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Gastric band decision

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georgina1978
georgina1978

I am deciding whether or not to have a gastric band fitted. I am 37 5ft1 and 19 stone. I have 3 teenage children a day I have tried every diet going including just healthy eating. I have tried medication and even had personal trainers on and off over the past 2 years. Nothing is shifting this weight. I have always battled with my weight from having my daughter at 18 years of age and put 5 stone on... Although it didn't bother me too much as I found it pretty easy to lose weight and lose it at a reasonable speed. However the older I got the harder it got to lose it. At the minute I can go on a liquid diet and lose a stone in a few of weeks but then it stops and I don't lose anything unless I have just 1 healthy light meal which will help me lose another stone then it stops... So I decided to think about a gastric band which I am researching at the moment however it all just seems to be really bad stuff and the only good stories tend to be advertising privately so I don't believe they tell you the bad stuff.... Any help in me deciding would be great.... Also at the moment I am healthy except the weight and now getting a bad back due to the weight I even still go to the gym 3 times a week... But there is really bad heart problems in my immediate family which is what I'm wanting to prevent.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • marilyn34714
    marilyn34714 georgina1978

    Posted

    Hello Geogina, I was refered to a dietitian last year, I attended a weight management course for 14months , I lost a stone then I was refered to Luton hospital for Bariatric surgery Ii have just been on a milk diet for 28 days & lost 12lb.i'm due back at the hospital on the 30th hope to get a date for my bypass op. Ask you doctor to refer you to the hospital .x
  • jasmin46157
    jasmin46157 georgina1978

    Posted

    Hi,

    I was the same as you, tried every diet going although I'm only 22 I felt this was right for me.

    I had mine fitted today, just about awake enough to write this. In quite a bit if pain but the des and nurses are doing all they can!

    I can't really give a full opinion on it yet as have only just had it put it in.

    I do not regret it one bit and am confident this will work for me!

    There are a lot of bad stories around but good aswell I feel that there definitely more good stories than bad anyway! But lost of the bad stories are due to the people not following the life style change correctly.

    Hope this helps a little

    Jasmin x

    • Nat1982
      Nat1982 jasmin46157

      Posted

      Hi jasmin46157

      I also had mine fitted today smile feeling a little tired but so relieved it's done. Where did you have yours fitted? Maybe we could keep each other posted on progress?? X

    • jasmin46157
      jasmin46157 Nat1982

      Posted

      Hi Nat,

      I had mine at beneden hospital how about you?

      Oh yeah that would be amazing to have someone to talk to that is going through the exact same feeling!

      I'm quite sore and have a lot of gas pain at the moment. The nurses have give me peppermint tea it's really helping with the gas!

      Jasmin x

    • Nat1982
      Nat1982 jasmin46157

      Posted

      Hi jasmin

      I had mine done at spire hospital Manchester. I had awful has pain yesterday but thankfully it seems much better today.

      The awful thing is I think I'm hungry but can't tell if it's just incision pain and I'm scared of sipping too much liquid in one go as thankfully u haven't been sick at all yet 😊

      How are you getting in today? X

    • jasmin46157
      jasmin46157 Nat1982

      Posted

      Hi Nat,

      I was also in a lot of pain! Slightly better today but still hurting a lot!

      I've drank quite a bit just small sips!

      Also peppermint tea no kill is gear to help the gas come up!

      I haven'tt been sick at all and haven't felt sick touch wood!

      Jasmin x

    • Nat1982
      Nat1982 jasmin46157

      Posted

      Hi jasmine

      As I write this I long for a sandwich and some crisps lol.

      God I'm starving hungry!! Lol had a bit of protein shake but hasn't really helped at all so I wonder if it is just the tenderness?!?!

      Still quite tired spent alot of yesterday and today in bed n getting up and walking round regularly.

      Can't wait to feel normal again!! But hey...... We did it!!! 😊😊 x

    • jasmin46157
      jasmin46157 Nat1982

      Posted

      Yeah I think I feel quite. Hungry but can't work out if it's hunger or the gas rumbling around lol

      Yeah we did and things will only get better from now on!

