Gastric Bypass surgery on the NHS

[Hopeful_Meg]

Hey guys!

I am new to the site and will be seeing my doctor this week to see if I can be referred for gastric bypass surgery on the NHS.

I just have a few questions for those who started their process recently - past year - if you wouldn't mind answering them?

-How did you go about being referred? Did you just ask your doctor?
-What were the next steps?
-If you've had your surgery, how long did it take from referral to operation date?
-If you've not had your surgery, how long has the process taken so far?
-What was your starting BMI (if you don't mind sharing)
-Where in the UK did you have your surgery?

Any extra info would be great, I'm hopeful that I will be considered but like many I am dreading the waiting time haha. A bit about me - I am nearly 21, a student and my current BMI is 46 with a weight of 145kg/22st 8lb.

Thank you,

Meg x

 

[Hannah2]

Hi Meg and welcome! Have you been looking around the site? You will probably find a lot of the info you are looking for on people's diaries and in the intro threads.

Turn your phone landscape to see people's info/stats/signatures showing start weights, surgery dates and where they had ops.

I saw my GP in Jan 2016 after long term trying to lose weight and as my BMI was over 50 was referred straight to surgery. Your BMI if you don't have co-morbidities such as diabetes, might mean you get referred to weight management called tier 3 - that might lead into surgery

each area is different

I think I saw team(consultant dietician psychologist) in March, group dietician around April, 1:1 dietician May and then consultant in June when I was put on the wait list - this would be about 8 months but I opted to go private with the same surgeon.

It is not a quick process but that time is important for you to deal with issues you have with food, learn what it will be like after op and prepare for this massive life change. It is a lot to get your head around.

 

[Hopeful_Meg]

Hi Hannah!

I've spent a good few days trawling through the threads, but I noticed a lot of them were from 5/6 years ago so I just wanted a more up to date idea of things as I know processes are always changing.

Your reply is really interesting so thank you for taking the time to write it

I don't have any specific health issues and have been trying for a few years to lose the weight however no luck!
I am currently on Orlistat, but my trouble is that I've always been very good with what I eat so the Orlistat isn't really moving much!

If you don't mind me asking, what made you go private in the end? Does that mean you had to pay for the surgery?

Thank you again,
Meg

 

[Hannah2]

Hi Meg

Yes private meant I had to pay for my surgery.

It was with the surgeon I would have had on the NHS. There were a number of reasons but the main two were wanting to start my new life as soon as possible once the decision had been made to go ahead with surgery (I am a lot older than you!) and once being cleared by psychologist etc. The second reason was the ability to chose when to have the op so that my OH could plan time off and there was less likelihood of cancellation/the op being postponed, which would prove hugely difficult logistically for us.

The package going private was the same aftercare etc as I would get on the NHS so I wasn't worried about aftercare either.

 

[FeeBee]

I was honest with my GP and because we'd worked together for over a decade she knew I'd done my very best to lose weight on my own. I'd done slimming groups and also had exercise on prescription and of course orlistat. I'd attended all the appointments thrown at me plus she was very well versed in the multiple health issues I had including disabilities that weren't caused by my weight. Losing weight is actually making some things worse but overall it is improving my health. So she agreed to refer me to tier 3 which was lots more appointments with various people individually and in groups. I was aware I wasn't committing myself to surgery by doing tier 3 and also there was no guarantee they'd accept me for surgery.

It was meant to be a year from starting that I'd be eligible to be referred to the surgeon but it was more like 18 months because the provider of the tier 3 program changed part way through and there was a delay. I needed the time to properly educate myself about the WLS options, to understand the commitment I'd be making for the rest of my life and also to work through the way I'd used food in the past and how I'd cope without my favourite crutch.

Good luck

 

[Turps]

I had my operation done at Sunderland on the NHS, but they've changed the guidelines since I started. But, I can tell you how I went on anyway.

It was my doctor who referred me. They were aware I'd battled with my weight lifelong so when my doctor wanted to weigh me and I was too heavy for the scales she just said, have you ever thought of weight loss surgery? And that was the start.
I went to the group seminar first, and at the end of that signed a form saying I wanted to go ahead. Because my BMI was so high I was accepted straight away, but had to go through a load of hoops first to get to the actual operation. First an appointment with the dietician, then tests for sleep apenia, a meeting with the surgeon where it was agreed I'd have a gastric balloon inserted as at that time I was still too heavy to safely operate on. Then almost a year of psychology appointments, then finally, months after the balloon was taken out, another meeting with the surgeon and I was approved for surgery. In all that took around two years, and I knew that if I ever put on weight between appointments I could be kicked back a stage or even told to start from the beginning.

Saying all that, reading on here has show there's many many different routes to take and all providers are different with my route being a little longer than most. So I'll just say, good luck!

