Sharon T

Hi guys and gals, I'm very rarely on here but I do believe it's a wonderful forum full of help and support from past and present bandsters. I was banded on 15th January this year and things have been going pretty well. Weight loss has been very slow...lost a stone in the first two weeks but haven't lost a single pound since...in saying that I'm mentally in a better place because I know that eventually it will all fall into place. And I can't remember the last time I went 2.5 months and didn't gain any weight ! The reason I've come on is to ask a couple of questions... I go for my third fill next week. For the first fill Dr. Chris put in 3mls. This made no difference to my eating. For the second fill I got 2.5mls put in. For the first 2 weeks I noticed a difference in the amount of food I could eat and also noticed food getting stuck more often (clearly I wasn't chewing well enough...hard habit to change). But in the last few days I've noticed that I'm eating all the time (through habit I suppose) and food seems to be going down no problem. Is this normal? Also I've never experienced the feeling of..."I'm stuffed, can't eat another thing"...is this normal? Will it eventaully come or will I just get to a point where I can't physically eat any more but still not have a full feeling. Hopefully someone can help. Sharon

Hi there Scooby Doo, I had my operation on 15th January with Dr. Chris. I flew direct from Edinburgh to Brussells National Airport with BMI on the Thursday. The flight cost just under £100. Ryanair fly to Charleroi but the cost of a taxi negates the cost saving on the flight. You will be in pain for a few days but everyones pain threshhold is different. Your op is on the Tuesday? I would take the rest of the week off and then head back to work on the Monday...you should be fine...a wee bit tender but OK. Good luck and well done on making a life changing decission. Sharon

Hey guys and gals, I felt the need to let everyone know that I feel wonderful today :biggrin: It's been 7 days since my surgery and for the first couple of days I felt so much pain and regretted my decision to have the surgery but with each day that has passed the pain has been decreasing. I'm even sleeping on my sides again..woohoo ! Still on liquids...been having Soup (tomato, oxtail, chicken), banana Slimfast shakes (full of Vitamins and minerals), cup-a-soups, Cadburys Options and had a wee yogurt yesterday. Wounds are healing well, although they are starting to get itchy, so I've been rubbing them through the dressing to try and get some relief. Sharon x

Hey Baarbs, I can't speak for anyone else but I'm feeling better today. Still a bit achy and quite tired. I'm trying to take smaller drinks today...maybe I was bagged up of liquid yesterday? Heaven knows. I burped earlier and it hurt like hell ! Is this normal or am I doing something wrong? Sharon x

Hi Baarbs..."a bit tender"...bloody sore more like it but with each day that is passing it' getting better. I really wish I had someone with me. It was great meeting up with you and the girls for support but the day we left the hospital I couldn't even put my socks on...had to just slip my feet in the shoes with just the surgical stockings on. And carrying the suitcase (small) onto/ off the plane was hard going. But I made it...woohoo... Hopefully in the coming few days the pain will be practically gone (fingers crossed). Have you heard from Jane?

Hi Jon, I've been speaking with JennyO...we're all set (nearly)...we're both on the "anyone heard of Dr. Chris De Bruyne" page. There's a fourth lady going at the same time as us...so he will indeed be a very busy man. How is your wife feeling? Hopefully she is fine ! Sharon

Hi Baarbs, I've been trying to eat "low fat" foods...with some success...but it is very hard to limit the good foods when you know that for a good many weeks after the surgery you are going to be without proper food. I am trying though... Our snow has now melted away so I have my fingers (and toes) crossed that we won't get any more snow between now and when I come back. Not long to go now....

Hi Baarbs, I'm travelling from Fife (Scotland), so flying from Edinburgh is my best way of getting there. So my fingers are firmly crossed that "the big freeze" will miss Edinburgh Airport. JennyO is Irish but she's working in Holland at the moment. So she's getting a train through. There's another lady coming from the Midlands too...I think she's travelling down to London and then getting the Eurostar. She's on another forum. I have no idea what happens once we arrive. I was told that Dr. Chris would meet me at the Campanille at 8'clock the night before the surgery...I really must look through my correspondance before next week... I'm a lot happier to go now that I know others are going at the same time as me. I'm travelling on my own and was a wee bit nervous but feel more confident now.

Hi Baarbs, It's good to hear another person is going at the same time as me. Both myself and JennyO are staying at the Campanile of 14th...have you booked your hotel yet? It will be nice to have others to chat to the night before the operation...we can all maybe have a bite to eat together... Now all we need is the snow to "go away" to ensure that the airports don't get closed. x

Jon S, I am booking for the Campanile on the 14th but I am being a bit naughty and coming home on 16th. I was so scared about staying myself after the operation that I booked a taxi to take me to Charleroi Airport so that I could get a direct flight back to Edinburgh. I'm sure I'll be OK. The other lady is called Jennyo. I mailed her but haven't had a response yet. Still, it's nice to know that other people will be there from the UK at the same time as me. I'm flying into Brussels Main airport so I will just get a taxi as you suggested. Thanks.

Hi Annnicol, I'm just new myself ! I know 3 people personally who have had the operation (Mar '08 for them)...they all travelled to Belgium and were operated on by Dr. Chris De Bruyne...they have all had very successful weight losses and no problems. Dr. Chris travels to Edinburgh (and other places around Britain) on a monthly basis for fills, etc. and from what I've read you can buy an "after-care" package from a British company (can't think of name at the moment, sorry) that provides unlimited fills, support, diet info, etc. I will look into that more once I come home. I'm travelling into Brussels international airport. It's very close to the hospital. For going home I am travelling with Ryanair and they fly from Charleroi airport...this is a good hours drive away by taxi (around £80). It is a huge saving to go to Belgium...even though the exchange rate isn't too great at the moment. Hope this helps...x