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Original poster

Gastric band surgery

44 replies

discoverlife · 24/02/2008 08:44

I could do with some links please to pages about gastric band surgery and other types of surgery to help with weight loss.
I am over 9 stone overweight and have tried evrything. My doc and I have this on the list of things to try once we have tried everything else.
SO far in the last 15 years I have tried
Weight Watchers 2 times
Slimming World 5 times
The Grapefruit diet, Paul McKenna's, couldn't face that meat only one and it had too many reports of long term health problems.
Cut out everthing and eat loads of this diets.
Only have enough food to fit on a side plate diet
and hypnotherapy.

I have hit the end of road, when I was slim I kept the weight off by exercise, now I can't exercise properly, crist I can't even go on the trampoline on my own as I exceed the recommended weight allowance. I definatly couldn't go on with DS he would only get one bounce and would end up orbitting the moon. Bending down cuts off my breathing, when I sleep, my tits flatten on my chest and crush my throat cutting of my breath as well. My weight will kill me, I need to know the risks before I go under the knife so that I can weigh up the pro and cons.

I do have a friend who we nearly lost last November because a gastric band op wasn't done properly in the first place, when she went back in for the corrective surgery she breathed in her own gastric juices and nearly died. She was in intensive care for 3 weeks. So I know about the some of the con's. I did ask her was it worth it ansd she actually said yes because she could now be a proper Mum to her boys and she was like me worried that she could die on the job.

So please any links to how the different procedures are done, what happens afterwards (I heard some nasty stories about that), recovery tiomes, how do you keep a balanced diet etc.
Thanks

OP posts:

Original poster

discoverlife · 24/02/2008 08:53

I also have gone through the supply of prescription 'slimming pils' and they either didn't work or made me depressed.

OP posts:

Blandmum · 24/02/2008 09:03

Have you tried Reductil?

I ask because it was originally designed to be an anti depressant, they didn't find it that effective, but a recognised side effect of the drug was weight loss.

people taking it, on average, lose 7KG more than people who do not, on the same weightloss diet (I worked for the manufacturers at one time)

A fiend did lighter life, and she lost masses very quickly (so could get back to execise rasonably quickly which helped the weight loss etc etc) A year later she has kept it off, and is looking very good on it. Down side is it is expensive, and difficult to eat with the family.

Original poster

discoverlife · 24/02/2008 09:12

I'm on benefits, so anything with a price tag, I can't do. I even have to make the choice between DS2's sports club or Slimming world.
7 Kg won't really make that much of a dent in my weight. I can generally lose 2 stone each time with WW or SW (its why I kept going back), but life always got in the way of keeping up with the sessions (its amazing how long you are eating cheap beans for when you are a guest at a family wedding). And with 4 months I had put the weight on plus another stone.
I had struggled over the last month and managed to lose 4 lb, I went for aa meal with DH and relaxed a bit but no cream sauces etc. 2 days later I had put 3LB back on.

OP posts:

WingsofanAngel · 24/02/2008 09:12

I think the Cambridge diet is slightly cheaper but is the same with regards to eating with the family.

Although I presume that a gastric band would place similar restrictions.

Are either of these 'diets' an option for you ?

Original poster

discoverlife · 24/02/2008 09:16

I want to lose weight and have tried bloody very hard to lose it. I still do all the gardening myself (half acre garden), I still take walks with DS2 (cant risk the broken ankle, black eyes, if running), I have a good blood pressure, well within normal range. The doctor says I am basically health, but the weight will start causing all itas own problems, and I just can't shift it.

OP posts:

Original poster

discoverlife · 24/02/2008 09:21

Thats what I am hoping for on here some information about the surgery so that I can find out about the problems.
if I leave the surgery to try another diet I will be another year closer to not being able to have it because the weight makes me too heavy to have the op (catch 22).
From what I understand (hearsay only) the people who have the surgery eat with the family just tiny portions, egg cup size. As long as i don't feel hungry, as long as I feel satisfied with just eating that much I will be happy.

OP posts:

Blandmum · 24/02/2008 09:24

can you ask the gp to put you in contact with some councelling? mate on lighterlife found that it was the councelling that helped

WingsofanAngel · 24/02/2008 09:27

Have read things like this

Original poster

discoverlife · 24/02/2008 09:33

Thanks wingsofangel that is the kind of stuff I'm looking for.
My friend had a Stomach band fitted, they seem much more common on the continent, and require only an overnight stay.

OP posts:

SueW · 24/02/2008 09:33

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Blandmum · 24/02/2008 09:34

Gastic ban and other surgery can be very effective but I have seen case studies of people not losing the weight because the liquidise high calorie foods to get round the restrictions of the band.

