fatpants

Hi Janesunny, I have never heard of 'Europe surgery', I booked through word of mouth straight with Chris. Thanks for all the info, it is true that once you are told all of these things that it seems to make common sense, but I think it should all be explained why we can't eat certain foods, and it should be broken down into laymans terms so we understand, and what happens if we do eat the wrong things, ie: it can cause a blockage, it can cause a slippage, it can cause a pouch and the consequences of these problems, I think it would help us manage the band better! Take care Fatpants

Dear Crazy, Thank you for your support and kindness, don't you just love being slim! I know I couldn't live without my band, as each time I had a blockage and had to have an unfill it was like opening the flood gates, slowly but surely bad habits resurfaced, and the weight went straight back on....but in different place than before!!! takecare Fatpants

Thanks for the reassurance. What boggles my mind though is Chris gave me a fill that day, instead of telling me the band needs defilled to give the pouch a chance to reactify itself! I am quite cross, I do not think we are properly educated in the care of living with the band, that speel he gives us after the op and at consultations isn't enough, how are we supposed to remember everything he says. I also think that they should explain why we can't eat certain thinks, for example bananas? I asked him on my last visit and he explained that things with high protien take longer to digest and therefore must sit in the stomach longer, ok that makes sense. What about the other things...rice swells, meat is too chunky? Celery and citrus..perhaps too acidy? Who knows, but I would rather understand why then it is easier to handle. Educating our selves on the forum seems to be how most of us have gotten through the process, but I don't think this is enough. I did mention it to one of the secretaries that we need a booklet with questions and answers on it so as that we have more of an understanding. Fatpants

Dear Crazy, That's what he called it a pouch! Thank you for sending me the link, that's what my xray looked like. Chris didn't really explain anything to me, except just to drink. Have you had this? Do you think it can go away on it's own? I'm not sure what I should be doing! Fatpants

Hi everyone, new and old! I haven't been on here for a while, so here goes! I have had several problems through out my band life, I did get down to my target weight after 18 months and I went back to Chris for a tummy tuck. However, I have had several blockages which meant that I have had to have my band loosened in A&E, which was not great due to discomfort and the expense of refilling! But at the time -what a relief! On one occassion I thought I was having a heart attack! Anyway back to now, a few months ago I travelled to London to have an xray and a consultation with Chris, he said that I had a....I think he called it a bulge, above my band. I was shocked, and as always felt under pressure not to take up too much of Chris's time, he spoke in his ussual manner...very quickly and abruptly! I asked what this was, he said it was the same as a slipped band, however that's not what he called it. He told me to only drink fluids to try to allow it to disperse. CAN ANYONE ENLIGHTEN ME? Or has anyone else had this? Takecare of yourselves Fatpants

Dear emsey, Well, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to men! I thought losing weight and getting back to my pre-married size would improve my marraige...but it hasn't! He says he loves for what is on the inside...that he misses my bum...No compliments..., it's me that's been on the verge of leaving, but we have 6 kids so it's not that easy...so I'm still here. I don't understand, I thought it would bring the spark back and we'd be like newly weds, I can fit into my wedding dress again! He did propose again but it didn't make sense as we were not getting on at all, I actually thought I had misunderstood him! I hope you get on ok, and things go smoothly for you, just think of this as a new chapter in your life! Fatpants

It was Chris in Belgium and I am delighted with it, it's just on scar from hip to hip, my friend had one done here in UK and she also has a vertical scar from the horizontal one to level with her rib cage, this does benefit getting rid of excess skin on the upper belly and pulling in the waist. Chris doesn't do this tummy tuck and I couldn't afford to have it done here it cost twice the price. Fatpants

Hi everyone, Happy New Year 2011! I haven't been on for ages, last time I spoke about putting on my photos, I think this is why I haven't been back on......the tread of putting my naked body on the net!!!! Thanks freckels for your offer to frost out discriminating bits! I am not against this I just can't track down all the stages of progress and I really wanted to share every little detail: from the size of my tummy when I was in labour with my twins, then me at my fattest, pretummy tuck then post Tummy tuck op, and now after from 235 lbs to 160lbs, size 22 to 12 M&S skinny jeans without stretch!!! What a journey...but it's not over, I seem to have really bad reflux. I had a fill in July and have been happy with this, enough restriction without too many restraints, no reflux and only occassional discomfort due to be stupid or distracted when eating and gulping. Recently I have been extremely stressed in my marriage and the dilemas of what to do etc...My Doctor suspects an ulcer and has referred me to the hospital for an endoscopy -a camera down my throat to see what's going on. I had oesophagitis (inflamation of the oesophagus due to acid reflux) before and had to have a defill, this too was due to stress tightening my band. Freckles , you are doing really well, I noticed your ticker is getting closer to the end!! Well done and good for you. I too put on several pounds over Christmes 6 to be excact, but I've them again due to the acid or ulcer, what ever it is! Very soon after eating I am in extreme pain, so it's better not eating! Hope all yuo guys are well and doing well! Fatpants

