Hopkicat

Hi Sher67, All the people on this particular discussion would have had their surgery in Belgium. Here in the UK the surgery is between 7-10K, but in Belgium they do a package with hotel and surgery for approx 3600 euro's which is a lot less than having it done in the UK. The surgery in belgium is second to none, it was clean and the staff were friendly and all spoke english. I thought about surgery for 2 years and I do think it should be something that you find out as much as possible about beforehand. Everyone on this site is very nice a friendly and those that have been on here a while will give you good advice. This site is a support line and also you get to meet lots of people who are going through the same as you. Katy

Hi Sher67, All the people on this link have had or are about to have or are thinking of having surgery. I had my own done in Sept 2009 and have since lost 3 stone and am losing now about 1lb a week on average. Best thing I ever did, even thought I had a slight problem that needed to get mended because I slipped in the snow over Christmas. Happy to answer any questions you have on the subject. Katy

Hi Kerry, Glad to see you are losing loads. We met in Belgium as I was the lady who went over again to have my band untwisted and came over to chat to you in the hotel the night before surgery. Just to let you know everything is now OK and have since had a few fills and have now lost more weight. I hope all my frank advise was helpful. Katy

Dear all, I am posting this note as there maybe someone is the same situation as me looking on sites for advice and wanted to know what the outcome was. I was banded in sept 2009 and had two fills, when I went to have my 3rd fill the doctor said my port was twisted. This was re-checked by doctor chris and he confirmed the port had come away from the inside of my stomach. It seemed like my stiches had come loose and so the port was facing the other way. I am now due to go back to Belgium for a small operation to correct this problem. They say that I should be in and out the same day. If anyone is concerned about having a lapband, I will have to say that I have no regrets even though I am having to go through this 2nd operation and I am advised that this only happens to a small percentage of patients and I just feel that I am unlucky.

Hi livinandlovin, Thanks for responding on my concern. Can I ask when you was banded and whether there was any reason behind the movement? Also, did you have to pay any extra for this or has the doctor accepted the cost? Also, when the port is twisted does the Saline come out? Katy

Yes I ntoiced we was about the same age too. My weight was fairly fast at first but I have not lost anything since the beginning of January. I currently have a small problem with my port and hope that Dr Chris can sort it out, so I haven't been able to have as much filled as I would like. I don't really count my calories but I guess I avarage about 1000 per day. If you need any advice of help, then please come back as I have been a member on here now for a while now and pop in and out every now and then. Katy

Hi Splatt, Welcome to the forum. The waiting for the surgery and having to keep to the low fat diet is a bit of a pain, but it will be well worth it in the end. people are lovely on this forum, always here for encouragement and willing to help and give advise on a problem if they know it. Dr Chris and his team are also really nice so you will be in good hands!

Hi Sue, Due to see Chris in 1 1/2 weeks so hopefully he will be able to twist it, although to be honest I really cannot feel the port unless I press down really hard and I honestly think that the stiches have come away and the port is free. I have been trying to find out what the next step will be and if Chris isn't able to twist it, I think he may then ask me to have an xray and then if it has come away I will need to have a small operation. I don't think I will have to pay for the Op, but I think I may have to pay for the fairs again, unless he is able to do this in the UK, which I don't think he does. Yes keep us all posted on how you get on. I am really annoyed as I haven't lost anything since the beginning of Jan and the nice good looking doctor was going to fill me last Thursday by another 1 1/2 CC's and so that would have put me up to 6 1/2 CC's. How many cc's are you currently up too? Katy

Thanks for your advice. I am hoping that Chris does find it . However, it doesn't feel like it used too as I could feel my port and now it seems it is much deeper set. I could understand it if I had done any exercise, but apart from walking I have not done any, so it seems very strange. I gather the port is sawn in to the stomach.

I was banded on the 11th Sept 2009 and have had two fills, the last being Nov 2009. I was not able to make the December 2009 fill, so went along today to get filled. However, the doctor from brussels and nurse both tried several times to fill me this morning. In the end they both agreed that my port was twisted in the opposite direction and was facing downwards. I know have an appointment to see Dr Chris on the 11th Feb to see if he is able to manipulate the port upwards. The doctors today said Dr Chris is better at doing this as he fitted the band and is sometimes able to move the port upwards. My worries are now, that if he doesn't manage to manipulate the port upwards, will I need to have surgery. I have contacted you as I know that you went through the same thing as me, but I don't know what the outcome was. The doctor today said this sometimes happens when you do excesive exercise, but I have done nothing except walking as I have a frozen shoulder. My other worry is, if I do have to have more surgery will I need to pay. Katy

HAS ANYONE HAD THIS PROBLEM? I was banded on the 11th Sept 2009 and have had two fills, the last being Nov 2009. I was not able to make the December 2009 fill, so went along today to get filled. However, the doctor from brussels and nurse both tried several times to fill me this morning. In the end they both agreed that my port was twisted in the opposite direction and was facing downwards. I know have an appointment to see Dr Chris on the 11th Feb to see if he is able to manipulate the port upwards. The doctors today said Dr Chris is better at doing this as he fitted the band and is sometimes able to move the port upwards. My worries are now, that if he doesn't manage to manipulate the port upwards, will I need to have surgery. Has anyone else had this problem or know of someone with the problem? The doctor today said this sometimes happens when you do excesive exercise, but I have done nothing except walking as I have a frozen shoulder. My other worry is, if I do have to have more surgery will I need to pay. Katy

