I have lost 20 lbs without a fill but thats down to the pre-op diet to shrink your liver and soft diet for a couple of weeks after. I managed this OK but was very hungry at times! I should get my first fill at end of Aug or start of Sept. I have not had any complications at all since my surgery but you really must be careful and do what they ask. I hope this has been of help to you and I look forward to hearing your progress if you decide to go private. Regards Wriggle PS I did have a consultation with Dr Clements (Mr Kennedy's registrar) in the Royal Hosp in March 2008 and he said there was no funding now for this and I then enquired about going to Mr Kennedy privately but he said he didn't do private patients. 08001383055 08001383055

Hi Lyn Sorry your appointment didn't work out. I heard that the cost of getting the band done in Liverpool is £8500 done by Dr Kerrigan. Thats where a girl from Belfast had it done in November last year. This may be of help. I am thinking of going there to have it done. I think its ridiculous that it is not done here in N Ireland but there's no point at this stage in fighting for that. I will just get it done in England and pay the price. Dr Kerrigan is apparently a very good surgeon. So he has been recommended and thats good enough for me.

Hi Lyn Well I am gobsmacked that you have actually had a consultation with Mr Kennedy and that he really does perform the op here in N Ireland. You even have the prices too!! I am really upset that I have been fed the wrong information by Dr Clements!!! I will certainly be enquiring further about this and would definitely be so pleased if it was done here as opposed to England. Thank you so much for this info Lyn it has been very helpful. If you find out anything else I'd be interested to hear.

Hi Lyn Thanks for replying. I went to the Royal Hosp to see Dr Kennedy about having lap band surgery done on the NHS and that was when I was told the list had stopped cos of no funding. I know of someone who got it done in Nov 07 on NHS but had it done in Liverpool which was organised by Dr Kennedy. She went there because it is not done in N Ireland. It is done in some parts of England on NHS and thats why the doctor said it wasn't fair that it had stopped in N Ireland. I understood Dr Kennedy himself performs this surgery but no he doesn't - not even privately but may do in a year or so. I would be prepared to pay and to go England but dont know of the cost. Do you have any prices on it? I think it ranges possibly from £7000 upwards. Dr Clements tried to tell me also that I would be more suitable for Gastric Bypass but I would never consider that route at all. I'm interested to hear how your consultation went with Dr Kennedy. I hope I haven't been fed wrong info by his Registrar! Looking forward to hearing from you.

Hi Lyn I had a consultation yesterday (18 Mar 2008) with Mr Kennedy's registrar Mr Clements for lap band surgery done on NHS and he told me that funding had stopped for this around Nov 07. I was so disappointed and wondered why I got the appt in the first place but I think it was so I would kick up a fuss and write letters and get it started again. Unfortunately I do not intend to wait 2 or 3 yrs for this to be put back in place if ever, so I may have to re-think this. He told me Mr Kennedy does not do this privately. Do you have any more information on this? Thanks