Freckles

I apologise to you Vanessa if you feel that I have insulted nurses and doctors in general. Deep down you really know.... that was not the case. I know how hard they work, but I still think my mothers well being and life for that matter is worth far more than someones feelings. Without doctors and nurses we would be in a sorry state, and it was not my intention to insult anyone. I will not start a flaming match on here, the board and my friends here are too important to me. I will however refrain from posting anymore regarding my Mother. Mmm I am so sorry all of this has upset you so, please accept my sincere apologies.

Tonight she was better in herself, but hallucinating again. Three nurses came over to speak to me, to tell me how she was doing...they've never bothered before unless I have approached them....actually in my Mums notes there is reference to the fact that I have requested a meeting with the top knobs (such as they are). They are also now monitoring her fluid intake and output and there are pages of it, that werent there before. Maybe this has scared them somewhat, and that wasnt my intention, I just wanted to voice my concerns really. But I suppose if it keeps the staff on their toes and they take better care of my Mum and the rest of the patientsa, it cant be a bad thing. Maybe they never met anyone like me before

Cheers Gillian, I thought the same about the infection, but then read the symptoms of dehydration on the NHS website dry mouth (xerostomia), * chapped or dry lips, * dry eyes,dry, * loose skin with a lack of elasticity, * sunken features, particularly the eyes (enophthalmos), * clammy hands and feet, * headaches, * light-headedness, * dizziness, * tiredness, * confusion and irritability, * loss of appetite, she had nearly all of those symptoms, as well as vomiting which is another symptom. I am appalled that it could have been sorted out so much sooner, if we hadnt been fobbed off with 'its because she has had major surgery' I'm going to the hospital soon, I cant wait to see her, I hope she's still back to her normal self. xxxx

For anyone on the slop diet, like me, I made a lovely soup yesterday and have just finished it off, and am making more. Asda's organics, soup mix...it doesnt need soaking you just simmer it for about an hour, it says 40 mins but I gave mine longer as I wanted it very soft. I put an onion and garlic in it, a few Knorr chicken stock cubes and salt and pepper and it was lovely, so tasty. I am not a great lover of pulses, but I know they are very nutricious so thought I'd give it a go. The husband also loved it, though he added chilli powder to his. At least you can eat something with a bit of adult flavouring in instead of baby food.

Fatpants and Wishful, thanx for your comments and I agree with both of you, it is a disgrace to treat anyone this way more so the elderly who are at their most vulnerable time of life. I hope nobody else has to suffer this, and I wish we had picked up on it earlier, rather than be fobbed off by the nurses saying 'well she wont be herself, she's just had major surgery' I asked what was going on last Sunday, 3 days after my own op, because I felt that she should have been getting back to some sort of normality by then. Thank you again girls for your support and I will be as strong as possible on Monday, at this meeting. My 2 daughters are coming with me and they both have things to say. I'm going to write mine down and print it off, just to make me remember things.

Thanx Big Sis, you are a sweetie xxx

Just a little update on my Mum.... Well my moaning and asking for a meeting, and telling the surgeon about my Mum's dehydration has worked. Sarah went in to see her tonight and she is back to her old self. Sarah says she has plasters inside her elbows, where they've had a drip. But when she asked the nurse, she played dumb They have noticeably had her on a saline drip to put the fluid back in her body I am so relieved, but will be voicing my complaint on Monday @ 9am when I have an appointment to see the sister and Doctor. After all what would have happened if I hadnt spoken up?? B**tards !!!!! It's inexcusable, busy or not, I thought the idea was to keep patients alive not to put their lives at risk, maybe in the future they will be more vigilant with the elderly. I have to get my stitches out that day too at 10:30 am, so wont have time to waste with the Sister and Doc, will have to get straight to the point.:thumbup:

See!!!! I knew it, so glad you asked that Gillian...I still wonder why the anaesthetist said a long haul wouldnt affect the band, prat!!! I have a meeting with the Ward manager (sister) and the surgeon on Monday at 9am to discuss my concerns about my Mum. Last night when I went in, her cup was still there that I had bought her, but 2 dirty nighties, one with dinner all down the front and the other one was er umm, well ..soiled. So have been out today and bought another 3 nighties, as she's going through 2/3 a day, and I dont want her in those hospital gowns. Now she has about 12 so will make it easier for me. She wasnt good at all last night, asked me why I woke her up when I went in???? Poor old sausage, many thanx for your kindness Gillian.

