Hi from Ireland!

[Elsie 0]

Hi Everyone

Well I got my 3rd fill on Thurs. Dr. Chris put in another 1.25 mls. It has made a nice difference but doubt its my sweet spot unfortunately. I’m happy for now. I’m already down a couple of lbs from being on liquids for 2 days.

Ailbhe: I remember you telling me about setting off the security alarms in shops and then a few days after I was in New Look and it went off for me. I think it was just a coincidence though. I tried it a few more times and it was only a one off. Got a few odd looks off the security guard

You doing ok?

Gerri and Coco: Good luck dealing with ACS. I hope you get a result. Unfortunately from what I have read about the Hospital Group they seem to be on par with ACS for aftercare. :thumbdown:Hope they try to start off the Dublin set up better.

Siepie and Marge: Nice to see you again. How are your fills working for you?

2008Mary: Welcome to Lapbandtalk. Dr. Chris DeBruyne does fills in Dublin once a month. He was here last Thursday. He is taking a break for the summer so wont be back til Sept. However, he has arranged for another company to do the fills for us. I think the next date is around 16/7/08. The cost is EUR120.00. Take a look at his site www.obesity-assist.co.uk for the phone number for his secretary to make an appointment. He does take other Dr.’s patients.

Mol: Congrats on getting your op date. The actual flight ten days after the op should be ok. I flew from Belgium 2 days after the op and was fine. You should check with your surgeon just in case. As far as pain goes, after ten days any major pain should be gone but you may have some slight port pain. It’s more discomfort than pain.

Terry: Did you get an unfil that time? How is the weightloss going?

Have a good week everyone.

Elsie

[Marge 0]

Hello

Elsie and Siepie good to meet you both at the fills you both sound as though you are doing fine. I'm having a little problem. I didn't quite stick to the liquids for 2 days. I'm a bit stressed out at the moment and reaching for food for comfort. I have a slight feeling of discomfort as if there is something stuck just under my breast bone. I get a pain every time I swallow something, even liquids. Any advice?

Marge

[Elsie 0]

Hi Marge,

That sounds nasty all right. The only advise I have would be to stick to liquids only again and email Dr. Chris for advise. Be honest with him, tell him you didnt stick to liquids etc. I'm sure your not the only one. I reckon you might just have irritated your stomach and it needs a bit of time to heal. Let us know how you get on.

Elsie

[ailbhe 1]

Hi all. Glad to hear the fills went well for those who got them. For those who didn't, well, that sucks. I was hoping things would have improved for you all.

I'm doing ok. Could probably use a small fill but I have great restriction. Some days are better than others. One day I'll have great restriction and others I'll be able to eat anything. Thankfully those days are few and far between.

Weight is slowly going down. I think I'll go on liquids for a day or two to get myself back on track and knock the bad habits I've been picking up(like how I discovered chocolate Cookies dipped in tea go down waaaaay too easily :tongue2: )

Elsie, glad to hear you got a good fill. hopefully this will be "the one" lol.

I have to go out for dinner for a work do next week. Only 4 of us so it will be noticed if I don't eat much. Any advice?

[siepie 0]

Hi Ailbhe,

I had the pleasure of eating out last Friday night (day after my fill!) - well I didnt eat per se, I stuck to liquids. I had French Onion Soup (only drank the liquidy part) and then I had one scoop of ice cream for dessert (not the best choice) - I had the soup as my main meal and just said that I had eaten out that day at lunchtime and was stuffed. No one really seemed to notice - if you feel uncomfortable not eating 3 courses or whatever you could always plead the 'stomach bug' excuse and that you are recovering? ive told two of my work colleagues who also happen to be the ones I eat with most days - they are used to me taking ages to eat now and eating small and very weird food combinations!

Personally Id just say I was on a diet and was trying to be good, most people will leave it at that.

Marge - I agree with Elsie, I would contact Dr Chris and see what he has to say. I didn't mind doing the liquids, it helped drop a pound which made up for not being able to have anything to eat

Personally Im going to start using either Sparkpeople or CalorieKing websites again to track my food and my exercise. I need to be accountable and also track when I manage to get my backside moving, Calorie King is really good (it's Australian, Im biased!) - might be of some use to others??

Hope you are all doing well, Ive set myself a mini goal for June, hopefully I will get there.

My friend Yvonne is over with Dr Chris today, being operated on tomorrow - fingers crossed everything goes well for her.

Siepie

[mol 0]

Hi Elsi thanks for that...one of my main concerns is diet...it will be difficult to get soft / liquidised diet without raising too many eyebrows..will i still need to liquidise food also I'm a little worried about dehydration it's always very hot will i be able to drink plenty? These are only minor things and i really don't want to say much about holiday to hospital in case they move date again...do I need to decide holiday...or band.? ( I know what i'd choose unfortunately my family have other ideas!!)any advice??

