To ask for a gastric sleeve on the NHS?

[Peroxideblondecurls]

I’m a size 20/22, I’m 5’7 and I weigh 16 stone. I’m 32 years old. I have tried so many diets over the years, I do walk as much as I’m able, but due to the weight I’m carrying, I find myself out of breath all the time and in a lot of pain, particularly in my knees.
I was so slim as a child and a teenager, and also in my early twenties. But then I started taking the contraceptive pill and after that the weight around my tummy just piled on and I couldn’t get rid of it, then it got worse again after having my son two years ago.
My mental health is the worst it’s ever been and my confidence levels are near to 0. I hate myself and think of suicide often.
Would the NHS consider me?

I am going to be a bit tough here but I really think you need to grip this yourself and not rely on surgery - particularly surgery funded by the taxpayer, and even more particularly when the NHS is drowning because of the pandemic.

I know it’s not easy but it’s also completely within your power. I really think people need to take personal responsibility for themselves and not rely on other people (i.e., taxpayers who would have to fund your surgery) to fix them because their can’t control their eating habits.

I agree with you, even though I've had a dysfunctional relationship with food for most of my life!

If you are in the UK

I know a couple of people who live in different parts of the UK, that have been referred by their GP to a free weight management course which was for about one day a week for 3 months. It is for all ages, all weights, everyone

Secondly, have you tried signing up for something like a charity walk or a walk of example Lands End to John oGroats, but you walk in your own area & log the distance & time online. You can start with one mile per day. There are lots of virtual walks on line to join

I had a sleevectomy 10 years ago on the NHS. It took nearly 5 years to get approval, having to show that I tried everything first. I was diagnosed with a comorbidity which was what eventually led to the agreement. The psychologist I had to see opposed the surgery and did not recommend at the clinical conference, he told me afterwards. He was overruled by the professor in charge of the panel. My point is that there are lots of hoops to jump through and I don't think you would meet the criteria.

I didn’t qualify at 18 stone and only 5’4”
I lost 2 stone on my own but was struggling so joined a slimming group
Lost another 6 stone over 18 months and wasn’t far off where I wanted to be
Sadly I’ve put a bit back on over last 18 months - so still want to lose 2 stone
Biggest loser at my group has lost over 12 stone in under 3 years and looks amazing

Exercise is also great for your mental health too !

I've been obese most of my adult life. I get how you feel, I really do. I probably gave up on trying to do anything after years of yo-yoing the same 3 stone down and up again about 4 years ago because sustaining a "diet" for as long as I needed to felt overwhelming and impossible. Every single time it ended in a complete binge on all the wrong stuff.

This time last year my BMI was 43 and I turned 40. It wasn't until my daughter expressed concern about covid killing me that I realised I absolutely had to change something. Stupidly knowing all the other things that could kill me never bothered me...but knowing that my size was worrying my daughter was the last straw.

I started couch to 5k with a fucked up leg constructed mostly of metal and took control of my food. The control was simply giving myself a target of calories and tracking everything I ate. If I went over it wasn't a big deal, I just made sure the next day was better. Every day is day one, I try my best and that's good enough.

11 months on my BMI is 35.5, I've dropped 3 dress sizes and I can now run for 90 minutes non-stop albiet slowly compared with real runners

Your BMI is lower than mine. You haven't pushed yourself into the highest risk category which is great. This is fixable without surgery. Get in touch with your GP and ask what support they can give you to lose weight, but the crucial piece of advice I have is that this needs to be forever...just like if you did have surgery.

You need to be in control of your relationship with food, by whatever means works for you and make it part of your life. You need to accept that changing for good in a sustainable way takes a long time, but it is very worth it.

Give yourself small goals. Aim for 5% weight loss to start then see how you get on. Best of luck to you, but honestly please give being in control a good try before seriously perusing surgery

*pursuing not perusing 🤦🏻‍♀️

Im currently 25stone and only just being accepted on the pathway for a gastric band. I have to do psychotherapy first before they will consider me.

You are unlikely to be accepted at 16stone.

I would suggest talking to your GP about the dietary support options that are available

If you eat a lot of processed food that affects mental health too.

Look at Team RH. It will change your life.

First id speak to your GP
See if there is a weight management service in your area,
If you fall into the group of people that might get refered for surgery they may want you to loose a percentage of your body weight first, its possible you may find out that losing that weight spurs you on without needing surgery.
Currently in my area weight management groups are suspended due to covid though

It’s a long pathway, and your bmi has to be over 40 I believe.
I had a gastric bypass last year on the nhs and it has changed my life but it took almost 3 years of jumping through hoops, meeting targets, loosing and keeping off a percentage of excess weight for the duration of the three years, sessions with dieticians, psychologists, ecg’s and blood tests etc. Doing periods of only milk diets (2 weeks at a time throughout the process) And then a very long waiting list.
I know several people that have started the process and have given up as they couldn’t lose the required amount of weight asked of them and keep it off for the entire process. You have to be mentally ready and it really is a difficult journey but for me it was totally worth it!
You have be upfront with your eating habits, and saying weight gain is due to contraception won’t fly with the psychologists - they’re very strict and need to feel you’re fully ready.
I also had to argue with the GP to get me referred to the relevant hospital and took a copy of the guidelines that said I was eligible.
You also have to prove that you have tried all other routes of weight loss (so slim-fast, Keto, calorie counting, weight watchers, exercise etc) before resorting to surgery.
Also the first few months it’s easy to not overeat as you physically can’t, but I’m now about 11 months out and I could eat whatever I wanted if I didn’t use will-power and my portions have naturally increased again, so you really need to get your mindset right and see it as a tool. I could easily overeat with too many calories if I didn’t control it; it’s not the magic cure that people think it is.
I’ve also been advised you won’t lose all your weight necessarily but you can expect to lose 70% of your excess weight, which may mean you still end up overweight at the end of it, just not as overweight as you were previously. Some people think you will be guaranteed to be thin and a size 8 but that’s not realistic. I’m a year out and not expected to lose more weight and I’m a size 16 and they said that may be it for me in terms of what they expect me to lose.

Most areas you need a BMI over 35 as a minimum. Obesity UK runs various groups including a great Facebook group and online groups so you can get advice. Ultimately it’s up to your Gp to refer. All you’ll get on here is how anyone can lose weight and it’s a drain on the NHS.

@AwFeebs

Your BMI has to be 40 without comorbidities or 35 with them. This is the criteria for our trust.

I've had a gastric sleeve privately, It's the best thing I've ever done. Is a loan a possibility? That's how I funded mine.

Prior to having it here I was going Europe for it as it was considerably less. You need to research thoroughly. It is not an easy fix nor will it solve all the issues surrounding food.

Do you mind me asking how much it costs?

YABU to expect the NHS to cover the cost of this although they likely will. (Which is unfair IMHO)

I don't agree with this type of surgery being funded by the NHS, especially during Covid when people are being denied much more life threatening treatment choices due to funding.

I'm sure I'll get roasted but you asked if you are being unreasonable and I'm just being honest.

Hey OP, have you tried hypnotherapy? I've had a couple of friends who have had great success with it. I really wouldn't be trying to go down the surgery route just yet without exploring more conservative measures first.

@Tippexy

All diets work if you stick to them for six months.

Yeah, I wonder why people dont think of that. In other news you can cure alcoholism by not drinking alcohol.

Have you had treatment for your mental health OP? Counselling etc and if you can tackle this and find some motivation, in turn this could give you the kick start you need to lose weight.

Unless you have a health condition, being obese is not to do with diets not working. T

This is why I'm deprived places where they have little/no food available everyone is very slim so you are in denial to believe that and that isn't going to help you.

My suggestions is to seek help for your mental health and seek the hell of a nutritionist or download some audio books on it.

I cannot buy that it's impossible for you to lose weight. You need to change your mindset and resolve your mental health as this is the root cause from what you've said.

If these things don't work maybe then try surgery but I do think you should fund it yourself.

@Fr0thandBubble

I am going to be a bit tough here but I really think you need to grip this yourself and not rely on surgery - particularly surgery funded by the taxpayer, and even more particularly when the NHS is drowning because of the pandemic.

I know it’s not easy but it’s also completely within your power. I really think people need to take personal responsibility for themselves and not rely on other people (i.e., taxpayers who would have to fund your surgery) to fix them because their can’t control their eating habits.

I agree.

I know 2 people who have become seriously seriously ill after weight loss surgery. One died in hospital aged 45 weighing 90lb and the other, in her late 20s, now has a feeding tube. Both have/ had serious malabsorption issues and their surgery was not reversible. I really think it should be an absolutely last resort.

They may refer you to a dietician and advise an exercise plan and weight management reviews but medication or surgery would be a last resort.

@Babyroobs I paid £8204 it can vary depending on where abouts in the country you are. Europe was around £5k. Turkey do it for around 3k. The UK doesn't have the monopoly on safe healthcare. Thousands of people have had it done in Europe. Obviously you need to do a ton of research and get first hand experiences.

I don't agree it's an easy way out. It is a struggle. It's a tool it doesn't make you go the gym or pick the right foods. I was desperate. I'm 3st down so far and I feel fantastic.

There is also a reason the NHS do it, because it's proven to work and it ends up being cost effective in the long run.

It's a slippery slope when we start picking and choosing what NHS treatment should include.

It's a complex issue and one that isn't purely solved by saying going on a diet.

For me the pros outweighed the cons. Yes there is risks as there is with any medical procedures but there's also risks to being obese.

My friend advocates for no one having the gastric sleeve. Or bariatric surgery

She runs a group which constitutes lots of women who’ve become very poorly. She ended up in ICU with hers. Yes she’s slim. But she’s barely able to stand. Some other women have had problems because a nerve has been cut. Given them stomach paralysis. (Gastroparis). Or nervous system dysfunction.

It’s not an easy fix.

Thanks for all the replies. I understand all your points of view and I’m definitely going to take them on board.
One of things holding me back is my issue with my heart rate increasing, it’s a vicious circle because I’m unfit so my heart rate increases and I get short of breath on exertion, but I get a rising panic when it goes up. I link heart rate increase with my panic attacks (I’ve had them for years) . So I avoid exercise when it become to strenuous.