blondekerri79

Hi All Having my consultation at WGA next week, my surgeon is Audun Sigurdsson, just wondering if anyone else has had theres done by him or gong to be?? Kerri xx

I was banded by THG sister company WGA 12mths ago and I can't fault my whole experience with them. The hospital and staff were amazing, I received all my apointments on time and had my discharge x-ray within the time scale. My only problem was going to Manchester Royal Infirmary for my discharge appointment, the hospital was disgusting and filthy, which is not WGA's fault as it is an NHS hospital. But hand on heart, I have no regrets with going with them, but I would now go with WLS Group as they charge the same as I paid and that includes 3yrs aftercare, my package had no aftercare and I have my fills done with WLS Group as they are cheaper and Wendy is fantastic.

I really couldn't tell you how the weights coming off, I don't get weighed on a regular basis, I was told at my consultation to expect to lose 50% of my excess weight in year 1, 20% in year 2 and 10% in year 3. I have lost my 50% already which is just over 3 stones. You need to focus on this as a lifetime journey, not a 3/4mth one. I have lost my weight quite slowly compared to others but I am happy at that and I havn't got a massive problem with excess skin either. You have a very low BMI for the op so it might come off slower (thats not something I know for sure) my BMI was 43.5 when I went in hospital and I was a size 24, My BMI at the mo is 35 and I'm a size 16, I want to get to a size 12/14. Remember it takes time to get into your bands headspace, I've had a really bad weekend, I was sick 5 times yesterday and hardly eaten anything, I think thats due to getting very drunk on 1 bottle of wine and being "proper" sick which I'm guessing has caused my stomach to swell, but I still love my band, even though it's not the easy option some people think it is. Good Luck with ur op, I'm wanting to go back to Dolan Park for Boob enlargement (another joy of weight loss surgery, lol)

I had my surgery with the WGA option at THG (the £5,450 one) 11mths ago and it was the best thing I have ever done. I had my surgery at Bromsgrove and the hospital and staff were great. I personally was happy with the option I picked, I have only had 4 fills in 11mths, at a total cost of £340, if I'd gone for the more expensive option I'd jave paid an extra £2000 for 12mths aftercare and the same amount of fills!! and if i've needed any advice THG have spoken to me and I can call my fill provider whenever I need them.

I agree with Sue, I was on liquids for 2 weeks post-op then went onto the things you have had after that, and I struggled. You will still very swollen inside, 7mths on I still find Weetabix quite heavy. Best thing to do though is speak to your Nurse, they will put your mind at rest x

I was banded 6mths ago with WGA and have no complaints about them at all. From admission to discharge the care I received was great, the hospital was amazing!!...I don't ever wanna use NHS again now!!....6mths on , if I need any advice they are still willing to deal with me.

Skip, you need to check with Dolan Park about the 1 fill that they have said was included, cos it wasn't when I had it done. Yes, the £85 is right, thats who I've had all my fills with, I didn't bother with the ones WGA recommended as it didn't warrant spending an extra £40!!!! and they are so good at doing the fills!! Wendy has alot of experience and knowledge

I was banded at Dolan Park in September, my surgeon was Mr Siggurdson. I too had the WGA package and can't fault the service I received, I still ring them now if I have any concerns and they always give advice. I can recommend Wendy from Weight Loss Surgery group for fills, they are £85 and they have clinics all over the country, and she is fantastic!!! I've just had my 3rd fill last week, I now have 5.5ml in a 10ml band and I can sooooooooo tell a difference!! Good Luck with the op, and welcome to the losing side x

Hi Honey, I was also banded with WGA 7 weeks ago, and I have no complaints what so ever, I got my appointment letters through with no hassle, and was discharged on time too. I am having my fills with the WLS group, its £120 for the 1st as you need a medical assessment and x-ray then its £80 for each fill after. I've contemplated asking my GP to refer me to the NHS for aftercare but they ave let me down too many times before where my weights concerned that I think i'm just gonna carry on paying, and after Dolan Park NHS hospitals are just not the same!! lol I'm having mine done at Thornbury in Sheffield, I've been to find it today and it's very nice, I have my first fill tuesday and i am TERRIFIED!! i'm still quite restricted, I can only eat a sandwich plate size meal and sometimes i struggle with that, but I don't want to need a fill before xmas and be really restricted, I think ive been lucky post-op, ive read alot of people gain weight, ive lost 24lb since op, but i didnt lose anything pre-op, like most people do, think my body is just awkward!!

The best thing you can do is not pin all your hopes on it, I did the same with my GP, I have a prolapsed disc in my back and cannot have the next stage of treatment as my weight is too high and it won't be effective, after my consultant said I did not qualify my GP wrote to the PCT about my back, I pinned all my hopes on it, and I that time I was on a all time low with my weight so when it came back as No again I was devestated, so if you have the thought that they are gonna say No you're not building yourself up for a fall, and if they say Yes thats a bonus and a few grand saved!