[Coco 0]

Hi Guys,

For anyone interested in how the inquest went re: that poor woman who died in Owenstown House, here's the link: Woman died after cosmetic surgery to reduce stomach - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie

Mol:

In answer to your question regarding your holiday. I say go, have the op and then go on holiday. By day 9 you should be feeling much better, certainly nothing that a couple of panadol won't be able to deal with. In my case I was 100% back to normal by day 14, from day 3 I noticed a big improvement and each day got easier from then on. As far as eating goes, you just have to look anywhere on this site on recently banded people and for the most part they are complaining that they are still eating too much and not losing weight. Realistically, after the initial week or two post op you will have your appetite back and although you may eat slightly less, in almost all cases until you have your first couple of fills you will be able to eat normally. There is a general misconception about the band, people think once they have the op they will eat a lot less than before and therefore lose weight immediately, where in fact, the initial restriction and subsequent weight loss (in my case 9lbs in the first week), is usually because, immediately post surgery and certainly for the following days, one doesn't feel like eating and also there is some swelling of the stomach which makes the band feel tighter so once that all settles down, usually in the first week to 10 days your appetite will return and you will be crying out for a fill to get you on the weight loss road. So again I say, go for it, have the op and the holiday, what better to fully recuperate than in the sun by a pool with a nice cool cocktail to sip.:tongue2:

[roe 0]

Hi guys Im back again.:thumbup:Ive keeping in touch with your posts.Glad everyone is doing so well. Welcome to all the new bandits. Gerri thanks for that information. Allure Ill make that call one day soon. I think I could do with some help thank you.The one good thing is I havnt put on any weight since my op. Spoke to ACS today they hope to be able to give apps by late next week. So fingers crossed they wont let us down again.

LOVE ROE

[Marge 0]

Hello

I created a ticker but don't know how to import it to my posts.

I think it will help to see it go down as I lose weight. Help!

Marge

[ailbhe 1]

Marge, if you go to the right when you are logged in...see edit profile? Click that and then on the left side there is an option saying edit signature.

You can copy and paste the link given to you by the ticker page and hey presto!

Hope everyone else is keeping well. I tried on a few of my 20s today and they are actually loose (I was losing my 22s going up the stairs in work so decided I should try the 20s). Can't wait for the 18s!!! And normal shops like Dunnes. Yay!

[skinnyirishbabe 0]

Well done Ailbhe, I know how great that feels. Try not to get to carried away with buying smaller sizes cause soon they'll be to big for ya!

[skinnyirishbabe 0]

I think I've a bit of a problem, I've had great restriction in the band for about 6 months, any time I feel the restriction going( ususally takes a few weeks) i get another fill and i'm grand again. Retriction usually goes very slow and even though it's going I can only eat certain things. Over night my restriction seems to have gone. I was out with my friends on sunday for the dub match and we went for food and as usuall i could hardly eat... then monday i was able to eat like I've never had the band. I even managed a whole mac chicken sandwhich meal and a cake straight away after (i Know i shouldn't but it's been so long and knowing i could i just couldn't resist). Could I have a leak and is it serious if I do? Does it mean i need a new band? I rang acs to book a fill but was told they haven't got a surgeon at the mo. Unsure what to do.

[Gerri 0]

Hi Skinnyirishbabe,

I would imagine if you had a leak or something serious you would hace some sort of discomfort?

Ailbhe,

Way to go on dropping those sizes. Have to say I nearly put an add in the paper a while ago when I managed to get into and breath wearing a pair of size 16 Jeans (with stretch)!

Wonder will we have any news from ACS next week, could really do with a fill pretty static weight at the moment.

Hope all well.

[Elsie 0]

I have to go out for dinner for a work do next week. Only 4 of us so it will be noticed if I don't eat much. Any advice?

Hi Ailbhe: From my experience I would advise to def make sure you take your time eating as usual. I tend to get paranoid that people are watching and will make comments about it and as a result I tend to eat too fast, end up in pain and run to the toilet to PB. People notice that a lot more, especially if one trip doesnt quite do it. I would prob try to order something you know will go down easy like Soup or mash spud etc. and then when you are full use the "had a big lunch" excuse or just say you are cutting down (i'm sure they have noticed the weightloss anyway). If you are still paranoid about leaving a lot of food then piling the food a little or squashing it together can make it look like the plate is emptier than it is.

Congrats on the smaller clothes. I cant wait.:rolleyes2:

Coco: Thanks for that link. It was interesting. Even though it was declared natural causes unfortunately mud sticks. I wonder will they allow Jerome to come back to help you ACS ladies.

Gerri and Roe: Hope you guys get sorted with your fills soon.

Skinny: Are you still able to eat anything?. I wouldnt rush into a fill (even if you could). It may be just a cycle thing. I also read on here somewhere than drink can effect the band.

Mol: I'm with Coco on this. I say get the band and go on holiday. You will be on liquids at that stage. Most places will have soup so you could go with that. You will be on mushies for part of the holiday as well so you will have some more choices. You just need some imagination when looking at the menus. If you are self catering just pack some packets of soup or slim fasts. Then just carry a water bottle all the time and sip throughout the day. It can be done. I wouldnt put off the op for the holiday. There will always be some event coming up. We just have to learn to deal with it. I have to say I would have loved a bit of sunshine after my op. So enjoy. If you like getting in the pool on holiday be careful and check with your surgeon. I was only allowed showers and no baths for a few weeks.

Marge: You ok? Did you email Dr. Chris about the pain you were having?

I'm doing ok. This last fill is strange. I did my two days liquids. Then went back to regular food. I was fine, everything even chicken went down nicely for 3 days. Never feel that full feeling but do know when to stop. Yesterday, 6 days after the fill, nothing would go down. Struggled with a yogurt for brekkie. Has some tuna mayo for lunch that caused me to PB. I shudda went back to liquids but had dinner 5hours later and PB'd again. Was worried then when I was gurgling while drinking a coffee later. (obviously just swollen)Today I was able to eat anything again. Good weight loss this week though.

Elsie

[Gerri 0]

Hi guys, I was on to ACS/The Hospital group and had one of the vaguest conversations I've had with them yet.:confused2: No date available for Dublin, no idea when someone available, don't know if gap in aftercare will be looked after at the end of our years cover and in the same breath lady said wasn't it lucky that the Hospital Group had stepped in and saved the day. They haven't saved my day!

Sorry for the moan feeling a tad fed up with the lack of information.:thumbup:

Gerri