Contemplating bariatric surgery.... advice?

[Seriouslyconfused3]

Hi as the title states I am contemplating a gastric sleeve. I am a serial yo yo dieter and my metabolism is fucked. I have pcos and have tried Xenical, saxenda etc- successful until I stop using and the weight piles back on.

I’ve seen an endocrinologist and he said that, in his opinion, sometimes surgery is the only viable option. I’d be paying for it myself as I don’t quite meet the nhs criteria yet.

I’m miserable- I don’t lose weight unless I starve myself ie 600 calories a day and then I’m even more unhappy. I’m worried about my health in the long term, but then the prospect of surgery scares me too.

Any advice from those who have been there before?

Thanks doorbells

@Seriouslyconfused3 That's really annoying. I bet you were gearing yourself up to a certain date.

@luckylady22

I went abroad purely due to cost as it was anything from 10 to 13k in the uk. My gastric sleeve cost me £3750 in Turkey and that included everything except flights. My husband came with me, we were picked up at the airport and taken to a large private hospital in Istanbul we had a large private room and he stayed the whole time with me. I had all the pre op tests done next day bloods, chest x ray , endoscope etc then surgery that evening. My husband was fed breakfast, lunch and dinner and coffee, juice etc. We were at the hospital from the Friday night until the Tuesday afternoon and they looked after us so well. Dr ustun came in every day to see how I was and I was constantly monitored. We were then transferred by taxi to a hotel (amazing!) and stayed there until the Thursday morning when we were picked up again by taxi and taken to airport. I got all my food (shakes) at hotel but hubby had to pay for his meals at hotel ! That was the only extra cost we incurred so fantastic value. I have regular contact with them and have zoom calls approx once a month with dietician and coordinator Adam who I spoke to before booking and also Dr Ustun joins sometimes to see how we are doing. I did a lot of research and a couple of the companies who got good reviews were KCM clinic in Poland, New leaf in Czech Republic and I went with Istanbul bariatric clinic. You can join Facebook groups to get an idea of how people are doing and get lots of helpful advice.

I'm not sure how to DM but would like more information. Could you DM me and I'll reply once I get notification. Would really appreciate it. Thank you x

@nandaandm
I'm at work right now but will message you later

I am booked in with tonic For the sleeve . Op in September Hopefully I have picked the right company I am so nervous but lockdown has helped me evaluate my life and I am not happy with my weight. The reviews seam dead good. Fingers crossed it’s a new start for me.

I hope sally goes well for you @Seriouslyconfused3

Thanks @zoecarter which hospital are you booked for?

I am booked for bmi in Nottingham with a dr Sutton I am so nervous but excited i am ready to change. Are you booked in with them x

@Seriouslyconfused3 oh no, sorry to see you’ve been postponed, that sucks.

Some good news though I hope - I’m also pencilled in for end of July/early August, had my appointment with the nutritionist today and he confirmed the NHS has given clearance for bariatric surgery to start again in July. Assuming it’s the same where you are (I’m in Bristol), hopefully that means you won’t get moved a second time. I’d actually popped into this thread to ask you how you were getting on with the pre op diet but we can keep each other going on that now eh?

Keep positive, it is going to happen, we will be significantly lighter by Christmas!

@Zoecarter that’s who I’m booked with too! Hopefully I’ll be able to update you on how it goes!

Thanks @monkeysandparrotsit would be nice to have a buddy to suffer through the preop diet with! I was a bit fed up about it but am enjoying the sunshine and the nice food before it all ends

@Seriouslyconfused3 oh wow small world. I have only had phone consultation because of covid but I am so confident.

What date have they giveing you ?? I am hoping my op gets moved forward as they have to prioritise rebooking cancled ops first so that’s why so far out. Best of luck I am
So excited for you.

