Excited and scared

[wanttobethin]

hi all am new to this forum, only joined today, already posted in the wrong place. I have been reading some of your posts and have taken heart from them.

My doctor has agreed to refer me for what he calls a gastric band, if you get referred is it likely that the surgeon will refuse you, or change it to a gastric bypass.

Can I please ask loads of questions

 

[kandy]

Hi wanttobethin,
Welcome to mini's.
I am not 100% sure about the nhs route because i went privately for mine. I know that when i went for my consult they decide which procedure would suit you best based on a number of things the fact you have a consult shouldn't mean it's written in stone i know many people who have gone the nhs route and had there op's changed to suit themselves . Don't worry.
Firstly how much weight do you have to lose if its more than 6 stone my surgeon says bypass is best. Secondly The gastric band will help if portion control is your problem but if your a big sweet eater and like fatty foods then the bypass is the best option.
I haven't personal experience of the band but when i had my surgery there were several women having there bands repaired or revised to a bypass as there are more risks with a band than the bypass . There is also more aftercare necessary with the band with fills and things where as with the bypass i have a blood test by my GP evry 6 mths.
I have been very lucky with my bypass it has been better than i could of imagined but a friend of mine who had her's the same day and with the same surgeon has been back for a repair and is still suffering.

WLS is a huge decision to make but think of all the things that you want to know and don't be afraid to ask your surgeon. The first thing i asked my surgeon was how many patients had died during surgery with him and the answer was 2 and they were both emergency repair operations from another surgeon. Out of 9000 bypasses he had performed it sounded good enough odds to me !
Take care and good luck luv Julie xxx

 

[wanttobethin]

Thanks for the reply Kandy, its very kind of you to offer advice, it just seems way in the future, how much did it cost to go private (I am just working out if I get turned down, or have to wait 2 or 3 years if I could afford to go private.

A lot of people seem to go to Belgium, is this because its cheaper than England do you think??

Sorry got loads of questions

You have had amazing success with your weight loss, I am ashaned to say this but I am 18st 9lbs

Enormous I hear everyone say

Look forward to your reply

Sue

 

[kandy]

Thanks for the reply Kandy, its very kind of you to offer advice, it just seems way in the future, how much did it cost to go private (I am just working out if I get turned down, or have to wait 2 or 3 years if I could afford to go private.

A lot of people seem to go to Belgium, is this because its cheaper than England do you think??

Sorry got loads of questions

You have had amazing success with your weight loss, I am ashaned to say this but I am 18st 9lbs

Enormous I hear everyone say

Look forward to your reply

Sue

Hi WTBT,
Firstly don't be ashamed i was 18st 10lbs and 1 of the smallest people there. It cost £5000.00 that included my travel expenses and operation everything.
My main reason for going to Belgium was hygeine (they don't have mrsa etc) and the surgeon is a specialist he has performed over 9000 weightloss operations he is consulted by the companies who manufacture the tools theyuse for surgery and he operates in the uk/belgium/usa/and now dubai he even operated on his own mother!

If there is anything i can help with just holler here's a link to my diary it's a diary from the beginning! http://www.minimins.com/members-onl...bypass-diary-before-after-ish-piccies-25.html

Good luck luv Julie xxx

 

[georgina]

hi wtbt just read your post hun well dont be ashamed of being 18st i had my bypass 9 months ago and i was 25 st to begin with but am 17st 11 now i feel like a new woman after all these years an d last week i was 40 lol so i hope life begins for me now i went private i travelled 374 miles for my op and i paid £8.500 i didnt know about belgium as it only took me 6weeks to know about the op and to actually having it done good luck with whatever u do lv georgina xxx

 

[wanttobethin]

Thanks Julie and georgina,

I cannot read your diaries julie, it says not open to new members, how long did you have to wait for surgery and did they send you a pre op diet sheet, I am so impatient but been miserable for a while, I would probably have to take out a loan as I haven't enough savings

Thanks for your help

 

