EnglishRose

Hi Freckles Thanks very much. Its been hard adjusting to a band that works again though. I went for another fill about 6 weeks after the leak was repaired and had to have an Emergency defill 2 days later because I couldnt even swallow my own saliva. I drank 3 cups of water at the clinic and a coffee on the way home and everything was okay but the next day I couldnt keep anything down. The lady who did the defill had problems finding the port hole as she thought my port was twisted although Frederik found it first attempt. I was worried in case I would have another leak because of the amount of times she tried to get the needle in but Ive had fantastic restriction so everthing must be okay. Im happy with my weight and the way I look now. If I lose any more it will be a bonus but If I can maintain my weight now I will be happy with that too. I am 4 pounds away from being a NORMAL weight. OMG I never thought I would say that again. EnglishRose

Hi Slinky I lost 5 stone during the first 8 months of being banded and another 2 stone since the leak was repaired in May 2010. Just to put peoples minds at rest, the leak wasn't caused by Dr Chris or his team, I went to my local private hospital. I had a leak for about a year and was chuffed I didnt gain any weight, probably because my local gym was becoming a second home. EnglishRose x

Hi Sussie If you still dont have good restriction and you are worried I would go back and see Dr Chris or Frederik and ask them to take ALL the fluid out and check how much is in there, that way you will know for definate whether you have a leak or not. When I had a leak the fluid was pushing back when they did the fill so that doesnt always mean that everything is okay. The fluid was also clear (its normally a different colour when there is a leak). I guess everyone is different. Try not to get too disheartened you have still done well losing 2.5 stone. You may be one of the unlucky ones who needs a few fills before they get good restriction. The reason I would suggest getting the band checked now is because I paid for 9 fills before having my band checked for a leak and its cost me a bloody fortune in fills that were going in one end and coming out the other. Let us know how you get on. EnglishRose

God I love this band again. I have brilliant restriction with 5ml (in a 10ml band). For dinner last night I had 1 sausage, 4 chips and 2 table spoons of baked beans and it took me nearly an hour to eat because it kept getting stuck. Trouble is by the time id finished the food is cold. Ive lost nearly a stone in 2 weeks since the revision surgery and bought my first pair of size 14 trousers. Sussie you are doing really well, scrambled egg soon, yum!

Hi Sussie The pink sterile solutions is to clean your wounds when you change your dressing and Karob is right your stitches are supposed to dissolve anyway and whats left of them can be taken out after 10 days. EnglishRose x

Your welcome Susse, pleased to help :-) x

Hi All Well I am back from Belgium, feeling a bit sore. My leak was in the tubing 1cm away from the port. Dr Chris said it was caused by having a fill. I wasnt able to take the damaged tubing home with me but he has given me a report which I can take to the BUPA hospital although I dont hold much hope of getting any money back from them. Dr Chris gave also gave me a fill of 5ml and Im feeling a bit of restriction so hopefully my weight will start to come down again, fingers crossed! EnglishRose

nice looking thought lol

Pre-op diet, mmmmmm does that mean I shouldnt have drank 2 bottles of wine tonight, naughy me lol

I totally agree with Freckles, you havent been scammed. Frederik is a NIGHTMARE for replying to E-mails and he had me pulling my hair out for answers this week. His phone number is 00 32 472 01 90 91. I had to phone him/e-mail him several times for answers this week before I got him to reply.

Hi Julie I did phone the Bupa hospital and spoke to one of the surgeons and he said I wouldnt be able to make a claim if the port was damaged because there is more than one way to get a leak, not just by having a fill. mmmmm PASS THE BUCK TIME!!! If the leak is caused by a needle I will ask Dr Chris to give me the port so I can take it further with the Bupa hospital but to be honest I havent a hope in hell because I cant afford a solicitor, (I wonder if I could get legal aid, or a no win no fee). I just want to point out to anyone thinking of having a band fitted, I still think its the best decision I ever made and dont regret having a band fitted or going with Dr Chris and his team as I think they are brilliant.

Sorry to hear you cant get any compensation back. No trauma involved???? what planet are they on. Having to pay another £4000 is enough trauma itself, let alone having to have another op. Totally agree, Pratts!!!!

I didnt use Dr Chris or Frederik for my fills, I went to a private BUPA hospital near to where I live.

Hi Julie My band was was fitted on 13th August 2008. I think Ive had a leak for about a year really as I havent lost any weight for about a year but the good thing is I havent put any weight on either so the band has taught me something. Ive lost just over 5 stone but most of that weight was lost within the first year of having the band. Im having the repair done on the 4th May. I wont know until the day of surgery whether the leak is in the port or the band. To be honest I would rather just have a complete new band but Dr Chris wont replace the whole band unless its absolutely necessary. Im worried that if he finds a leak in the port, doesnt look any further then when I get home find there is something wrong with the band too. For a few months now Ive been having this really loud noise in my stomach, (and I mean really loud), its just under my left breast. If I press I can feel something going on inside me. Its really hard to explain but in can be really embarassing when your out because people can hear it. I suppose its like a rumbling tummy but a 1000 times louder. Has anyone else had anything like this????