Did anyone get the news letter on the below? Alcohol after WLS What You Need To Know by Connie Stapleton, PhD "My surgeon's office repeatedly told us 'No alcohol for a year'," Debbie from NY shared in response to OH Magazine's inquiry about how alcohol affects people after they have WLS. In addition, members were asked how alcohol affected their post-op weight loss. Debbie went on to share her physician's reasons for his recommendation. First, alcohol can irritate the newly created pouch. Secondly, her doctor informs her that alcohol has an exaggerated effect on patients after surgery, noting that one drink has the equivalent effect of four drinks. Finally, alcohol, he teaches, is nothing more than empty calories with no nutritional value. Debbie said, "With all that we are trying to accomplish with weight loss, why take in more than you really need?" Just wanted to say that I went out yesterday and had a few drinks for Christmas and had two glasses of wine and was a bit worried that it would really affect me as stated above and it didn't! I don't think that the odd glass of wine really does much harm. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Katy

mcompton, I was banded 11th sept 2009 and still get pain in both shoulders. Talking this over with my doctor he advised me that when a band is put in place they damage the tissue around the band and sometimes the nerves are also damaged and this is why some people get this pain. He told me that in most cases the pain goes and the tissue repairs, but there are some patients who will have this continue for a very long time. I live in the UK, but I had my surgery in Belgium. Katy

Hi Sweet -addiction, I am so sorry for you, but Freckles is right, sometimes things happen and although it is really hard at the time, you will find that as one door closes another door will eventually open. Maybe you can ask everyone to give you money for your Christmas and then use this to have a fill. Keep your chin up Hun! Katy X

Hiya Sweet Addiction, I am a little further than you along the road as I was banded on the 11th Sept. My mum also paid for half the cost of my band ( bless her), but I intend paying her back the money in March, when I get my bonus. Being 6 weeks out and waiting for the fill is hard, as up to this stage you have no restriction. However, I want to warn you that you normally don't find you have much restriction until the 3rd/4th fill that you really notice, so don't get disheartened, as you will find that you will probably still loose weight but it will be slow. If the doctors find that you are loosing weight too fast, they will not fill you up as much, so take that in to consideration. The other thing to think about is, if it is slower, then you skin has more chance of going back nicely and it will prevent too much excess skin. Take care Katy

Hi Lynxie ( Sheila), I had my op around the same time as you and have just had my fill ( last week) and do not notice any difference either and my weight has stayed the same. Fredrick advised me that I wouldn't start feeling restriction like when I first had the band until the 3/4 fill, so the sooner we get to that point the better. Katy

Hi Kemberly, Just wanted to advise you that my pain is now easing and is less often, so I believe that with time it will go away. Katy

Thanks Patpie for the advice. I haven't had my fill yet, so hopefully once I have had that I will be able to reduce my intake more. I will try to increase the excercise and walk around and move my arms when I get the pain.

Hi Dana36, I was banded on the 11th Sept and am also getting really bad shoulder/lower neck pain. I walk for 50 minutes 5 day's a week so it's not because I am not excercising. I would love to know how to get rid of this. As I am writing I have the pain and have had it all morning. Katy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have started doing walking last week 5 day's a week and walk from Liverpool street to Blackfriars which is approx 50 mins excercise a day, but do intend as I get slimmer to start slow jogging over the weekends too. Thanks for your advice and help, there is approx a 100 calories difference between the two and if I did feel a little hungry at some point in the day between meals, then these would be better than having a slim fast. Katy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi Gary, I haven't chatted before to you, but I wanted to say hello and ask you more about the protein drinks you mentioned. I have felt that the Slim fast shakes had a lot of calories and my weight loss has started to slow down and was interested to know more about these drinks. How many shakes do you get in a 1 KG packet? I am interested in ordering the instant milk protein but need to be sure that I like the taste of the product so will just get the KG bag I was banded on the 11th Sept and didn't go on a weight loss diet before as I was border line 35 BMI and so just eat lots of low fat food before the surgery. I have lost 13lbs since the surgery, but stayed the same weight now for the last 10 day's and was interested in changing or looking at alternative slim fast shakes. Katy

Hello Starsky, Have been waiting to see someone on this site who is having their banding done in Belgium with the same surgeon on Friday 11th Sept. Just wanted to say Hi!

I think your response GreyTZ was very good I completely agree. Also, some people are jealous and you don't always realise this at first, because you don't think your so-called "friends/family" would be jealous. Keep going everyone, we all know that we will all be skinny beans soon!

Hi Everyone, I am due to go to Belgium and have my surgery on the 11th September with DR Chris De Bruyne. Is anyone else having surgery on that Friday? It would be nice to hear from others who are also having lap-band surgery at the same time, as we can share experiences together. Katy