TropicalLagoon

Good luck Mmm and bon voyage, see ya on the other side xx

Hi Fatpants, thanks a lot I got banded on 23 Dec 09, had my first fill on 22 Jan with Frederik and my second one 2 Feb with WLS. I got weighed and measured in Curves on 7 Jan, so that's 5 weeks ago. As I said earlier, I finally feel I'm on my way at last after feeling really despondant at times :smile:

It's gonna be fine Wishfull, I was only a few days after the 4 weeks and Frerik told me he could feel scar tissue that hadn't healed yet. That piece of information made me stop going to the gym again for 2 weeks, just in case I was doing more harm than good. When I went with WLS, they asked me to raise my legs off the bed a few inches so the port would be easier to locate. As for the needle, it's just a normal looking syringe, and I looked away and thought happy thoughts of being on a beach elsewhere. Before I knew it, it was all over. Let us know how it goes :smile:

Thanks Wishfull :smile: You will be fine with the fill, it really doesn't hurt once the port is located. It's just that I am squeamish and so to lie there for a few seconds thinking of what is happening freaks me a bit, lol. Make sure you ask him for the maximum amount, which is 4 ml. You probably won't feel any restriction, but who knows. Good luck, you'll be wondering why you were worried when it's all over

Hi all Just a quick update. After my second fill last week, I am now eating normal food again and find I can only manage small portions. Went out for a meal last night and had a starter of salmon fishcakes and extra vegetables, and only managed the fishcakes and a tiny amount of vegetables. I think that I am starting to appreciate that child's plate size portions are the way forward from now on. I have no problems with liquids, youghurt or chocolate, lol. Got weighed and measured in Curves today and since January I have lost about 8 inches all over and 11 pounds. The weight is not dropping off like I thought it would, but slowly and surely wins the race, as they say. I think I'm on my way at last. Good luck one and all, keep smiling :smile:

Yeah it was 2 weeks ago in Bristol with Fred when he put in the maximum he was allowed - 4ml. They (WLS) will do fills every 2 weeks if you can get to the right clinic, but I'm happy waiting 4 weeks for my next one. Life starts now for me, I don't wanna be waiting months, that was the whole point of surgery instead of more diet and exercise. (This time last year I was doing that and it took 5 months to lost 20 lbs and I felt every step on the treadmill, cross trainer, etc. People told me that it was good to lose it slowly as it would stay off - hello!!! :w00t:, went back on in 6 weeks, lol)

Talking of fills again.... I had a fill with WLS in Cardiff this morning and Wendy is lovely. She took the time to talk to me like an individual and was so warm and welcoming. I had 1ml put in - taking me up to 5ml altogether. She went through food choices and encouraged me not to 'sabotage' my weight loss, etc. I have come back feeling 100 times better than when I came back from Fred - just wish I'd gone to them first. Oh and I was right about the 'con'. Wendy tries to get everyone to full restriction with 3 - 4 fills so it's just a money spinner to string them out so long..... well my opinion anyway. Yeah I'm stuck at 15 lbs too, lost nothing since my fill 2 weeks ago :w00t: ah well hopefully it should fly off now, lol. Watch this space......

