gillian

im sure youll be ok tanya..just email or phone him..its only just come in over last few months this paying of £250 2 weeks before..we didnt pay a penny till we got there..i think your date will still be a goer..what date is it your op?

hes a busy bloke isnt he(and prob very rich too)!!..he has had lots of practice..think there were 5 of us women done on same day from uk, at least 1 man was done,but they were in another room and a woman from belgium opposite me..so if he does 7 a day and does them 2 days a week (was anyone else different from tues or friday?) thats 14 a week 728 a year. and hes flying all over uk and ireland doing fills the rest of the week and consultations..i havent heard of anyones op going wrong in the slightest...so all you newbies..thats got to put your mind at rest?! youll be in excellent hands x

HI MANDY!! welcome back! glad it all went great for you..we knew it would tho! wind pain..ouch! it does get better,i can promise you, it lasts a week to 10 days post op,it gets bit better every day..i tried everything and cant say owt works brill, remegel chews helped me more than anything..or try gaviscon liquid. but what does help...and im gonna be graphic here!!..is a good clear out with a liquid laxative(good dose of it too!)..it makes all the wind that we cant get up travel downwards...if you know what i mean!!..just make sure no one is around the toilet and your window is open!..it really does help. i had some lactolose from docs, i dunno if you can buy it over counter, but you can feel all the wind moving down (and out!)..sorry everyone else..but its tip i have to share!..good luck! x

oh good!...i think!?. LOL!. as long as it has made you feel less guilty..my job is done!..now i look forward to hearing that you have booked it!..i might well not have if it wasnt for the support of all the great members on here you know x

should prob get back to you within 48hrs, if not sooner with offer of surgery and maybe a date.they are bit slow but get back to you. glad your feeling better about thyroid..i think it helped me to put on extra weight years ago when it was undiagnosed, and i felt terrible..you should get it checked every 6 months or so after your op as losing the weight may change your dosage, im having my TFTs in few weeks. i felt very guilty spending the money on me..felt selfish when we had no savings and a 3k tax bill due at the same time..then my husband who is a plumber/gas fitters work dried up. he never said anything but i knew if i cancelled id have been a pain to live with (even more than usual!) and i may miss my chance of doing this one thing for myself after years of putting the family first.i had to do it. i saved a half of the money up from ebay sales etc over 2 to 3 years, took a bank loan out for a third, and put the other on credit card, and used my overdraft to the max. BUT!!..what i am paying back on loans etc, the money i save on groceries now almost covers it..ill be paying for next 4 years tho!..so best get those fills going up so i can get eating less and pay it all off!.so really it is worth it..it will pay for itself in few years! and you will be healthier and maybe even add years to your life. if i hadnt had it, i would be one of those people you see in the newspaper that they have to knock down a house wall and lift them out by crane for a hosp appointment!. i was putting 1 to 2 stone on every year...you wont regret it, its not selfish, you deserve it...we wouldnt put ourselves thro the op ,discomfort and pay out all that money if it wasnt right?.. you will be helping yourself and your family in the years to come, youll be able to do more....and the best bit..youll look great doing it!..this is for you, dont feel guilty x

try the instant coffee drinks i told you about..the boxes have about 5 sachets in..or hot chocolate drink..not the diet ones tho, they are disgusting!..youll be back onto soups in couple of days and then meals next week i woulda thought..just remember to get some calories down you, as you need some to keep you operating ok..the luxury soups in tubs are nice esp marks n spencer cream of oakham chicken! and marco pierre white indian chicken..expensive but they will last 2 or 3 meals per tub. i found smoothies bit thick actually in first few days..best with slimfast ready made shakes, got all your vits and mins too..someone else said the V8 drinks too were good x