Wishful and Gillian. My fella gave it up for 18years when the girls were little and then started again, when we were on holiday and got in with a big gang of Scousers who all smoked, and being a Scouser too, he felt a bit left out. He has given up twice since but put loads of weight on so started again. So I'm just taking each day as it comes.

I just wanted to say that I have never felt restriction like I have now, without a fill, except like i have said before after a long haul flight. I have had 3 teaspoons of scrambled egg, really more liquid than scrambled and was full. Its now obvious to me that my first band was faulty from day one. lets hope the weight begins to fall off. My 2 daughters say I look thinner already, which is great as i havent smoked since the day before my op. I have the Patches, couldnt do it without as i have smoked all of my life except when pregnant. I have to fight the urge though as its still with me.:laugh: But its early days, and I like the idea of being a non-smoker, so wish me luck girlies. My thoughts are with those having their ops today.

Mmm I apologise for there not being a piccy of me in my profile, but there is now. This was taken 2 years ago when I had lost 2 stone, the most I ever lost with my dodgy band. Only head and shoulders, but you can see the difference to now.

Sammy have a lovely break and come back feeling good. My thoughts will be with you hunny:thumbup:

Hi Maincat, my apologies for not spotting your post before now. The manufacturer offered me a new band and the Bupa (Spire) gave me a 20% discount so I opted for that. It worked out cheaper than going to Belgium. I have every faith in Michael Van den Bossche, he is a terrific surgeon and a wonderful man. It was because of his persistance that the company gave me a new band, the old one now removed is, by now in the USA waiting to be examined ( I hope). I will have to await their findings and remarks before i can move on with this. I will however keep you posted , I usually am to be found in this thread http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/anyone-know-dr-de-bruyne-chris-41669/index73.html#post1164269 many thanx for your suggestions and comments.:cursing: BTW why did you have 2 ops Steve?

I was banded in December 2005, at the (then) Bupa Southampton by Michael Van den Bossche ( Leading surgeon in his field). I didnt lose much weight at first, then after the second fill, I did a long haul flight and the restriction was really good, I couldnt eat at all while i was away, and came home almost a stone lighter!! However, I soon needed another fill, and Mr VDB had trouble finding my port, the bruising that appeared later was horrendous, and my stomach very tender. To cut a long story short, the only time I got real restriction was when I went on holiday. (flying increases the tightness of the band due to the pressure) I should have realised at the time that this wasnt normal, but I had lost 2 stone and thought it was just slow coming off. Just after last Christmas I woke up one day and just knew i could eat things I hadnt been able to eat for over 2 years, and I havent stopped since, much to my embarrassment. I have put back on the 2 stone and more. I booked an appointment for a fill ( couldnt get an appointment for 5 weeks)and explained about the non-restriction, but this fill wasnt with my surgeon, but at manchester x-ray. The next day I could still eat anything, much to my shock and dismay. i contacted my surgeon and asked for a fill ...I had to wait another 5 weeks for that. he tried to take out the 4mls the manchester clinic had put in, only to find it was empty. he said looks like you have a leak. I needed then to book an appointment for a contrast study done under x-ray. This cost £269, adding the other 2 fills one at £150 ans the other at £100, the money was mounting up. The x-ray took about 30 mins and was very thorough, it came to light that my actual band was leaking. Weeks later my surgeon advised me of this, although i already knew, but he wanted to see the x-rays before making judgement. I asked if there was any chance of the manufacturer footing the bill, or indeed the Bupa hospital. imagine my horror to find out the Bupa only guarantee their ops for 30 days!!! Anyway 4 months on and this is where I stand now. The manufacturer will give me a new band as mine was faulty, through no fault of my own , in fact I think it must have been faulty from day one. However, who will take the faulty one out and put the new one in? nobody wants to take this responsibilty. I am now going to seek legal advice, because i think its shocking that this has happened, and I also think private hospitals should have new rules for gastric operations in regards to their warrenty policies. So thats my story up to now.