Are you getting the car to take you. I have just started a vsg insta sleeve.and.believe if you use insta and want to keep in touch on there (nothing is on it yet) Xx

I am confident in his ability he made me seam comfortable over the phone (that should of said)

I did it last year, I put on a ton of weight with the menopause and no way was that coming off.
I had a gastric band and it's the best thing I ever did. A colleague of mine at work has a sleeve and has lost 10 stone.
We both paid for ours, interest free loan, worth every penny.
What you have to remember with a sleeve though is that you will be on vitamin B12 injections FOR LIFE, no skipping them or you will become seriously ill and also oral vitamins for life.
You need to be prepared for that committment.
A band is much harder work because it's not as easy to lose weight. Mine has been inflated to the max, it's too tight really but I have it that way or I uncontrollably eat all the time. I've lost 9 stone but all of my food needs to be liquidised or chewed to a fine liquid and it takes ages to eat anything.
but I'd rather that than be the old me, I was horrfically uncomfortable and sweaty and my back was killing me, I'd puff and pant after only a few yards.
Now I can walk 10 miles without breaking a sweat.
My endocrinologist said there is a point where your metabolism is fecked and only surgery will work long time and I agree.

Hearing from you all is so inspiring. I am just at the "initial thinking about it stage"

Hey,

Just seen this.

I had a gastric sleeve last September, I went abroad to Turkey and paid £3k including my flights.

It’s the best decision I ever made. I’ve lost 6 stone, and only have 8lbs left to target.

I’ve told anybody that has asked that I’ve had weight loss surgery, only a couple have been a bit negative, but I don’t care. I’m so much more healthier now, and I know I would never have been able to achieve my loss without the tool of gastric sleeve surgery.

Wow you look great @EllaAlright

@ChampagneCommunist I watched loads of YouTube videos of people who have had the sleeve and dr duc vaugne who is a surgeon. That helped me

Sorry @Zoecarter I’m booked for 27th July!

I had a gastric band around 18 months ago and seriously regret it
Wish I'd considered my options for longer and acknowledged the band will never help with my emotional eating issues
I'm now in a position that I struggle to eat meat , potato rice or pasta , bread and certain vegetables like broccoli without pain sweating and vomiting
But I can scoff ice cream sweets chocolate or biscuits without stopping.

I actually feel as if it has made my problem worse as previously I could eat healthily and would crash when something hurt or upset me
Now it's such hard work to eat a normal meal it's actually easier to just eat crap ( then I know I'm not going to puke or look awful in company or whilst out ) this has affected my iron levels and I now take supplements
Please don't think I'm trying to put you off ... just wish I'd spent the 6 grand on therapy to conquer the emotional issues instead , glad to see other previous surgical posters losses .. just hasn't worked for me
Think I'm on 7 mls so I'd actually like it removed , can't afford it now and ashamed to ask NHS as I did this to myself

I really don't believe the band should be used any more, it's very rare that it works long term and causes so much damage. It's borderline unethical that surgeons will accept private patients and give a gastric band.

Have you considered getting it removed or a gastric sleeve janny?

@SeriouslyRetro I'd love to but as I paid for it privately I think I'd have to pay again and now I don't have that cash
I wouldn't qualify for a sleeve as my BMI isn't high enough
I think the band should be banned
I've considered asking my GP but as I'm a nurse I feel ashamed to even ask for help when genuine illness should take priority over my mistake

@Jannyapple66
So sorry to hear of your experience and I think this just shows why a lot of Bariatric surgeons are not keen to use gastric bands anymore. For your own health don't be ashamed to speak to NHS about getting it removed, you were only trying to help improve your health by getting it done in the first place

[quote luckylady22]@Jannyapple66
So sorry to hear of your experience and I think this just shows why a lot of Bariatric surgeons are not keen to use gastric bands anymore. For your own health don't be ashamed to speak to NHS about getting it removed, you were only trying to help improve your health by getting it done in the first place [/quote]
Thank you

Hi how is everyone getting on ? Anyone any further forward in your planning ?

@luckylady22 I've paid my deposit now. Just waiting for the Birmingham private hospitals to restart elective surgery so I can get a date. They are confident it'll be mid August.

I start my lrd next week (all being well). Can not wait to get it done now!