Anyone know of Dr De Bruyne Chris

[MummiesBB 5]

Hi

I'm new to this forum so not sure if I'm doing this right... please re-direct if necessary.

I've been considering (and researching) a band for two years now on and off, always being put off by what could go wrong and not having the money. I'm now able to afford the surgery, but I keep going through bouts of being on the edge of booking a consultation, then thinking I must be mad to actually put myself through this procedure and worry about the future with a band.

I'm 28 and have a few illnesses which are all related to my weight including severe clinical depression, PCOS, asthma, eczema and intracranial hypertension (pressure on the brain). Every time I see either my GP or neurologists, they "remind" me that I need to lose weight.

I've been overweight since I was around 10 years old, so that's nearly two thirds of my life which I find so sad. I'm even too scared to look at how much I weigh as it gets me into really low moods for weeks at a time.

I've tried appetite suppressants, Xenical and Metformin with no real success. Also been to see a dietician a few times which to me isn't very helpful as I'm a vegetarian and don't tend to eat conventionally "fatty" foods.

New years eve was particularly hard for me as I tend to assess where I am in life, and to be honest 2011 was a really crap year, particularly as I had split with my partner of six years because I couldn't stand him touching me the way I am.

I really want to lose this weight for myself. My ideal situation is allowing friends and family to take a single picture of me! The last picture of me was from when I was in school!!

I'm sorry that I'm rambling and probably giving too much information! I guess I'd just like to know if anyone else went through these same doubts or personal problems that I have?

Thanks

S

I think there have been some fabulous responses to your post.

It's all about the journey and when you arrive at the point that is right for you.

Dr Chris and his team are superb and if I had to do this again I wouldn't hesitate going to him.

I had an underactive thyroid and was on low dosage medication, I now don't take anything and am very healthy.

When you are ready you will make the booking and then go through the swings and roundabouts of have I done the right thing. I have to be absolutely honest and say that I never had this, I just knew it was the right thing for me. 8 stone later and I am a very happy bunny.

Good luck, go fo it and enjoy a new lease of life and even a new experience.

Love Claire x

[Sazparella 1]

Thanks again for your responses Slinky and Claire

After all of your advice, I've decided to take a big step (for me) and email them! Is there a specific address? I can't seem to find one on the website.

Did you have a lack of energy a few months after the band? What kind of foods were you eating just after having the band? And what are you eating now? What does it feel like exercising? Particularly riding a bike, as I enjoy this. I can imagine that the upwards leg/knee movements may cause the band/port to dislodge!

I've heard a few women saying that they lost their hair. Has anyone else had this experience?

Sorry for the million questions!!

Thanks

Saz

[MummiesBB 5]

Thanks again for your responses Slinky and Claire

After all of your advice, I've decided to take a big step (for me) and email them! Is there a specific address? I can't seem to find one on the website.

Did you have a lack of energy a few months after the band? What kind of foods were you eating just after having the band? And what are you eating now? What does it feel like exercising? Particularly riding a bike, as I enjoy this. I can imagine that the upwards leg/knee movements may cause the band/port to dislodge!

I've heard a few women saying that they lost their hair. Has anyone else had this experience?

Sorry for the million questions!!

Thanks

Saz

Here's Frederiks email

<frederik.serneels@ecfs.be>;

Brlliant that you are emailing them. They will look after you!

Energy forme was at my lowest from October last year (2011 until Janu 2012) as I had gone below my target weight and was struggling to eat due to the tightness of the band. Frederik removed 2ml and since then I have felt fabulous. I have boundless amounts of energy and have put in approx 7 -10 pounds (I had 17 going spare so not too worried) but happy. Hair had thinned and wasn't growing but since defill seems to have got better.

Port shouldn't dislodge as stitched in place and band should be secure aswell. Ask Frederik but I would have thought riding a bike was fine. I teach yoga and I don't have any issues doing that.

HTH Keep us posted and the date you book., We are here if you need to ask anything.

Take care

Claire x

[wannabe slinky 4]

Thanks again for your responses Slinky and Claire

After all of your advice, I've decided to take a big step (for me) and email them! Is there a specific address? I can't seem to find one on the website.

