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GASTRIC BAND

Posted , 30 users are following.

leanne08738
leanne08738

Hi all,

Im 4.5 stone over weight and im looking into getting a gastric band,

i may sound drastic but i have tried eveything and i cant seem to get anywhere, all i think about is food and weight it takes over my life and i have had enough,

Anyone on here had a gastric band and how has it changed things for you? are you happy you did it or do you regret it?

Thanks

2 likes, 300 replies

300 Replies

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  • Rebecca02
    Rebecca02 leanne08738

    Posted

    Has anyone had alcohol yet? Kb?

    I don't drink often but would like to drink at my Christmas party on the 12th! Not too much of course!

    X

  • sandra37641
    sandra37641 leanne08738

    Posted

    Ive had a couple of glasses of wine and madhed up some roast dinner and its only been 5 days and i was fine
  • Rebecca02
    Rebecca02 leanne08738

    Posted

    How much has everyone lost so far? Hope your all ok! Xx
    • susan98611
      susan98611 Rebecca02

      Posted

      Hi I think I'm around the same time as yourself had my band fitted on 21st nov, I have been following all of your advise and helpful conversations with others on here.......well done you! Hoping you might be able to help me, getting really fed up with myself now I've had huge problems with going to the loo but better now as I'm eating more, but now I find my weight creeping back up. My first fill will be 5th jan. Any advise would be great. Thank you 
    • Rebecca02
      Rebecca02 susan98611

      Posted

      Hi!

      Thanks for your message! 

      I too also had problems with going to the toilet, but I've been taking a fibre supplement with my drinks and it keeps me regular!! But I agree that it was with the lack of food!!

      I feel the same, I can eat too much even after my first fill and my weight loss is continuing but not as much as it was! 

      My surgeon said that the fills are gradual so I still will be able to eat a fair bit, so don't worry I'm the same as you!! 

      I've got my second fill on Friday so hopefully I will notice a difference! Xx

  • sarah90936
    sarah90936 leanne08738

    Posted

    Hi all,I had a band fitted for the second time in September, first one slipped due to over restriction and was on the verge of eroding into my stomach, I decided to go with a different private hospital as the first one did not provide the aftercare and advice needed for such a life changing procedure. My advice to anyone considering having a band is to do your research and go for the best package of care post surgery. Good luck everyone on your journey! 
    • shelley12077
      shelley12077 sarah90936

      Posted

      Hi Sarah I'm going in on the 5 th jan for my band and I'm petrified of slippage or erosion and to be fair the pre care and advice has been poor to date so I'm very concerned about the after care already!!! How r you doing now?

      Shelley

  • shelley12077
    shelley12077 leanne08738

    Posted

    Hi we have the same issues and roughly weight to loose I go to be banded on the 5th very nervous!!!! 
  • Rebecca02
    Rebecca02 leanne08738

    Posted

    Hi everyone, hope you all had a great Christmas!

    How are you all getting on? 

    Has anyone else had a fill yet? Xx

    • jebo2106
      jebo2106 Rebecca02

      Posted

      Hi Rebecca, been pretty naughty so far....found hero chocs n proffiteroles going down way too easy.  Hopefully temptation out of the way soon.  First fill 10th jan and it cant come quick enough!  How are you getting on? X
    • Rebecca02
      Rebecca02 jebo2106

      Posted

      Haha yes chocolate still goes down well for me!

      I've had my second fill last week and can really feel the difference, sometimes not a good difference! But I guess it's just getting used to it! 

      Other than that I'm getting on quite well! Christmas wasn't as food fueled as usual!

      How about u? Xxx

  • Serendipity2015
    Serendipity2015 leanne08738

    Posted

    Hi all, just found this forum and found it interesting and helpful reading through everyone's posts.

    I'm booked to have a band done on 27th March. Am nervous for all the obvious reasons plus never had an op before, I'm a nurse and have never been a pt!!! Op being done in hospital I used to work in so awkward knowing people doin the op and nervous at walking through the hosp in case I bump into former colleagues! Silly I know but don't want them to know or ask questions. I know I don't have to tell them anything but keen to avoid all the awkwardness.

