To get a gastric band

[mzdaph]

Paid for privately by me, of course, although I'd have to save up.

Dh is supportive.

Altho you are overweight, I feel a gastric band may be a step too far too soon.

I'd be looking at less drastic measures, personally major surgery would be a serious non option for me unless medically necessary. I don't think you're at that level tho'.

Why not? A month ago I was 15 stone like you. Now I'm 14.

Major surgery tends to have major risks associated with it. I'd not be doing it not encouraging my seriously overweight dh to consider such a drastic step.

I've had my Band 12 years... I've never had a single complication... in fact my Health has tenfold improved ... however... you have to work with it... many people who suffer complications try to eat around the band.. if you listen to your Band... you will be fine x

Gemini that's really interesting! My husband had a gastric band fitted 5 years ago. He lost 8 stone and was doing brilliantly. However his eating habits have recently slipped back. He starves himself all day then drinks alot in the evening as that seems to make it easier to eat and he fills up on crap. Just wondering if you have any tips or suggestions on things I can make him that are relatively easy to eat? I've never met or spoken to anyone else who has one.xx

I was asking this exact question in January.

I was 19st 1lb at 5ft 5 and felt every pound of it. I was significantly bigger than you and have never been a healthy weight in my life never been out of the obese categories in fact.

Anyway, decided to have one last mad dash attempt at weight loss and got researching what works and what doesn't.

I've lost 3.5 stone (I'm now 15 something) with diet alone. No exercise what so ever.

Only now am I starting to do exercise so it is utterly and entirely possible to do this without surgery.

I'm the last person in the world who should be able to do this and like you always blamed myself for my shit relationship with food. It sucked for the first 5 days, but after that it became piss easy to stick to and the weight is dropping off me now!

I won't be having surgery now and the mibey I saved is going towards loose skin removal if I need it (bone yet touch wood!!)

I had one fitted on the 29th march and have lost 4 stone so far! I love it and it totally gives me the control I never had around food.

I was 15.7st and 5t 3 had a band 18months ago - honestly the best thing I ever did. Had it done on Sunday and was back in work (office), doing the school run by Thursday.
Was definitely worth it, I've lost 4 stone and from a 20/22 I'm a size 12; ideally will be a 10 in the next 6 months. I feel amazing and so much more confident having had it done.

It's still hard work but your mind somehow adjusts I promise! I wonder if all these band bashers have personal experience with a band like anything to do with weight loss the band is a tool and if you respect it and use it properly you'll love it.

Definitely check out the website the pp above has linked to, it was my go to place pre-op & the first 6 months

Good luck and feel free to pm me if you want to ask any questions x

Try weight watchers- I'm 5"2 and was 14 st 4 two months ago - lost 22lb in two months.

Only walking as exercise.

I would heartily recommend trying a VLCD like Cambridge. I lose a stone a month with ease, first three days are hard then it's super easy. Would be cheaper, no recovery, no risk from anesthetic etc it gives you chance to really reassess your relationship with food too. I've had two abdominal surgeries this year and wouldn't willingly go through it.

I was short and fat (5ft and 15 stone) - I joined slimming world and went down to 10 and a half stone. Had a lg so put on a little bit with pregnancy but working to get it off. However you decide to lose weight, there has got to be a change in mindset. I.e., am I ready to lose weight? Am I going to commit to this change? Is this what I want?
Either losing weight by diet / excersize / surgery is going to be hard and from my experience, you've got to be in "that place" to do it and do it properly.
Maybe whichever way you do it you could incentivise yourself, so for every lb you lose, you get £1 and then when you reach target you treat yourself to something?

I would speak to lots of people who've had them a Facebook search should bring up some groups.
They can massively affect things such as how your body absorbs vitamins and minerals meaning you might need to take regular medication.

WLS without a doubt is a good option for many people.

However it certainly isn't an easy option and as with any other weight loss method you will need to change how you eat forever. Probably even more so than with most traditional weight loss methods.

You say your issue is that you can't stick to a diet so do you think WLS will actually help then? Following WLS your diet will be pretty restricted for it to be successful.

