cazbandy
Bring on the Trumpets!
I have been reading a lot of threads recently where people seem very disheartened with how they are doing with their bands.
I think part of the problem is the media. The band has been made out to be a cure, a miracle magic wand that if you get one all your fat and any troubles will go away.
Also partly to blame is the blurb that is on a lot of private providers websites that make oh so hopeful promises that a band will solve all the problems too.
I say this as a lot of the posts of disappointment seem to come from those who sort the surgery privately. I understand that it is up to the individual on how they seek the surgery but I do wish the providers would go through a more thorough examination of the persons mental and emotional state before agreeing to surgery. But they are only in it for the money, so as long as their coffers are lined, do they need to worry?
I think they do.
I received second to none pre and post op care from the NHS.
I was seen first by my GP who assessed that from the problems I had with my health and what I told him about my eating patterns that a band would be good for me. I could have a bypass but he could see that I was mentally geared up for the long road ahead and felt that the less invasive option due to my high BMI would be best and he thought I should follow that route. It was him that gave me leaflets on the band, bypass and sleeve.
He applied for my funding, he told me to call the PCT once a week after this appointment to find out how funding was going. I had to go on holiday and was amazed on my return that I had a consultation in August with a surgeon. That was 3 months after seeing the doc, give or take.
I saw the surgeon, we talked for an hour, he told me of all the pitfalls, why a band might not work for a person ...these were:-
If you eat too much even when there is no restriction
If you eat the wrong kinds of food, aim for high protien, low fat. Little carbs.
If you do not exercise alongside the band.
He told me having a band will not fix or cure me but it will slowly teach me to eat slower and less at any given meal.
What he told me it could not do is cure my hunger, my cravings or stop me putting bad choices in my mouth. But slowly over time as stomach shrinks from less food, appetite would decrease also.
Realistically he told me that I could loose up to 60 percent of my excess weight in the first year or so, then it would slow and that if I worked really hard on my diet and fitness that I could reach goal within two years maybe two and a half. But it can take up to five to get exactly where you want to be.
I was sent to see a MDT (Multi-disciplinary team) consiting on endocrinologist/dibetician/dietician and pyschiatrist. I was given 2 sessions of counselling before I had surgery and 10 after surgery to help me learn new ways of dealing with emotions.
I can say my care was A+ but it does seem that there is not a uniform standard.
I think there should be, so everyone can be as well prepared and looked after as I have been.
I am sorry this has turned into a ramble but it saddens me that people have this surgery hoping it will mend them, only to go on to be disappointed that it doesn't happen quickly or the way they were led to believe by their providers.
(Gets off soapbox)
I think part of the problem is the media. The band has been made out to be a cure, a miracle magic wand that if you get one all your fat and any troubles will go away.
Also partly to blame is the blurb that is on a lot of private providers websites that make oh so hopeful promises that a band will solve all the problems too.
I say this as a lot of the posts of disappointment seem to come from those who sort the surgery privately. I understand that it is up to the individual on how they seek the surgery but I do wish the providers would go through a more thorough examination of the persons mental and emotional state before agreeing to surgery. But they are only in it for the money, so as long as their coffers are lined, do they need to worry?
I think they do.
I received second to none pre and post op care from the NHS.
I was seen first by my GP who assessed that from the problems I had with my health and what I told him about my eating patterns that a band would be good for me. I could have a bypass but he could see that I was mentally geared up for the long road ahead and felt that the less invasive option due to my high BMI would be best and he thought I should follow that route. It was him that gave me leaflets on the band, bypass and sleeve.
He applied for my funding, he told me to call the PCT once a week after this appointment to find out how funding was going. I had to go on holiday and was amazed on my return that I had a consultation in August with a surgeon. That was 3 months after seeing the doc, give or take.
I saw the surgeon, we talked for an hour, he told me of all the pitfalls, why a band might not work for a person ...these were:-
If you eat too much even when there is no restriction
If you eat the wrong kinds of food, aim for high protien, low fat. Little carbs.
If you do not exercise alongside the band.
He told me having a band will not fix or cure me but it will slowly teach me to eat slower and less at any given meal.
What he told me it could not do is cure my hunger, my cravings or stop me putting bad choices in my mouth. But slowly over time as stomach shrinks from less food, appetite would decrease also.
Realistically he told me that I could loose up to 60 percent of my excess weight in the first year or so, then it would slow and that if I worked really hard on my diet and fitness that I could reach goal within two years maybe two and a half. But it can take up to five to get exactly where you want to be.
I was sent to see a MDT (Multi-disciplinary team) consiting on endocrinologist/dibetician/dietician and pyschiatrist. I was given 2 sessions of counselling before I had surgery and 10 after surgery to help me learn new ways of dealing with emotions.
I can say my care was A+ but it does seem that there is not a uniform standard.
I think there should be, so everyone can be as well prepared and looked after as I have been.
I am sorry this has turned into a ramble but it saddens me that people have this surgery hoping it will mend them, only to go on to be disappointed that it doesn't happen quickly or the way they were led to believe by their providers.
(Gets off soapbox)
I was thinking this today funnily enough. The band won't do anything other than restrict how much food is eaten.
