Bariatric surgery thread 3

[HotSteppa]

Relocating to shiny new thread for all those going through or considering weightless surgery in all its forms.

This is why it's important to get your GP on board as you will need regular bloods (every 3 months for the first year and then 6 monthly) and vitamin B injections.
My consultant wrote to my GP stating what was needed and she has been great. Although I know people have had issues if they have had it done abroad. Not saying all, but have heard this from quite a few people.

Yes, and would the package (I would have this done in the UK) include those bloods usually?

do you need the injections or supplements or have your bloods been ok?

I’m in the south west so a private hospital in a city close by.

I decided it because I’ve tried Everything and nothing is working.

also to answer your questions about bloods and stuff my package includes 18
months worth of blood checks after that GP will do them. I’ll need B12 and vitamins the rest of my life the surgeon has told me so will need to organise a prescription from the gp
/ get the b12 injections

Hi all it’s been a while. I just want to say to everyone considering this option DO IT. Best thing I’ve ever done. It isn’t a magic solution you have to change your relationship with food and it’s hard. But since April when I had the sleeve I have lost 8.5stones. I love working out and I love my confidence now. I had mine at a spire locally to me. Life changing.

I had a Sleeve in Turkey in feb and have lost over 5 stone.

I have been away and need to sort my multi vitamins out, what is everyone else taking?

@thatyouleaveinspace that's amazing weight loss! Well done. I've stalled a bit on week 4 so that's inspiring!
@MrMrsJones that's also a great weight loss, hoping I can lose 6st altogether. I was told to take a double dose of chewable vitamins for 6 months then normal dose after that (for life!)

wow, you lot all seem to be busy! lots of new faces, apologies for going MIA but we've had a long few months renovating and moving!

I was sleeved in Turkey in early May, starting weight was 115kg, currently 68.9kg which equates to an over 7 stone loss, I'm a size 10-12 from a size 22ish still on lansoprazole due to reflux and have to be very careful about diet but I'm happy and so glad I did it.

for those thinking about it 1) go for it and 2) save some money for new clothes- it's cost me a fortune replacing all my clothes- underwear especially as I seem to change bra size weekly (currently a 32G 😮from a 40F )

I had my surgery on Monday and got back home today. I had all the regrets on Monday through Tuesday when I did was vomit. All my meds were switched to IV as just the taste of the meds was making me sick.

Woke up today and felt a million times better. Managed to keep the antacid down and then a small yoghurt drink and then some soup. I'm not on painkillers and haven't really needed them since yesterday AM.

I'm feeling really good now. I lost nearly a stone on my 2 week LRD and my surgery was done at 23st 11lbs BMI of 50.

It's good to be home and it's weird listening to my body and stopping when I'm full.

That's 151kg op weight for the metric folks

I am burping all the time

So far the websites Ive investigated are
Healthier Weight
Spire Health
Nuffield Health
Ramsay Health
Benenden

I do find it very confusing navigating around the websites, trying to compare prices, packages and surgeons

How does anyone know what surgeons are ok or not?

@bellac11 the surgeons I’m going with operate out of both the spire and Nuffield in the town I’ve chosen. They’re also the senior nhs ones so if I was to wait it out for nhs treatment I expect I’d be seeing the same guys just 4+ years later than paying private.

originally I contacted the spire after a recommendation from another surgeon in a different area of expertise and because of the reviews however my op in Jan will actually be at the Nuffield hospital because they surgeon had dates that suited me better there.

I’d suggest looking online for reviews and testimonials. Join some forums and Facebook groups and ask about the hospitals and surgeons your considering

Ive been recommended Mr Mannur but again cant find reviews

Ive been googling and its really difficult to find clear reviews about each person, I havent found any actually. Not sure why its so secretive and people dont really say names or where they're going - I am on a forum!! This one!

For Ramsay health for example I cant find for the life of me what surgeons would do the operation, some of these websites are really difficult to navigate.

I'm going with Tonic for there aftercare and for the surgeon i wanted, I've found them very helpful. I'm a medic so very fussy about who I'd chose. I'd look up who your nearest nhs bariatric surgeons are to start with. The surgeon I've chosen is local bariatric lead which reassures me in case of complications. Tbh, if you were admitted tonight to have your apendix out you wouldn't be getting to pick which surgeon you were getting. I think we all like to control these things (me especially) because it's something we can control.

Thats very true about not being picky if I was in hospital although equally I wouldnt be paying 10k for it!!

