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lil

LAP-BAND Patients
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Posts posted by lil


  1. Hi everyone had to have my port removed a few months ago due to infection and have now decided to have the band removed. I live in Ireland but Chris De Bruyne removed the port in Belgium. Has anyone had this done by Chris? If so was it done keyhole? I've emailed him just waiting for a reply.

    Would love to hear back from someone whos had it done

    Thanks


  2. hi lil,

    thanks for the information. if you have that number of fredirck handy i would give them a ring. if there is a nurse available in ireland full time that would make a big difference.can i ask did you travel by yourself and if so were you ok with everything?i may have to go by myself which freaks me out a bit.also is there an average of fills that most people get in the first year and does that lessen in year two?do you let your doctor know before or after surgery or not all?again many thanks for replying to my questions.

    geri

    Hi Geri I think you're probably better off emailing Frederik he usually replies on the same day. My hubby came with me. If I were you I would try to arrange the op for a time when you can have someone travel with you. You'll be very sore after the op and it would be better for you if you had someone to look after you in the hotel when you went back. Also it would be hard trying to manage your luggage on your own. Lots of girls have done it alone and managed grand though but I personally would prefer to have someone with me.

    As regards fills everyone is different I had to have alot of fills the first year and some people only have to have 3 or 4. I didn't tell my GP as I thought he might give out to me and try to talk me out of it. I only told him recently and I had my op 3 years ago!! He was fine about it though. Some people found it easier to tell their GP beforehand


  3. Hi Brenners/Lil/Emerald and all.

    Brenners, just read your post and am nearly in tears on your behalf. All I can say is like yourself the only success I have had losing weight is with the band. I know I haven't met you but I get the impression that you are a strong person and that you will be able to face getting a new band fitted when everything heals properly.

    I am meeting with Frederik who is Dr Chirs De Bruynes right hand man next Thursday for a consultation about having a Tummy Tuck done. Did some research and they came back with a good inclusive price and have only read good things about them. Friend of mine just back from Belgium on Saturday having had the band fitted by them and said the hospital and care was top notch.

    Best of luck Brenners on Wednesday, your luck will change for the better. Please stay in touch on the site.

    xxx

    Ger

    Hi Ger I know its terrible for poor Brenners my heart goes out to her, I sent her a PM. Frederik is fantastic and I'm sure the surgeon he's recommending will be too. The hospital in Belgium is lovely and its spotless the cleaning lady was washing walls and doors when I was there! I'm so sorry I didnt go there for my op. I was thinking of getting a tummy tuck too but after all I've been through with the band and now the infection in the port and the pain theres not a chance I'd do it now!! Fair play to you I'm sure you'll be delighted with the results.

    Frederik organises everything from the taxi from the airport to the hotel he's brilliant. The hotel is very near the hospital and the train station is right beside it and its only about 3 stop to Brussels centre....not that theres alot there!! Best of luck and let us know how her consultation goes.

    I'm feeling alot better this week my tummy is not as sore. I still have to have it packed every day by a nurse and that'll have to go on for another 10 days or so. I've gotten over the shock of losing the port but I have to say I'm really enjoying being able to eat fruit and normal food again. I havent touched any rubbish since the op so please God it continues xx


  4. hi lil,

    i really appreciate you answering my post. i have read some of the horror stories of acs and my heart goes out to all of you who had so much problems. the company i am thinking of is www.gastricbanding.ie maybe you could have a look at it and tell me what you think. i just like the fact that the aftercare is available in dublin as and when you need it. i have heard of dr chris and i know he does a wonderful job. well done on your weight loss and your strenght of charachter in keeping going after all you have been through. i look forward to hearing from you soon

    thanks

    geri 11

    Hi Geri

    No probs at all, glad to help. If it were me and its just my opinion I would go to Chris De Bruyne. I had first hand expericence last week of Frederik (who organises it) and Chris De Bruyne himself, they were both fantastic. Its a proper hospital which is spotless. There are so many people on here that have been over to Chris and can't recommend him enough. He also has aftercare in Dublin, they come over once a month to do fills and they have an Irish nurse living here who is available 24/7 if you have problems like overfills etc.

    Frederik organises everything from taxis from the airport to hotel and to hospital, hotel, op the whole lot. I've seen the other end with ACS which wasn't pleasant and I'm just so sorry I didn't go to Belgium in 2007 when I had my op. I was terrified of going abroad as I worried about aftercare so paid 10,000 to have it here and ended up with no aftercare at all. Not sure if I told you this already but theres another thread all about Chris De Bruyne which has fantastic people willing to help you. This is the link

    http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/anyone-know-dr-de-bruyne-chris-41669/

    Like I said its upto yourself what you decide to do I can only tell you if I was in your shoes what I'd do. I would be more comfortable going to a surgeon I've heard great reviews about than someone you don't know. If you've any more questions just shout


  5. Hi guys,

    I was banded with ACS in 2007. I lost about 4st initially but I've been at a full stop as regards weight loss for well over a year , despite still having some restriction. I've been in contact with a few private hospitals but they dont seem to want to know you, if they haven't done the op themselves. I still need to lose at least 5st. Can anyone recommend where i could go to, to have the band reviewed and possibly get a fill. Many thanks guys and continued success to all!

