Band consultation issues

Signs and symptoms
1

Hi there,

Looking for a bit of advice!  I have considered a band for quite a long time and finally plucked up the courage to get the ball rolling and was quite upbeat about it! I had my consultation on Saturday in Glasgow.

To say that the consultation was a complete let-down is an understatement - he spent more time going through obesity statistics for Scotland than giving me the practical things that I need to know i.e the process from start to getting the band done, or foods to eat, how many band fills do I get etc etc!  

He told me that the band only has a 50% chance of success!!!! I've done a LOT of research and cannot find anything but the positives and extreme negatives.

The private health care company have offered me another consultation with a different person, I have declined this as I am now unsure if I wish to proceed (also after some research, that surgeon is at the 'top of his game&#39.

The health care company still have me pencilled in for the 7th March and they've given me a bit of time to think about whether I want it or not.

Has anyone else had issues, or have not managed to lose weight post-band?

I would also like to know - do you actually feel full when eating? Or is it a case that you just don't want to eat?

Crikey, this is a really hard decision and I need some help!!!

 

2

Hi Indy.

I had my band fitted in Glasgow on Saturday. I went with Healthier Weight and I found my consultation really helpful. The surgeon is Simon Gibson. Have you considered trying another provider? It's a lot of money to not be happy with your first experience with them.

I am only a few days post op and can say I don't really feel like eating at the moment. But I think after everything settles down and after the right number of fills, it will be a feeling of fullness smile

3

Well done you for taking the leap for weight loss surgery, I had a gastric band fitted in 2010, I was 23 stone and managed to lose nearly 10 stone, it wasn't easy you still need will power so yes they are successful but it's no easy fix.

However my band slipped causing me massive pain and discomfort and I have since had a gastric bypass I'm no longer in pain and feel great but not all bands slip.

I had a consultation with a surgeon about breast augmentation in December and the man was nasty, rude and down right pig headed and told me that I couldn't have it done etc, I have since seen another consultant with a different company and he was amazing and going for surgery on the 19th, so if you have doubts see another clinic if you can.

Good luck

R x

4

Hi!

I don't think you would lose anything by going to see someone else!

I'm 23 & had my band fitted end of October and not regretting it at all.

The weight won't just drop off and i think people have expected for me to be a size 8 by now! I've lost over 3 stone since the op, I don't want it to fall off as it wouldn't be healthy!!

When you have it fitted the band isn't inflated so after a week or so your appetite returns to pretty much normal. After a couple of fills you can really tell the difference! There are some foods I avoid and I definately don't eat as much, I'm not at my optimal fill yet as I've still got 5/6 to go!

Any questions I'm happy to try and help!

I would go to the other consultation and really give it some thought xx

5

Hey Indy,

Really sorry that the consultation didnt go well, I can see why you have come away feeling let down. My consultation was entirely the opposite so perhaps you shouldnt be changing consultant you should be changing companies?

I too did a lot of research when looking for a company, I called loads and loads and asked about their after care packages, their dates etc and I finally settled with a company called healthier weight. Not only is the consultation free but you get a full two year after care package. With regards to your surgeon being on the top of his game, without knowing the surgeon I wouldnt like to comment, but the surgeon I went for is Professor Favretti, he is basically the godfather of lap band surgery, he was the 2nd surgeon to conduct the proceedure and has done literally thousends as well as developing the single incision surgery (where they actually insert the band through your belly button, so you dont come away with loads of scars.

Anyway, I had my band in on saturday so Im not too far along yet, im still on the post op diet and too be honest im not really that interested in food, today Ive had a smoothie and a few cups of tea, tonight later tonight I will make another smoothie but really and truly thats only because I need to keep my nutrients up, not becuse Im hungry.

As far as weight loss goes I am 11 pounds done since i started the pre-op diet 8 days ago so thats pretty good, however it is to be expected considering my pre-op diet was 800-1000 cals per day.