It is shocking, especially as NHS guidlines state a BMI of 40+!!! and then the hospital recommended me to gain more weight to increase my BMI to 50!! it was a gain of over 2 stone, I am fortunate that I have low blood pressure and low colestorol, but heart disease is in my family so I wanted to take control while I still can!! But it is definately the Postcode Lottery!!

Main, I did say MOST, not all, all Yorkshire and Humberside are 50+, and thats from me trying to get banded by the NHS. I was also told by the PCT that alot round Bristol area are 50 too. I wanted to be banded so I wasn't going to get statistics!!!....I'd have sooner have saved £5000 by NOT going private

Good Luck with the NHS!!! Most PCT's will only operate on BMI 50+. My BMI is (or was) 43, my dad died at 51 of heart disease and it runs in his family and cancer runs in my mums said, I was advised by the Endocoronologist to gain 2stone to be able to go on the NHS waiting list!!!! I have since gone private as mentally I couldn't deal with gaining an extra 2 stone...I do have to say, so far it's best disicion I've ever made and best £5000 I've ever spent!

I too did the same as you, walked into my doctors and burst into tears....6mths later I am now banded!!! BUT.....at a cost of £5000!!! The GP and Hospital were just no use, I too have had all the tablets, Orlistat I lost 3stone on 3 yrs ago but gained it all back on and Redicutil did nothing for me as I suffer from low blood pressure so it didn't increase it enough to make it work!!! The endocronologist just sat there and advised me to gain another 2 stone to meet the criteria of Sheffield PCT!!!! (even though I do meet the NHS criteria)....it is all down to the postcode lottery and I had just had enough, so went and spoke nicely to my bank manager and 3 weeks in it's the best decision I have ever made!! I hope you PCT aren't bumping your hopes up of getting the op on the NHS, ask your doctor what your PCT's criteria is, she may have looked at the NHS one, but it's likely to be different!! Good Luck and keep smiling, but if you can do it, I recommend the private route!!

I'm 3 weeks post-op so I am no yet filled, my typical days food is.... Breakie - 1 Weetabix with ss milk lunch - 1 bag Quavers with tablespoon of cottage cheese or 2/3 tin of Soup dinner - Tablespoon of mash, 2 tablespoons of veg and Gravey with slice of meat blended or 1 fish finger. For some reason i am quite restricted, not due my 1st fill until 4th November

I'm 3 weeks post op and still have the gas pain, ive read it can last a number of weeks, I dont have the burping, mines more of a loud hiccup that i have no control over, i can feel it brewing then out it comes!! Im suprised the swelling hasnt given you any restriction as i am still very restricted. good luck and welcome to the club! Kerri

I am affraid I have nothing but praise for WGA!! I was banded on 12th Sept and I too had to have a hernia repair, the staff were great and sooo patient with me (im a needle phobic), I have got my appointment for x-ray and then another to be discharged. I will def go with WGA in the future if I need any cosmetic surgery after my weight loss.....Plus Dolan Park was lovely!! My mum n friend got breakfast brought to them in my room, I had a double room to myself with a view of the pond and animals in the fields

I'm feeling really fortunate, I too and 2 weeks post-op, it's the last day of my liquids tomorrow and I'm still happily living on 3 meals of 200ml a day, I do get a rumble but my soups satisfy me, I am looking forward to going onto mash!! Its my favourite!! I am fully expecting my hunger to come back tho!!

Well its the final countdown to starting my banded life, and I guess and hope what I'm gonna write next is normal.....the nerves have kicked in and the self doubt, I am now wondering that if I go through all this is it going to work? or like everything else ive tried am I going to fail?? The milk diet has started to make me feel crap and I cant see how im going to function at work this week, I dont have any energy at all!! Please help!! reassure me!! lol

Thanks Georgina, I just want friday to be here now, I'm mentally ready and Im looking forward to Heinz Tomatoe Soup on saturday!! lol

Thanks so much, the last 14 weeks since I booked it have flown, the milk diet is taking its toll on me and I think thats why the doubt has set in, i just want friday to be here now, then the hunger pangs will be gone, alothough replaced by op ones,lol

Thanks for the encouragement, I think I just want to done now, and I hit 30 next year so Ive got alot to look forward too and showing off some of my weight loss to people that I don't see very often, and Ive got a 3 week holiday to strut my stuff at!!

Well done you!! xxx I'm on my final countdown!!! Had an amazing blow out holiday and Ive got till next friday to visit all my favourite restaurants!! lol

Hi Ginger, Thanks for the message, I'm glad everything went well for you, I am booked in for the 12th September, so the nerves are kicking in and the self doubt of if i will cope!! but then I have the excitement too!! two very extreme emotions!! lol