Have you had a Gastric band?

[Fruitysunshine]

Hi

I am booked in for a gastric band next Friday. For the last 2 weeks I have been on a pre-op diet which has restricted me to anything less than 0.5gms/100gms of fat. I am also not allowed pasta, rice, bread, meat, alcohol, fizzy drinks, biscuits, cakes, lots of things.

My diet has basically been jelly, baked potato with cottage cheese, fruit juice, fruit, vegetables and homemade soup.

It sounds yummy but it is so boring! I have lost 5kgs in the last 2 weeks and have a total of 10st to lost.

I am nervous for how things will be after surgery as there will obviously be a big change in my lifestyle due to the band.

Has anyone an experience of this that they can share with me?

bumoing and good luck

bump

has anyone any experiance to share with fruitysunshine??

Bumping for you.

I'm currently seeing consultant about one, but have to wait 6 months to show I can lose 'something' on a regular basis.

Would also love to know exactly whats involved.

tootiredtothink: Under the NICE guidelines there is set criteria for qualifying for bariatric surgery. I will look it out for you.

I got referred by my GP under that criteria, I then met with an Endocrologist and dietician on the same day, then saw consultant, had bloods and barium swallow over next few weeks then saw a psychologist then the consultant again who gave me the decision he was going to operate.

My GP applied in May of last year for me and I am having surgery on Friday so a total of 7 months really from referral to surgery.

Which region are you under?

Birmingham, West Midlands.

Nurse referred me following yet another visit from me asking for help.

But all I have had so far is one appointment with consultant at a weight loss clinic, 3 months ago.

It was he who told me I'd have to see him for 6 months as they like to see that people don't try to 'cheat' the system.

Sadly, as I've just eaten a pack of 6 cream eggs I'm doubtful of my chances .

fruity, here's the info about the support group, there are lots of bandsters there who'll be able to tell you what it's like living with one

there is someone on here.. atlantic or pacific something who's had one but I can't remember her exact username

Date:
Saturday, 06 February 2010
Time:
14:30
Location:
Hugo's Bar, The Holiday Inn Hotel, Victoria Way, Woking, Surrey GU21 8EW

and the one after that is 6th march, time, location etc the same

akhems - thank you. I am not sure I will be fit enough to attend the one on Saturday as I will still be recovering. Will attend the 6th March meeting though - thank you.

tootiredtothink - I have never attended a weight loss clinic. Nor have any of the other people I have met on my journey. We all have a long term history of losing weight though and my BMI was 49 when I was referred. I have copied and pasted the following for you:

According to current NICE guidelines:

"Bariatric surgery is recommended as a treatment option for adults with obesity if all of the following criteria are fulfilled:-

• they have a BMI of 40 kg/m2 or more, or between 35 kg/m2 and 40 kg/m2 and other significant disease (for example, type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure)
• that could be improved if they lost weight
• all appropriate non-surgical measures have been tried but have failed to achieve or maintain adequate, clinically beneficial weight loss for at least 6 months
• the person has been receiving or will receive intensive management in a specialist obesity service -- the person is generally fit for anaesthesia and surgery
• the person commits to the need for long-term follow-up

Bariatric surgery is also recommended as a first-line option (instead of lifestyle interventions or drug treatment) for adults with a BMI of more than 50 kg/m2 in whom surgical intervention is considered appropriate."

Hope that helps.

You're welcome and I was thinking the same thing about Saturday. I can't go this week either but I will be there in March, if you want me to meet you outside and bring you in I'm happy to do so.

It's definitely worth going along tho when you can because no amount of research is the same as talking to people who actually live with it. They're a really great bunch of people, it's very informal and lots of fun

and good luck for Friday!!!!

There's a website that Anne Diamond has called 'Fat Happens' that you could google. They have hundreds of bandsters on there all chatting away on message boards and I'm sure you'd find a lot of support and answers to questions.

It does involve a big change in lifestyle. Obviously the amount you can eat and the types of foods are very restricted, especially in the early stages. Changing stomach size doesn't change poor eating habits and, because you can't eat much, you're more at risk of malnutrition. Post GB you have to pay particular attention to the nutition content of your diet to make sure that you don't make yourself ill or have your hair start falling out etc. That's something you need to be completely up to speed on and get as much information from your surgical team as you can. That's also why follow-ups are vital.

A correction to the above. Anne Diamond's site is now called www.buddypower.net

Thanks Fruity. It does piss me off having to wait another 6 months before even being referred. Sadly I know from experience my weight will not go down in that time .

I'll be thinking of you on Friday, good luck .

Please let me know how you get on?

Chill1234 - Thanks for the info about Anne Diamond. I have been informed by all the medical staff about what they recommend as food and the initial post op diet. Also the vitamins and nutrients applies more to a Gastric Bypass which removes the section of the stomach that absorbs calories and nutrients from food and you can eat as much food as you like. The band is different in that it only restricts the amount you can eat. I now take daily vitamins in preparation as I am on this pre-op diet which is very restrictive.

I want to get the "reality" of living with a band from someone else's perspecitve rather than the medical information that the medical team give you.

Akhems thanks - I will take you up on your offer of meeting you outside if that is ok - I may bring someone else with me who has recently had it done if that is ok?

Tootiredtothink - I will keep you posted as to how I do.

Hope everything went well today Fruity .

How are you doing fruity? hope all went well

Take a look at my pics if you want to see the effect of wls

I'm interesting in seeing if anyone has tried cognative therepy or other mental health help. I had it for anxiety and I would deff try it before thinking about an operation. It is possible to retrain the brain and my overeating is being cut down with mind over matter. I would highly recommend this first.

Fruity, I hope you are still around.

I had a gastric band fitted about 16 months ago. I have lost 7 and 1/2 stones of the 8 I nedded to lose. I am very well. I can eat anything but just in tiny portions.

I like the site ukgastricband.co.uk and I am called Pacific on there too.

If you would like a chat, please email me from the above website as you can contact me directly from there. I am happy to chat away on here too.

Here is a link to my original thread. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/578898-can-anyone-advise-about-a-gastric-band

Thank you for your good wishes.

I had surgery on Friday and was on clear fluids until yesterday. today I am on stage 1 type baby food so having creamy soup - which is lovely!

I have five wound sites and and a rather bruised port site but other than than I am feeling not too bad at all.

I have tired CBT in recent years to no effect in my case.

Pacific thank you for the website and Akhems looking forward to meeting you at my first meeting in March!

Fruity, congratulations and I hope your recovery is speedy. All of you are very generous in sharing your stories. Do you mind if I ask you all a few questions? I'll also venture into the other site Pacific, and see what I can glean from there too. This is what I'm interested in knowing:

1 is there a way to find out if your health authority funds surgery on the NHS?
2 I have a recently diagnosed underactive thyroid. The Dr is still trying to find my right dosage of thyroxine. Do you know if this would mean I wouldn't be eligible or if I'd have to wait for that to settle before surgery?
3 So I have about 13 stone to lose. Excuse me for asking (ignore at will) but is there a problem with excess skin after the weight loss? I've been obese all my life, so well and truely stretched I'd imagine.
4 On this or the other thread there was mention of a barium swallow. Is this always done? I work there and really would want to keep this anonymous so desperately wouldn't want a barium swallow.
5 Once goals are reached and maintained does the band come out or is it there forever?
6 Did I interpret the NICE guidelines correctly, a BMI of 50+ means surgery is the first treatment of choice. So I wouldn't have to jump through loops first to prove I'm eligible?
7 Finally, another personal one, did you find it changed your relationship with dh/p? If so, for better or worse?

I'm incredably nervous about broaching the subject with my (very friendly and supportive) GP. Any tips? Or just go in and blurt it all out?