Anyway, I hope some of the things ive mentioned have made you see that there are most positive options out there, feel free to message me back anytime smile

6

Hi Indy78

I had my band fitted 10th January this year so am on my 4th week. During my consultation I was told how the band would work and they had a model of the stomach and band so you can see how this would be placed and what the band looks like. They explained I would need to go on a pre-op diet to make my liver smaller before the op. The length of time you do the pre-op diet depends on your BMI. I was told the band would not have any saline solution when first put in. The stomach swells after surgery a little and this will cause restriction so you do not feel hungry. You then have a post op diet of liquids, this includes water soup, milkshake, watered down yoghurt. after 2 weeks you then get to have puréed food,e.g. Mash potato, wheetabix, readybreck, puréed fruit with yoghurt, puréed chicken. This might be slightly different depending on which company you get your band from. On week 5 you get to start solid food and you get your first fill between week 5 and 6. I have my first band fill on 16th Feb. The first 2 weeks I did not want to eat and felt full on soup and milkshake. I lost 14lb in the first 3 weeks. I do feel a bit more hungry now as my stomach has heeled and I have not had a fill yet. I was informed in my consultation that it can take anything from 3 - 7 fills to get the restriction perfect, every one is different. The band can not be filled too quickly or you could end up not being able to hold down any food and this would make you sick. In your consultation the should of let you know all potential risks, if you eat soft foods like ice cream and chocolate these can go through the band easily and would stop your weight loss. You will need to eat slowly and have dryer foods once you are on solid food. There is a risk of the band slipping if you keep over eating and make yourself sick. I have a good after care package with my band, I can have as many fills as I need for the next 2 years. If there are any issues with the band I am covered for the next 2 years. During my consultation I was told that the band is a tool to help you, there is still a lot of work that you need to do for the band to be effective. It might be worth contacting another company for a consultation if you have not been given the full information you need to make a decision. I was told that there was around a 15% failure rate for the band, I have chosen to have the band as I felt confident that I could keep to a diet with the help of the band. I am really looking forward to solid food, even with no restriction I have not been able to eat as much as I used to, again this could be different for each individual. I have not regretted it so far. 

7

hi, I decided to go with healthier weight too. I am 3 weeks post Op and have lost 17lbs so far On the pre and post Op diet. I did my research and decided on healthier weight too . I have set realistic goals to loose the weight slowly and have got my mind set on healthy eating for life.

I went to the London clinic but decided to go to the Birmingham spire to have the Op.

having the band fitted is so far the best decision I have ever made. I'm not feeling hungry am following the advise given and am feeling fantastic.

I hope your journey goes well. Keep us updated 😊😊😊😊

8

Me again!

Just wanted to say that's it's not a particularly painful op. The worst part for me was the trapped wind in my shoulder and chest, because they pump you full of gas during the op and that can be quite uncomfortable for about a week!

Good luck with your full Laura x

9

Hey there, thank you so much for the replies Angel, Rachy, Rebecca, Bandaman, Laura and Joanna! Your comments are really helpful!

I did various internet searches and ended up going with the National Obesity Service (NOS) (the name makes me cringe to be honest!!!) they seem to be really helpful, some of the ladies having the op, and the surgeon that I saw was a Prof. Ali based in Crookston Road, Glasgow. Pre-consultation, i gave the ladies in the NOS my full social and medical history - I told them things that my partner of 20 years would't know!!!

Given that I had spent 4 years in med school, then another 2 years doing a postgrad in another medical discipline - he still felt it pertinent to draw me a little picture of what a stomach looks like!!! This left me with the thought that he didn't even look at the history given! To add 'insult to injury' the notes of another patient (and same stomach picture) were on the page adjacent to mine in an A4 book that he was writing on!

You're right - it is a lot of pennies to pay.....i was quoted £5950 (this was to include the £150 for the intitial consultation) I don't know if this is a fair price compared to the rest of your experiences? By the sounds of it - Healthier weight seems to be a good option - i've just emailed them. They also seem to have a clinic in Aberdeen, which is closer to where I live in the Highlands.

The Prof that I saw did seem to be more interested in the sleeve(Ithink) (it's the one where they take part of the stomach away) but this seemes too drastic for me (and £11K!)

Angel - did you actually have your op in Glasgow? Or did you have to go 'doon sooth'? I will be researching Simon Gibson! I will be annoyed at throwing £150 down the tubes for a cr@p consultation - but i'll go with the best!

Rachy - Oooft - that sounds bad! How did your band slip?  Was it through overeating or complications? Is the bypass the same as a sleeve? Sorry - i've only done my reserach on the band. But well done you! I am afraid of 'the boobies' going!!! They're still 'up there in my chunky state and am afraid that they'll droop if I get slimmer! Let me know how you get on!

Rebecca - I am glad to hear that you're not regretting your decision. I've thought that if I drop the weight slowly, that my skin will shrink back too! I don't want the weight loss to be so drastic that people start questioning me! Thanks so much for offering and help with my future questions.....you may regret that lol!!