[nefernefruaten]

hi wanttobethin, i was reffered to my surgeon for a gastric band but because of the way and what i ate he and the dietitian decided the bypass would be a better option for me, more guarenteed weightloss at first i was scared but i researched it alot and realised they were right. i had my bypass 1st of feb and i dont regret a second of it. i started at 22 stone (in jan b4 i started my pre op diet) and now im down to 18 stone and feel wonderful. i got mine on the nhs, i was told if your bmi is under 40 u must have weight related medical problems to qualify and if its over 40 u qualify anyway.
my bmi was 45 when i started (im tall tho) i had to do the pre op diet for 3wks (if ur bmi is over 50 it has to come down before they operate so the diet may last longer) i was given a diet sheet but every surgeon is different, mine was x4 weight watchers soups x4 muller light yoghurts x1 pint of semi skimmed milk and unlimited sugar free drinks every day. i often couldnt eat all of it, i was never really hungry i did have 2 cheats but still lost 12lbs by the end of it. it wasnt so bad cos u knew there was an end date... if you've been big for a long time its hard to imagine something really working but it really does!!! im excited for you!!!! the wait can be as little as 3 months and as much as a year depending on the length of ur surgeons waiting list.... fingers crossed itl be short 4 u....
Donna xxx

 

[wanttobethin]

Hi girls,

Well talked it over with Hubby and he has agreed I can go to Belgium, he says why waste a year of my life waiting a lot can happen in a year.

He just wants to make me happy, we will prob have to get a loan to pay for it but hey its only money.
So i have filled in the form on line and now I presume I wait for a reply, I am so excited I am finding it hard to contain myself.

Will need your help girls as I will have load of questions

Love Sue

 

[georgina]

hi sue well good luck on your journey to becoming a new thinner you xxx lrt us know how u get on with everything just remember theres a light at the end of every tunnel ok lv georgina xxx

 

[kandy]

Hi WTBT,
I sent my online form away and had a call within 4 days i think, a provisional date of 4 wks time was given to me and confirmed when i wired a deposit, 4 weeks later i was bypassed!

Good luck i hope your experience is as rewarding as mine has been.
If you need any help i will try my best PM me if not my e-mail is [email protected]
luv Julie xxx

 

[nefernefruaten]

im always around and willing to answer any questions, im a bypass not a band tho!!! good luck!!! keep us updated on ur progress!!!
Dxx

 

[the new Mrs Robbins]

Hi, I'm going for a gastric band in Belgium next week with a very experienced surgeon called Dr De Bruyne. He has peformed thousands of ops and hasn't lost anybody yet.

It's costing me £2600 for the operation itself and a further £400 for hotel, flights and airport parking. Also need to add on taxis when we're there.

We're flying out Thursday morning. I have my pre-op assessment that evening at the Surgeon's house and then at 7am Friday morning, I will go to the hopspital for the operation.
I, all things being well, should be out by 1pm the following day. We're then flying home on the Sunday afternoon.

I opted for the band because I was slightly conscious that the bypass is a very big operation which involves rearranging your insides. My surgeon does not perform these operations but prefers to 'band' people as he is adament that banding is completely reversible if there is a problem.

I think I disagree with one of the previous posters who said that bandsters had more complications. I think if you were to look long term, that bypassers have more complications. Also worth bearing in mind, is that if you lose your weight so quickly you are likely to need a tummy tuck which will cost more money. also, I believe I'm right in saying that there is a 'window of opportunity' to lose the weight with a bypass whereas a band can be adjusted for all eventualities.. eg. pregnancy but afterwards you get a fill and are back restricted again.

I've spoken to two 'banded' nurses recently. The first has lost 6 stone in a year and the other 4 stone in 6 months. This is a nice consistent loss and neither of them have issues over excess skin.

Personally, I think at 18 1/2 stone, a bypass is very drastic. I'm 19st and am very comfortable that this time next year, I will be down to 13-14 stone. It is quite well documented that by 2 years post-op bypassers and bandstes weight losses are about the same.

Ultimately, the decision should be yours and yours alone and you need to do A LOT of research before taking the plunge.

I went to see my surgeon in London back in February and could have had my op in March if I'd wanted to... but decided April was better work wise.

There is a very good 'weight loss surgery' forum website similar to this but only for WLS people. They should all be able to give you good advice.

Good luck and get researching!

the new Mrs Robbins

 

[wannabeminime]

Mrs Robbins,

Please can you post a link to Dr DeBruynes website? Thanks!