Gastric Band op??

[SusanNornton]

Hi everyone!

I'm new here, and am looking for some advice. After many failed attempts at finding a successful diet plan, I'm now considering having a band fitted, but I'm feeling a little out of the loop with the whole surgery process. I was wondering if anyone could suggest providers or possibly share some stories, just to get a better idea of the process (before and after).

It would be great to hear from you!!

Susan :)

This is a good site for information and advice

Hope that helps :)

Thank you so much for that link, it was a great help!! :)

Sooo, I was looking at the forum ChippedChinaTeacup kindly posted, and came across on an old thread on Healthier Weight...

I've had a look on their website, and was wondering if anyone has had a more recent experience??

Many Thanks!!!

Hi Susan, I posted a while back on here, and no one answered regarding this issue, obviously it is not as common as I had thought it was.

Are you planning on getting it done on the nhs or privately?

I have a few friends who've had bands.. I think it depends on your bmi and eating habits, bands certainly aren't easy to live with. You have to work very hard with a band to lose weight, get used to knowing where toilets are when you're out in case the food won't go down, eating out is difficult because of the quantity and types of food you can tolerate etc.

Out of 4 people I know, only one of them hasn't had problems and is still happy with it after 4 years.

The others all had issues with acid/band dislodging/not being able to get the right restriction/weight regain and had them removed. Two of them have now had a sleeve gastrectomy instead and the other one hasn't decided what to do yet.

Your best bet would be to research all the various different surgeries available and choose the one that best fits with your lifestyle

Do your friends vomit a lot them ChippedChinaTeaCup?

Did they go private or NHS?

OMG 3/4 had the band removed!!!!

The one that had no problems with the band, what type did she have?

Never heard of a sleeve gastrectomy, sounds like it may be radical!

This is not looking good them!

it's not vomitting, it's like.. the food gets stuck and just comes back up again.

Some private, some nhs

I don't know which type of band she had but even she's had times with it where she couldn't even swallow water. I was with her yesterday and her breakfast was a spoonful of scrambled egg and a spoonful of baked beans and she wasn't able to finish even that.

This page might help a little bit in explaining the other types of surgeries, I'll dig out some more links too. On there the sleeve gastrectomy is called a vertical gastrectomy. One of our prolific posters on here has had it done, I don't want to out her in case she doesn't want to discuss it.

surgery comparison

Hi MummieHunnie, I'm still exploring my options, do you know of any pluses or minuses on whether to go NHS or private? Someone told me that it is difficult to get a gastric band fitted on the NHS, something to do with not being fat enough!!

Thanks again ChippedChinaTeacup for the info, I'm also quite shocked that 3/4 had the band removed!! You mentioned that two of your friends have had a sleeve gastrectomy...do you know if this has this been more positive than the band??

I know a couple of people with gastric bands and sleeves. Whether it works well for you will depend on what your current BMI is, why you are overweight, and how hard you try.

roughly gastric bands will lose 15-20% of their body weight
sleeves around 20%
Gastric bypass 20-30%

All operations are a major change to your lifestyle and although you should lose weight in the first 6 months - what happens after that really depends on what kind of changes you make after surgery - good old diet and exercise.

your BMI needs to be AT LEAST 35 to qualify on the NHS for banding and in the current climate it may need to be much higher in order to qualify for surgery in under a year. I wouldn't personally go prvately except with a surgeon who also operates under the NHS or via a good recommendation from another patient.

75% of bands are not reversed but they do have higher risk of needing to be tweaked/reoperated on than the other procedures - the advantage is lower invasive procedure up front but more faffing around afterwards with refills etc. Other surgeries much more invasive and not reversible but more effective in weight lss and diabetes control than banding, side effects tend to be more serious but less common (in the hands of a good surgeon).

It isn;t for the faint hearted but can be very effective.

Hi Susan,

both the sleevers are people who'd had bands fitted and both would say a resounding yes to it being easier to live with than the band. They find it easier to eat a varied diet rather than 'sloppy' foods which are par for the course with bands and their weight loss has been steadier I think in part because they haven't had to faff around with fills and getting the right amount of restriction, it's built in with the sleeve.

They also have the option to have part of their intestine bypassed in the future if they have regain or don't lose enough weight, but they've both lost 8-10stone each with the sleeve.

I think the main difference between going private and nhs is the aftercare package.. you need to check very carefully if you're paying what's included and for how long. Try and get a surgeon who does both if you go the self-pay route because often they will transfer you to their nhs list once their package runs out.

