Chrissy4

Hey Fox, please dont worry, nothing bad is going to happen to you, Dr Chris and his team are fantastic and you couldnt be in better hands-honest. Any operation carrys a small danger, but over all anaesthetics have come a long way and are safter than ever and as far as I am aware Dr Chris has not lost any of his patients lol. I think its so unfair that your friends should be doing this to you no matter how much they care, its hard enough on you as it is without that sort of support. As most of us have felt the same fears we are right there with you. Its the unknown that causes the fear but the benifits far outweigh them and you will be up and about within a few days of your op. There will be pain but its managable , I was one of the lucky ones where I was up and about the next day and sight seeing the day after-phew i was so pleased because im not good with pain lol and I was on my own. The only thing that I found painful was the trapped wind in my shoulder but if you can walk around soon after you are sent home try and walk the wind out. I took some apple juice to desolve the pain killers in and it was like having fizzy apple juice lol. I was banded on the 15th October and I am feeling fantastic. I have now lost over a stone and have no regrets at all. So chin up, stop freaking and just keep posting. :cursing:

Hi Van, yes its going ok but keeps going up and down by a couple of pounds, but my body shape is changing so im trying not to get hung up on the 1bs thing. I cant wait to get my first fill though. Im sure its because our bodies are still in shock at the amount of food we are shoving in. I think mine is saying 'hey lets see who can hold out longest, I have all that flab to get through yet' lol. But im feeling good as long as I eat SLOWLY lol I have not had any choc or crisps since I started on this journey and to be honest im not craving sweet things anymore but I could of sank a bag of chips the other day when someone from my office had some ...... omg.....the smell of them sent me mad, I drooled for ages lol:confused_smile:. Still have to get through the Xmas parties yet, and its still a secret at work phew! Still havent had the courage to tell my Mum.

Hi van Hi everyone, just caught up with all the new posts, wow quite a few of you are about to become bandsters lol it brings back memories of how I felt once I made that choice with all the doubts,fears and excitement. Well done on the weight loss, I seem to be stuck on losing between 10 and 12lbs but although its not showing on the scales my body shape is changing and my face is looking thinner. Im going for my first fill on the 27th Nov and cant wait. I am being so good but finding I can eat more and more as time goes on, although the band will tell me exactly what it thinks if I eat to much or to fast lol. I had an incident the other day in tescos where I was so hungrey that I tried eating a sausage roll while walking around and it came up as fast as it went down with a lot of pain besides. Luckily for me there was nobody around when I chucked up but im sure I was caught on camera reaching for the kitchen roll. At the moment I dont really feel any restriction until I have that sort of a reaction, then it sorts my head out lol:cursing: Glad they have sorted your port problem out, did you have swelling around there then? So far all my wounds are healing very nicely and the GP checked them out and said they looked good. I think I took the sticthes out to soon on one of the wounds, but its scabbed over now and looking ok.

Hi TC27 I also felt nervous about telling my GP and didnt tell him until I got back and was pleasantly surprise at his reaction. He asked me all about the op and was very impressed with the report that Dr Chris had given him and with me for having it done. So dont worry, my GP is now aware that I have a band and will support me and im sure yours will to.

Awww TC Im feeling for you, I also went through a very emotional time as well. Im glad you have decided to go for it, and dont be disappointed with your friends and Mum's response, its not only because the dont understand, (slim people just dont get it:cursing:) , its also because they all care about you. It will all become very clear to them once you have had it done and are down to a size 8 lol, and anyway once its done there is no going back lol :rolleyes2:

TC congrates on making that first move. As you have read through the past posts you will see how nearly all of us were very nervous with many of us having doubts including me lol. It is only natural that you feel like this, its a decision, that is not made lighty. You're thought about 'will it work for me', well if you dont try you will never know and will always be asking yourself 'if only'. How is this selfish? If you have the support of your hubby then that is all you need. The only person who can make the choice is you, other peoples opinions are not really relevant, (except your GP). I have only told 3 people (and of course all you lot on this forum lol) about my op and they have and are supporting me all the way, i was not interested in other peoples negitive responses because I dont think they really understood how I felt being over weight and how very unhappy I was. As for the dangers, well, there are more positives than negitives to losing weight, the co-mobilities associated with weight problems are the real dangers. At the end of the day TC the choice is yours, this forum is fantastic for advise and support and we will all be behind you 100% if you go ahead with it:thumbup:

Hi Naomi, yes im having my first fill in London at 2 oclock, what time are you going to be there?:biggrin:

Hi Van sorry not been on for a while, my comp went a bit weird and I have had trouble with getting on line. Lol Yes I know what you mean about T.V programmes, I try and avoid the cooking ones, but the a adverts are driving me mad, esp the choc ones arrrgggggghhhhh I want some:w00t: I keep telling myself thats its all in the head, but my tummy is shouting Nooooo its not lol. I cant wait to get filled (that just sounds sooooo rude). I am down about 9lbs which im pleased about but I seem to have got stuck and those bloody scales are not moving for me lol. Here is my email address christinechinnery@yahoo.com just in case you or anyone else wants to chat off the forum lol

lol its good to know that im not the only one who could eat the paper off the walls, good job I dont have paper on the walls lol. Its also good to know that we cant stretch out little stomachs

hmmmm that sounds lovely gonna do that tomorrow. lol sounds like people getting to know has worked to your advantage:biggrin: how brill is that, still off work lol wish I was, but then again if I was I would be looking for things to eat lol. I have to get through 2 Christmas lunches:w00t:one on the 10th Dec and 1 on the 19th, dont quite know how im going to deal with that yet, not to mention dinner on Christmas day with my parents!!! and I cant get out of them oooppps well done on the weight loss thats fantastic Vanessa. Im not going to weigh in till Friday, but my clothes feel less tight and my knickers are not rolling down lol so I guess I must be lossing it in all the right places lol:smile2:

I wish I could of had an earlier fill but the 27th Nov was the next one after the 23rd October which would of been far to soon. Hmmmmm I love prawns lol but I have been warned lol! Yum Spag Bol, how did the Pasta go down? How much did you have? Im still feeling hunger pangs about 2 hours after I have eaten and I am having to really be strict with myself to stop snacking:cursing: oooohhhhh roll on the 27th Nov lol:rolleyes2: Nobody at work has suspected because I had already told them that I was going on a very strict diet, so they just think im still on that phew! How has it been for you? Are they supportive now they all know?

Hey Jojo welcome back, well done!! Dont worry you wont feel like this for long, its just that your body has had one hell of a shock lol, in a few days time you will be your old self again. I also felt really hungrey and still do most of the time:crying: just make sure that you drink plenty of fluids, cuppa Soups go down really well, over the next few days, and im sure you will feel a lot better when you start having mushy foods, i know i do. Try and book your first fill as soon as you can. Well done!!!:biggrin:

Hey I like your motto lol slower loss less sag lol :thumbup:Im still suffering from wind as well but it is getting less often, Im drinking lots of apple juice and water which seems to help a bit. Oooo lucky you getting your first fill on the 13th, im not able to have mine until the 27th Nov. I have started having the porridge in the mornings and that helps keep the hunger demons away till about 11.30, and I have discovered Tescos Dutch crispbakes and their light cheese triangles. I am also now having mashed vegs and stewed steak in gravy - yum im getting stirings from those little demons again lol What got me yesterday was king prawns, not good for me, maybe if I had eaten them slowly and not had one after the other they wouldnt of given me soooooo much pain lol

Hey Ele, you are doing really well. I think my weight loss is all fluid. You are doing nothing wrong, we all lose at different rates, and you might think that 4 kilo's is not much, but come on its a fantastic loss in 3 weeks:thumbs_up:

Hiya Vanessa, I totally agree, if surgery was more affordable here in the UK there would be no need to go elsewhere. How are you doing, well done on the 2 1bs 2oz loss. I had a bit of a fright yesterday, I ate to much to fast and I felt my chest was going to cave in lol and it came back up as quick as it went down, my own fault for thinking I could get away with it lol, wont be doing that again in a hurry:w00t: it bloody hurt! I have lost about 8lbs so far, but it seems to be going up and down all the time so im only going to weigh in once a week lol .