Did you have a lack of energy a few months after the band? What kind of foods were you eating just after having the band? And what are you eating now? What does it feel like exercising? Particularly riding a bike, as I enjoy this. I can imagine that the upwards leg/knee movements may cause the band/port to dislodge!

I've heard a few women saying that they lost their hair. Has anyone else had this experience?

Sorry for the million questions!!

Thanks

Saz

hi hun i had no energy before i got the band lol,afterwoods i had cambridge diet shakes as i knew they had all my vits etc i took them for a couple of weeks and kept some for when i wasnt eating much aswell.after a couple of weeks of getting my band i use to have a shake for brekfast and a muller light yoghurt for lunch and half a tin of Tomato Soup for evenings tea.but you dont feel hungry when your at your sweet spot well i dont anyway i have to remind myself to eat lol,but a few weeks after your band you can still eat a fair bit as your appetite comes back as your band is empty,so you still feel hungry but as you get fills this is reduced as your stomach is,your first fill you get up till 3ml fill and your second around 2.5 then your band is filled it does take a few fills for you to start feeling it work so you have to be patient because your first couple of fills just fill the circumference of the band and after this is when it starts to reduce your stomach,but i got a kind of buzz of excitement with each fill just watching my weight going down but as for excercise im not very good but i would of though riding a bike is fine as claire said it is stitched in place i try and walk the dogs so i class that as my exercise.As for eating now hun i dont eat all day and only eat at night,but that's just me i dont feel hungry and my band feels too tight to eat early on so i just have differnet Soups, and the odd chicken curry and i have a packet of crisp quavers etc,as for my hair no probs yet and im always dying it lol,when i feel lethargic i take spa tone to drink with pure orange to give me some Iron as im always lacking in it even before my band,i dont eat red meat anyway so i eat alot of fish salmon and haddock and even have the odd sandwich but i dont feel deprived or like im missing out on any foods i just dont feel like them,dont worry about asking questions hun that's what we all done and everyone on here is great with the advice and have strengths in all different areas so ask away,ps as for you worrying about how your family would feel about it,when i got my band my neice lynda who comes on here the odd time wanted a band she had been overweight all her life and didnt know what is was like ever being thin "normal" as she would say and she wanted one her mum was so against it.i told her mum to let it be her desicion and let her be in control as her mum had been thin and knew what it feels like,she agreed and now she gone from a size 20 to a size 8 and looks like a babe and i have to say the difference it her confidence has soared,she i like a different person so outgoing and loves her fashion so sometimes you just have to do what you feel is right for yourself hunny and people will come around to it at some point now her mum is so pleased,hope that helps xx

[jo_jo 3]

Hi

I'm new to this forum so not sure if I'm doing this right... please re-direct if necessary.

I've been considering (and researching) a band for two years now on and off, always being put off by what could go wrong and not having the money. I'm now able to afford the surgery, but I keep going through bouts of being on the edge of booking a consultation, then thinking I must be mad to actually put myself through this procedure and worry about the future with a band.

I'm 28 and have a few illnesses which are all related to my weight including severe clinical depression, PCOS, asthma, eczema and intracranial hypertension (pressure on the brain). Every time I see either my GP or neurologists, they "remind" me that I need to lose weight.

I've been overweight since I was around 10 years old, so that's nearly two thirds of my life which I find so sad. I'm even too scared to look at how much I weigh as it gets me into really low moods for weeks at a time.

I've tried appetite suppressants, Xenical and Metformin with no real success. Also been to see a dietician a few times which to me isn't very helpful as I'm a vegetarian and don't tend to eat conventionally "fatty" foods.

New years eve was particularly hard for me as I tend to assess where I am in life, and to be honest 2011 was a really crap year, particularly as I had split with my partner of six years because I couldn't stand him touching me the way I am.

I really want to lose this weight for myself. My ideal situation is allowing friends and family to take a single picture of me! The last picture of me was from when I was in school!!

I'm sorry that I'm rambling and probably giving too much information! I guess I'd just like to know if anyone else went through these same doubts or personal problems that I have?

