gillian

Sounds the same as me that! X

How fantastic have you done?!.. X

Hi Sam! You've got a great weight loss journey to go on this year!.. 10 stone, that's a lot, but you can do it!.. You'll be gradually filled over about 3 months..then good luck, I hope you do brilliant x

Hi Charlene, glad you're sorted for your defill. Hope you have a great Easter... And as I know..to my disadvantage..Even at its tightest, any amount of chocolate can pass thro no prob!. So don't go mad! X

Yes fish is one of the best foods for boosting weight loss I've heard! And I can't get enough of king prawns, mussels in garlic fish etc. cottage cheese is nice with prawns or even chopped crabstick, with cucumber and spoon of sweet chilli sauce stored in.. Low fat/high protein and delicious for a snack. I also have tinned mackerel as lunch sometimes. Smoked fish poached in milk with poached egg on top.. Mmm I'm hungry now! X

That sounds gorgeous, may try it myself!.. And how good is that for you! X

Good for you!..hope it carries on for you..I hope I'll start up again too in june after this rest, Just shows, the band does work doesn't it.. I can't lose without it x

That's brilliant odge!.. You've done so well along with your sister.. Well done!.. Not been on here for years now but it's nice to check in and see how you others banded near when we were are doing. I'm going to give myself a kick up the bum with a small full in June after a rest.. Then hopefully I'll be moving again. X

WLS (the UKs number 1 aftercare providerby the way)don't do anything 'wrong' only right, as their many now slimline happy customers can vouch for. I won't tell anyone to go to any fill provider, (I do know of some stories of certain 'providers' going wrong too, but I'm not scare mongering on here or slagging any of them off).it's up to the individual who they go to. Just make sure you have a good 15 mins of advice with them before your fill, and can reach them for emergencies immediately on 24 hrs helpline. That they are well insured, experienced and professional. Good luck to everybody whoever you use. We're all after the same results, and can feel free to share our experiences on this forum

Fantastic! Didn't realise odgemodge was your sister!.. Me and my sister 'bigsis' were banded together too it was 3 years last January now. We've done ok. My first aim was to lose enough weight to become active to not have aches pains and break out into a sweat at the thought of walking even!.. I did that after about 3.5 stone in around 7 months. Then I got a bit naughty and 'cheated the band' with slider foods!. CosI had it too tight... So it doesn't pay to have it too tight that proves to me!. I'm resting it now loosened off for few months. Then maybe a little fill in June. Hope to get back on track like you have done! X

T.You've done great!! Me and my sister been bit naughty eating 'slider' foods and put bit on. Must get back on track!.. May go see Wendy in June after my hols when I've rested my band a bit longer (after it'd been on tight side) but yes Wendy her hubby Steve and now Rosey are all lovely.. Giving you so much time and advice. How long have you been banded now T? Not much less than me I don't think?. X

Glad you feel bit better but it would prob hurt you to eat mushy/solids. Think you're right having small de fill. Cos the aim of the band is to eat less not it hurting to eat. but at least you've now experienced how being too tight hurts and lost some weight a bit quicker!.. Good luck x

Suppose Wendy's Wls clinics nearest to Edinburg would be Glasgow or Newcastle though, so may not be so near to you anyway x

Dr Chris actually recommends Wendy the fill nurse at Wls group..she has £5 million insurance and is an extremely experienced bariatric nurse whos been adjusting bands all day everyday for many years. She rates Chris, as he does her. He's happy with her aftercare. Email him and ask him if you're not sure. Her names Wendy Stubbs at wls if so. I wouldn't tell anyone to go or not go to any aftercare provider, but if you're having a problem, it's worth knowing that she will see anyone's patients in an emergency.. Even if they're not using them as their main aftercare provider.

Hi, yes I get a newsletter every month or so. And it said ' now offering emergency defills to non wls patients'I didn't have my surgery with them either but they travel to different venues up and down the country.and clinic 5 min drive from me at a private hosp once a month. I pay for yearly package, but am going on a 'pay as you go' now as don't need or want many adjustments. They are very professional n lovely too. Look up Www.wlsgroup.co.uk. Me, my sister and loads of others who went to chris have used her.. She was in with chris doing ops last year and they recommend each other. Where do you live? Theres prob clinic near you once a month.. Excellent advice too too..think it's £90 for adjustment, but sometimes BOGOF offers on etc. yes that gurgling does get embarrassing n loud doesn't it!.. It was bad when I was trying to get to sleep, and had to jump up sometimes as nearly choking on saliva. Yours sounds just the same as mine was, and it's a pain cos when you eat it gets stuck so you chuck it up, then I think it inflames around the band making it tighter for a bit. I hope you cope ok until you get a bit of a defill then, your problems should improve a lot then x

