Gastric Band inserted in France on 9 October 2015 - what should I expect?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi interested in a discussion here...
Has anyone else gone abroad and private for the procedure?
I decided to have a gastric band inserted as I have a BMI of a tad under 40 and have had for many years. The NHS were not interested, In my part of GB the NHS will only help if you have a BMI of over 60.
So, after considerable research I opted for a private operation and to some money I went to France and had the procedure done there - but still had to find £3,300.
If you have to go private I would recommend this route and happy to pass details of the company and process to anyone. It took a few days this way - day one travel to France, have consultation and blood tests, day two spend free, day three operation and overnight in hospital, day four discharged and sent back to hotel, day five final meeting with doctor and then back home.
I have started my liquid diet. So far, I have lots of wind,am a bit tender, but not much hunger yet. Will be taking multi-vitamin supplements, particularly iron and living off soup and yoghurt for the next three or four weeks.
When I went in to hospital I was 121KG (19 stone), I shall be interested and hopeful to see how I progress.
One startling stastic the consultant told me - five year failure rate is 85%!
Fingers crossed that I shall be one of the lucky 15!
1 like, 16 replies
ash1976 saltytowers
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saltytowers ash1976
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You are right, of course, 2 weeks liquids, 2 weeks soft food.
I will be happy with 18lb in 10 weeks!
Keep you / me posted!
Cheers f'now
ash1976 saltytowers
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saltytowers ash1976
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He said the issues were that the band really only works for 2 years, during that time you have to lose your weight and change your lifestlye. Many patients regain all they have lost in year three! Also he said that people cheat the band by having too much sugar and too many high-calorie small snacks (say cheese, for example)
If this happens, he told me, that the only optionis to remove the band, wait three months and then have bypass.
I think he was trying to give me a kick start with tales of woe!
Needless to say, this was not mentioned before I handed over the cash!
ash1976 saltytowers
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saltytowers ash1976
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Nothing stands the test of time, it seems
saltytowers
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Nothing stands the test of time, it seems
Bandid saltytowers
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saltytowers Bandid
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debnug saltytowers
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saltytowers debnug
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The France service is very good and much less of a fuss than the uk nhs one seems to be. If you are going ke havre then the hospital, doctors and nurses are very good. The only downside is that I need a saline full every month which is £95 every time and I expect will continue for a year or more, factor that in.
The band experience so so far is mostly positive. I have to avoid bread and meat now and if I eat too quickly the consequences are unpleasant as all who have gone before me will testify.
I aim to lose a further 3 stone by end of 2016 and as I have the band filled more and more so my appetite reduces, so it is well within the realms of possible...
Bon chance
sallyt17 saltytowers
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Many thanks
Sally
saltytowers sallyt17
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I dealt with Mrs Tullia Law, who spoke perfect English. The operation was done at a French National Health hospital in Le Havre - I had a prvate en-suite room.
I have lost 30K in six months, so gone from 135 to 105 - and while Iam still heavier than I want to be, the difference is amazing (I am 1.85M, early 50s and feel and look better than I have in ages.
The French approach is a little diffterent to the British. I did not have a pre-op diet, I simply arrived in Le Havre on Tuesday, had a check up (bloods etc) on Wednesday, operaion on Thursday, one night in hospital, check up on Friday, follow up on Saurday home that evening.
I meet with a Bariatric Nurse for band fills and general check each Month or as required (note this costs £95 each time).
All in all, a very good and sraightforward process. The hopital was superb, as was the hotel - I even got to enjoy some excellent sea food restaurants before the operation! The nurses were attentive and friendly, the doctor spoke perfect Engiish albeit a little perfuntory in manner
I have had no post-operative issues and while I still make the mistake of eating the wrong food and too quickly sometimes (I have had to more or less give up meet, others I spoke to had to give up bread), I can honestl say that, so far, this was the best investment I have ever made.
Saved £5K+ also
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kirstyallen1990 saltytowers
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gulis33609 saltytowers
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