Freckles

Mmm, how exciting for you and Sian, is this your first Grandchild??

My 2 daughters are in the 6th piccy the middle one Sarah, who's now gone on her travels and my eldest daughter Rachel the one on the left, (both with long blonde hair) who has a band and is pregnant. Sarah's boyfriend is on the left of the pic with Rachel and her fella on the right. I am in the last one, can you spot me?

I know its off-topic but I thought you might like to see these pics of the surprise leaving party for my daughter and her boyfriend last saturday. These are mine didnt have time to take many, I am waiting for Rachel's. The first few were taken in the afternoon, before the party, if you're wondering why there's not much food

Mmm, thank God for that, that anaesthetist in the Spire more or less told me I was an idiot, because I told him that was the best restriction I had ever experienced with the faulty band. So he was wrong!!! So my band must have been leaking for a long time before I really knew for sure dont you think? Rachel's baby is due on 4th September but she is booked in for a C-section 2 weeks before as this is her 3rd child. Her pelvic bones overlap so she could never have a normal birth. Has Sian any other kiddies?

Wishful, I dont really know as all the bands are different sizes, in that they all hold different amounts. It depends what manufacturer the surgeon uses. But I will ask her as soon as she gets home in a couple of hours. She hasnt had a fill since April last year I know that for sure, cos we went together to the Manchester X-ray, when I found out the very next day that mine had leaked back out.

Lol, you go girl

Ok girls, this was my experience. Remember the doctor, not the surgeon at the Spire told me that long haul flights would not affect my band, well he doesnt know what he's talking about, because I went to New York, Jamaica and Florida over 2 years. Each time when I got there (and it lasted the full 2 weeks) I wasnt hungry, and hardly ate anything, I just drank coffee and alcohol:tt2: Now I think that the pressure on the flight affected the tightness of the band and helped me reach my sweet spot Each time I came home I had lost weight. But it didnt last, the band loosened up again. Now it was faulty so maybe that was why those holidays were the only time I found the sweet spot. That my dears is how its supposed to work, so keep up the fills. Also remember when you are losing weight you also lose weight from your internal organs, therefore the band will need more filling once you've lost more weight. I will know when I reach the sweet spot, it may take over 12months but it wont matter, I'll get there. Dont let yourslef get over-filled because its dangerous and you will have to go back for a de-fill. It happened to my daughter and she couldnt even swallow her own saliva, very scarey. I hope this helps you little piggies I'm one myself :cursing: .

@ Sammy good call!! I have tried lots of stuff, some goes down, some doesnt, but really you see I'm more or less in the same position as when I went for the band this time as my band wasnt giving me any restriction, however saying that, I have pb'd a few times and things get stuck, which didnt hardly happen before the op.

Everything the girls have said is true Lisa, except one thing about the diet thing. My naughty daughter survived on booze and chocolate, last year, not the healthiest of options, she kept having acid reflux and that was all she could manage. She was banded by THG Previous to this she had lost 6 stone, simply because the band restricts you from eating much, once you find your sweet spot as the girlies have said. Her band was fitted in april 2005, she lost about 2 stone at first and then it just gradually fell away. She has only had 6 fills. And now she is 4 months pregnant, and hasnt put any weight on yet!!!! I was banded by Michael Van den Bossche in the Spire ( was Bupa) Southampton both times. he was so good about my faulty band and persuaded the manufacturer to replace it.

ahh poor Lisa, no hunny dont let our stupid banter put you off, the band does work, my daughter has gone from 20 stone to just over 12 stone and she looks fantastic. I havent had a fill yet which is why I can eat at the moment, but things will change as soon as i have that fill. I am on my second band because i had a leak, but its not very common, so dont worry. I loved my band which is why I paid out nearly 4 grand for my second one, it has cost me almost £10,000 and worth every penny. I know that i will lose loads and never have to worry about putting it back on. Sorry if we have mislead you hunny xx

Thanx Big Sis, Wishful and Mandy. Big Sis, I've missed your lovely posts, in fact all you chicks on here are class!!! hey Big sis, I have more than a small drink :thumbup:...but I have to have something to look forward to every night when I come back from visiting, cant eat much cant smoke, so my only vice is booze.:thumbup: I did the abstaining for 10 days pre-op if you remember, and was so good....Michael VDB said my liver was very thin and in perfect condition, no fatty parts at all, so that helped me no end. In fact it made me turn to the bottle but i will ease off soon, I think.

Bless Gillian, you are a gem!!! I'm sure there are others that have tried too. I keep thinking its gotta get easier, with the hunger thing, I am using the patches, it helps with the cravings, we had a leaving party for my daughter on saturday night and a lot of people were smoking, albeit outside, but I also went outside to have a gab with some of them and it didnt bother me. Hubby is really good and tries not to smoke in front of me. Every night I have a couple of tots of booze though, cos I feel I need some release so I'm not that good. he says I shouldnt be drinking if I want to lose weight. I meant to mention too that I have been taking Arnica Tablets to help heal my insides, and the pains I had have now subsided.

Now can all of you bandsters say 'hand on heart' that you have stuck with mushy food and not tried anything else during your mushy period? Or am I the only naughty one? I know I must fess up.... maybe thats why I havent lost much:sad: I have tried lots of different things and can eat most of it, but only small amounts. I'm ravenous all the time, and I know if I was smoking I wouldnt be as bad, but I feel the time is right for me to give up, and its been 4 weeks now, and I dont want to start again.:thumbup: Any advice out there?

I'm so sorry for your loss Jacksmum, only time will help you chick.

I agree Gillian ...... I remember last time.. I trumped for England, Steve said I was a wind machine.:thumbup: and I'm the same this time, but it passes lol, sorry for the pun. Garry you are a mine of information... Bless Mmm I have missed you too.

Sweetheart, have you tried Remegel? You just dont need to suffer like that its a blinkin nightmare isnt it. My first fill is about 7th April as my surgeon is away on holiday. Mine will be done in Manchester , I get 2 free ones, bless Michael, he offered Manchester instead of Southampton as he knows its a hike for me to get down south. I'm going to mail him this week to find out if he's heard from the manufacturer about the examination of my faulty band. I do hope your wind pains go soon girlies xx

my dear friends, for all your kindness, I have so missed all your banter, its been hard with all my other mod jobs and my own board too. But everyone on those boards think I have had my gall bladder removed cos apparently its a similar op, so that's what to tell people, you unbanded chicks and guys. I will have to sort the ticker out for myself asap.

Hi everyone, I'm back at last. The last few weeks have been so hectic, with my poor Mum in hospital and my youngest daughter going to Oz for 12 months. My daughter went on Monday evening, but my Mum is still in hospital, they are saying she may not walk again and will have to go into a residential home.:w00t: My weight doesnt seem to be moving and yet my clothes feel looser. They do say you can lose inches and not pounds dont they. I think I can blame this partially on my not smoking, its almost 4 weeks now. At last my tummy is not so sore, and dont let that put you pre-bandsters off, I had one band removed and a new one put in as the old band was leaking, so it was a sort of double op, pain-wise. Sammy you poor thing, that wind pain is a nightmare, but mine was easily cured with just one Remegel, and it never came back. I know I've missed so many posts and the latest news and also newbies, but will try to catch up somehow. I hope everyone is good :tt1:

You have my sympathy Poppy, I'm so sorry, I know how I felt. But i was so delighted that I could eat anything , that I did and when I went for my second op a couple of weeks ago I was heavier than when I started the first time. Its so hard. Who was the manufacturer of your band, do you know, or can you find out? Mine gave me a new band for free after my surgeon tormented them. My daughter went with THG 8 months before I had mine done and she's great, she's lost a whopping 8 stone. You are lucky to have the support of your GP, keep us posted and let us know how you are getting on.xxx

Yes i had a leaking band. In Feb 2008, after being banded in 2005, I woke up one day with no restriction whatsoever. I went for a fill, and the next day nothing had changed. To cut it short, I paid over £250 for a contrast study scn/x-ray to ascertain where the hole was. The x-rays showed that it was the actual band. But 2 weeks ago when I had a new band implanted ( yes had to pay again, but got a discount) the surgeon confirmed that the actual hole was in the tubing, and not in the band. I hope that helps you chick, if you want to know anything else ask away, or pm me.

Good luck Fatpants, though I know you'll be fine hunny, will be thinking of you. Mandy great news chick, the time will fly by, once its booked that always happens. Big sis please make sure there's plenty of madras, pappadoms and mango chutney and I'll be sorted...tell you what I wish I was coming and could shovel that lot down, I would be in heaven. No wait...thats why I had to have the band in the first place... duh!!! Next saturday is the surprise party for my baby daughter who goes to Australia for 12 months with her young man. God I am going to miss her so much, she's my best friend. She has changed roles with my eldest daughter who now has a life after losing 8 stone, going to uni and meeting a new man, and is now pregnant. She still has her band, but has a lot of acid reflux (since before the pregnancy) and she seems to still be losing weight.

Thanx Big sis, I still have a bit of pain, but I know I am doing too much, I havent really given my body a chance to heal inside. But I'll be fine. Fatpants I am so excited for you, I know exactly how you are feeling, apprehension is the fear of the unknown and if you didnt feel that way I would be surprised. This time next week it will all be over and done with and you'll be such a loser :thumbup: Was it Sammy that was going for a holiday and then getting banded or am I dreaming? I know its the girl with the little baby, sorry memory is hopless atm.:blushing: What date was her surgery, anyone remember?:thumbup: