I've just had a gastric band fitted

[WikiSpeaksagain]

(Back after a break)

That's it really - had op on Friday. Home yesterday.

Still can't believe I've done it.

If anyone wants to know more then come and talk to me about it.

[smackapacca]

Only 2 friends + DH know.

For that very reason!

It's different for everyone though. Lots of people think it's 'cheating'

I'm happy no-one knows.

[smackapacca]

Actually I don't believe it's only half the excess weight anyway.

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

Well one told me his step sister had one and lost loads of weight which was helpful to know about. One has since gone to her gp to ask for one for herself, she is actually going for a bypass as she wants to loose more weight, one was worried for me, and the other was going on about famous public figures who lost all excess weight and being unpleasant really, of all the people that was the one I had to tell as they are looking after the children when I have the operation.

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

Don't tell me it is less?

[smackapacca]

No - IME it's more. But 'everyone's' an expert aren't they because Fern Britton and Vanessa Feltz have both got one.

I don't know where 50% would come from. If you're 20 stone and want to lose 10 then do you magically stop at 15? That would mean if you're 30 stone and want to lose 20 stone then you'd stop losing when you actually weighed 20 stone.

Nah. Bollocks.

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

That's exactly what I was told would be the loss smack, along with Fern lost all her excess weight.

[smackapacca]

Who told you? The surgeon? I don't think I'd be listening to anyone else really.

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

The nurse from the team and the psychologist also discussed that amount, they both also asked me what would I do if i had loose skin left over, it must be on their check list to discuss, did they not discuss this with you?

[smackapacca]

Well I'm 5'8" and I think I weighed 16st when I got it done, so TBF I wasn't really at risk of loose skin. It was always going to be a slow burner like a good old fashioned diet really!

[jaquelinehyde]

Hi ladies just thought I would share this with you here

If you haven't done so already join up and use the forum, the support is great and the information available is everything you need to make a decision.

Post op it is just as helpful, loads of us kid ourselves that the op will be the magic wand and life will be great after it but generally it isn't. Old habits are still there and it is very easy to give into them and kid yourself that you are doing really well and everything will be fine but it wont, the weight will come back on. WLSinfo has loads of people on it private patients, NHS patients, band, sleeve and bypass some have lost hundreds of pounds others are struggling and have only lost a few.

Keep up the good work and stop eating the chocolate I am giving up chocolate as of tomorrow for 9 weeks (until I go to see family down south) feel free to join me doing that if you want.

[smackapacca]

Yes I'm on WLS - got brilliant advice on the band before going ahead with it.

My adjustment on Friday has left me full after a small portion. There was loads of chocolate around work today but I was pretty good. I had a few bits but not my normal binge. I was genuinely not craving it - which is good. Giving it up though? Never!

[eandz]

i had mine put in in Aug 2010. I haven't lost any weight. :(

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

Why do you think you lost no weight yet?

[eandz]

well, i just haven't.

twice though, i've been overfilled and have had to had aspirations.

also, because before I had my band, I would starve to maintain my weight. (i can't control my eating, I eat healthy; I just can't control my quantities) when I had the band put in (privately) I was told I had to eat three meals a day (whereas normally I ate a moderate meal at the end of the day).

Hopefully, at my next adjustment I'll get more restriction.

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

Did you have much to loose in the first place?

[jaquelinehyde]

I think this highlights the main problem with private surgery, sadly it's all about the money and the steps that should be taken before surgery are often not put in place and so the real issues a person with food are never addressed and so set the person being operated on (who is already utterly miserable and desperate for a fix) up for failure

I had my surgery (sleeve not band) in August, so approximately 6months ago and so far have lost 6stone and I can honestly say that if I had just had surgery it would have never worked, it was all the work that was done for months beforehand that has helped me adjust to a new lifestyle. I have slipped over the last 3-4 weeks and just remained the same and when I look at my food habits it is very clear that I am slipping back into my old ways and cheating the op and it is so easily done. I think we all learn very quickly that the op is no quick fix.

Good luck everyone, lets keep each other updated.

[eandz]

at the time I only had three stones to lose. now i have 3 stone to lose.

[toffeetip]

What does it mean to be overfilled?

[shineoncrazydiamante]

Over filled means that they have pumped the band too full and the restriction around your stomach too tight, so eating anything and keeping it down can become near impossible.

[smackapacca]

I'm stepping back a bit from this thread as life has changed somewhat today and I can't think straight (bereavement).

I would like to just say my private op was nothing but amazing and definitely not a profit making enterprise. I work for the NHS and feel passionate about it, but my experience of private has been all good.

[eandz]

sorry* only two stones to lose before, now three.

[jaquelinehyde]

Smackapacca - so sorry to hear of your loss today, I hope that everything is ok with you, be kind to yourself.


My comment about private surgery comes from knowing many, many, many people who have had wls privately and are now all struggling to lose the weight that should have come off much easier if the original issues had been addressed prior to the op. I speak as someone who had the op on the NHS and I went through 7 months of therapy, councilling sessions, group work sessions, dietician appointments. You name it I had it and it has worked well for me so far, not like most people I know who had the op privately.

I suppose the only pre-condition to private surgery is that you can safely go through the op (succeed at pre op diet etc) and that you have the means to finance the op. On the NHS (and rightly so) the conditions to having the op are much tighter and much more is expected of you, in my experience anyway.

Good luck to everyone, keep up the good work.

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

So sorry to hear of your loss.

[eandz]

smacka just read what you wrote. I'm sorry to hear your sad news :( please let us know if there is anything we can do to support you.

[smackapacca]

Thanks all. Had a good chat and cry on bereavement board the other night. Just for clarity it's a friend's toddler who has died. It was completely out of the blue. Really hard to concentrate right now.

As for the band - since my adjustment I feel good. Appetite much reduced so I feel fuller between meals. I was overfilled in the summer (completely my fault for lying about how well I could swallow the given water ) It was awful and funny at the same time. I had it done on the Friday, and I couldn't eat anything solid over that weekend. I was 'defilled' on the Monday. I found great support from 'my team'.