      Yeah I Cant wait to feel normal again!

      Yeah walking seems to help a lot!

      Jasmin x

    • Nat1982
      Nat1982 jasmin46157

      Posted

      Hey jasmin

      How you feeling today? How you coping with the liquids?

      I'm feeling a lot brighter but wishing myself back to normal like mad! Getting a bit stir crazy Lol

      Nat x

    • jasmin46157
      jasmin46157 Nat1982

      Posted

      Hi Nat,

      I feel better than I did yesterday! Buts till in quite a lot of pain!

      Was very nearly sick in the night thanks god I wasn't! Quite tired today as didn't sleep well!

      I'm gonna try and walk to the local shop just round the corner to get a bit of fresh air, like you can't wait to feel normal again!

      What are you having as your protein ?

      Jasmin x

    • Nat1982
      Nat1982 jasmin46157

      Posted

      I'm having exante protein shakes ( I had loads left over from yet another failed diet attempt) lol I can only manage about a third of one at a time then I get the pain in my shoulder ( I'm assuming that means I'm full) but I get quite uncomfortable afterwards, I feel better if I just have juice and water to be honest.

      How about you? How much are u managing to drink at a time I'm worried its it enough 😕 xx

  • mand666
    mand666 georgina1978

    Posted

    Hi Georgina

    I had my gastric bypass op in February so am 6weeks out from surgery I dicided I would have this op as I was like you tryed every diet and still lost no weight I am 42 4ft 11 and wieghed about 20 Stone so was well over weight I also have a bad back and diabetes. Needed to do something a couple of friends of mine one had band other had gastric bypass put me on right track you got to be committed to following the life style change and you still have to work at it just like if you were dieting but it's worth it I love the fact that I now have no diebietes and feel heathier in my life style choice so if anything I would tell you it's worth it but you need to be in the right frame of mind and ready for the challenge because it's hard and not the easy option like most people think it is ,the only other thing I would say is to tell those who love you as you will need the support when you have had it done I told all my family kids mum and dad brother and sisters they didn't like the thought of me having the op especially my husband he was afraid of losing me but we got through it and all is well but don't think I could have done it on my own cause although they didn't agree they still supported me I didn't ask for there approval but needed there support and they new this it was Formost my decision and I can say it was the right one for me so if you do decide to have it done no matter what you pick make sure it's your decision and be proud of yourself for making it i hope this helps xx

  • Iamgreg
    Iamgreg georgina1978

    Posted

    Hi Georgina,  you will know  if it feels right for you !   I'm 5ft 7 and when I got to 19stone 2lb, I thought enough is enough, then I saw Tina Malone on the TV advert and spoke to my wife and she agreed, that if I wanted to have it done then I could, so I enquired around and then decided to pay private, and booked mine at Dolan park, I had mine done on Thursday 19th March 2015 and It took 3weeks in total from decision to op,  I have had some complications, but no pain and I'm hone, my band has swollen so I cant have yoghurt as it doesn't fit down the hole until, swelling goes down, everyone was so helpful and caring, nothing was too much,  be careful about the negative comments you read on the Internet, majority are not following their regime and blame the band for their problems, good luck with your decision you make,  since the decision till now I have lost 24lb, but I am told that when whilst waiting for the optimum weight loss you may put weight on during the band adjustments process, but at least it is controlled

     

  • georgina1978
    georgina1978

    Posted

    Thanks everyone it's really good to hear positive things regarding the weight loss surgery. I did visit my doctor and she has referred me so I guess it's just a waiting game now which I'm prepared to do as it gives me the extra time to research it all. I was offered the band on the NHS 5 years ago but when I went to see the consultant he was telling me to stop eating crisps and chocolate... I did tell him that I don't really eat those it's more savory foods that's my downfall but he wouldn't accept that and kept repeating it. Then he was pushing me towards having a bypass which I clearly stated I did not want that... He also told me I'll be waiting about 2-3 years for it. In the end I decided against it as he made me feel so uncomfortable. I totally understand that this is no quick fix.. I really do feel like this is the way to go whereas before it didn't feel right... I am also hoping for a much more understanding consultant!

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