The aftercare is something Im really keen to compare and some websites are not as easy as others to work that out, Im worried about vitamin deficiencies etc and how supported I would be with that.

@bellac11 sorry this is a bit of a late response - but I totally understand! When I was researching I was only looking at UK - I know a lot of people have been extremely happy with going to Turkey but it just wasn't an option for me personally.

Then, luckily I have a Spire hospital very close to me so I made contact with them and had a zoom consultation with the surgeon which was very helpful. He directed me to a Facebook page which was set up by his former patients. It's a private group and if you don't go ahead with the surgery they do remove you after a few weeks, to protect the members really. So that group includes a few people who are 5 years post surgery, a lot who are days/weeks post surgery and a lot of people awaiting surgery but with their date booked. The surgeon himself and his team (nurses, psychologist, dietician) are all on the group too and it's so reassuring to have them being so responsive and accessible.

The aftercare is 2 years but I've seen posts where someone is four years post op and suddenly getting bad acid (just an example!) and he will get them in to look at them - honestly, the aftercare doesn't seem to officially end with them!

Spire admin have been a bit of a disaster but the bariatric team more than make up for it and I'm very pleased I went with them - as I say, very fortunate also as they are 10 minutes away from me! (Gatwick Spire).

I'm nearly seven weeks post op and nearly 3 stone down now. Got my eight week check up at Spire on Monday so I'll be weighed then.

Very happy to answer any specific questions - although I may not be speedy responsive as about to take toddler to a group! (Which I signed up to when I was nearly two weeks post op - I would never have been confident enough to do it before!)

I also went with Spire, my surgeon is a former director of surgery at the local NHS hospital so I was reassured by that. Everything has been fine (4 weeks post-op), I had a minor infection but they got me straight back in, brought me antibiotics and that's all ok now. Had a 4 week check up and will have a follow up with the surgeon in a year's time. I have access to the specialist nurses via WhatsApp any time I have a question. Like a PP the hospital admin wasn't great but things got sorted as soon as I raised an issue.
@bellac11 my surgeon said he will write to GP to request blood tests to check for vitamin deficiency, I think every 6 months. I'm also taking double dose of multivitamins and selenium/zinc supplement to try and avoid too much hair loss.

This is really helpful thanks

Is your loss all post surgery or did you lose some during the LRD, I never quite know how people lose so much so quickly, just wondering about the mechanics of it all

I also had Gatwick Spire as one of my possible options, I have 4 possibles at the moment.

I have a consulation soon with a consultant who practices at Tunbridge Wells for two different companies from what I can see.

How long was it before you were up and walking/driving around, Im trying to think about how long it will be before Im back at work (stressful job)

Thanks that is very helpful

So does everyone suffer with deficiency or is it just luck of the draw?

I tried searching for my 'local' NHS surgeon for example but couldnt find anything, how do you search for these people?

Im really worried about hair loss, I had that once after taking beta blockers for something and was really distressed at how much I was losing

Those that have had surgery did you use some kind of shape ware or binder after? I’ve seen a few people mention it in various form or facebook posts

Best thing ever for me too. I was a year out last week and I’m almost 13 stone down. I’ve gone from size 28/30 to a 14. I never thought I’d see the day I wore size 14 jeans again comfortably but I do!

Hi..question for NHS people who went through Aintree. I've just had my call to pick a hospital a week ago and I'm a bit blurry about timelines from here.

I also wanted to say that this thread is incredibly helpful and has answered lots of my questions/reassured me, without me even having to ask! So thank you to all who contribute, and hello to all the lurkers.

Im interested in this. I have a sort of tight thing for my middle which is a size 22, which was a long time gone, I never wore it because it was too small for me (going to slim into it for years) and I thought that I would probably wear this to hold in all the loose skin

I also have those support knickers which come up to under your bra, again, several sizes too small now

For anyone who went through insurance, can I ask what did you need to prove to get it funded and how long after taking out the policy did you get/make the first steps towards surgery?

My understanding is that no insurance company ( apart from Vitality)!will pay anything towards weight loss surgery.

BUPA were very clear with me that it wasn't covered by their policy.

Im just reviewing this whole thread so working backwards now!

I am also wondering if anyone had the endoscopy sleeve as this is non surgical

What I cant work out from it (and it wasnt mentioned in my consultation) is whether it removes the hunger hormone, or whether a redundant stomach sitting there would cause risk of infection etc