i did a bit, and its alarming, especially as it jumped me awake, and i just go to bathroom and had few small sips of water, but it will ease off..you may be best not having a fill before you go away as all flights tighten band up i believe, but they get really tight after 4 hours so you must have unfill for that..and it would be bad if you got there and found it difficult to drink, esp if its hot. im sure youll be fine energy wise over next couple of weeks, just keep your drinks up, i lost about 5lb in the week after i had a fill like yours..i kept my calories up enough by drinking those nescafe type sachets of coffee,instant chocca mocha i had, sweet and satisfying..i dont count calories at all now, its just portion sizes, and the amount of time it takes to eat them thats working for me..and i must admit i do still have my chocolate..i know ill get told off but when i was really tight, it was a way of getting some calories down! and i still lost that 5lb, and continuing to lose steadily too, not a vast amount only 4-6lb a month at mo, but thats nearly a stone in 2 months..and 6 stone in a year nearly!..well thats way i look at it anyway!..and..the best bit..you dont put any of it back on!..im not in a rush, and i know that the weight is harder to get off the nearer you are to your ideal weight..so im looking at next summer for my "reveal" now! we will get there..just best not to rush and get used to each fill and not miss out, and not make ourselves feel uncomfortable. we know now that this is not a magic wand,and we have to work with it..your doing great.. and im happy with how its working for me..altho some people i know think i should be a size zero by now with the amount of money i paid for a 'magic diet band', and its not working!..they dont understand it.ill show em next year!! x

sammy, it felt like that for about two days after i last had fill. itstill felt tight for another few more days, then it felt just right for about 3 weeks so i missed the next fill and..i still have restriction but im just having the smallest amount poss put in tomorrow, after 6 weeks, you are prob where i was..if so,it will ease and you will just have very good restriction lets hope.. so be very carefull at your next app, you prob wont be having a fill for a while now as an overfill is not nice, so just go carefully..as you lose the weight the band loosens anyway, and you lose that restriction. its always tighter in the morning anyway.. youll prob lose a good amount this week at least..take care x

:w00t:Chuffin ell!! how many posts there been today!!? i have only managed to skim thro em all. good luck to you going tomorrow! goodluck flirty with your x ray and fill etc. hope it gets you there! homecare...i have an underactive thyroid and hav been on 150mcg thyroxine for about 13 years now. having the band can actually help this as losingthe weight can reduce the dosage. you can certainly be banded with it,no worries there!. i am needle phobic but the anti-coagulation jabs you give yourself after are so simple.i was really proud of myself doing em!just pinch a lump of fat low down on your belly ans slowly push it in. you will think its gonna hurt but i couldnt feel a thing..its worse getting a splinter out! the needle is so fine like a hair. Hmm big sister..i sabbotaged that bakewell last night, i added a pound of butter to your piece only..mine was the low fat piece! week after fill will we!?..ill make bakewell puree instead

hi nano...as the above posts..jump over to our other thread as this is little used now..see you there hopefully!

yes youll be best having it done in a general hospital, thats what i think too..id be scared of an infection or bleed too. i was ok going to belgium for band as it is lower risk surgery. but need to research tummy tucks and risks properly. youll find someone who you are happy with..good luck, and have a great trip sunday, hope it all goes well for you and your friend..and the others from off here!..dont have too much of a craic after or youll have them doubled up...not in laughter but pain!..in the bed at the side of me was a dublin girl and her two sisters were joking around..i would have been in stitches normally....but i was in stitches instead!..had to hold onto my tummy tight to just laugh!! x

glad your feeling better flirty, and i hope this fill gets you there..when are you off to belgium?..is it monday?. dont forget to ask about the tummy tucks and report back..it would be great if you could get one done on national health, and you should as you are deserving of one with all the weight youve lost and your age. but like you say waiting list might be years..so best just to find out about reputable surgeons..like you though. think id prefer it nearer to home if possible, its more of an op than the band x