Talking of fills...... I had my first fill last Thursday, which was 4 weeks and 2 days post op. Frederik had just booked a room in a private clinic for the day. The receptionist did not have a list of his patients and indeed I was not on the list of pateints that Frederik himself had, even though I booked with him in Brussels before I left. The receptionist asked me to take a seat and Frederik just called out 'next' in the waitng room after seeing off his previous patient. So those of you worried that you are not booked in, worry thee not. You will be seen, regardless. I do not want to be the bearer of bad news, but some of you may not have read my post on FaceBook. Do not expect to be remembered or treated as an individual. I thought it was a one-off experience I had, but I have been chatting to another of his 'fill patients' and she had the same treatment - well worse actually as he did not even weigh her. I was expecting a full 15 minutes with Frederik and had lots of questions and advice to ask for. It seemed as if he was just on autopilot - going through the motions. The whole experience was very uncomfortable. I had gone in quite nervous but excited and came out like I was just another number, as he seemed eager to be 'rid of me' and on to his next patient. Before I left the clinic he told me to have a few sips of water, then a gulp and if I had a problem swallowing or keeping that down, to knock on his door. The fill itself was not painful, just uncomfortable a bit, and I felt queasy afterwards just thinking about what I had just gone through. He asked me to lay on a bed (I made him change the towels on it first), then he felt for the port with his hand, then he pierced the skin with the needle and then manoevred it once inside the body to the right part of the port. I did feel the liquid. When he finsihed, he pulled the needle out and quickly, half-heartedly wiped the entry point with a bit of stuff (which I can only assume was a sterile solution). I was actually told afterwards, when I booked my next one, that it would take up to 7 fills to reach a good restriction, but this obvioulsly varied from patient to patient. I began to think if this was all a 'con' Not sure if I should post this post, and may even have to remove it at some stage, but have kept quiet until now as I thought it was a one-off experience as no-one else had reported anything similar. Good luck guys x

Bon voyage TC, will be thinking of ya x

Erm a quick update, well I have my first fill booked for this coming Thursday. Got no restriction at the moment, so can eat mushy or liquid food to my heart's content. Tried my first Sunday lunch without mashing it all up together today and it took ages to cut things up small enough and chew things well enough to not hurt when swallowed. It is still so easy to overeat on puddings though. Not lost any more weight, but apparently that is to be expected, according to the other Forums on this site on post-op surgery patients. As for recovery, you know I've been going 3 times a week to Curves (the lady only 30 minute session gym), no problem bending, laughing or anything now really. Wounds healing nicely, especially since I cut the transparent stiches last week. So it's the same old story here, you still need to diet and exercise, the band won't do the work for you.......

Just a note to wish all those going this week, all the very best. It really is nothing to worry about. I am the biggest wuss on the planet and if you remember I was bricking it before I went too, but all was totally fine. Yes there is pain and discomfort, but you soon recover. I remember giving a note to self on coming round never to do anything like this again, but realise now the ol' cliche 'no pain, no gain' (or loss) is so true in our cases. For all you waiting with baited breath, I weighed yesterday and lost the 2 lbs I put on and it is now time of the month. Cravings have subsided a bit now, so hopefully back to my porridge for breakfast, soup and crisp bakes for lunch and mashed potato, cauli and cheese for tea - yum I hear you all cry, lol. I will also have a yoghurt, jelly, custard pot or some cottage cheese to stave off hunger inbetween if necessary. Gutted to hear about your flight costs - it cost me and my son over £400 to fly from Cardiff to Brussels International via Amsterdam in December. Just out of interest I'm gonna see how much they would cost now.... So with the crap Euro exchange rate I got (which I notice is creeping back up daily), I would say the whole trip cost me nigh on £5k and that's without the fills Still a few grand short of what it woould be over here I guess. It will be interesting to see the aftercare advice I get from Frederik next week when I see him in Bristol. Fair dos to him, he still replies to my emails, albeit in his own time. Oh and Curves is going well - went 3 times last week. They told me Sat that as I was missing out the sit-up machine, I would have to do an extra go on 3 other machines, lol. Anyway, chin up, pop a smile on and be ready to face all that's heading your way - you can do it cos if I can, anyone can. Good luck :thumbdown:

Fills are £90 in Bristol - roll on next week (Thu) lol...