Dear Sammy77, Yes, sometimes there is no rhyme or reason as to how much you can eat and the fullness of the band, but I have learnt the hard way, by over doing it and not being carefull and have ended up with an emergency de-fill on the NHS and they take everything out so it's an expensive indulgence! Fatpants

Thank you every one for your posts and positive feedback...Life can only get better! Fatpants

Dear Wannabe slinky, Yes the band surgery was much worse, the TT was really easy, no pain, it was incredible. Yes I have before and after pic's but they're naked ones, I didn't want any clothes hiding anything! Would you like to see them? Fatpants :smile2:

Hi everyone....new and old, I know it's been a while since I've written any news....I've just been too busy...buying new clothes and soaking up the compliments!!! What a life changing experience, I wish I had started the whole thing 5 years age! All I can say now is thank you Fearn Britton for giving me the inspiration and will to do all of this, only one problem...My husband complains about me loosing the big bum! Oh well, you can't please everyone! Here's my story, hopefully it will inspire others to be positive and move forward and onward with your lives! I am 47 years old, I am married with 6 children ranging from 21 to 7, life was fine and I was contented with my lot, but battled with weight, turning to food when I was tired, stressed and angry, it always makes you feel better and when you are already just 2lbs shy of 17 stones a few more treats won't make any difference! Deep down I hated myself, I hated what I had allowed myself to become, I just felt like a big fat ugly tub of lard, who was stuck in a catch 22, I was depressed being fat so hate to comfort myself. Over the past 6 years I had gone on diets, I started fitness regimes and they all worked...I did lose weight but only till the next crisis or row with my husband and I would 'punish myself' by pouring food down my throat and all the good work would be out of the window....and each time I'd put on more weight! Then one day I saw Fearn Britton and the big 'scandal' she had had a gastric band, I decided there and then; if she can do it so can I! I started immediately researching, I tried to get it on the NHS...that's just a waste. I discovered a couple of people that had been to see Chris and so that is were I went on the 17th March 2009. The Op itself was fine, I suffered a lot from air over my shoulder, which often returned after a fill! I did have a couple of hiccups when I suffered a blockage, once clearly my own fault celery... this was very bad as it caused bad acid reflux and burning of my oesophecus, each time the local NHS were very addentive and relieved my suffering by emptying my band!!!! This was fraustrating and expensive as I then had to go through the lengthy proceedure of refilling! On June 17th I returned to Belgium to have my annual check up, and also a Tummy Tuck! Yes, something I had only dreamt off and never thought I would ever do. On the NHS they would have wanted me to be 75kilos and this had been my target but I got inpatient and went at 78 kilos! woweee... I am sooo inpatient, even that was diffecult but everything just fell into place. This operation was not painful at all, after three weeks the muscles in my abdomen did feel tender...I was probably doing too much! Well three and a half months on, people don't regognise me and have to look twice, I feel fantastic...I am now a size 12 and weight 74kilos (11stones9). My friend went over in May after she how well it had worked. May I also say I now know what the sweet spot is, I am still losing weight..without any effort, I just don't feel hungry, sometimes when I know I need to eat, there is just nothing I fancy. I now understand my band and can live with it happily! For all you people hesitating, or wondering GO FOR IT you'll never look back! Fatpants....no Longer! Takecare everyone!

No, but i'm going on the 6 July 2010. You did this quote ages ago, have you now been? I would be really interested in hearing from you! Fatpants

Wow, you did well I think I had 4 fills before I got to 5.25! Lucky you. I didn't get restriction until I was at 6mls. but I have had a couple of hiccups and had to be defilled twice! It's a long story, actually I'm sure I've told it on here! Well I booked the wrong train so didn't actually arrive in edinburgh till 1.30. Good luck & take care Fatpants