Also if you look at the forum part of the first link I posted there are support groups all over the country, so you could go along and meet people who've had various procedures who will happily tell you their experiences :)

Hi Susan,
I had a band 2 1/2 years ago & it was the best decision of my life. Over my life I've known how to lose weight - lost around 3 to 4 stone at least 10 times & always put it back. I utterly hated not having a body to enjoy. I was so ashamed all the time.
OK, nothing's easy & there are difficulties to be overcome, but it is SO worthwhile. My band is helping me keep the weight off for longer than ever before & I see no reason why I should ever get fat again for the rest of my life.

I went to Healthier Weight because they are local, but also they happen to be good on aftercare, including a chat forum & other things, they have a competitive price, & some others wouldn't accept me as my BMI was only about 31.

You see so many people who don't understand swearing at you for not using 'will power'. Well, I used so much will power over the years that I lost 40 stone altogether - I know more about will power than most of these naturally slim people, and probably so do you.
My band allows me to wake up each morning now looking forward to the day, instead of with that dull miserable feeling I used to have.
I'd be happy to answer any particular questions you might have.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and alsgal well done you!

I have been approved by my pct for a band a few months ago no the nhs, waiting to hear from them for more info!

thanks for the link

I have been approved & finded for gastric bypass on the Nhs, (pre op assessment next week). I looked deeply into band & bypass, and the band seemed to OFTEN fail or be revised into a bypass.
Also, I am over 40 and need this to be it - for this to work, and I am happy to spend the rest of my life nibbling at small meals because I want to live long!

You have to have a bmi of over 35 AND medical issues to get funded on the Nhs at the mo (or, like me, be over 50 bmi to qualify without medical issues). Things like diabetes etc help your score.

It's a long old process, taken me about 18mths to get to this point, and it's by no means an easy option. I will have issues with food, the amount and what I can eat, for the rest of my life, but I will have the rest of my life.

Speak to your Gp or follow the link the The British Obesity Patients thingy place

www.bospa.org/Default.aspx

funded not blummin finded!

QOD, it looks like I have a year to go then! I have not seen a psychologist or nutitionist yet, how many appointments did you have to go to with them?

Have you got a date for your op yet?

Only 1 with each, I got a letter in July saying I had funding for referral leading to potential surgery, appointment in September. Saw the Bariatric nurse & dietician then, then went again in October & saw dietician, had phone appointment with hospital psychologist in October too. Again in OCtober saw the registrar (consultant couldn't make it ) then again in November for psychologist face to face & dietician.
Next week pre op assessment and message on my ansaphone yesterday to say surgeon booked up until end Jan/beg Feb so will be intouch with date. If I have not heard before mid Jan I am to ring again.
Long winded!
I felt it was important to go on the Nhs to be honest, it's a lifelong care package really - iron tablets, calcium, vitamins etc etc. If I don't have it done I'll be diabetic or something within 10 yrs, dad had a stroke at 60 ..... it's actually cost effective for Nhs long term.

Oh and, my pct find it but you have to have it done in London...... so, costs me £40 each visit on transport (if you are on wtc or benefits apparently you can claim it back) and a day off work......

which hospital in London Qod?

Chelsea & Wminster - got a great name in Nhs terms and private side - totally inconvenient coming from Kent but ALL London Hosps are really!

Hiya

A few points to touch on.
If your throwing up you are eating to much or too large a bite.
If you are not able to swallow water this is also because you have eaten a large amount and it has become a little stuck.
It is not nice having to bring up your 'mistake' mouthfuls but you DO have to bring it back up. I usually have to lean forward and put my fingers down throat. Not glamorous.

I have to say though these side effects are when people eat too much too quickly. It's our own fault.

You get used to the band and take it for granted then end up in agony because of doing the wrong thing.

May I add 1 in 50 people normally experience slippage which is bad and not what you want.

I have had mine for 11 months and have lost 6.5 stone. I am very happy and would rather not have waited for the nhs!

I would recommend the band but be warned you must must must follow the rules or you risk throwing up and eventually slippage (if your not lucky)

Yes occasionally you need to go toilet to get rid of the food that's stuck but if you follow the rules, don't talk while you eat and just spit out any mouthfuls that feel like they are going to be too much to swallow (sometime a small mouthful can create lots of saliva while chewing and all in all you shouldn't swallow a large mouthful of anything even liquid)

So lastly Don't use hospital group!!!! Rubbish aftercare couldn't believe how bad they were. Go with an obesity surgery specialist don't be taken by the cheaper option please listen you won't regret it.

P's a band will change your life whether you keep it secret or not just do it. You deserve happiness!!