    The process so far has been 'bumpy'! Appointments not coming through so having to chase them, cons told everyone at initial appointment op could be done within 2-3mths if no sleep study needed and get passed by psych etc. I didn't need a sleep study and had 2 appointments with psych and whole process from 1st appointment to op will have taken 1 yr. Booked op date over the phone bout 3-4 wks ago, still not received confirmation letter so gonna chase that nxt wk.

    I know of 3 people who have had the op, 2 of whom appear to have problems keeping food down and they are now a few years post op, and another who still seems to manage to eat and drink normally! So curious to see how things go for me! Start the diet in a few wks, gotta get myself prepped for that, dieting and me don't go well!

    Anyway keen to hear from others esp those that are due to have the band or have just had it. And anyone else that has any help and advice to offer!

    Xx

    • Rebecca02
      Rebecca02 Serendipity2015

      Posted

      Hi! Welcome to the group!

      Can I ask whether it's nhs or private?

      I had a similar problem! I work at a nhs hospital which has a private hospital across the road where some of the doctors and nurses I work with also work privately there too! Luckily I didn't see anyone I directly knew just a doctor I knew worked in the hospital i worked at but luckily he didn't know where I worked although I have seen him at work since! We just smiled so it wasn't too bad!! Like you say you don't have to tell them just say your are visiting, unless of course they see you in your gown hehe!

      What pre op diet have you got to do?

      I had my op at the end of October x

    • Serendipity2015
      Serendipity2015 Rebecca02

      Posted

      Hi it's nhs. I know at least 2 drs in the team, 1 may recognise me so hoping he's not doin the op!! I don't want to walk through the hosp in my gown, Gonna wear coat and joggers and strip in the anaesthetic room!! hahaha

      I've got to do a 2 wk liver shrinking diet! It's low carbs, fat and high in protein, 800-1000 cals daily! It's really restrictive, gonna be hard but have to do it.

      Can I ask How u felt post op in the few wks after?? Was it easy to manage meals etc?? Guess it's gonna be a learning curve.

      Thanks

    • Rebecca02
      Rebecca02 Serendipity2015

      Posted

      I know how you feel about seeing people you work with! One of the anaesthetists doing my op is one I work with, but your gastric band op isn't going to be much different to other ones they've seen, I do know how you feel though!!

      Ah that's quite a nice pre op diet! I was only allowed to drink semi skimmed milk and no food! Had to drink atleast 4-5 pints a day! For 2 and a half weeks before! It was pretty tough but I knew I had to stick to it, especially as I was paying so much money for it!

      I tried to get it on the nhs but I had to complete a really long 2-3 year program and even at the end I wasn't guaranteed a band! I had my mind set so went privately!

      Post op wasn't too bad pain wise, the trapped wind in the shoulders/chest was the worst bit of it all so I would recommend getting windeze/antacids!

      Food wise I think every consultant or company suggest different things! For the first week I could only have soups and yoghurt, which stayed down fine! Then more mushy things like mashed potato for the next 2-3 weeks which was really nice! Then mince things like bolagnese but tiny portions for the following week and then had my fill at 4 weeks and then onto normal foods but just being careful!

      Didn't have a appetite for the first week or 2 and then you don't feel like you've got your band in until you start having the fills!

      Hope this helps a little! How much time have you got off work? X

    • Serendipity2015
      Serendipity2015 Rebecca02

      Posted

      That's really helpful, thanx.

      I told work I'll be off for 1-2 wks, so team lead said she'll mark me off for the 2 wks so it takes some of the pressure off me, but obs they'll be more than happy to have me back after 1 wk if I'm up to it!!

    • Rebecca02
      Rebecca02 Serendipity2015

      Posted

      Yes that's what happened to me!

      I felt 90% after 1 week but my job (probably like yours!) is really hard going and no limited duties are really available so I took the 2 weeks which I think was reasonable x

    • Serendipity2015
      Serendipity2015 Rebecca02

      Posted

      Mine would prob be ok, I'm a community nurse but Could prob do office duty/take calls for a wk but we'll see!! Am not gonna rush back but won't take p*$€ either!! We'll see!!
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