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Sheffield newbie - gastric band wannabee!

Cathy1971

New Member
Hi all,

Have been lurking somewhat and just having a look at your posts, I thought it about time I introduced myself!

I'm 38, live in Sheffield and my BMI is 45.something and luckily have no co-morbidities, so under NICE guidance I'm within the range for being accepted for gastric banding. My PCT says no-no, and has raised the bar 5 higher, so I'd need to either have co-morbidities or have a BMI of 50+ in order to have the op.
The stage I'm at now is that my GP has written a letter for funding to Sheffield PCT and my case will be presented this Wednesday 11th August. To be honest I really don't hold out much hope. I did wonder whether to add some content of my own to the appeal but the doctor is away on hols (I've not seen the actual appeal letter as yet) I've decided to leave this. Does anyone know if there's anything more I can do within this system if the funding is turned down on Wednesday?

We all have our stories and I'm soooooooooo there with some of yours that I've read, but mine is just that it's been a life long struggle for me (since probably 12/13 years of age) and I've not had any sustained weight loss (5 stone) for more than 18 years, when my eldest son was around 2. I've always been quite confident of my looks, this is not the biggest thing that bothers me about my weight, it's the way it's making me feel physically. I do less and less and less and feel so bad everyday, VERY tired. My boys are both getting to be grown up now (20 and 15 years) and I'm frightened that now I've got some more life to live, I'm never going to be able to live it fully and whats more, I don't want my sons looking after me in 20 years time 'cos I've developed some COPD or the like - if I'm still here! So that's my main reason - I've got a great family, great support network and a great chap to spur me along. There's a chance I could go private but it's a very 'slim' one.

I'll post as I find out anything in the hope that someone else benefits.

Cathy xx :)
 
welcome sweetpea! any questions feel free to ask and im hoping for a smooth wls journey for you x
 
Hi Cathy and :welcome2: Good luck with your journey....we will do all we can to help you with advice and support along the way :D x
 
Hi Hun

All the best with the panel on 11th, I hope the outcome is good x
 
Hi Cathy
welcome to the forum, i hope you can find on here, the support and answers you are looking for hun.
xxx
 
Hi Cathy I am also with Mr Ackroyd, but right at the beginnig. My gp wrote yesterday, so I have to be patient at the mo. Let me know how you get on and good luck xx
 
Hi Cathy, :welcome2: to the forum. I hope that the decision on the 11th goes your way... and that you can start your WLS journey!
 
Hi Cathy I am also with Mr Ackroyd, but right at the beginnig. My gp wrote yesterday, so I have to be patient at the mo. Let me know how you get on and good luck xx

Hi Veronica,

It didn't take long at all in my experience - I phoned my surgery to make sure the referral letter had been sent (!!) and then chased it up with Mr Ackroyd's secretary at the Hallamshire! Don't be frightened to phone and ask - I hate when letters are just sitting there with an answer or decision and you are on tender-hooks! I was led to believe that the next stage (if Mr Ackroyd can accept you on to his NHS list) was attending a 'get together' with a nurse specialist and others hoping to have the banding, giving you all the information. These are one per month and I was originally hoping to get on the one for August but that's not going to happen as the referral wasn't accepted :cry:After this the secretary said it would be a meeting with Mr Ackroyd, decision as to whether it would be put out to Barnsley or Derby, then the surgery about 3 months after this.
Mighta known it wouldn't be that simple eh? I'm hoping to still follow this path, although reading some of your stories it's probably not likely!!!!! But I'll keep my fingers crossed for you Veronica!
As for my funding appeal - I rang my surgery today (Ha! How eager am I???) to see if anything had come back from PCT yet which obviously it's not but she said my GP was back from holiday on Monday and feel free to phone every day for any news! I'm away in Denmark the week after so if the news isn't good then me and the fella will have to sit down and seriously think what next.

Thanks to all who said Hi! It's much appreciated.

Am off to look if there's a recommendations section for private surgeons

Hugs all round

Cathy x
 
Hi all,
Posted a loooooong message of ta's the other day and it just disappeared (I'd done something wrong!) Anyway, it was just to say thanks for my welcome!
The only news I have is that I will hear hopefully tomorrow or Wednesday whether my funding appeal was successful or not!
Hoping you are all well and wishing everyone luck on their journey's

Cathy xx
 
Well I'm going to phone the surgery at 9.30 when hopefully they've had some post.........................

Everything crossed eh?

Have decided to try and self fund if not, but that'll be another topic, as I just don't know where to start!

Anyway, cross that bridge when (if!) I come to it! Hoping you're all well

Cathy xx
 
Waiting for post to arrive!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well phoned the surgery 9.30 yesterday in anticipation of appeal letter arriving - they don't get their post until lunch, so said I'd ring at 2.30 which I did and nothing had arrived for me!

I told the receptionist I'd ring again today at 2.30!

Ha! Me, pushy? Never!

I'm really not expecting much but it's my last glimmer of hope before I look down the self funding route. I'm wheezing going to sleep at night, got up this morning wheezing and the lats keep going through on the bed when I get up out of bed!!!!! It so naffs me off, looking forward to the day when I don't think, oh that plastic garden chair *might* just not make it, best take the sturdier chair!

Hope you's all are well. Thanks for reply Mixman - looking great!!!!! Mr Ackroyd has a good reputation doesn't he? If I have to go private I will miss not having him as my surgeon (I was put off a while ago when I tried to book a consultation and was told I needed to pay £50 just to talk with the nurse initially!) but I don't see it as any reflection on his surgical skills and over the past few years his letters back to my doctor were all lovely!

Will post later when hopefully the appeal letter has arrived at the docs!

Cathy x
 
maybe you have sleep apneo luv - have you had it checked out - that could be a co mobidity to help you along! x
 
Hi Cathy
hope all went well, but just to let you know, that i paid and went private with WLS group and had the wonderful Mr Ackroyd (but not in the biblical sense!) shame though, he is a bit dishy!!
 
Hi Cathy, just wanted to wish you well on your WLS journey and welcome you to the forum. Good luck with your funding and let us know how you got on.

jayne xx
 
Hello Cathy and welcome! I'd get your gp to organise a sleep apnoea test if your snoring and being so tired. As someone else said it is a comorbidity. My husband is waiting for wls because he has sleep apnoea..

Please keep us posted about your appeal xx
 
Sorry I've been lax posting - I've been getting ahead of myself!

Right, so the appeal was unsuccesful - basically I have nothing really that they would consider to go towards a case for surgery. So me and the fella have talked and decided to go private - eek!!!!! Massive decisions all round and it'll be a struggle but here goes!
I'm in the final stages of booking with cosmetic bliss (please see my thread asking if anyone else is/has been with this company) and have a provisional date of 3rd October!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't really believe I'm doing it, you know when you truly want something for so long and then someone says there ya go, have it - it sort of spooks you a bit! Anyway that's where I am now..................... am rushing a bit because it's my birthday today (39!) and off to have falsies taken off (nails that is) and hair blow dried before going out for lunch (well I've 2 weeks before being ultra sensible) but will post when I get another chance.

Hope you are all well

Cathy xx
 
Happy Birthday Cathy, what a lovely birthday pressie!! i hope everything goes ahead for the 3rd october for you, i go on hol that day but will read how you went on when i get back!!! All the best hun

jayne xx
 
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