im still trying to work out if its head hunger..i think it is. i just like to have nice tastes of things all the time...so im doing just that..anything i fancy, im just having a taste of. but i seem to be still constantly at the fridge!. i cant eat much at once anyway and if i stuck to meal times i think the weight would drop off quicker..i still fill my plate..that is taking a lot of getting my head round!!.i was hoping that the sweet spot would take some of the hunger away. last fill i got really good restriction and wasnt hungry you see but its loosened off a bit now...hope this fine tuning on tues gets me going!. I have never been to the USA..id like to go when the kids are couple of years older...if can afford it, i have heard wonderfull things about the food!..bet its frustrating though?!..did you have unfill before flight?. we were told to have a slight unfill if flight was over 4 hours..going on a flight nearly that in oct, so may have little bit out, its all inclusive and it will kill me not to have a little indulgence!..can always get well filled up on return to lose owt i put on!?. oh yes!! bigsister just text me to say that at holland and barrett those kelp tablets are half price at £1.99 instead of £3.99..so its def worth it to get em x

sammy yes, it was a really deep fill(!)..i put so much filling in that it poured all out...it was so gorgeous though...and i now have the secret recipe for the original bakewell pudding, as i was in the bakery it was invented in..i wont give it out as its very full of calories! thats why its so nice though!..hope my next fill isnt so deep and that it doesnt pour out..im going on tues for tiny fill x

hi jackie, we have all had the same thoughts and feelings as you. i was really nervous although very excited. if you book package with dr chris its the campanille hotel not far from hosp where youll stay most likely..think everyones stayed here. we did and it was clean and comfortable.the only extra that you pay for is your flights, you can get some good deals tho, remember its worth paying bit more to fly to brussels international airport than charleroi airport, as we flew there and it was a long drive away, even though it states its 'brussels south'. and if you poss can try and stay at hotel one night longer, as you really do start to feel better as every hour goes on after your op..or at least get a later flight, we had early morning one and i felt not too great after op and 2 hours sleep! gillian x

no your not freckles..well thats different where your daughter is!..i thought it would be midnight barbies on the beach till dawn! and loads of fosters lager and surfing etc!.glad shes got a job, well paid too!..wouldnt be surprised if shes off to somewhere more exciting soon tho?!. yes you prob have to take those tablets for good few months, its always like that with herbal supplements isnt it? i might get some now before its even started then..as a precaution! Im going out with the girls from my old work for curry tonight..i did think about not going but we still have to socialise dont we, i can bring most of it home in doggy bag..(they all know about band anyway). and i get another meal for tomorrow too! im having tiny fill on tues, but i think it will make a big difference and get me going faster.i have restriction now, but just needs little tweak..can you remember when you got to your sweet spot before..are you supposed to feel hungry still or not? i struggle with knowing if its in my head or not..i suspect it is in my head, and i just see and want!

:rolleyes2:there you go wishfull, its normal!!. well, suppose i have that to look forward to soon myself!. i can afford to lose some cos its too thick anyway..people will mistake me for lou, out of lou and andy,little britain!..aah well, ill start practising my comb overs in readiness!:lol:x

OMG wishfull!..im pulling at mine now to see if it is too!. i wonder if its normal at this time of year...like animals moult?!..im gonna be keeping an eye on my hairbrush and down the plughole now!.your still taking your vit Bs too?. id give that sea kelp a try like freckles said. lets hope it stops x

glad your mums doing well freckles, sad news about her twin sister though, im not a twin but it must be a strange feeling for her and the family, as they are the exact same age etc. its sad. glad your daughter and baby are doing well, the time will fly to the birth now. hope your daughter in oz is doing well too and keeping you updated when she can. i hope your bands ok too. your dr michael will soon find out..do you think youll have an x ray at this appointment with him?. x

we just travelled on normal annual travel insurance we had anyway. but if owt goes wrong, like missing luggage etc, and they found out you went abroad for surgery, your complete insurance will be void. i dont think theyd find out though. like i say the flight is very short and your within miles of a hospital either end. we had no problem and i dont know anyone else who did either. x

:smile:good luck mandy..if ive caught you in time before you go?!..youll do great like we all did. look forward to your post op posts!. i know its abit late for you but my sister (bigsister) found at least one or two insurance companies willing to insure for cosmetic surgery abroad. i think one was the Linda briggs site, linda briggs do cosmetic surgery but there insurers also insure others going elswhere.(if bigsister reads this she might just post?!) if not ill ask her and post details, shes busy with work. but we ended up going without as most do. flight was less than an hour, as soon as your up, your landing,it flies (!) flirty, im sure youll be ok in day or two. sounds like you had bug or ate something dodgy. the throwing up will have really swelled your stomach up around your band and youll be sore and raw..lets hope that the xray will show that everythings allright..let us know when you come back, im sure it will be fine. freckles..give us an update on your family!!mum, daughters,baby etc. hope your doing well and thanks for tip on having liquids for couple of days..i will try that when i need to when it loosens off after a fill. thanks for your funny email jokes too! on the fizzy drink debate..I can have quite a bit of fizzy drink, but dont drink much of it anyway, i prefer juice, or tea. i know others cant do it tho, were all different suppose. i need it if i get anything stuck though, it helps it go down cos it makes me burp which helps, although i cant let rip with em like i could before!. i went on a trip to bakewell pudding shop last night..we went into the bakery and made one each, then it was judged after..mine didnt win, it was overfilled!..but delicious!..naughty, but it was only individual size..god,they are expensive though! .there was a 3 course meal in with price and i brought most of it home in a doggy bag, only had half the salmon, but ate the salad. and just the top off the desert. good job it wasnt next week as im having a fill, albeit a tiny tiny one! x

:thumbdown: hi everyone!..not been on for few days..busy weekend with my boys!..had party for one yesterday, its his birthday today so going to pics to see monsters v aliens in 3D after school!. then it will be cake etc! (just a little for me!). and tomorrow im going on a trip.. to the original bakewell pudding shop nearby, but were gonna make and bake our own bakewell pud!! :drool:mmm, love em!. its a secret recipe though so dunno, we might be blindfolded or summat!?. i will eat it afterwards too, its a treat, and i dont deny myself totally, so as long as its a one off its ok!.ill get back on track the next day!.Ill not give out the recipe, as i wont do you any favours (but it will be a deep fill sammy!!, with plenty of frontage!?!). liking everyones little pictures (soz, avatars!) i hope your mum is doing ok freckles? yardass, i have sent you a PM, hope it helps you decide, everyone else, your doing brilliant!..keep it up!, Im going slow, but like mmm, im fine with that, its a 18/24month plan i have too! and what i do lose, i will never put back on after. so im ok with the way things are going really..we find out after the op that its not a quick fix and it also takes some willpower dont we! but we will all get there! and couldnt do it without this band...i would have caved in months ago if i hadnt got it! gillian x

ooh what a good idea! x

yes, thats what ill need the extended tummy tuck too. i think the mini tummy tuck is just getting rid of a little overhang of skin without tightening muscles or repositioning your belly button..where as a full/extended tummy tuck is more. they cut above the pubic bone,hip to hip, then they loosen the skin from the muscle to the bottom of ribs, they pull your abdominal muscles back together and stitch them into place, they then cut a 'smile' shaped segment of skin just above your belly button (the belly button is cut round and left in place though).they then pull the skin down to meet the skin left at the pubic bone,stitch it and then they locate your belly button and poke it back through and stitch it neat. ive seen these ops on tv and internet, and they look brilliant when they are done..the hip to hip scar is hidden under knickers and fades gradually over 2 years approx. it costs about 6-7k on average in uk. I know dr chris did do mini tummy tucks but i dunno about the full ones, but there is another doctor at same hospital who does them i know, and its resonable too. im hoping that my doc will take sympathy on me and refer me on the NHS, but prob not much hope of that, so ill be saving up a long time again!. id prefer to have it done in uk though, but thats what i said about the gastric band til i got desperate..and i def didnt regret that!..so flirty, ill be really interested in your op when and where you have it done, and let me know what dr chris says about it too wont you. good luck! x

flirty,i agree, i have absolutly no qualms with Dr Chris and his team, they did an excellent job, and my doctor was impressed too. my scars are now lovely and flat and are starting to blend in to my skin more now, although still a bit purple..im really pleased with them. just think when you have your tummy tuck your scars will be really low down then, and you sound like you have good healing skin,and with being young will recover faster too..youll look great!.have you found anyone for the surgery on your arms/tum yet? x