Hello everyone, found this and thought it made interesting reading. As for the comment about Dr's making quick money is laughable because to have it done here in the UK is twice as expensive. Its a personel choice as to where you have surgery, but for me I have no regrets and would gladly go back to Dr. Chris. The hospital was spotless and I returned home without any lovely superbug in tow. So for anyone who might be put off going to Brussels dont be, its worth every penny hi there In a recent report by Matthew Hill of BBC News it was inferred that Gastric Band surgery carried out by surgeons in Belgium put UK Patients at risk. This is totally untrue. Gastric Band procedures In Belgium are carried according to the current guidelines of the Belgium Health Authorities which are different than those applied in the UK. This in no way infers that the Procedure is Unsafe for UK Patients who decide to travel to Belgium for this surgery Procedure. In a recent report by Matthew Hill of BBC News it was inferred that Gastric Band surgery carried out by surgeons in Belgium put UK Patients at risk. This is totally untrue. Gastric Band procedures In Belgium are carried according to the current guidelines of the Belgium Health Authorities which are different than those applied in the UK. This in no way infers that the Procedure is Unsafe for UK Patients who decide to travel to Belgium for this surgery Procedure. The Guidelines for Private Gastric Band surgery In Belgium are for Patients with a BMI of 35 to 40. However what must be remembered is that these are "Guidelines" on not strict "Rules" and a BMI of 30 is acceptable in some cases if the patent is so motivated, and the surgeon considers that the surgery would be Benifical to the Patient. In the BBC Interview it also carried a clandestine interview with Belgian Gastric Band Surgeon Dr. Chris De Bruyne who was "Secretly Filmed" during an Bogus interview for surgery by a BBC reporter. The reporter "Lead the Surgeon" in to making certain comments which gave the impression that He (the Surgeon) would carry out Gastric Band surgery on patients who did not fall within these guidelines. However, Dr Bruyne did emphasise that the difference of the 2 kg of weight was insignificant if the patient was motivated and that patient had a record of weight fluctuation that would take them slightly over or below the BMI periodically. There was no indication that Dr De Bryune was the Surgeon who had carried out the Operation on Jilly Trella who had needed the emergency treatment due to complications. So one must ask the question, why was he (Dr De Bruyne) chosen by the BBC to interview in this manner? Surely the BBC would have been much better served to undertake an interview the Surgeon who had caused the problems that Jilly Trella had suffered from. Furthermore the Interview then continued on to suggest Gastric Band Surgery carried out abroad (again citing Belgium as a cause for concern) was unsafe because of difficulties with access to aftercare. This also is not a true statement of fact. Most Gastric Band surgeons in Belgium make arrangements for clients in the UK to have access to aftercare. In many cases the Surgeon themselves travel to UK medical centres to carry out remedial and aftercare services for their Patients. In all cases Patients are given very clear instructions on what to do in cases of emergency and contact telephone numbers where they can obtain advice or treatment. As with all cases of surgery there will be times when complications arise, and gastric band surgery is not without risk. These risks are explained to the Patient before and after surgery and the patient enters in to the "contract" with full knowledge of the risks involved. When complications do arise they are generally treated very quickly and efficiently by the surgeon, or the patient is advised how to seek emergency treatment. The Interviewer also sent out a survey to Surgeons in the UK who were asked if they had carried out any emergency treatment for past patients from Abroad and the results stated that many had. However what the survey did NOT ask was if they had carried out any emergency treatment for gastric band surgery patients from UK Clinics. Nor did they ask Surgeons who are directly involved in High Volume cosmetic Surgery Clinics in clinics where gastric Band surgery is carried out. In My opinion Dr Chris de Bryune was pilloried for something which he had not caused, nor was he given the proper opportunity to respond to the reporter's questions in a timely manner. It is totally unfair for any reporter to call a surgeon and expect them to respond when they are with a patient in a private consultation. The English Surgeons whom he then went on to interview were given the full facts of the debate, and also afforded the opportunity to respond in a timely fashion, in surroundings of their choosing, with the full knowledge that they were being interviewed. Gastric Banding Surgery In Belgium is carried out By Highly qualified and experienced Surgeons, the Clinics where treatment is carried out are clean and hygienic, and the risks of complications are no greater than for procedure carried out in the UK. I feel the BBC gave a very Biased report and Blew everything out of proportion for the sake of sensationalism.

