4healthy weight warts and all seminar

Lumpybumpy · Jun 20, 2014

Hi all thought I'd write a post as I know from personal experience I have yet to hear from anyone who has attended the 'warts and all' seminar for 4 healthy weight. Well I'm 5 months into my journey, I have completed all my counselling sessions, I have received 3 dietician appointments (two telephone consultations) I have also had 2 consultations with the exercise specialist. After my final counselling sessions I was told I would be put forward for the warts and all seminar which I attended yesterday.

It was just really a group meeting going over the different surgery options, the pros and cons of each surgery and pretty much information that is all ready well available online.

We were told that depending how far we are into the 3 tier phase we are we will have to complete the rest of the course before we are then referred to the bariatric team at St Richards, even then that is only providing each of the 3tier team agree this is the best course of action. Meaning I still have another 7 months of jumping through hoops! To say I was a little bit gutted is an understatement

We were told that surgery could also be delayed anything upto 6 months if further blood tests, heart monitoring ect were needed.

Once you are referred to the team at st richards you are then giving a list of 12 hospitals to choose from. If I ever get to that stage I think I will cry

I just feel like this whole year is going to be spent waiting and hoping for something that may never happen, it's so disheartening.

I should have received a certificate to say I have completed the seminar but when I arrived at the vine medical centre in maidstone I was told they didn't have my name on the list! This was despite me double checking with the 4 healthy weight team via email the week before hand. Luckily enough my dietician was actually one of the people running the seminar and knew I should have also been on the list. Apparently I will receive it in the post, shall wait and see.

I have another telephone consultation with the dietician in July and a face to face meeting in August booked.

I also have another session with the exercise specialist booked for the end of July.

Just praying and hoping they all agree this is the best course of action for me

Porgie · Jun 24, 2014

Gosh thanks lumpy bumpy. I am on the waiting list for 4 healthy weight so even further off than you are. Was referred to Kings by my GP, was seen and told you have to do the tier 3 for a year. Cried my heart out that day. So almost 8 weeks later still waiting for my first appointment with 4 weight. Not sure how I will manage the appointments. I live in Dartford and work in London. What was the time commitment like for you? Did you really find it useful or just another useless hoop? How much weight have you lost? Sorry so many questions you seem to be the first posting info about Kent services.

Lumpybumpy · Jun 24, 2014

Hi ya hun,
It is so disappointing when you find out how long the hoop jumping can be but to be honest I'm just happy I've even got to the referral stage, I've been requesting for years for extra help and after finally finding a sympathetic doctor I am now at least on the right track!

I was referred to the 4 healthy weight team back in December 2013 but I had my first appointment on the 29th January which was with the counsellor. I met with my counsellor fortnightly on a Wednesday at 1pm. To be honest I didn't really get an option of the time of day but it wasn't really a problem for me as I'm a stay at home mummy at present. If you explain the situation they maybe accommodating. I have had a few telephone consultations with the dietitian but that was due to her busy schedule.
I have also seen the exercise specialist twice again on Wednesday afternoons.
I am in Tunbridge wells so times ect are probably different to dartford.

To be honest the sessions I have received were like trying to teach grandma to suck eggs!
They basically go over a lot of information you are probably well aware off, why you eat the way you do, what you should/shouldn't eat, how much exercise your capable of. I can't actually say I have learnt anything from it, because I haven't. I'm doing what is expected of me, I'm willing to do whatever they ask of me to get this op as I know I need this tool to help me.

They haven't set me a target weight to lose but over the 5 months I've lost around 5lb. Not a huge amount but I have lost two grandfathers this year, both within the space of a month and I am a huge comfort eater with very little will power! Lol

Have you actually received a date for your first appointment? X

Feel free to ask me any questions and I'll try and answer them x x

gr09 · Jul 19, 2014

i have just had my last counselling session and she is now referring me for the warts and all seminar and also to see the surgeon. is this what you have had to do?
any info as from where i will go now would be brilliant thanks
gemma x

Lumpybumpy · Jul 20, 2014

gr09 said:
i have just had my last counselling session and she is now referring me for the warts and all seminar and also to see the surgeon. is this what you have had to do? any info as from where i will go now would be brilliant thanks gemma x

Hi ya Gemma,
Yes I attended the warts and all seminar, it was just the seminar I didn't see a surgeon I was told this would come later on. It could be different for you depending on how far you are into the program. I completed my counselling sessions and was told that I would then be referred to the warts and all seminar, I waited a couple of weeks and didn't hear anything so called them and just relayed what my counsellor had told me and they booked me in for the next seminar over the telephone.

I was told during the seminar that we have to complete the whole 12months of tier3 then the dietician, exercise specialist and counsellor all decide if they think you are a good candidate for surgery, if they do you are then put on the tier 4 pathway to surgery where you complete the milk diet ect.
If they don't think you are suitable they refer you back to your gp.

So I'm still waiting, I'm still having appointments with the dietician and exercise specialist. Just really wish this year would hurry up and go, I feel like I'm living in limbo! It's just the uncertainty of it all for me x

Hope you don't have to wait as long, my bmi is under 50 so the 12 months is compulsory I think if your bmi is higher than 50 it's only a compulsory 6 months of tier 3 x

sophiapink100 · Jul 21, 2014

Hi Guys,

I didn't do a warts and all seminar I had a seminar at the hospital on the day I saw my surgeon. Because of my bmi I only did 6 months tier 3, however they then told me they had to refer me back to my gp and my gp refer me for surgery - what I nightmare that was as my gp's are useless anyway.

I do honestly I think although you may not feel this way now but all these processes are so worth it to get you prepared. It is a life changing experience that you need to be mentally and physically ready for.

I hated the wait after wait after wait - totting up to years but now I'm so glad of it.

Good luck with your journeys x

gr09 · Jul 24, 2014

Lumpybumpy said:
Hi ya Gemma,
Yes I attended the warts and all seminar, it was just the seminar I didn't see a surgeon I was told this would come later on. It could be different for you depending on how far you are into the program. I completed my counselling sessions and was told that I would then be referred to the warts and all seminar, I waited a couple of weeks and didn't hear anything so called them and just relayed what my counsellor had told me and they booked me in for the next seminar over the telephone.

I was told during the seminar that we have to complete the whole 12months of tier3 then the dietician, exercise specialist and counsellor all decide if they think you are a good candidate for surgery, if they do you are then put on the tier 4 pathway to surgery where you complete the milk diet ect.
If they don't think you are suitable they refer you back to your gp.

So I'm still waiting, I'm still having appointments with the dietician and exercise specialist. Just really wish this year would hurry up and go, I feel like I'm living in limbo! It's just the uncertainty of it all for me x

Hope you don't have to wait as long, my bmi is under 50 so the 12 months is compulsory I think if your bmi is higher than 50 it's only a compulsory 6 months of tier 3 x

:/ i guess ill just have to wait and see but i was all set to have the surgery beginning of last year as i was under Dr Coppack at St Bartholomew in London but coz they changed how you went round for funding i had to the join the 4 healthy weight team

Lumpybumpy · Jul 24, 2014

gr09 said:
:/ i guess ill just have to wait and see but i was all set to have the surgery beginning of last year as i was under Dr Coppack at St Bartholomew in London but coz they changed how you went round for funding i had to the join the 4 healthy weight team

It could be different for you then hun, I'd give the team a ring and let them know your counsellor said you would be put forward for the warts and all seminar, they will book you in over the telephone. Anything to get that ball moving quicker x

gr09 · Jul 25, 2014

Lumpybumpy said:
It could be different for you then hun, I'd give the team a ring and let them know your counsellor said you would be put forward for the warts and all seminar, they will book you in over the telephone. Anything to get that ball moving quicker x

i phoned up today but unfortunately the person my counsellor told me to talk to is on annual leave till Monday but they are gonna let her know and get her to call back once she has found out what info she needs so she book me in for the seminar.

Lumpybumpy · Jul 25, 2014

gr09 said:
i phoned up today but unfortunately the person my counsellor told me to talk to is on annual leave till Monday but they are gonna let her know and get her to call back once she has found out what info she needs so she book me in for the seminar.[/

Let me know how you get on hun. I had another appointment with Andy on Wednesday, my exercise specialist, he said I only have 2 more sessions with him? Not sure how it works really as I'm not sure what happens then as it won't have been 12 months? My next appointment with Laura my dietician isn't until 27th August, I tend to have the most trouble getting appointments with her as her schedule must be manic! Luckily for me she was one of the speakers at the warts and all seminar. I'm not sure how many more appointments I need to have with her? I was referred back in December, got my first appointment in January not sure when they class the start of the 12 months from? I assume it's from the first appointment. One thing we were told at the seminar is that if we are put forward for surgery we will meet the surgeon at St Richards in Chichester. Apparently we will receive a list of hospitals to choose from. Do you have a hospital in mind? X

gr09 · Jul 25, 2014

Lumpybumpy said:
gr09 said:

i phoned up today but unfortunately the person my counsellor told me to talk to is on annual leave till Monday but they are gonna let her know and get her to call back once she has found out what info she needs so she book me in for the seminar.[/

Let me know how you get on hun. I had another appointment with Andy on Wednesday, my exercise specialist, he said I only have 2 more sessions with him? Not sure how it works really as I'm not sure what happens then as it won't have been 12 months? My next appointment with Laura my dietician isn't until 27th August, I tend to have the most trouble getting appointments with her as her schedule must be manic! Luckily for me she was one of the speakers at the warts and all seminar. I'm not sure how many more appointments I need to have with her? I was referred back in December, got my first appointment in January not sure when they class the start of the 12 months from? I assume it's from the first appointment. One thing we were told at the seminar is that if we are put forward for surgery we will meet the surgeon at St Richards in Chichester. Apparently we will receive a list of hospitals to choose from. Do you have a hospital in mind? X

Click to expand...

OMG im with Andy and Laura and my counsellor is Jane. se ive only seen Andy once and i have an appointment with Laura on the 5th sept? counsellor said she will put me forward for the wards and all seminar and also book me in to see the surgeon? seems like there doing everything backwards with me and you lol.
about the hospital tbh i dont have a clue any one closet to where i live whether that will include Ashford William Harvey or Margate QEQM i dunno. but compared to when i was going the St Barts in London, i will travel to the ends of the earth for this lmao.

im hoping once im on the waiting list they have to stick with the 16 wks turn around like normal hospital treatments.

i will be slimmer for my wedding :love047:

Lumpybumpy · Jul 25, 2014

My counsellor was Angela she was lovely, I had about 9 sessions with her, so far I've seen Andy 3 times and I've seen Laura twice but also had 3 telephone consultations with her as she couldn't fit me in to see me in person.

I wasn't told about an appointment with the surgeon until the seminar so looks like you may be going along a different route hun x

When are you getting married?! How exciting! Congratulations!

I don't have a hospital in mind yet as I don't really want to let myself think that far ahead but what I would suggest is you try and find out the waiting list at each of the hospitals.

I know St Richards in Chichester have a specialist bariatric unit so I think they don't have much of a waiting list, I'm not sure what other hospitals are on the list as I'm yet to meet anyone else that has gone through the 4 healthy weight program and had the surgery x

gr09 · Jul 25, 2014

Lumpybumpy said:
My counsellor was Angela she was lovely, I had about 9 sessions with her, so far I've seen Andy 3 times and I've seen Laura twice but also had 3 telephone consultations with her as she couldn't fit me in to see me in person.

I wasn't told about an appointment with the surgeon until the seminar so looks like you may be going along a different route hun x

When are you getting married?! How exciting! Congratulations!

I don't have a hospital in mind yet as I don't really want to let myself think that far ahead but what I would suggest is you try and find out the waiting list at each of the hospitals.

I know St Richards in Chichester have a specialist bariatric unit so I think they don't have much of a waiting list, I'm not sure what other hospitals are on the list as I'm yet to meet anyone else that has gone through the 4 healthy weight program and had the surgery x

right tbh im just going on what ive read on here and also what my counsellor said :/
im getting married 01/08/15 so still got a bit of time

Lumpybumpy · Jul 25, 2014

I'm in Tunbridge Wells so your pathway may just be a little different hun, fingers crossed for you that it means you don't have to wait as long for the surgery x

It's frustrating isn't it, having to jump through these hoops, we will get there in the end hopefully.

Let me know how you get on hun and if they do give you an appointment to meet the surgeon hun as I can ask Laura if I should have had that at my next appointment x

So good to talk to someone on the same program as me, does Laura have you filling in a food diary? X

gr09 · Jul 25, 2014

Lumpybumpy said:
I'm in Tunbridge Wells so your pathway may just be a little different hun, fingers crossed for you that it means you don't have to wait as long for the surgery x

It's frustrating isn't it, having to jump through these hoops, we will get there in the end hopefully.

Let me know how you get on hun and if they do give you an appointment to meet the surgeon hun as I can ask Laura if I should have had that at my next appointment x

So good to talk to someone on the same program as me, does Laura have you filling in a food diary? X

will do hun and yh i had to do that

Lumpybumpy · Jul 28, 2014

gr09 said:
will do hun and yh i had to do that

Hi ya hunni how did you get on? X

gr09 · Aug 4, 2014

Lumpybumpy said:
Hi ya hunni how did you get on? X

just finally got through on the phone to sort of the right person im being put on the next list for the warts and all seminar, then i will be seen by Dr Emmanuel if he agrees im good for surgery i will be referred to the tier 4 part and be sent a list of hospital and surgeons then they will send all the relevant paper work to the hospital of my choice and then its literally waiting for them to put me on the table lmao

Willow4 · Aug 4, 2014

Hi GR09
Just to wish you good luck with your journey, hopefully not to long to wait.

Birdie01 · Aug 4, 2014

GR09, I was meant to have an appointment with Dr Emmanuel as well in August, and my appointment was cancelled - I had a call to say they would be instead sending through the pack you speak of with the list of hospitals, i have received mine and have sent an email to Sarah to confirm where i want to go. When i asked her what happens next she said "They will contact you and invite you to attend a MDT assessment day" then they decide on that day if you are suitable for surgery, but thats for Chichester hospital, dont know if they all do the same thing or not? Who did you speak to about the appointment?

gr09 · Aug 4, 2014

Birdie01 said:
GR09, I was meant to have an appointment with Dr Emmanuel as well in August, and my appointment was cancelled - I had a call to say they would be instead sending through the pack you speak of with the list of hospitals, i have received mine and have sent an email to Sarah to confirm where i want to go. When i asked her what happens next she said "They will contact you and invite you to attend a MDT assessment day" then they decide on that day if you are suitable for surgery, but thats for Chichester hospital, dont know if they all do the same thing or not? Who did you speak to about the appointment?

oh im sorry to hear youve been messed about a bit. whats the MDT assessment day? and i cant remember her name she was a receptionist at the Dartford base phone number ending 299

4healthy weight warts and all seminar

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