Thanks

S

OMG i just wanted to say this could have been me that wrote this! I also have severe clinical depression, PCOS, asthma, eczema.

The only difference between me and you is, im 26 and i dont have intracranial hypertension... as far as i know lol

I was diagnosed with PCOS when i was around 15, at a family planning clinic. I kept going to get pregnancy tests because my periods had stopped, where before they had been very long and heavy. They did my bloods and it was confirmed. I never really knew what it was and never thought about it and any implications it would have on my life untill i started trying for children. (18 ) I started to research it and then everthing started fitting in to place. It explained the sudden weight gain in my teens, the erratic periods and the severe depression and mood swings. I went to my doctor and they just told me to go on the pill. Obviously i didnt take it because i was trying for a baby, and now im glad i didnt, ive read many things about the pill actually making PCOS worse.

So since then i have been trying to reduce my weight, only managing a slight decrease and then it piles back in plus some and the facial hair is worse than ever. The doctors just kept sending me away with stronger and stronger anti depresants and ive tried just about every slimming pill and diet.

So this time last year i was 25 stone and enough was enough. I started my research about surgery. I already knew that i wouldnt qualify for NHS funding and i wouldnt be able to afford it in this country so i started googling different places abroad. I read very good reviews about DR Chris, so started doing more research about him and i never ever came across a bad review about him. My mind was made up. I sent Fredrick an email and booked in for June, giving me enough time to save.

20th June i flew out and had the op on 21st and it was honestly the best thing ive ever done (mind you i dont think that while im hugging the porcelain ) The hospital puts ours thoughly to shame, everyone was so nice and it was so clean.

I had my first fill in london in September 3ml and my second fill in wales in October 2ml. I dont think ive found my sweet spot yet but i dont want to rush to total restriction as many have done because i still like to enjoy my food but i have gained control. But due to the PCOS i need a little extra help so im doing slimming world as well since the begining of this year. Its coming off and staying off, i dont get hungry beween meals and i am satisfied with what im eating.

I lost 3 and 1/2 stone in 6 months just with the band and i have lost 1 and 1/2 stone with slimming world. Im sure i will need another small fill soon, as the fat comes off from my internal organs the band will loosen. But at the moment im happy as i am. I lost 5lb this week

Good luck on your journey but please remember that the band is a tool to help you its not a cure, you still have to work very hard and its definatly not a quick fix

Jo x

[Sazparella 1]

Thank you all for answering my questions and putting some nerves at ease.

It's probably a stupid question but can you actually feel the band and port? Is it uncomfy? Has anyone got any problems with excess skin now?

My problem is that I have an addictive personality. I don't like surgery but I can easily see myself having various nip and tucks if I'm not happy with myself, where does it all stop? As I've said before, I like bike riding so *hopefully* too much excess skin won't be a major problem...

You must all be so proud of yourselves to get to the stages where you're at now! I can imagine you're really excited. One of the most depressing things about being this size is clothes shopping. You can hardly find things you like (I love wearing pinks and purples). You're restricted to maybe one or two shops and then when you actually find something nice, it costs probably 3x or 4x the price of the normal sized clothing shops! Slinky - I can see myself turning into a fashionista like your niece!

Well done Jo! I don't know a single person who has been able to maintain weight loss with PCOS. It's one of the worst diseases to affect your mental health. I still find GPs and non-PCOS specialists are quite ignorant of it's effects. They grill you over your weight and then you get told PCOS is an excuse after you know yourself you've tried everything.

I'm feeling really encouraged by all of your stories! I know it may seem weird to be affected so much by a forum, but you are all I needed for that extra push! You really have given me a little hope and I'm going to act on it now!

I'm just in the middle of emailing Frederick!! *nervous* I'll let you all know of any updates!

Sarah xxx

[gillian 4]

Can't feel the band but can feel the port under the skin.. It has to be felt for the fills/defills anyway.. But it's not visible as a lump or anything. Mine was stitched into place quite tight so I get the odd twinge. And excess skin.. Exercise or not it's inevitable.. I would love to get the nips and tucks.. I'm saving for Tummy Tuck now infact.. You can hide it under clothes tho and with support knickers etc.. Everyone's different, you may be lucky!..But it's better than excess weight at the end of the day. Good luck with your first steps! X

[Tee-Bird 1]

Hi

I'm new to this forum so not sure if I'm doing this right... please re-direct if necessary.