Thanks Julie, I know Im not paying the full amount again but either 1500 euros for the port and 2000 euros for the new band is still a lot of money especially when your a one parent family. Dr Chris told me he doesnt make any money by doing the revision surgery, mmmmm!

I dont think there is a warranty. Im having to have to pay out again to get my port/band repaired.

Hi Sussie Im sure we will bump into each other at some point. Probably when we book in at the hospital. I'll probably be wearing my red coat so come and say hello if you see me. EnglishRose

Thanks for your support Freckles, and although Im having a few problems I still think being banded was the best decision I ever made, (well that and getting rid of my ex husband lol!!! I think Dr Chris and his team are brilliant and would recommend anyone to have a band fitted by him so dont let my leak put anyone off I guess Im just unlucky! Sorry to hear you had to pay out so much money for your 2nd band. I hope your solicitor can sort something out for you.

Ive been told it will cost 1500 Euros to replace the port and 2000 Euros to replace the band (this includes their hotel and taxi package). I dont know where the leak is yet and wont know until the day of surgery so I dont know if it was caused my having a fill. Dr Chris did say that it is more likely to be in the port.

Thanks Freckles. I keep telling myself that I have still lost over 5 stone so all is not lost but Im still peeved that the band/port needs repairing. I didnt have my fills with Dr Chris. I went to a BUPA private hospital just down the road from me, maybe thats a lesson learned! I dont know where the leak is and wont know until the day of surgery. To be honest I think Ive had the leak since February 2009 because I was overfilled and had some taken out, since that date I havent lost any weight and could eat pre-band amounts of food. Ive been going to the gym and for a swim 4 times a week so Im quite active now so luckily I havent put any weight on.

Hi Well Ive found out now that I have a definate leak somewhere, either in the port or the band itself so I am going back to Belgium to have it repaired. (more bloody money)!!!!! I arrive in Belgium on the evening of 3rd May and the op is being done on the 4th or 5th May. Anyone else going during these dates? EnglishRose

Hi Carriejess, no i havent received a reply yet. I have also sent a copy to Frederick but havent heard back from him either. You have done fantastic by the way!!! x

haven’t posted on here for a long time but needed to have a good moan. I was banded in August 2008 by Dr Chris and have since lost 5 and a half stone. I have never felt any real restriction and have had 6 fills bringing me up to 5.5ml. I went for another fill a couple of days ago at my local private hospital and told him I was getting hungry a lot and haven’t lost any weight in the past 6 months and asked if he could do a complete de-fill to check how much was in there. When he checked there was only 1.5ml in there. No wonder I have been so bloody hungry all the time. I’m obviously very worried that I have a leak somewhere and have E-mailed Dr Chris on Friday and I’m waiting for his reply. I have been going to the gym 4 days a week and swimming for an hour 4 times a week and still haven’t lost much weight. I know you gain weight by going to the gym as muscle is heavier than fat but I would like the scales to go down, this is ridiculous. I just want to point out that I am not blaming Dr Chris and I don’t regret having the band put it, I still think its the best decision I have ever made. I am just gutted that it’s not working for me at the moment. I think I may have had a problem with the band for about a year as that’s when my weight seemed to go up and down like a yo yo. I just wish I had asked him to check the level of fluid in the band beforehand instead of wasting money on fills which were obviously going in one end and coming out the other.

Hi everyone Its been ages since Ive posted on here!! At last I have got to the 5 stone mark, well 5 stone 1lb, because that 1lb makes all the difference doesnt it. I havent had a fill since February. Im not at my sweetspot and my weight has been going up and down over the last few months. I have met a guy and we are going on our 2nd date tonight!!! It will be the first time I have eaten in a restaurant since being banded in August so this will be interesting. I must remember the old saying CHEW CHEW CHEW!! I have been reading all your posts and Im really pleased everyone is doing so well. EnglishRose x

Hi Bigsister Yes Im still having fills. Ive had 5 in total. 3ml, 0.5ml, 0.4ml, 0.5ml and 0.6ml. Im on liquids at the moment for 2 days so wont know how much restriction ive got until I start eating again. To be honest I have never had brilliant restriction since having the fills and have had to use willpower. I have never measured the amount of food I eat, perhaps I should really I might lose even more weight. I have my dinner on a cereal bowl instead of a dinner plate as its smaller and it gives me a guide to how much I should be eating. EnglishRose