So sorry Christine that i didnt reply, I had no idea that anyone had replied to my thread. I have now had my new band fitted, I am a week out of surgery and feel I have restriction like I didnt experience with the first band initially. Have you any news about your plight? What a dreadful experience for you, I bet you're so upset and angry about this. Please let us know how things are going.

many thanks Wishful and Gillian for your replies. Wishful, my Mum is not in a care home, she actually fell and broke her hip, she's in hospital, where i know the staff are overworked and underpaid, but that doesnt excuse stupidity does it.

My Mum is still not so good, I am really disappointed with Whiston Hospital, she is talking broken biscuits all the time, and is shaking, she cant hold a glass and keeps tipping her squash all over herself. I have lost count of the nighties i have had to wash, not that I'm bothered its just the fact that she's tipping more than she's drinking. I am also sick of asking the nursing staff to give her a beaker with a spout, they get one and the next time I go in she has a glass again so in the end bought her one of her own. It just better be there when we go in this afternoon. She has had conjuctivitis in both her eyes since the surgery and each time we go in we have to bathe them for her, and she cant see properly. I think at last they are getting eye drops for her!!!!! Bloody disgusting. Are they blind or do they just not care?? She has had a water infection and needs to drink plenty, and she's not getting it as nobody seems to have the time or inclination to help her. I also had a nightmare with her hearing aid, it was fine when she went in, and then some stupid Staff nurse admitted to finding a part on the floor and throwing it away cos she didnt know what it was!!!!! We had to run around taking it to the next town to get it fixed, as the hospital's audiology refused to repair it cos she didnt live in the area!!! What crap. I am waiting for a meeting with the Ward manager and the doctor, so that I can air these issues. I want her home with me so I can take care of her, she has lived with me for 6 years and I have built her up so she is strong, and its all going downhill. They dont seem to be able to get her to stand up, she wont bear her weight, if she doesnt walk soon, she never will. This is driving me nutz, and I'm sorry to bore you all, but sometimes its helpful to share. Thanx for reading this xxxx

Shoes and Kaka's daughter, my thoughts will be with you. You will be so happy after the surgery you wont even care if you have some pain...its so worth it. Mmm, this is a little spooky, cos I was born in Bridgend South Wales and my maiden name was Williams. Not sure if my Dad had a bike or not... did yours? :crying: Well now you just have to post a piccy of yourself, for me to see. if you'd rather.. you can pm it to me, but please, please dont keep me in suspenders:tt2: There is another piccy of me in my profile i think, if you want to see.

Dont worry sweetie, Michael was the surgeon who did my original op. That band developed a hole and I had to have it done again. I was all for going with Dr Chris in Begium and thought I would ask MVDB how much he would charge me for the op, as the manufacturer agreed to give me a new band and the Spire (was Bupa) Hospital gave me a 20% discount. As it turned out it was cheaper for me to stay in the UK and go with Michael again, whom I must say is a wonderful surgeon, I have never doubted that he did such a good job, and again feeling so good I know i am right about him. i had my op at 8:30 am on 26th feb. I stayed in hospital until 11am the next day, but I was fine all night, up and down to the loo like a fiddlers elbow. What a pain having to unattach my legs from the vibrating boots, and drag my drip stand with me, I must have got up about 7/8 times during the night. But now i feel really good, I have restriction too, God knows how??? Maybe the initial band was faulty from day one, because I didnt have any restriction before my first fill, with that band. I have been bad and tried to eat ryvitas, which is why I found out I have restriction. I am such a pig. I have only lost about 4lbs so far though:crying:

Thanx Big S.... They made me sit in the chair cos I had nasties on my chest, and needed for it to come up. It didnt until the next day. I know...too much info...sorry. My hair was hairsprayed to death so it wouldnt move lol. Now I am fighting with not smoking cos i promised myself i would do this. I have to take each day at a time, but its been so much a part of my life for so long its going to be a struggle. At least I cant compensate with food. How long before you girls went to the loo, btw?

hey guys me is back, a little delicate but great really. When I woke up I had an awful stinging sensation in my tummy, but it soon went after the morphine. This is a pic taken of me 2 hours after surgery, and I think I look really well even though a bit bloated. Hope it doesnt put you off your brekkys. I was starving last night, and today I cant eat either, except fat free yogurt and veg juice...blinkin exciting stuff eh. Anyway Michael Van den Bossche is a fabulous surgeon, he must be so gentle considering I havent had much pain. I have been having Calpol, since the morphine and an anti-inflammatory each morning, that dissolves on the tongue. They gave me one injection in the stomach yesterday before I left the hospital and took off my plasters. I didnt have a drain, I didnt have one last time either. The nurse sprayed each wound with an antiseptic plastic covering! Never heard of that. She gave me plasters but said I didnt have to wear them if I didnt want to. I have another 5 scars now as MVDB wanted fresh openings. He took out the faulty band and told me that the actual hole is in the tubing??????? Not in the band as the contrast study showed....seems strange. Anyway he said it is already on its way to the USA for examination. I now have an all singing-all dancing new small band:lol: I have to get well soon for my Mum, as she's not too well bless her. I'm sure all your good wishes and kind thoughts have helped me so much, and so glad you are all such big losers :tongue2::thumbup:

Thank you girlies for you well wishes. I am in the hotel atm just gonna go to bed, uup at 5am. My Mum had her op today and when my eldest daughter went to visit tonight, she was fast asleep. they said everything went fine, so I do feel a bit easier in my heart now. And it has taken my mind off myself, which is a blessing, I dont feel nervous, cos i know there's nothing to be scared of. Just want it to be over and be back home. Will try to log in asap. Nite for now, take care out there xxxx

Just another quick note. I was at my daughters until 6pm tonight, then called in Asda for a few bits and when we got home my Mum was laying on the floor in the living room in the dark. She had fallen trying to answer the phone. I just dialled 999 and went to the hospital and it seems she has broken her hip. They are keeping her in for 7 - 10 days. Poor thing. Dear God does it ever stop, I've only just got back from the hospital and am ready to drop.

Thank you for the good wishes, time is going so fast now, we leave for Southampton on Wednesday. This time next week it will be all over and done with. I am proud to be a member of this board and love you all, you're all so nice. Dont forget, you can put weight on if you dont have any restriction, just look at me. I still have a band albeit its not very tight, its still not allowing food to pass normally into my stomach. I have been known to 'PB' at night even without any saline in it. So it is sensible to chew like mad to get the food small enough to pass through the band. I have to go to my daughters soon, she has a lady coming today who is going to teach her to do acrylic overlaying (nails) and will apparently stay all day, or until my daughter has proved she can do a good job. Its a condensed course, and Sarah will get a certificate at the end of the day. I am to be the model, so had to soak all mine off last night in preparation for today. I will be leaving one finger without though for when I go into hospital. Did anyone have acrylic overlays and tips? I am thinking about when they put that little clamp on your finger, I think its to test how much oxygen is in your blood. Also, can anyone remember when they give you the sexy stockings? I have a feeling its before surgery. I am taking my lappy to Southampton with me, so if I feel up to it will log in while I am recovering. Note to self...remember to put link on lappy. xxxx