It can be a literal life save for some people, but it also has to go (or should go) hand in hand with some good councelling, to get the best effect

Blandmum · 24/02/2008 09:37

xposted with your much better post Suew

WingsofanAngel · 24/02/2008 09:43

I've also heard of a balloon they put in and it is done through key hole.

I do think that surgery should really be the last resort. I also think that you then put the responsibility onto some one else,so that if it doesn't work then it's not your fault.

I to need to loose alot of weight and have been on diets lost weight and put it back on.
My plan is to start to exercise more,we are moving and the walk to school is longer so I'm looking forward to that. I also want to join the local authority gym which isn't a daunting as a 'proper' gym with lots of 'skinny' people. lol

Original poster

discoverlife · 24/02/2008 09:45

Why would I want high calorie food, I wouldn't waste the (NHS) surgery time on it if I was thinking of bypassing it with high calorie food. I don't eat high calorie now.

Sorry SueW and martinbishop, in case you havn't checked my profile, I am old enough to have done all that, I didn't open this discussion for people to have a go at me for not having enough willpower.

I want information, facts, about the con's in written format not just stories and being told I just need counselling.

OP posts:

Original poster

discoverlife · 24/02/2008 09:49

I am 9 to 10 stone overweight, I am not your piddling 3 stone or 5 stone, I am more than double my healthy weight. I have excess weight that will probably be like carrying you on my shoulders. And I have been dieting for 15 years. I think by now I know that dieting is not working.

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missmama · 24/02/2008 09:54

This is an excellent web site, run by and for the people who want,are having, have had the different types of weightloss surgery.

www.wlsinfo.org.uk/

It has its own forum they are very friendly and chatty too.

chocolatespiders · 24/02/2008 09:54

my mum had gastric bypass not the band.... she paid for op as she wasnt considered at risk enough for the nhs... even though she was 15 stone overweight.... you have to have other risks for them to op on nhs... not just the obesity....
the other thing is the waiting list.. by that time you could have lost lots and lots on the cambridge diet... which is approx £35.00 a week. it is a good diet for someone who finds diets hard to stick to... as you cant have any food at all... just shakes and soups....

Good luck i do kow how hard it is to lose weight...

my gp wont even give me weight loss pills

chocolatespiders · 24/02/2008 09:54

that site is very good... my mums surgeon reccomended it to her

RubberDuck · 24/02/2008 09:58

Have you had a look at SparkPeople, discoverlife? It's a bit American, but it's not about dieting, rather lifestyle changes over long periods of time - eating less, moving more style. You earn points for tracking everything, it gives suggested exercise routines (alternating cardio with strength training) which start easy (and need no equipment) and you can then build on that.

The points system sounds naff, but it actually is quite motivating to pop on the site and register that yes you did do x mins of cardio and ate 5 portions of fruit/veg today.

Have been on there for about 6 weeks now - I'm not using it for weight loss, but am using it to get healthier. Has been the first time ever I've stuck to a proper exercise routine. A friend of mine is using it for weight loss and while she hasn't lost any weight yet, she's already started to feel fitter and be able to walk longer distances.

Not an overnight fix, obviously, but might be worth looking at, even if in conjunction with a gastric band.

missmama · 24/02/2008 09:59

Choclate spiders my doctor more or less forced the Xenical pills on me.

Then offered no support whatsoever, not even a diet sheet or a chat session. All he could say was read the packet, read the packet, read the packet. As you can imagine I didnt last long on them!

I also am 10 stone overweight but at 5ft nothing It doesnt have a lot of places to hide.

WingsofanAngel · 24/02/2008 10:00

I don't think MB and SueW were saying you don't have will power. They were just bringing stories of people they know who have had the surgery.

I think personally you have to have things right in you own mind before anything works. I know I have to change my life style for life not just for the weight I need to lose.

Does the band stay there for the rest of your life ?

Original poster

discoverlife · 24/02/2008 10:02

Thank you Missmama and chocolate spiders.

Crikey I wouldn't take surgery at 15 stone overweight, the risks must have been terrible. Its why Im thinking that now would be a good idea whilst I am still healthy enough for it to be fairly safe.

I can't afford the £35.00 per week. Even the £4+ for SW is something I have to budget for.

OP posts:

RubberDuck · 24/02/2008 10:07

(meant to say, Sparkpeople is completely free)

chocolatespiders · 24/02/2008 10:08

i thik the risks start at a higher weight than that.... her surgeon who she did lots of reaserch on before the op had never had anyone die from the op... and recommended the bypass rather thean the band.... for best results...
She also wanted a surgeon who did ops on the nhs and private... and he was fantastic and very supportive.. and he still emails her now for an update... very nice man...

Original poster

discoverlife · 24/02/2008 10:08

Wingsofangel that I don't know and need to know, none of the sites I've seen say anything about removing them or if the gastric bypass is reversed at a later date, its all that kind of stuff I need to take to my GP to discuss.

OP posts:

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