I had a fill to 6 mls last may too..was quite tight And for some reason needed 3 small defills after up to now. I've now got 4.2 which is maybe not enough to make me lose weight, but I was really worried that I'd got band slippage/ migration/ erosion .. So last thing on my mind was weight loss. I've been advised to 'rest' it at this for a while.. I'm going to try small fill when I return from hols mid June. I blame myself for being too eager to get tight for weight loss.. Then starting to eat wrong types of foods (slider foods.. Chocolate, curry sauces etc!).. When I ate normally was quite often sick.. I think I put too much stress on stomach.. Think it was my warning to slow down?!. But I know what you mean, it's a bit scary cos you think something's wrong.. I have my aftercare with WLS. They visit loads of cities in uk and offer emergency de fills to anyone if youre ever desperate. Im sure your band is fine just could maybe do with a bit of a rest.. Try to get your calories with protein shakes or nourishment drinks, if you're not eating. Are you having to bring food back up by the way? Gillian x

Hi, band is too tight, I've been suffering for a year with this (banded over 3 years ago).. Been treated for acid reflux for a year.. Did nothing.Ended up having tiny amount out under flouroscopy X-ray.. Where they could see that it is just over production of saliva gurgling about trying its hardest to help food down, you get air bubbles cos of constant swallowing too, so you'll burp . I was in pain in my shoulder and left side. No wonder acid treatments didn't touch it. But if left too tight for too long it can erode into stomach wall.. You really don't want that so suggest a smidgen out def. I was fine as soon as just 0.2 was took out. hope that helps. Good luck, Gillian x

I'm excited for you because you are about to do something wonderful for yourself.. For the first time ever you are going to successfully lose weight and keep it off.. It's life changing. And the buzz you'll get will be fantastic!. I had my band done January 09 with chris in Belgium, can't fault any bit of the hosp, staff, doctor.. But I have all my aftercare package provided by WLS in UK. Cannot fault them either one bit.. Good luck with your positive life changing decision x

You go with what your comfortable with, I would have been worried going on my own to another country too esp with other medical problems.. I must say I would highly recommend dr chris, he's highly experienced and regarded. But I completely understand why you've chose the UK.. And at the end of the day.. You're having same op.don't feel guilty. Youve got an exciting journey to go on! Good luck! X

Can't feel the band but can feel the port under the skin.. It has to be felt for the fills/defills anyway.. But it's not visible as a lump or anything. Mine was stitched into place quite tight so I get the odd twinge. And excess skin.. Exercise or not it's inevitable.. I would love to get the nips and tucks.. I'm saving for tummy tuck now infact.. You can hide it under clothes tho and with support knickers etc.. Everyone's different, you may be lucky!..But it's better than excess weight at the end of the day. Good luck with your first steps! X

That's right, if your doctor agrees its safe to do this, then it would ease or solve a lot of your problems, mentally and phisicly.. All my physical problems started to disappear and my mental health improved with the confidence I got.. I felt good because it was something I'd done to help myself..I can work a physical job now and have no aches pains or depression, Im back in the human race!.. I had my band done more than 3 years and yes I've had a few problems but they far outweigh the problems I would have had without the surgery.. If its safe for you, then go for it..you sound like youre in a dark place.. It will make your life brighter..good luck x

Hi, yes was me and my 'big sister' banded same day. Never got to target weight cos of probs I had, but didn't really put much back on which was good. Big sister same. She has about 6.5 in, I have about 4. I went up to 6.5 and was being sick/sliming every day, I lost the weight but think the tightness and the constant throwing up caused my hiatus hernia/acid reflux So my eagerness to get tighter too quick caused my probs.. So please don't do what I did.if you find yourself 'gurgling' after drinking and at night in bed and it doesn't go off after 2 weeks or so, it's prob too tight..it's been really frustrating.. But wish I'd took it slower. My 'sweet spot' by the way was 6.. Everyone's different.. And as you lose your weight your sweet spot changes cos the actual fat round your stomach reduces..(like a ring on your finger) good luck everyone.. But be patient.. Even if it takes 3 years.. Better than hitting problems! X

Not been on here for maybe a year! Was banded by chris just over 2 years ago.. Been great apart from now with the acid reflux.. Hopefully will get to root of the problem. Been to docs today to organise a barium X-ray .. Putting on weight cos had to have de fill. Hope everyone's getting on well new and old! X