 

[puddytats]

My journey started about 5 years ago and things have changed. I was referred by GP and had to see a community dietitian and do some health diet and fitness course. I did that then I was referred to the hosp. Due to the nature of my course, the doctor and I decided that between 2nd and 3rd year was not the best time to have surgery, so I carried on seeing them until early last year. I was then referred to the surgeon. It's about a year since I was first referred to the surgeon and I was informed that I would have the opp within 16 weeks (by March 2016). However, waiting lists were so long, I had surgery in July 2016

 

[Parsnip]

Can't offer any story as I'm at the same/similar point as you. I have an appointment on the 5th November with my GP to hopefully get the ball rolling x

 

[Hopeful_Meg]

Hey everyone!

Thank you so much for your replies!! I didn't realise you had all written as I never got an e-mail notification, so I do apologise for the late reply. Thank you for sharing your stories, it's so interesting to see the different routes you have all taken

I saw my GP and unfortunately my BMI is not the required 50 to be referred. She did suggest seeing my GP from back home (I'm at uni about 4/5 hours from home) as the required BMI for surgery in the south is lower than it is up here in the East Midlands.
I've called my GP and made an appointment when I'm back for Christmas so hopefully some progress will be made!

Thanks again for sharing and I'll try to keep you updated! X

 

[Hopeful_Meg]

Can't offer any story as I'm at the same/similar point as you. I haven't appointment on the 5th November with my GP to hopefully get the ball rolling x

Good luck, let me know how it goes x

 

[Parsnip]

Good luck, let me know how it goes x

Will deffo update the page with my news. Feel like I've been waiting to see the gp for ages, when in fact it's only a few weeks since I worked up the courage to make the appointment lol

 

[countrywench]

Morning Meg
Good luck with your GP
Myself , I could not even get a good conversation about weight loss surgery with him .. he dismissed it the 2 times I asked .. even begged , but nadda .. even needing 2 knee replacements , one urgent , and fast becoming fully disabled , nothing .. even if I had been lucky enough to get a referral I was told it wouldn't be a certain and it would be over 2 years before I was even put on the waiting list .. so I had no choice to finance myself with a help and encouragement from my close family .. and I've never regretted doing that .. money extremely well spent in my case ..
If I had had to wait over 2 years for the surgery with the NHS I know I would have been in a wheelchair , had to have given up work and been a full burden on my family and friends , so for me it was a no brainier in the end .. £6000 sounds a lot but in the end how much money do you put on your life and happiness ..
I'm now almost 7st down and feel amazing .. the freedom and liberation it brings cannot be described in a few words ..
Read through as many diaries as you can on here , they all so informative and helpful ..
Ask anything you want as someone's on here always knows the answer
Mindy
Xxxx

 

[starryeyed]

Hey everyone!

Thank you so much for your replies!! I didn't realise you had all written as I never got an e-mail notification, so I do apologise for the late reply. Thank you for sharing your stories, it's so interesting to see the different routes you have all taken

I saw my GP and unfortunately my BMI is not the required 50 to be referred. She did suggest seeing my GP from back home (I'm at uni about 4/5 hours from home) as the required BMI for surgery in the south is lower than it is up here in the East Midlands.
I've called my GP and made an appointment when I'm back for Christmas so hopefully some progress will be made!

Thanks again for sharing and I'll try to keep you updated! X

I had mine done in Essex and it took around 9 months from GP referral to surgery. My starting bmi was a lot higher than yours it was around 60. I hope you have better luck with the other GP x

 

[Hannah2]

You might not be eligible for referral direct to surgery, but there should be a "tier 3" system available for those in an "in between" level of BMI. Did she not mention anything that was available?

The GPs don't always know, mine didn't have a clue what was available - my first request (in January) was for a support programme of exercise/dietician support but with a longterm thought that surgery might be an option as I was getting to the end of my tether! She was honest with me and said she didn't know but she would come back and tell me. My BMI was just over 50, like 50.3 or 50.8 something like that - I have never been so grateful for an over indulgent Christmas! That increase in BMI to just over 50 meant that she came back to me 2 weeks later and said that due to being a BMI over 50 I was eligible to go direct to surgery referral.

Anyway, the important thing is that the GPs don't always know what is available. Do you know where the bariatric surgery is in your area? Where the team is based? It might be worth trying to contact the specialist bariatric nurse or dietician or the secretary of the bariatric surgeon to see if they have any information on the weight loss support schemes prior to surgery. You have nothing to lose to try and ask? There is always the option of contacting your CCG or the PALS team - they might not be able to help directly but they might be able to direct your query to the right place.

Good luck!