Hi Lostmymarbles1985.. get your husband to register with this website...

www.wlsinfo.org.uk

this is a Weight Loss Surgery Forums for every possible question and advice you could ever need will be on there... there are tens of thousands of people who have had many varying types of Weight Loss surgery on there and Surgeons use it too....

Your husband has done very well... 50 percent of our calorie intake is absorbed in the mouth before reaching the stomach .. has he tried going back to basics.. softer foods etc .. can he have his Band adjusted even by a small amount.. 0.25ml perhaps..

please look at the WLS Website ... it's a phenomenal guide for people at all stages of WLS... including those who are still considering having it done..

The band can slip, erode into your stomach etc in a lot of areas the NHS are not finding the bands because but of such problems.

A sleeve gastrectomy is a much better, permanent solution.

Wish you all the best

Thank you I will get him to have a look.
Personally I think he has had it tightened too much. He is nervous to have it loosened though in case he slips completely backwards. I need to get him to sit and meal plan with me. He is away a couple of days a week which doesn't help but at least when in a hotel he does have breakfast.
Thank you for replying.xx

YANBU - it's entirely your choice, but please make sure you do your research as there are risks involved and it is in no way the easy option.

AfunaMbatata is correct ... the NHS is steering away from Banding and gearing toward Bypass and Sleeve instead.. a one stop fix.. as opposed to constant aftercare of Band Adjustments..

Your going Private but most Surgeons who work privately also work for the NHS.. at your Private Consult.. the Surgeon WILL try very hard to persuade you to change surgery options to Bypass or Sleeve.. many have stopped performing Banding altogether .. so make sure your Surgeon still performs Banding... or simply find another who does x

Those of you that have lost weight, do you have lots of excess skin?
Can you tell us about the surgery and recovery? Can you go home the same day?
Im thinking of doing it in secret

when I had my Surgery.. pre-op was Tuesday ...Surgery was Wednesday.. home Thursday.. (for example) so 2 1/2 to 3 days.. I was up and about in a few days.. just not able to lift heavy items or hoover for a few weeks..

excess skin was not an issue for me personally.. I started swimming as soon as the Doc said it was ok to do so.. and swimming was an all round great toner... I know a few people who needed skin removal .. personal choice I suppose...

the worst part of it all for me was.... The Pre-Op Diet.. depending on your BMI... you need to do either One or Two weeks of this Diet... Yoghurt and Milk... nothing else... it's has you wretching after a fashion where you won't look at another Yoghurt of your life depended on it.. but what this Diet does.. apart from losing over a stone in a week.. is Detoxes and Softens your Liver.. so it can be handled and moved out of the way of your stomach for surgery... if the Surgeon opens you up .. he can tell immediately if you have stuck to the Pre-Op.. or not... and may refuse to complete your Surgery... so STICK with it ..

I had my surgery in secret... to this day only my Husband knows I have a band... and my GP... you need to trust one person... because you need someone to collect you xx

Could you try low carb? Have a look at diet doctor website. I have had lots of tummy surgery and have adhesions, wouldn't wish it on anyone. Maybe a good idea to try other things first.

I'm four weeks into a vlcd - Newcastle Diet - and have lost 10kg even with departures for various "good" reasons. . It's freakishly easy because you don't stick to a diet, you just don't eat except the "prescription". I'm writing about it in the mn diabetes forum if you want to get a sense of what It feels like. Despite the cost of the shakes etc, you'll save a load of money to spend on new clothes in small sizes!

8!years out of a bypass here. Do your research and then do some more. There are pros and cons to each surgery - they all come with risks. Read about these risks and if you accept that it could happen to you and you're prepared for it, go for it.

I see many saying after their surgery '9h I didn't know about x or y' when they are a basic issue associated with the surgery.

What ever you choose - it is not the solution just a tool to help you, it is not the easy way out. But the benefits can be amazing and absolutely life changing.

Research

Oh I lost 8 and a half stone - there is excess skin but not so significant that I'd need it removed!

I was in a week when I had my bypass but that's changed now, not sure about the band - it's major surgery!

it's really nice to hear others have had this 'range' of surgeries... I know I'm so much more happier having ha it done...

I hope OP finds comfort in knowing we collectively have had the surgeries if varied versions.. and it's been a positive outcome.. for us personally.. if this helps with Her or anyone else's decision... then it's a good thing right x