I've been considering (and researching) a band for two years now on and off, always being put off by what could go wrong and not having the money. I'm now able to afford the surgery, but I keep going through bouts of being on the edge of booking a consultation, then thinking I must be mad to actually put myself through this procedure and worry about the future with a band.

I'm 28 and have a few illnesses which are all related to my weight including severe clinical depression, PCOS, asthma, eczema and intracranial hypertension (pressure on the brain). Every time I see either my GP or neurologists, they "remind" me that I need to lose weight.

I've been overweight since I was around 10 years old, so that's nearly two thirds of my life which I find so sad. I'm even too scared to look at how much I weigh as it gets me into really low moods for weeks at a time.

I've tried appetite suppressants, Xenical and Metformin with no real success. Also been to see a dietician a few times which to me isn't very helpful as I'm a vegetarian and don't tend to eat conventionally "fatty" foods.

New years eve was particularly hard for me as I tend to assess where I am in life, and to be honest 2011 was a really crap year, particularly as I had split with my partner of six years because I couldn't stand him touching me the way I am.

I really want to lose this weight for myself. My ideal situation is allowing friends and family to take a single picture of me! The last picture of me was from when I was in school!!

I'm sorry that I'm rambling and probably giving too much information! I guess I'd just like to know if anyone else went through these same doubts or personal problems that I have?

Thanks

S

Hi Sazparella,

It's so good you've taken the leap and come onto the forum........ the next stage is the band which is very easy to get through and a smooth operation. At no point over the last 33 months have i ever wished i'd not been banded, it's honestly the best thing i ever did, weight wise. I used to dream about food, and constantly eat and always feel hungry, but now i don't have that obsession.... don't get me wrong, i love my food still, but the band helps me control it without it taking over my life anymore. Once you've been banded,you should start to feel healthier, lose weight and not think about food all the time. I'm really excited for you, if you choose to get the band, you'll never look back x

[wannabe slinky 4]

Thank you all for answering my questions and putting some nerves at ease.

It's probably a stupid question but can you actually feel the band and port? Is it uncomfy? Has anyone got any problems with excess skin now?

My problem is that I have an addictive personality. I don't like surgery but I can easily see myself having various nip and tucks if I'm not happy with myself, where does it all stop? As I've said before, I like bike riding so *hopefully* too much excess skin won't be a major problem...

You must all be so proud of yourselves to get to the stages where you're at now! I can imagine you're really excited. One of the most depressing things about being this size is clothes shopping. You can hardly find things you like (I love wearing pinks and purples). You're restricted to maybe one or two shops and then when you actually find something nice, it costs probably 3x or 4x the price of the normal sized clothing shops! Slinky - I can see myself turning into a fashionista like your niece!

Well done Jo! I don't know a single person who has been able to maintain weight loss with PCOS. It's one of the worst diseases to affect your mental health. I still find GPs and non-PCOS specialists are quite ignorant of it's effects. They grill you over your weight and then you get told PCOS is an excuse after you know yourself you've tried everything.

I'm feeling really encouraged by all of your stories! I know it may seem weird to be affected so much by a forum, but you are all I needed for that extra push! You really have given me a little hope and I'm going to act on it now!

I'm just in the middle of emailing Frederick!! *nervous* I'll let you all know of any updates!

Sarah xxx

glad to hear you got some encouragement from this forum hope all goes well and you get a date you will then start getting all excited like we all did keep us informed xx

[Sazparella 1]

Thank you Tee and Slinky You've all been so supportive and allowed me to make the decision that I probably knew the answer to already.

Just to let you know that I have booked in for 29th March at Dolan Park (although I've been offered 22nd March which I'm still debating. I really didn't fancy the thought of being uncomfortable in a hotel room. I'm a big lover of my own bed when not 100%. Plus I've heard and read that you need to keep moving for your circulation, and I fortunately have plenty of nice parks where I live - so home op it was!