 

[FeeBee]

I hope you get somewhere soon, it doesn't seem fair that the rules are so different depending on where you are x

 

[Hopeful_Meg]

Morning Meg
Good luck with your GP
Myself , I could not even get a good conversation about weight loss surgery with him .. he dismissed it the 2 times I asked .. even begged , but nadda .. even needing 2 knee replacements , one urgent , and fast becoming fully disabled , nothing .. even if I had been lucky enough to get a referral I was told it wouldn't be a certain and it would be over 2 years before I was even put on the waiting list .. so I had no choice to finance myself with a help and encouragement from my close family .. and I've never regretted doing that .. money extremely well spent in my case ..
If I had had to wait over 2 years for the surgery with the NHS I know I would have been in a wheelchair , had to have given up work and been a full burden on my family and friends , so for me it was a no brainier in the end .. £6000 sounds a lot but in the end how much money do you put on your life and happiness ..
I'm now almost 7st down and feel amazing .. the freedom and liberation it brings cannot be described in a few words ..
Read through as many diaries as you can on here , they all so informative and helpful ..
Ask anything you want as someone's on here always knows the answer
Mindy
Xxxx

Hiya Mindy,
I'm having no luck with my GP what so ever! I am in a similar situation to yourself. If I can't lose weight soon i'm worried I won't be around to live the rest of my life. Where did you get your private surgery done if you don't mind me asking? I have found a few but they're all £10,000 + so i'd be looking to see if I can get a finance plan or something. So happy to hear you're doing well, congratulations on your 7st - I can only imagine how amazing you feel!
Meg xxx

 

[Hopeful_Meg]

You might not be eligible for referral direct to surgery, but there should be a "tier 3" system available for those in an "in between" level of BMI. Did she not mention anything that was available?

The GPs don't always know, mine didn't have a clue what was available - my first request (in January) was for a support programme of exercise/dietician support but with a longterm thought that surgery might be an option as I was getting to the end of my tether! She was honest with me and said she didn't know but she would come back and tell me. My BMI was just over 50, like 50.3 or 50.8 something like that - I have never been so grateful for an over indulgent Christmas! That increase in BMI to just over 50 meant that she came back to me 2 weeks later and said that due to being a BMI over 50 I was eligible to go direct to surgery referral.

Anyway, the important thing is that the GPs don't always know what is available. Do you know where the bariatric surgery is in your area? Where the team is based? It might be worth trying to contact the specialist bariatric nurse or dietician or the secretary of the bariatric surgeon to see if they have any information on the weight loss support schemes prior to surgery. You have nothing to lose to try and ask? There is always the option of contacting your CCG or the PALS team - they might not be able to help directly but they might be able to direct your query to the right place.

Good luck!

Hey Hannah, I have heard of it but I jut assumes my GP's would mention it if I was eligible? I will book another appointment and see if it is something I can be put on. Thank you for your help and suggestions, I will look in to them!

 

[Hopeful_Meg]

I hope you get somewhere soon, it doesn't seem fair that the rules are so different depending on where you are x

Thank you lovely, fingers crossed x

 

[Hopeful_Meg]

Hey everyone, just a quick update for you all. I spoke to my GP at home over the christmas break, who also said that I'm not fat enough to be referred.
At nearly 23 stone, I am quite surprised I don't have any extreme health issues but I guess without them I will get nowhere
My home GP suggested looking in to privately funded surgery, which I have been thinking about for a while now - it's just the cost that completely blows me out of the water... kind of makes me appreciate why it is so hard to receive the surgery on the NHS.

I have a consultation at Healthier Weight next week and from then, if the surgeon is happy, I will be applying for a loan to cover the costs and it's full steam ahead. My parents said they will help where possible but it is so much to ask, when they've already given me everything I could have ever wanted.

The surgery and all after care will cost £10,500. I am applying for the 5 year loan with would put the monthly repayments at about £200.
I am a uni student at the moment, so I'm currently looking for a second part time job to try and get some money together for the repayments.
I have also started a GoFundMe page that I hope to share with friends and family, when I am ready to talk to them about it. For now I just feel comfortable sharing my experience with you guys. I will pop a link at the end of this just in case any of you do want to help contribute to my surgery. Even if you can only spare £1, I would be forever grateful.

Tomorrow I am also going to post a short video on YouTube just to try and reach out to a wider community.
I really appreciate all of the help and advice you have all given me, I'll pop a link to my YouTube video tomorrow if you guys want to take a look - it'll only be a quick one to introduce myself and share my experience so far, but I thought it would be nice to add some personalisation via a video to reach out to more people.

Here is the link to my GoFundMe page - https://www.gofundme.com/life-saving-gastric-sleeve-surgery

Hope you are all doing well and I will pop back over after my consultation next week.

Meg x

 

[jj87]

How at 23 stone will they not consider you. What is your BMI. The guidelines clearly state BMI over 40. It's shocking really..Is there no way you can dispute this or even contact you local hospital as I feel this is extremely unfair