Thanks again for sharing.

Hi alottolose - thanks for your sentiments.

I shall try and answer your questions one at a time:

1. It is not necessary to do with which authority funds it but whether your are eligible under the NICE Guidelines.

1. All current conditions are taken into account and that would not prevent you being referred to a Consultant.

1. There will be a lot of excess skin during fast weight loss. Some people can manage it effectively with exercise which is what I am planning i.e. swimming regularly.

1. A barium swallow is not always done but it is USUALLY done if there is any question of reflux to check that there is no hernia present as that could present problems with fitting a band. Also at your first fill 6 weeks after the surgery you have another barium swallow then.

1. The idea is that the band remains in situ forever. It can be taken out for medical reasons but it can be adjusted accordingly all the time it is in there. It is done to your comfort level.

1. Yes, the BMI of 50 or over means that you do not have to jump through lots of other hoops that your GP may insist on. It means that the decision is purely down to the Consultant at that point.

1. If you are asking about sex then I am hoping that it will improve things from my point of view. DH loves me whatever but I met him much slimmer and feeling much sexier. I feel horrible now and cannot contemplate being intimate with him. We have a good relationship otherwise so to have our lovelife back in the bedroom would be a dream come true for both of us.

I would research the NICE Guidelines (I have cut and paste earlier in this thread) and take a copy of those to your GP. A lot of GP's are not familiar with the process so may have to do their own digging about in order to get on with things.

The idea is that the government are trying to set up hospitals that treat morbid obesity with bariatric surgery. They allocate areas to certain hospitals. So whilst I had to only travel 35mins to get to the hospital I was referred to, others would have to drive nearly 2 hours to get to the same one.

Do some research and see what you find out before you go to your GP. It makes you more confident in what you are dealing with too.

It is a commitment to a lifestyle change though so you need to ensure you are fully committed before you jump. It is a lot to go through if you are not ready for it.

Good luck!

alottolose, Fruity has answered all your questions so I won't go through them all again.

I would urge you to go to your GP and blurt it all out. I did, and my GP was very supportive even when I ended up going privately. I can still go to my GP for support.

Excess skin is a bit of an issue but I wear strong elastic! I primarily had my op for health reasons (although it is nice to look nice) and decided that I would not have tummy tuck/breast reconstruction just for vanity reasons. The option is open and somtimes these ops can be done on the NHS.

Relationship wise, DH was neither up nor down. But he has never put great store by looks anyway. However at Christmas, he quietly went out and bought me a beautiful slightly sexy black silk nightie. So he must have noticed!

I would agree with Fruity's last comment that you have to be absolutely sure it is for you. There is no going back. It is a complete lifestyle and psychological change. I cannot ever eat a full meal out, drink beer or fizzy alcohol. But I am a healthy size 14, can stay on my feet all day at work and can run for a bus!

Good luck with your journey, fruity.

To alottolose, do your research, then good luck with your decision.

Fruity and alottolose, I have had to change my name on UKgastricband to lambchops. hope you manage to make contact.

Thank you fruity and pacific.

I think I really want to do this. I'm totally committed to the lifestyle change. And I think I want to do this for all the right reasons. I've been having to see my GP quite regularly for a few years - for something not weight related - and she has never questioned my weight or even suggested I lose weight. I've long had a feeling she's waiting for me to bring it up with her. And I think I'm nearly ready to.

I asked about relationships because at the moment I'm very unhappy with my dh. Things aren't too good between us. I have this feeling that if I start the process of empowering myself all sorts of other things will come to the front and need dealing with too. I've thought for ages that I'll just get my marriage back on track, then diet. But it isn't happening. I want to change tack. Do this for me and start feeling better about myself, then fix the other stuff. Sorry, rambling now.

Was interested in the 50+ BMI criterion. I'm pretty sure I fall into that category. I've been more happy today than in a long time. Just thinking how this could change my life.