Beacon hospital

emmage · January 11, 2009

HI,

Im new here... just wondering if any of you have attended the Beacon Hospital?

If so, what was it like? If not, why did you chose somewhere else!

Thanks

Elsie · January 12, 2009

Hi Emmage,

Welcome to lapbandtalk. I went to the Beacon for a consult early last year. I had already been thinking of going to Belgium but when I said this to my GP she wanted me to have it done in Ireland so I went along. It seems like a very good set-up they have there. It is more like what the american bandsters describe on here i.e. you meet the surgeon, the nurse, the dietician and the psychologist.

My decision came down to the Beacon and Dr. Chris DeBruyne in Belgium. In the end I decided to go with Dr. Chris for a couple of reasons. I did some research and couldn't find any info on the surgeon in the Beacon, I found a lot on Dr. Chris which was all very positive and I met him in Dublin as well (there is aftercare in Dublin once a month).

The cost was a major factor as well. It cost 3400 plus flights/hotel/fills with Dr. Chris versus 11500 with the Beacon. The final decision was made when I asked at the Beacon that if anything went wrong and I needed a re-operation would it be covered by the original cost. The answer was the surgeon would do all possible but the decision was up to the hospital. There wasnt a definite yes so I couldnt take the chance as I couldnt afford to pay out any more. So I went to Belgium and have no complaints about the experience/aftercare.

There is a girl on the Hi from Ireland thread that had the op in the Beacon but I cant remember her name off hand.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Elsie

emmage · January 13, 2009

Thanks for that Elsie...I've a bit of medical history so want to do it here as I also have a family and couldn't be going away for a few days...

Has anyone been to the Beacon? Any info on the surgeon please!

Thanks

Em

X

Heres Hoping · January 19, 2009

Hi Emma,

I had my operation in the Beacon in September. I have absolutely no complaints, everything went very well. It did take me a bit longer to get mobile than I expected, a full two weeks before I could go back to work, but I guess the older you get the longer recovery takes. I am 33lbs down, and really feel that the €11,500 paid is the best money I ever spent. From my point of view the Beacon worked very well.

Best wishes,

Ro:thumbup:

emmage · January 29, 2009

Ah thanks for that Ro! Well done on your weight loss! I am really nervous that something with go wrong! I have 4 small children that depend on me and a lovely husband...I suppose because I am electing to have this surgery it makes it harder...Was the pre-op fluids diet awful? Were you able to function on it?!!! Afterwards was it really sore? Are you hungry after you have it done for those 2 weeks...

I met the surgeon and am very happy! Booked in for the end of the month! Did you tell people you were doing it? What was the worst part of it? Id rather go prepared if you know what I mean!

Thanks so much for responding!

Em

X

Heres Hoping · February 2, 2009

Hi Emma,

Well done on your decision to go ahead. It is impossible not to be a bit concerned, as afterall it is surgery. However, I was fine and am really pleased that I did it. I wasn't very sore afterwards, but I was really tired and needed about two weeks before I got back to normal. The liquid diet afterwards was fine as I think my stomach was swollen after the op, so I didn't feel hungry. I found the liquid diet before the op much harder. Am stalling a bit this week, believe me it is still easy to eat rubbish, so you really do need to make the right decisions. I only told my immediately family and my best friend. I don't want people looking at me and wondering why I,m not losing faster!

Anyhow, the best of luck with it all. Post and let us know how you are getting on.

:w00t: