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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think a weight loss surgery company should not be telling you to put weight on

29 replies

Arnie123 · 31/07/2013 17:36

I currently have a bmi of 29 which means although I am overweight I am not medically obese as that requires a bmi of 30. I phoned a weight loss surgery group about a gastric band and they told me I must stop dieting immediately ( I have recently lost a stone) eat more, put weight on and have the band. I am really uncomfortable with this it does not seem ethical at all and is now putting me off getting it done.

OP posts:

AlanMoore · 31/07/2013 17:40

If your bmi is 29 and you can afford a gastric band you'd be better off getting a personal trainer and a few recipe books

Original poster

Arnie123 · 31/07/2013 17:41

I have gone from anorexia to binge eating disorder I need psychological help more than anything.

OP posts:

EvieanneVolvic · 31/07/2013 17:41

I am puzzled as to why you think a gastric band is necessary or even desirable though of course it is none of my business so I think they are doing you a favour. You are only marginally overweight.

Good lord I DREAM of having a BMI of 29, and though I applaud your wanting to address the minor problem before it becomes a major one, surely to goodness a band is a bit drastic isn't it?

EvieanneVolvic · 31/07/2013 17:42

Sorry x posts, but in your case I would have thought a band would be even less appropriate as it's not going to address the root problem at all.

OwlinaTree · 31/07/2013 17:44

You have lost a stone already - that is fab, well done!

If your BMI is 29 you are at the top end of overweight, 30 is only just into the obese section.

Diet control surely is a better bet than surgery - have you tried weight watchers or the like? My DH went from obese to almost normal range in about 18 months doing this. Surgery is so long term, whereas diet control means you can eat more normally, especially once you reach your ideal weight.

Good luck whatever you choose.

GrimmaTheNome · 31/07/2013 17:44

YANBU - whatever your reasons for wanting the band, this company is being totally unethical. I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

aturtlenamedmack · 31/07/2013 17:45

In answer to you op, they are being entirely unreasonable and I'd report them to the medical council.

EvieanneVolvic · 31/07/2013 17:46

Yes, just to address your original point, they sound a bit fishy to me, not that I know anything.

OwlinaTree · 31/07/2013 17:46

sorry x post, didn't have the info about psychological help.

Still think you would do better with weightwatchers and maybe some type of talking therapy.

Allice · 31/07/2013 17:47

I have a band, not with that company though. I think that their response was outrageous, they meant that you should put on weight and then hand them 8k!

You're doing great, counselling would be a much better plan.

Good luck

iklboo · 31/07/2013 17:47

General Medical Council can't do anything about clinics. It only regulates individual doctors. To complain about clinic policies you'd need to contact CQC.

WafflyVersatile · 31/07/2013 17:52

No ethical doctor will give you a gastric band if your BMI is only 29. No ethical doctor will advise you to put on weight so you can benefit from their services.

LondonMan · 31/07/2013 18:10

Not something I've looked into, but my understanding is that a gastric band is pretty extreme and unsatisfactory solution to excess weight.

In my mind they are for the kind of person you see on the news where fireman have to take them out of the house through a window or by demolishing a wall because they are to big to fit through the door.

AlanMoore · 31/07/2013 18:12

Private psych would be better use of your money. It would be even less ethical to band you with that history! Hope you feel better soon, eating disorders are horrid

Nikeairyfairy · 31/07/2013 18:16

I had a gb with a BMI of 33. Bet thing I did.

Putting on weight though? No.

gnittinggnome · 31/07/2013 18:19

Well done on proving to yourself that you can actually lose weight! A stone is not to be sneezed at

It doesn't sound as though they have your best interests at heart, and I would really back away from that clinic. Also seconding the suggestions above to try Weight Watchers (or similar - these groups can really, really make a huge difference and give you a lot of support along the way) and maybe some talking therapy to help you understand your issues with food and help you achieve a healthier relationship with it. Good luck!

specialsubject · 31/07/2013 18:55

you've told us that you are mentally ill. Please get help for that, don't go to the gastric band charlatans.

repeat - please get help for the bit that needs it, your head. Sorting that will then help your body without having to spend the rest of your life drinking soup.

Original poster

Arnie123 · 31/07/2013 19:09

I have just bought Overcoming Binge Eating on Amazon. Hopefully when that arrives it will help me. I am not sure a band would help me as I would probably just binge on slider foods

OP posts:

iklboo · 31/07/2013 19:19

True no ethical doctor would operate at BMI of 29 or advise you to put on weight, but unethical sales team will - and I doubt they'd even let the doctors know what they'd told you (not saying all doctors are innocent, but I've had experience through friends of lengths cosmetic surgery sales teams will go to so they can get your money).

Original poster

Arnie123 · 31/07/2013 19:22

I also told the sales woman that what I would do is put 500 away each month until I could afford the op and she started putting me under a lot of pressure to get it done on a credit card. I do not like going into debt and so did not want to do this

OP posts:

Original poster

Arnie123 · 31/07/2013 19:23

Just to clarify it was a saleswoman and not a doctor who said this but I am phoning up tomorrow to complain about it

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gnittinggnome · 31/07/2013 22:21

Good! This kind of crappy sales tactic is just plain wrong.

Keep stashing some cash each month, and then when you hit your milestones for healthy eating, healthy weight, generally feeling better, buy something that makes you feel great - spa break, holiday, whatever. A much better use of your cash!

WafflyVersatile · 31/07/2013 22:46

Good luck Arnie.

Please do report them for this. It's disgraceful behaviour.

SamHamwidge · 31/07/2013 23:50

I had a gastric band put ina few years ago. I was in a bad mental state at the time which I don't think I fully realised. Basically I didn't care about my life very much so wasn't at all arsed about the prospect of putting a foreign body inside me for years and thought it would be a magical solution.

For the first year it was pretty good and I did lose weight. But believe you me if you are determined you can beat te bloody thing. I have put a lot of weight back on now, it gives me terrible shoulder pain (a little known bury not uncommon side effect) and I wish to god I had never had it done.

A couple if things the GB companies handily omit to tell you -

You can cheat it as it will only block solid foods. Ice cream, chocolate etc will all still pass through.

You actually don't feel 'full quickly' on small amounts. It feels more as though there is a lump there and can get very uncomfortable till the food passes through or you vomit (if too restricted). The rest if your stomach is still there empty below the band so your brain still thinks it is hungry. The end result is a weird combo of feeling hungry and full (or 'lumpy') at the same time.

If you go ahead, please do lots of research. There are people very happy with a band. Others like me are not. I am going to keep trying but via other means e.g. Slimming World and hope I can just retrain my brain but so hard, hate being fat

Original poster

Arnie123 · 01/08/2013 10:47

Thank you for your post Hamwidge

I complained today and they could not have been less interested. I explained that I had binge eating which is a psychological problem and the woman said that is just an opinion and gastric surgery would work for me. She then started giving me the hard sell on the gastric balloon. I am appalled

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