I'm going to get started on the pre-op diet today. Any suggestions to add a bit of variety?

[happyflower 1]

Thanks again for your responses Slinky and Claire

After all of your advice, I've decided to take a big step (for me) and email them! Is there a specific address? I can't seem to find one on the website.

Did you have a lack of energy a few months after the band? What kind of foods were you eating just after having the band? And what are you eating now? What does it feel like exercising? Particularly riding a bike, as I enjoy this. I can imagine that the upwards leg/knee movements may cause the band/port to dislodge!

I've heard a few women saying that they lost their hair. Has anyone else had this experience?

Sorry for the million questions!!

Thanks

Saz

hey will done i know its a big step ! when i booked i called europesurgery because there in the Uk it think its better than contacting some company abroad and the package is the same. They offer telephone support and there office is even open at weekends so if you need anything or are worried you can just call them.I see you have booked in the uk now for your operation anyway but if you change your mind really its no hassle on the train to brussels only takes 2 hours and then all the aftercare is in the uk anyway.

[juliesquirral 0]

I would just go for dr chris, i know what you mean about liking your own bed and not being in a hotel room but surely its better to be in a hotel next to the hospital the night after you have stayed in hospital? chris has got the lowest complication rate in europe to me its a no brainer why would you pay more to go in the UK? anyway each to there own. you even get someone in the uk to call if you book with the europesurgery office. do you even know which surgeon is operating on you? some of the uk sites don't tell you anything about the surgeon just the price and the hospital...very sus i think! sorry find it a bit weird your writing on a chris de bruyne forum thread and then saying about a uk hospital! anyway i just in a bad mood today so ignore me...

[jo_jo 3]

Thank you Tee and Slinky You've all been so supportive and allowed me to make the decision that I probably knew the answer to already.

Just to let you know that I have booked in for 29th March at Dolan Park (although I've been offered 22nd March which I'm still debating. I really didn't fancy the thought of being uncomfortable in a hotel room. I'm a big lover of my own bed when not 100%. Plus I've heard and read that you need to keep moving for your circulation, and I fortunately have plenty of nice parks where I live - so home op it was!

I'm going to get started on the pre-op diet today. Any suggestions to add a bit of variety?

Good luck with your decision, I've heard a lot of bad things about Dolan park and also The WLS Group, they both have really bad reviews on another site, an English one.

Anyway let us know how you get on :-)

[Sazparella 1]

Hi Everyone

I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by not going with Dr De Bruyne. I know he is a fantastic surgeon, however the idea of going to have surgery on my own in another country is too much for me at the moment as I'm not stable enough. As I've indicated before this, I suffer a lot from depression and I can't predict how I would react the night before in Brussels when the nerves take over me.

I've had a full consultation with a medical team in Liverpool, and every aspect of my current health has been looked into. I would rather have the security of mind now that my illnesses have been properly assessed in advance, than getting to Brussels, and possibly turned away or the proper care wasn't prepared for my intracranial pressure. I worry about the pressure in my head every day, and I can imagine the worries being ten times as worse on the day of surgery. I also get quite severe headaches after flying so that is another factor I've taken into account.

I think staying in the UK is the best choice for me because of my health and concerns. My surgeon is Mr Sigurdsson and I have checked him out thoroughly. I've also been assured that Mr Sigurdsson is experienced in neurological conditions such as mine.

If I didn't have such illnesses, I wouldn't hesitate to go to Brussels. In fact, if anyone was to ask me who to get banded with I'd say Dr De Bruyne because of his track record!

Again, I'm sorry if any of you are disappointed and think I'm making the wrong decision, however I have been considering this for the past two years and have weighed everything up. I value all of your advice and support.

Thank you

Sarah xx

[gillian 4]

You go with what your comfortable with, I would have been worried going on my own to another country too esp with other medical problems.. I must say I would highly recommend dr chris, he's highly experienced and regarded. But I completely understand why you've chose the UK.. And at the end of the day.. You're having same op.don't feel guilty. Youve got an exciting journey to go on! Good luck! X