Aww bless ya, thanks :wink_smile:

hi tropical, just wanted to know how you are getting on, are you going to bristol on the 22nd, if so my app is 2 o'clock and my friends at 2.15 so we should be able to have a quick chat. i had a fill last month 1st dec so this will be the second. i'm afraid to say that my band has made no difference to my appetite whatsoever, also i feel hardly any restriction i have not been on the forum for a while because i didnt want to give any negative vibes, i'm just hoping next fill will make a difference. Hi Jojo I haven't weighed for a day or two as the last time I weighed I had gained 2lbs. I am pre-menstrual so have put it down to that, but all my cravings have appeared like an old friend and yes I want to demolish everything in sight.... I did actually go back to Curves for the first time this evening and explained to the instructor that I had to take it really easy. As the pressure was off, I found I quite enjoyed the experience - first time in ages. I haven't been since I started the pre-op diet in Dec, and I have a cough and sore throat so had a few reasons to take it easy. It says in the literature that you are ok to go walking and cycling 2 weeks after surgery so I guessed a gentle 30 minute workout (avoiding the sit-up machine) in Curves would be fine. As for Bristol on 22, yes I booked direct with Frederik whilst in Brussels and am due for the 2.45 slot. I actually don't finish work til 1.15 that day and its a good hour and 15 mins away if traffic is good so I'm not sure you'll still be about. It would be nice to put a few faces to names though. Dr Chris told me in Belgium that the appetite only starts to decrease after about the 3rd fill, so I am not expecting miracles til then. Maybe you will start to feel it after this one Jojo. I'm gonna be seeing my students for the first time tomorrow and know they will have expected me to have shrunk before their very eyes. It's time for some tough talking to them I guess - to ease the pressure on me, lol. I actually bought a magazine over Christmas with Fern Britton in and it shows pics of her over 2 years losing the weight. I'm thinking of taking that article in with me. Pity she kept on saying she was a size 18 all those years ago eh. I sort of knew I wouldn't be one of the lucky ones who had the weight just falling off them - it never has with any other diet/exercise regime I've followed. At least I've made a start back on the ol' excercise. They do recommend 2 x 30 mins a day :wink_smile: As for bad vibes, well it is nice to be faced with all the facts, not just the positive ones as you say Gillian, as it doesn't make you feel like a failure when you don't follow the norm. I'm not gonna weigh again til Sunday so I'll let you know how I do then..... TL

Hi gang Just a quick update. I am well enough to return to work tomorrow and quite honestly I am looking forward to it. Being under house arrest over Christmas was not the most pleasant of times for me. I have only ventured out with someone driving me and escorting me round places like shops. Absolutely no trouble sleeping on my side in bed now and wounds healing nicely. I was advised to cover them in valesine when I took my dressings off to prevent scarring, but they can be a bit itchy at times, so I'm trying not to scrach them. Not lost any more weight but to be honest, not feeling any reatriction as to the amount of fluids. Even moved on to mushy food and keeping everything down. The only problem I have had is with a banana - that did cause quite a bit of discomfort, but I hadn't mashed it so it was my own fault for taking small bites and hoping a good chew would sort it. Ten days to go eh? That's gonna fly by. At least you have a few people's accounts of the trip to prepare you for most eventualities. I am sure each person's is different though, so be prepared to document your journeys on here too for us all to share later. Good luck with your pre-ops and those already banded good luck with your weight loss. I was chatting to another lady who told me she had put on half a stone after getting over surgery and before her first fill, so I do not feel like the odd one out now :wink_smile:

Wow Mattyllew Sounds like we had two totally different experiences. You really do seem to have suffered with the pain. I am totally fine and have been since about day 5. I have taken no painkillers since and the only pain I suffer is mild and bearable - mainly laughing, coughing and bending over (tie shoes, load dishwaser, washing machine, etc) Well done on following all the dietry advice too. No wonder the weight is flying off. I actually cooked a roast chicken dinner for the family today and took great pleasure in putting a selection of veg, together with some mashed potato, a couple of slithers of chicken and gravy and mushing it all up like baby food. I enjoyed every tiny mouthful I took and felt no restriction at all. was only expecting a few tablespoons equivalent, but managed the lot, and still felt hungry after. I will resort back to liquid foods tomorrow though. I don't want to do too much too soon. I don't want to risk stretching my stomach pouch after all. Maybe it's too late and that's just what I've done. We shall see on 22 Jan I guess. I may just hang around after my fill at 2.45 to say hi to you. Good luck with it all - ncie to have a guy's perspective. TL

Yes of course, draft 2, slightly amended is on it's way to you and lilykay as we speak. Oh and a Happy New Year one and all :laugh: x

Well it turned out to be almost 13 pages so wouldn't have fitted on a posting on here. I could try to work how how to save it as a web page and provide a link I suppose...... any ideas anyone?:wink2:

Lol, finsihed first draft and it should be winging its way to you all who's asked for it - enjoy, lol, if you stay awake long enough.....