BandmanI've just sent healthier weight a wee email - will wait and see what they come back with. Originally I went with the 2 year option with the NOS for £6950, there was was cheaper down in Birmingham for £4200 (approx) with only 3 months aftercare! I don't know if this is good or not - but i decided to 'go for broke' with the two years! The private company in Birmingham even offered that they would pay for my flights from Inverness!!! Let's be honest - it would be far less time consuming for me to fly from Inverness to Birmingham than to drive from Inverness to Glasgow!!! I will look into Prof. Favertti - though a couple more scars on my globe-ridged tum wouldn't bother me. so smoothies aree a good option post-op? I try to have a smoothie a day - the texture bores me, but I suppose, if it was all I was interested in eating - i'd be fine with that. 11lbs though - that's fantastic! 

Laura - You seemed to get more info than I did - who did you go with? Initially, I was told I had a BMI of 37ish, then when the prof weighted me (with my shoes on - he told me to keep them on!!) I was a BMI of 33. I am glad that you felt full! I was told by the consultant that I would actually feel full - just that i didnt want to eat! He told me that he had a patient that made a full roast dinner and actually pureed the whole lot - the thought of that wants to make me boke!!!! euugh!

Joanna - 17lbs - that's amazing! Good for you! Well jealous! I am glad to hear this - it confirms that I am at least on the right track!

Guys, thank you so much for this info - would you mind if i kept bugging you for more info? Please let me know how you're getting on.

Do you guys have another group - i.e like a closed facebook group where you all talk about experiences/foods to eat/problems etc? If you do - can I come and join and learn from you?

If I her from you again soon - then that's amazing and i'll look forward to it..................if not good luck on your journeys.....................i'll be rooting for you! 

Indy x

 

10

Hi Indy, yes consultation and op were both at Glasgow. They weren't the cheapest tbh but have a good 2 yr post op package. I would refuse to pay the consultation - doesn't sound like that's what you really got!! Good luck! smile

11

Hey, i had to pay the consultation up front. I doubt I'll get that back. I just realised that i made a mistake in my earlier (very long winded) post...... The consultant told me that I'd actually never have the full sensation again after eating...... That I'd just not want to eat! Is this correct? X

12

I'd say that was probably true for the first few days after surgery but I think in the long run you should get that feeling after eating a small portion of food.X

13

At least prof ali showed up for yours , me and my man both took time off work , drove to Glasgow waited 40 mins only to be told he had a PUNCTURE  and would nt be coming to consultation ,i am raging paid £150 , lost days pay and feul to get there for nothing , i am now considering Beutiful beigns Gastric sleeve .

14

That's terrrible Weejo. Are you getting your money back? I had thought about asking them for my money back - but i doubt I would get it! You defo should though!

Ive looked into that beautiful beings too - Prague that they're based, I think?  Ive been speaking to a lady who had the bypass - sounds so much better, so I am opting for that now - I am far too far away from Glasgow to be continually running up and down the road for band fills.

Let me know how you get on,

Indy x

15

Yes getting refund they also offered free consultaion but after that dissaster i am going with hospital group , was really thinking of going for beutiful beigns in prague but worried incase i run into any trouble they are a long way away , hospital group offering 2 years surgical care with band fitting so seems good deal , i wish you best of luck what ever your choice , it is a hard choice deciding which is best option to go for .

16

Hey, yes, tell me about it - totally a difficult decision! Chek out the surgery with Dr Chris Debruyen - that's who i am planning going with after countless hours researching! Ive not looked at the hospital group - but i will now after you mentioning them.

I wish you every luck with your procedure too, defo please keep in touch xx

17

I also looked into him aswell , for everything good you read you find something bad think i am just bit scared it goes wrong ,still not sure if band or sleeve better choice either , says hospital group offering 2 year surgical afer care with band and unlimited fills with clinics across country only bad point will need to go to Birminghan for op , think i just want the right one for rest of my life lol . will keep in touch i have consultation on thursday they also offer this for free .

18

Yes do keep bugging!

I paid the same price and wasn't charged a consultation fee but I guess that was budgeted for!! Hehe

Yes ask away! X

19

I have been booked in for 09/03 for band with hospital group with 2 years surgical cover , all seems very profesional and freindly people , just hope this works now , going abroad was to much of a chance for me wanted to stay here in uk .

20

This is my first post so please excuse any daft questions/comments.  I read your poet & I'm now even more confused!! 

I thought that there was only two private hospitals in Glasgow, Ross Hall & the Nuffield which carry out weight loss operations. Do these other companies mentioned use the hospital facilities & consultants?? Thanks.