Update+Pics of moi :)

[Tobi]

Welcome Lulu and good luck

I had my op exactly 2 weeks ago with THG and my surgeon was Dr Paul Super, just like Gemby. I cannot fault them so far, everyone I have talked to have been great.

One thing to note though, Hospital Group does not do the op in London, they do it in their specialist hospital Dolan Park in Bromsgrove near Birmingham. They do arrange a car transfer to pick you up and take you back home at an additional charge but I didn't use this service so can't really comment.

You will find that you'll have wind pain rather than pain in your incisions. 2 weeks post op mine are really itchy now! Wind pain can last for 7-10 days but it gets better every day. Being mobile really helps.

I went back to work after 1 week rest at home and I would recommend talking more time off if possible, I kinda regretted that I didn't. It wasn't too bad but I got tired very easily.

Ask anything you like, we love to chat xxx

 

[LuLuXo]

Ask anything you like, we love to chat xxx

Thanks,
Its all getting very exciting and scary lol. I do have some questions.. that seem a bit stupid but ill ask them anyway...

How long after banding do you think you would be able to go out and enjoy a light starter/main with family/friends in a restaurant?

When you start to eat normal food, are there certain things that you physically cant eat... or is it just that you cant eat a lot at any one time...


in regard to drinking alcohol.. will people who get banded still be able to have nights out (regarding they drink responsibly.. slim line tonic etc..( does alcohol affect you differently with a band?

Im currently 22 stone and 5ft 8... i have my consultation with the hospital group on weds next week... is there anyway that they would tell me i cant have a band? I wouldnt ever go for a bypass or a sleeve....

Thanks

xx

 

[Tobi]

In my provider's guidelines: First 2 weeks post op is liquid only. The following 2 weeks soft foods breakable by a fork basically. 4 weeks after the op you go on normal food but it takes a while to get used to the new food consistencies so I would leave it for a bit longer (looking forward to having a meal with friends/family myself!)

Apparently some people can't tolerate certain things, I read a lot about bread as an example but I don't know what exactly the result is. Maybe they feel bloated/nauseated and become sick? Some longer term bander would give you better info But we don't dump like bypasses do.

Bread, rice and meat is not allowed for 3 months post op. Meat is hard to digest and others can get stuck. You can have minced meat though.

No fizzy drinks and no chewing gum - this is for life. I thought I couldn't live without diet coke. You know what, I can and I don't miss it so far. No alcohol for 5 days post op says my booklet but I wouldn't have it that soon. A little every now and then is fine, I read. Apparently alcohol affects you more post op

Your medical history would determine if you can have a band or not and your surgeon can be the judge of that. All I know is if you've gained weight due to a hormonal imbalance, it may not work for you ie thyroid problems.

Good luck x

Sent from my iPhone using WLSurgery

 

[LuLuXo]

In my provider's guidelines: First 2 weeks post op is liquid only. The following 2 weeks soft foods breakable by a fork basically. 4 weeks after the op you go on normal food but it takes a while to get used to the new food consistencies so I would leave it for a bit longer (looking forward to having a meal with friends/family myself!)

Apparently some people can't tolerate certain things, I read a lot about bread as an example but I don't know what exactly the result is. Maybe they feel bloated/nauseated and become sick? Some longer term bander would give you better info But we don't dump like bypasses do.

Bread, rice and meat is not allowed for 3 months post op. Meat is hard to digest and others can get stuck. You can have minced meat though.

No fizzy drinks and no chewing gum - this is for life. I thought I couldn't live without diet coke. You know what, I can and I don't miss it so far. No alcohol for 5 days post op says my booklet but I wouldn't have it that soon. A little every now and then is fine, I read. Apparently alcohol affects you more post op

Your medical history would determine if you can have a band or not and your surgeon can be the judge of that. All I know is if you've gained weight due to a hormonal imbalance, it may not work for you ie thyroid problems.

Good luck x

Sent from my iPhone using WLSurgery

Thanks for all the info (again) haha. relieved that i will still be able to enjoy going out with friends after a couple of months... i like to dance which obvs will help with the exercise

xx

 

[pongis]

On the alcohol thing I went to a party on Saturday and had a drink ( vodka and diet mixer) but it went straight toy head and I felt really awful! Learnt my lesson, in future I'd have watered down wine or something! Lol

 

[LuLuXo]

eeeeek! im at uni now, going to my first consultation at 4 today! im so nervous/excited. anyone have any advice or know any questions that are important for me to ask?Im going with healthier weight because they offer excellent aftercare... ahhh wish me luck! x

 

[top_kat]

Just to let you know that the guidelines that Tobi has posted above isn't the same guidelines that you will get from Healthier weight, we are allowed to have meat, rice and bread, we are allowed chewing gum. Meat and rice and pasta etc are encouraged from the mashed stage onwards and neither past the mash stage does it need to be minced.

You will get all of your info from HW which is really detailed, but there's no foods that they really say is off limits because of having the band, although it maybe down to personal tolerance whether you can eat it or not.

 

[LuLuXo]

thanks kat, i know! dr ashton really surprised me when he said that you could drink fizzy drinks if they agreed with you!! was also told that i dont have to go on a pre op diet as prof. Favretti thinks they are a waste of time. lol xx

 

[LuLuXo]

OKKKKK if anyone is interested... i finally bit the bullet and told my sister i was having the band and she was....

ABSOLUTELY FINE AND VERY SUPPORTIVE.

im still in shock!! whenever we had spoken about it before she was always so skeptical and actually harsh about it and people who had it done but she told me she thought it was a good idea as long as i had done loads of research (which duh, i have). anyway thought i would share with you all as you all gave me some great advice,

not long now and the 12th of jan will be here... scary!


Lu xx

 

[Hollyem]

Hi lulu I'm new to the site and 5th day post op. Well done on telling your sister, telling people is something I have been hesitant about but now I've had it done I just think well.. This is me now, I've made my choice and all the people who matter to me have been supportive. Hope you are feeling positive... Not long now for you! I'm on the purée stage..just puréed some cottage pie, first "proper" thing I've eaten in what seems forever, but went down ok! Xxx

 

[LuLuXo]

Ah wow! How are you finding it? I can't wait now.. Sometimes I'm eating and I'm just thinking that I can't wait til I have my band! I'm getting excited now! Where did you have yours done and who with? Xx

 

[Me2013]

Hi, I am in London and having the band placed the day after you by the same surgeon.
I am nervous but excited too. Are you with HW?

 

[LuLuXo]

Hey! Yeah I am, I was nervous about having it done and they were recommended to me because they have a particularly good aftercare package! Are you having it done in Birmingham too? Where abouts in London are you? Would be interesting to keep in touch! We can be band buddies ha x

 

[Me2013]

I am in Kensington, near Holland Park. I would love to be band buddies as I haven't told anybody and it would be great to talk to someone who understands. Are you on the Healthier Weight forum as well? I am with the same name as here.

 

[Me2013]

Hi Lulu, I replied yesterday but it didn't get posted. I would love to be band buddies. I am in central London. Maybe we can have coffee soon.

 

[LuLuXo]

Hi Lulu, I replied yesterday but it didn't get posted. I would love to be band buddies. I am in central London. Maybe we can have coffee soon.

That would be really cool, I haven't met many people from London on here! Ill add you to my friends and we can arrange it xx

 

[LuLuXo]

Aww it's great you've found a procedure you're happy with. I would be too much of a baby to ever consider having anything but a band! New us for a new year! Xxx

 

[LuLuXo]

Ahhhhh. Lady from healthier weight just called and told me what time to be at the hospital on the 12th. Starting to brick it now! Eeeeeeee
X

 

[top_kat]

lol I relate to that! They also called me a few days before to run through some questions ahead of being admitted (no pre-op) and then they phoned the day before to ask if I could be in an hour earlier as they wanted to get started earlier . . .its these things that make it all very very real!

 

[LuLuXo]

First day back at uni, 4 days post op! going to see les mis with my sister afterwards on orange wednesdays! wish me luck! xx