Ah well I am still in the process of writing it and it's already 3 pages. More of a personal account than just the basics. I wasn't expecting individual email addies to be honest, I was just gonna send it to people via here by clicking on those names who had expressed an interest, but can send it as an attatchment when it's finished, no probs :party:

Thanks ever so much for your encouragement Gillian. Your post was so full of understanding/empathy and kept me going. I was on a massive downer as you can imagine, but I am feeling much more positive now. I actually managed the loo properly this morning (hope you understand what I'm on about without being too graphic). Anyway weighed again and another 3 lbs gone. So guess all those fluids were still hanging around in my intestines for a while. I did lose 7 lbs on the pre-op diet and now 5 lbs since the op, so feeling pretty pleased with myself now. Taken no pain killers at all since Sat and not even touched the anti nausea ones they supplied me with. I have to say the 5 anti DVT injections were not pleasant. I think some of the needles were sharper than others. However by the time of the 5th, it didn't hurt at all. Anyway none left to do now, so it's just stitches out and look forward to a mushy diet from Friday instead of all these liquids....:party: Take care all you pre-bandsters, I know how you must be feeling. I totally recommend the pre-op diet though as it not only shrinks your liver, but it gets you used to boring, bland food (liquid) choices after the op too, so you don't feel like you are being totally deprived all at once. As I said in a previous post, I followed a plan on BOSPA - The British Obesity Surgery Patient Association. It only recommends a week of this mind, but as I had Christmas dos booked on the second week, I did it for the 2 (apart from the dos of course). You get to lose about a pound a day - less to lose after the op eh :tt1: Still working on chapter and verse of my experience. Instead of posting it on here, I will mail it to anyone who asks for it. Thanks for reading TL x

Sorry for the delay - still working on it. It's gonna be an epic, lol....

Hiya I have now got the address in Bristol for you: It is The House Clinics, 118 Redland Road, Redland, Bristol. BS6 6QT. My appointment is at 2.45 pm. I had to pick the latest one available as I am in work in the morning and I do not think they would give me time off for this type of hospital appointment, lol. Frederik told me that he only has the clinic until 3 pm and he will probably be there from 10 am. What time is your appointment then? TL

Hi guys Weighed for the first time this morning and a bit gutted to have only lost 2lbs since this time last week :tongue_smilie: I know they only recommend 2lbs a week as a healthy loss, but compared to everyone else's in the first week or so, mine is nothing. Considering I am still on mainly liquids (soups, sugar free jelly, low fat custard and petit filou) I don't feel too encouraged right now. I don't think I am having any restriction as fluids pass straight through the band don't they? I'm glad I booked my first fill for 22 Jan in Bristol whilst I was over there as that gives me a glimmer of hope to cling on to. On the plus points, I only took one painkiller yesterday and have had none today. I'm finding it easier to bend over too and looking forward to another shallow bath later today - hopefully much less painful than the last one. I can see this is gonna be a longer, harder journey than everyone thinks - my students will have expected me to have lost a stone by the time I see them in January. Hope I'm just the odd one out as far as loss is concerned. I do have over 5 stone to lose. Comments like 'ah well the slower you lose it the longer it will stay off' don't help either, as I pile the pounds on quicker than spontaneous combustion. Last year with a healthy eating plan and gruelling gym workouts 3 times a week, I lost a stone and a half in 5 months and put it all back on in less than a month. Lets see how the weight loss goes this year eh.... Sorry to go on about it, but if I can't share my thoughts with you guys all in the same boat as me, who can I eh? lol TL