UK Local Lap-Band Support

[testa rossa 0]

Hi All

My names Sara, I live in Dorset and Im having surgery on April 2nd at a Body Mass Index hospital in Winchester, Im so pleased to see you have a UK thread! Everyone Ive talked to on here have been so helpful, its such a life line, to know whats to come and everyones experiences. I went out for my last 'dinner' tonight with my family, Im going to try and lose a stone before my op, as I was advised to by the dietician. They gave me a British heart foundation diet book, Ive sort of half heartedly tried to follow it, but my bad habits creep back in, do you guys have a local support group you attend where you live, or do you mostly get all of your support on here.Look forward to chatting to you on here soon.

Sara x

hi there...i remeber you at the hospital coz the was my first day working there as chef xx im having mine done on the 2nd of april this yeat....how canny is that xx :thumbup: how are you doing??

[daisey22 0]

Hi MissWilde, I am going to chichester on the 25th April for my first consultation, then the dreaded 5 month wait, so you will be 5 months ahead of me. Guy is the one seeing me so pls keep me updated on how you do. I can't wait. My email jane@orpchiro.co.uk Cheers..

[testa rossa 0]

i am now banded xx

im alittle sore but that woill be the trapped gas. :cursing: but the weight as started to move already x:thumbup:

[daisey22 0]

well done testa!!!!! I was a chef for 21 Years and then an NVQ assessor took its toll on my body tho :cursing: you must be sooooo happy even if your a bit sore.

[testa rossa 0]

i think the hardest thing about being banded this week was the liver shrinking diet(800 cals aday) all work with food as the same time...:cursing: was hard, but i did my shift in the kitchen at 3pm and went straight up to the ward..(.coz i was at my clinic) i was pooing myself but kept thinging at iv been over weight for 21 years up and down. i went from 18 stone to 11 and starting to go back up. i was 15 stone last week im now 14.3:thumbup:

[daisey22 0]

i am around 18 stone I think, i wont weigh myself but my clothes are still fine and fit if not a little loser. I gave up catering as I was in an accident and had my back fused so I am used to major surgeries had 4 in total and a lot of minor ones. Due to not being able to move a lot my weight went up by another 3 stone and I can't get it off so it is my last and final hope to be slim again. I cant wait until I can say I have just been banded and I am sore :tongue: Good luck and you will be a size ten in no time!!!!! if thats what you want of course. Regards Jane

[MissWilde 0]

Hi Jane :purplebananna:

I was really impressed with Chichester, I think I saw Guy too! The nurse was excellent too. They have really good facilities and the hospital was very modern and clean. They showed me the band they were going to fit when I went in December. They had specialist facilities for larger people and I think they said after the surgery you go on a ward that only has people that have had obesity related surgery. Oh and the 5 months flew by! K XX

[anne2 0]

Hi everyone! I had my op on July 6th and have done well but I am now not losing any weight at all and it is getting me down . Also very hungrey. Can anyone give me some support and encouragement?

Anne2

[libertysuzanne 1]

Hi Anne,

You've come to the right place for support and encourgement! Congrats on having the band fitted. I had my band fitted almost 2 yers ago now and it took me awhile to work with the band.

I'm sure you are already aware that the band is a tool not a cure all. (took me sometime to realise it :smile:) Just like any diet you are going to hit plateaus, they are just more frustrating because of the band. It could be that you my require a fill, your stomach does adjust to the band but eventually you will get to a point where you are in your band Nirvana. I achieved mine around about March this year.

Until then, there are lots of things you can do to make life a little easier. Talking here is the best start. Everyone has different experiences with their band, some are lucky, never need another fill nd lose weight at a rate of knots but the majority have the same troubles you are having.

My personal experience of the plateau hunger issue was a worrisome time. I felt as if the band wasn't working, that I must be eating all the wrong stuff, that there must be a leak. In reality, what I needed was a fill. Even after a fill it took awhile for me to see any difference, even though I could barely eat a thing.

It is so easy to see just the negatives, what you may not notice is despite the lack of weight loss, you may still be losing inches. I'm not sure how that works but there are a lot of people who have had that happen. Including me :wub:

During my plateau I began to be aware of my relationship with food. It was quite a shock and I don't think any diet on earth would have shown me, that I had such an unhealthy relationship with food.

The last thing I shall say, as I am probbably waffling is to consider what you are eating at the moment, in comparison to what you ate before the band. You may be plateauing but you may discover you are still eating a hell of a lot less than you were then!

Keep an eye on the positives.

Hug

Suzy x

[Chekai 0]

Hiya lIberty

I am seriously considering having a lapband and, as my doctor doesnt want to know, will have to go privately. Belgium has been recommended. Can you give me any advice please.

[libertysuzanne 1]

Hi Chekai,

Why is it that your Dr doesn't want to know? I will tell you it is worth having it done, but if you could get it done on the NHS it would be kinder to your pocket.

If your Doc is against the lapband per say and you fit the requirements for being eligible then you should get a second opinion.

I went to Chimay Belgium and it was great, but I think if I had the option of doing it again, I would have exhausted all possibilities to have it done on the NHS. I didn't even try as I was too ashamed that I had let myself get that way. So I went with the logic, I got myself in this mess, I shall get myself out!' A noble sentiment but costly lol.

If after arguing my case and not achieveing the desired yes vote, then I would have gone with elyzea and Dr Mignon.

So please look at the eligtibility criteria to have the surgery on the NHS, and ask your Dr why he won't consider it. If you don't like what he has to say get a second opinion, you have every right to.

I really hope this helps and if you have anymore questions feel free to email me.

Kind regards

Suzy

ps sorry it took me awhile to reply, had a technical glitch with the site most of the day only got back on now!

[anne2 0]

Thanks for the adice and support . They have offered me a fill next Wednesday and I am back on track ..lost 2 lbs this week.Any advice on the fill really anxious...................

[sweepy 0]

Sorry guys if i have posted on wrong place. I am looking at having band done next year hopefully and with it being really half price in belgium looking at going there. How much is it costing you in the uk and have any actually had it done on nhs.

thanks swepeyxx

[libra98uk 0]

Hi there. I had a VBG done in 2004. From the start I dropped from 26 st to 17 1/2 st in first year. Then, I was 'orphaned' due to my specialist being erm....under investigation for another matter. He since stopped being a surgeon. Since 2005 I have had no follow on support and am back up to 22 st 5 lbs. Nothing has changed with my diet except that I have gone back to my old comfort eating...happy, sad, bored, whatever... even though I eat less, I am gaining weight. I do not know what to do. Have any of you experienced this? Lynn:frown:

[libra98uk 0]

Hi there. I have an underactive thyroid. Been diagnosed about 17 years now. I take 300mcg daily and it has never really helped my weight loss. I had a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty done in 2004. Initially I lost weight-26st to 17 1/2 st in a year. But...its all going back on. Up to 22 st now. I have no follow on help as my surgeon is no longer working. I am totally at a loss what to do and where to go. I do not have any idea what you mean when you talk of 'fills'...Mine is a fixed band with staples.