Hi Gillian, I only had my band done a week ago so I know how you feel about being nervous, I think we all have been lol its only natural and Im sure it will be worth all the saving up for it:smile2: I only told a few people because I only wanted people to know that would support me and not ones, even with the best intensions to be negitive because this was my choice. This forum has a wealth of information and we are all here to help if we can:thumbup:

Hi joyoyoung, if your appointment is with Dr.Chris on Thursday you will have to go and see him at his surgery, then on Friday make your own way to the hospital which is only about 10 mins away and will cost about 10 euros if you are staying in Valvoorde. Good luck, dont worry everything is going to go just fine:thumbup:

Hi Valerie, Dr Chris has a very good rep dont know much about Dr Fouchquet but you cant go wrong with Dr. Chris so here is the information for his website and email address chris.debruyne@advalvas.be www.obesity-assist.com tel: 0032 2 751 77 77 - 0032 456 39 80 74 Good luck :grouphug:

Awwww sounds like your daughter was really proud of you. I booked my fill today but decided to go to London because i have used all my leave up, its for the 27th Nov but if i find im struggling i will also book a double fill for Jan maybe when I get some leave back. Dr Chris does the double fill at his place with the Xray. Its costs £50 but not sure if thats for both the fills or just the one, and yes I think it is safe because he is the best lol and because you stay overnight after the first fill then go the next day for the other, so quicker restriction hopefully. I dont know where they have all gone lol I think a few of them email directly to each other but hope they come and visit every now and again. Glad you are feeling better. I felt really hungrey today and even had the porridge that was yum but I could of eaten a lot more :crying:so cant wait for the next stage

Ooooo thats a good idea eating porridege, not tried that yet, just stayed on soups and yoghurts. Today I had a banana milkshake and added Whey protien to it which didnt really touch the spot lol. I feel I could have a fill now as im not really feeling full on anything much, but will try the porridege. Its such a shame that you are still feeling sick, I guess you have taken those tablets for nausea that they gave you? I didnt need them in the end, so if you wanted mine you can have them. Have you made an appointment yet for your first fill, i havent but am thinking of going back to Dr C for a double fill. Are you back at work yet? I dont go back til Thursday. Bugger about the leak at work, but you can be proud of what you have done, its not easy having everyone talking about you, but im sure they will be supportive now they all know. I didnt tell anyone at work so it couldnt leak but im sure they will start asking questions when the weight starts coming off and I have a Christmas dinner hurdle to get over in Dec lol, im sure they will wonder why I can only eat a tiny amount of dinner lol ooops, and of course I still havent told my parents, and my Mum always cooks a huge dinner for me, havent worked that one out yet. :tongue2:

hi jojoyoung, im really glad to hear that your friend has at least taken the first step, fingers crossed for her. I will be thinking of you both on Thursday, good luck and let me know how you get on. Im feeling fine, wind has now gone and the incisions are healing very nicely, no real pain just a bit of a tug when I bend over. I am now begining to feel a bit hungry and cant wait to start the next stage lol. They recommend you have a fill 4 or 5 weeks after your op. Dr Chris offers a double fill which he does in his office via an xray, you have one fill done, stay overnight in hotel then go back in the next day for another one which again is done by xray, so I am thinking I might go for this option. He is the only one that will do it, and he is not coming back to London for a while, so its worth thinking about. Fredrik only does the single fill. How are you feeling about it all? :biggrin: I wish you all the best for Thursday :tongue2:

Hi jojoyoung, the best thing your friend can do it go chat to her GP, with her bmi and family history she may stand a very good chance:thumbup:

Awwww never mind maybe we will meet for that shopping trip lol. Im sorry to hear you are not to well, I must of just been one of the lucky ones because I didnt get any sickness just gas in the shoulders and a bit light headed but apart from that I was up and about very quickly and to be honest could of gone home on Friday but thought it best to stay just in case, so went sight seeing instead. It only hurts a little in my tummy when I bend over, but apart from that everything is fine. Didnt much fancy doing the injections lol but have learnt very quickly to do them and they dont hurt at all. And of course you are right about taking your partners or friends with you if you can, its a bit lonely recovering on your own, but you get throu it :biggrin: How are you doing on the liquid diet, im begining to feel a bit hungrey now and am constantly drinking tea, cuppa soups, apple juice and milk lol

Hi Sparky I also travelled by eurostar and it was a breeze, dont worry. Good luck for Thursday:thumbup: