TC27

Hi everyone - I know this has been mentioned before but to save me trawling back on the posts could you please tell me how long it was before you changed your dressings and did you buy special dressings to put back on. Also how long did you wait before having a bath. Thank you so much T x

Hi Gillian - it does sound like Frederik talks a load of bull, but I don't think it was very professional of Dr Chris to have his first meeting with you on the operating table either! I didn't have the silver blanket or hairdryer on me when I woke up, but then I wasn't shivering. I wonder why that happens to some people? I was lucky I guess - being first and not even a van der in sight!!. Tx

No problem shoes. I am having slim fast, clear soup, hot chocolate and lots of water (I'm ok with them all!). I have been putting low cal orange juice in my water (the stuff you dilute) and I'm not sure if that's allowed, but I was getting sick of plain water. They dont give you a diet sheet as such, but in the info pack you are given they advise you of the types of food and drink you should be having at different stages after the op. I emailed Frederik to ask who would be wating for me at the airport and after a second prompt he replied stating his dad would be waiting for me and he would be holding up the company logo sign with my name on it. When I came into the arrivals hall I saw him straight away, so no problems there. I feel fine today thank you -16 pounds off so far, so I'm very happy. T x

Good luck on your pre-op diet mmm. I was ok on mine but did cheat a bit. I lost 9 pounds on my pre-op diet and have just been weighed on have now lost 16 pounds. You sound well prepared for your trip but you are bound to be nervous. Try not to get too nervous though (hard I know) as all will be fine. T x

Hi bigsister - thank you so much. It is lovely to know that people really care. I was the same when you, Gillian and Wishfull were there and it was such a relief when you all came back safe and well. You are like my little cyberspace family. The lady that was in my ward with me didn't let the miserable nurse boss us about and put her in her place a few times, but I'm just anything for an easy life so kept quiet. The rest were lovely though, so maybe she was having a bad night, who knows. After Frederik said I would be first my husband did say to me later that he thought it was just sales talk. Very naughty of him to tell fibs like that if its not true though and after reading the responses to my post it does sound lie a big fat lie! I think Frederik is just a nurse and the lady in my ward said he was only brought onboard after Dr Chris got that bad press last year. I have to make the most out of Colin now as he goes back offshore next Wednesday. Hopefully I will be all better by then. I hope someone can answer your stitches question soon. Take care T x

Aww wishfull - he sounds lovely. It is nice to be pampered and I do think they know we would do it for them if it was the other way around. Because Colin works away (2 weeks offshore then 2 weeks at home), I am quite an independent person as I have to be sometimes and I find it hard to let him do things, especially as it isn't up to my standard (lol), but to be quite honest I have been too tired to do much and I agree with you that we will recover more quickly because of all they have done. I will let him go out for a drink wth his pals this afternoon as a treat :redface: T x

Hi Gillian - thank you so much. I'm pleased you are doing so well and thank you for the tip on the stiches. BUT if you were here with me I would slap you!! I laughed so much at your dinosaur story that it started me off coughing and now I'm feeling sore:lol: I read your post out to my hubby and daughter and they laughed too. I cant stop smiling when I think about it - you daft bat! The WLS clinic is about 30 mins away from me, so not too far and I agree Bobobaldy should tell them about all the business he has brought their way. I'm off to give my husband another job to do - the joys!! Take care T x

Hi Tamisu - you are doing amazing - are you sure you have a band in there -lol. I have been drinking slimfast, but I only like the summer strawberry flavour. It just tastes like a milkshake. If the powdered milk is working for you then that is the best way to go. I think Frederik can be a little economical with the truth if he said that to me and it isn't true, especially as he told me to tell my family and friends that they would get priority treatment if they went directly through him. My husband has been brilliant too. I dont know what I would have done without him in Belgium and he is pandering to my every whim at the minute (don't know how long it will last though so I will make the most of it) Take care and keep up the good work! T x

Thank you Sanflan - yes I feel fine and yes you are a brave rebel, I was a chicken! Good for you though. I think if you felt well enoug to go then you should be allowed. I defo couldn't go on a bed pan. Good luck with your weight loss. T x

Hi Shoes - you are welcome!. I thought it only fair I share my story as others before me were kind enough to take the time to share theirs on the forum and it helped me a great deal to prepare for my op. I was just like you and couldn't stop thinking about it, wondering if I was doing the right thing. It's still early days but I'm sure I have made the right decision. I sent a 400 euro deposit prior to going to Belgium to the ECFS bank as instructed and paid the balance to Frederik the day before surgery. Don't worry about him. He is quite nice and friendly, I just got the impression he was going through the motions, but he wasn't nasty or anything like that. The hotel was ok. Basic, but clean. I would suggest you ask for extra pillows as when I came back from my op my husband gave me his pillow as it felt too flat lying on one. I rang WLS group on the number shown on their website:-www.wlsgroup.co.uk (0800 78 79 029). They have a special offer on until today and I booked the 12 month package for £549, although they have a 6 month package for £275 if that would suit you more. They do also have a clinic in Dublin and the address is:- The Light Therapy, Health and Beauty Clinic, Unit 4, 35 Main Street, Swords, Co Dublin. Hope that helps, but don't hesitate to ask if there is anything else you want to know. If I can help I will. T x

Hi everyone - I'm back!! Thank you so much to you all for your good luck wishes. They must have worked as I'm fine. I did feel very sick for a couple of days after the op and wondered what the hell I had done to myself, but that has passed now. My BP went really low (can you believe it after all the panic with the high BP before hand) and I was told that this was the reason I was feeling so grotty. I am still quite sore - but doing ok, although I have developed a cough and it hurts like hell when I start with a coughing fit. I arrived In Belgium after a quick flight from Newcastle and was met at the airport by Frederick's dad (he had a very nice car!) Checked in at the hotel and was greeted by Tamisu waiting for me at reception. It was really nice of her to wait up for me until almost midnight! She is a really lovely lady and was doing amazing after her surgery. She answered my many questions and also gave me a few tips (Hope you are still doing as well Tamisu - good luck with the weight loss!) Frederick came to my hotel the next day and even before I read the negative comments about him on this forum, I wasn't that impressed by him. I thought at the time it was just me. Nevertheless I paid my money and was picked up by the taxi the next day and was taken to the hospital at 6.45am. I checked in and was told to go the the 1st floor. On the 1st floor a male nurse told me to wait there (in a dark passage??) but other people were arriving and going inside so I also went inside and saw there was a proper waiting room so sat there. The male nurse did later ask me to follow him to the ward before the others though. It was all very quick after that. Dr Chris came and spoke to me for a while. He speaks very fast but I understood what he was saying as I have read so much of the procedure on this forum. I was prepared for the op and told I was going down first, which Frederik had said would happen. He told me that if you book the package direct with him you always get to go first - not sure if this was his sales patter or not. I was not told to take my knickers off by the way , but I wouldn't have anyway as I came on the day before - 2 weeks early typical! I was then taken down to a pre-op room, where I waited what seemed like an eternity. I was then asked to change beds and was taken into the OR. It was a bit daunting in the operating room but the next I knew I was waking up in post op and was given an injecton (which has given me jip since - they must have put the needle in a muscle) I was looked after well by the nurses, but one of the nurses on duty during the night was a very unapproachable lady (to put it politely) and I needed the loo so bad at around midnight but I was too afraid to ask her, so I waited another 7 hours until the day shift came on! Yes I met Jorik Tamisu - he was the one who got to take me to the loo bless him. He was really lovely. Another nurse took my drain out and she informed me it was going to hurt! I did shout out as she did it very fast and I wasn't expecting that, but it wasn't too bad really. As I said before I felt very sick, but I was given medication for this, which helped for a while. Once I had my blood and x-ray results back, Dr Chris came in again and said it was ok for me to go. (I didn't mind the barium drink too much at the x-ray, in fact the doctor told me to drink less of it as it was expensive- not sure if he was joking or not?! - I didn't like being turned flat on the woodern contraption thing though. I felt like I was going to fall off!) Once back at the hotel I did still feel a bit sick and sore but the medication they give you to take away helped. Frederick came to see me later that day, but he just stood in the door way, asked if I was ok and then was off - all in approx 2 mins. The next day the taxi was supposed to pick us up at 17.15 and when it hadn't arrived by 17.30 we rang Frederick to ask if the taxi had been booked. Frederick was in London, but did sort the taxi out for us and we were off to the airport 40 mins late, but still in plenty of time for our flight. I was ok in the airport and on the flight home (my band didn't make the scanner go off, which I was grateful for). I am now resting at home and after reading the forum earlier I have signed up to the WLS group aftercare package for 12mths. Thanks for the info bobobaldy - you should ask them for commission :-) While I was in the hospital I was in a ward with a lovely lady who doesn't live too far away from me. How lucky was that. She had her band fitted 2 years ago and has lost 5 stones. She was there for a tummy tuck and she was a great support for me. However she took a turn for the worse and had to go back into emergency surgery the morning after I left the hospital. My husband had become quite friendly with her partner too and we felt so sorry for them both. I have been in contact with them lots and she is doing fine now and hopes to be able to come home on Monday. Fingers crossed she is well enough to travel home then. Well I think that's enough from me, but if anyone has any questions please feel free to ask. Good luck to you all who are about to be banded shortly - not long for you now mmm. Wishfull, Gillian and bigsister you are all doing great so far. Well done! Enjoy your holiday Freckles and then it will be your turn. Sorry if i have forgotten anyone - but best wishes to you all. Teresa xx

Hi everyone. Just a quick last post before I leave to have my band fitted. I actually had second thoughts this morning about having the op and when my husband said it wasn't too late to cancel if I wanted, I weighed up the pros and cons and decided if I ever want to be slim, for me this is the only way, so my decision is onward and upward (not weight wise though!). Many thanks to everyone for your kind wishes and thoughts - all very much appreciated. I will let you all know how things went when I get back. T xx

Hi Tammy - hope you have enjoyed your first few days in Belgium. Good luck for tomorrow. I will be thinking about you. Take care. T x

Thank you mmm, it was a relief, but I know what you mean, I'm really nervous now so my BP is bound to be up a bit. I will let you know how it all went when I get back and then it wont be long for you:thumbup: T x

Hi Freckles - I think from reading the thread that you have decided to go with your original surgeon - do you have a date yet? Good luck with getting everything sorted and hopefully compensation to cover the replacement of the faulty band and also for your personal sufering throughout the whole ordeal. T x

Hello and welcome to all the new members. This site has been really great in helping me make up my mind to have the band fitted and go with Dr Chris. (lucky for him too I guess!)The support and information has been brilliant. There are so many people on here now that its hard to keep up with the names and posts some times, but good luck to all those who are thinking about being banded, those that have their dates shortly and all you post bandits. It's my turn on Tuesday, so I will tell you my story when I get back. T x

Phew flirtylass - thanks for that BIG relief:lol: T x

Hi Wishfull - yes it's nearly my turn. I am excited but still mega nervous. I am trying to stay calm to keep my BP down, but it's getting harder:unsure:. I am starting to crave all the wrong things - I'm useless at this dieting lark - I do hope this band works for me as there has been a few negative posts with regards to restriction lately. Sounds like you are doing really well though. A stone already is amazing - well done you:thumbup: Keep up the good work and I will speak to you soon. Take care. T x

Hi Gillian - it's good to hear you are doing so well and thank you for all the info and tips. It will be nice to have a look round Belgium on the Monday, but if I'm honest I'm not a one for site-seeing really, apart from the bars and restaurants:lol: I think that flock of birds you had in your stomach before your op have migrated to mine. OMG I'm pooping my pants big time:ohmy:. Take care and if I'm not able to get on again before my op I will catch up with you when I get back and I'm officially one of THE gang. T x

Hi Bigsister - I am sooo nervous now I feel sick. I haven't been weighed any more but I'm trying to be good (although I did cheat and have a vodka and coke last night as I was a bit stressed with work - any excuse I know) I usually can lose a bit of weight but it's keeping it off I have the problem with. Good luck with your weigh-in on Saturday. I understand your weight can fluctuate quite a bit just after the op, so try not to be too despondent if it's not exactly as you had hoped, but I'm sure you will be fine. Oh don't mention curry I could kill for one right now. Not sure if I will be on again before Sunday - I will try, but if not I will tell all when I get back. BTW personal question - did you get to keep your knickers on??:biggrin: T x

Hi Tammy. I have sent you a pm - hope I haven't missed you before you go, I didn't realise you were going so soon. Enjoy your site-seeing and best wishes for Friday. We will all be thinking of you. Take care:grouphug:

Hi Bigsister - Sounds like you are doing really well. I dont expect to lose very much weight until I have a couple of fills, so you are right, recover first and any pounds you lose before you reach your seet spot is a bonus. I have lost 8 lbs already on my pre-op diet, but I'm finding it very hard :thumbup:. I'm really pleased my BP is low enough for me to go for the op and I'm getting mega nervous and excited now. I leave on Sunday and have my op on Tuesday. I will post again before I go, but I'm working late to build up my flexi, so with that and getting prepared for the journey I wont be on that much. You take care and I hope your first weigh-in is a good one. T x

Welcome Sammy - I can't really add any more than has already been said on here. I'm due to be banded a week today and maybe then I can offer some useful advice. However as a pre-bandster I can say I am over the moon to have found this forum. The people on here are second to none and are the most friendly, caring bunch you could wish to 'meet'. T x

Hi Freckles - I know what I would do given the chance and that would be to stay with the surgeon that put the band there in the first place (as long as I was as sure as you are that he was up to the job) You felt safe with him, you dont have to travel too far and have to pay less to him than with Dr Chris -there is no contest in my mind. Whatever you decide we will be here for you. T x

Thank you so much mmm. I must admit it was a relief when I was told I would stll be able to have my op. One week today and it will be all over - I cant wait. T x