    Hiya (remember me I met you in town in Maggi and Julie a while back :confused:) a crowd called ECFS come over to Dublin once a month to do fills, they work in consultation with Chris De Bruyne in Belgium whos fantastic. It would be worth your while to go in and talk to Frederik Serneels or Chris Duprez they're fantastic. This is his email address frederik.serneels@ecfs.be


  6. Does anyone els get a pain behind their left shoulder blade and a dull ache for an hour or two after eating?

    Hiya everyone thanks for all the good wishes, much appreciated.

    Baarbs that pain is wind related and should settle down after a few days though some girls I know had it for a bit longer, don't know why you only get it in the left side though!. Try hold your hands down by your side and slide them down as if trying to touch the side of your knees this should help relieve the pain. I think the wind pain is nearly worse than the pain of the op but it'll send down soon. Best of luck xx


  7. I am considering going to the clinic called Haven in Dublin, Ireland to get a gastric band and would like to know other people's experiences who have had this procedure in this clinic and more importantly what they felt about the aftercare service.

    Hiya Geri who is the surgeon? Have never heard of it. I was banded in Dublin by a company called ACS in January 2007, it was a complete nightmare the surgeon was banned in Ireland then the company went into liquidation so we were left with no aftercare it was a complete nightmare.

    I'm just back from Belgium having had to have my port removed. I would highly recommend the surgeon Chris De Bruyne he was fantastic he only charges something like 4300 euro which includes 3 nights in a hotel for you and your partner and you stay 1 night in the clinic - which is a proper hospital with excellent facilities. I was too nervous to go abroad when I had my op and paid 10,000 to have the op in Dublin and it was the biggest mistake I ever made. Chris has a management company called ECFS run by Frederik Serneels whos fantastic, they come over the first Thursday(I think) of the month and provide aftercare(fills) for patients.

    Hopefully some other girls will have heard of the company but I would research it fully there are alot of cowboys operating in Ireland who havent a clue what they're doing and are providing very bad aftercare.

    Take a look at thishttp://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/anyone-know-dr-de-bruyne-chris-41669/

    Anymore questions just shout


  8. Hi girls well I came back from Belgium today minus my port! Infection was too bad to replace it. I'm now left with a gaping hole in my tummy which has to be packed daily by a nurse! The port cant be replaced for a few months.

    The whole set up in Belgium is fantastic I couldn't recommend them enough, just so sorry I didn't save myself nearly 6 grand by going there in the 1st place. Frederik and Chris De Bruyne were fantastic so professional compared to ACS. I wasnt even given support socks for theatre or injections to stop blood clots by ACS which was all done in Belgium. The hospital is a proper hospital and spotless.

    Gerri Frederik was saying they're looking into doing plastic surgery soon if you want his email address I have it.

    After all I've been through I've decided I'm going to spend the next few months exercising and trying to eat the right foods and see if I can even maintain the weight I'm at, my band is empty so please God I'll stick to it.

    Well done to you all and keep up the work xx


  9. Hi everyone great to see all the new bandsters are feeling better. Well I came back today minus my port. The infection was too bad to have the port replaced. Have to wait a few months til everything heals. Chris and Frederik were fantastic so sorry I didn't have my band done there in the first would have saved myself a fortune and would have received much better care. Thanks to everyone for the help and support and a special thanks to Gary


  10. Hello everyone,

    Been looking at some of the previous posts and thinking of going ahead with this procedure. Can someone please post up the e-mail address for Dr Chris De Buryne or Frederick ? or do you have to ring the number on the "Professional Beauty" website ?. Any help appreciated. Best wishes to those above considering or just undergone their surgery.

    Jean

    Hiya Chris De Bruynes email is: chris.debruyne@advalvas.be and Frederiks is frederik.serneels@ecfs.be. When you email Chris he will reply telling you he's passed your details onto Frederik and he usually replies really quickly


  11. Hi Lil

    Best of luck with your trip to Brussels, from what I have read and heard you are in good hands with Chris De Bruyne. I understand your anger with ACS we all got a raw deal from them. :)

    Hope it all goes well and you are on the road to recovery quickly.:w00t:

    Ger

    Hi Ger great to see you posting again and well done on the fantastic weightloss. I haven't lost anymore weight I'm up and down like a yo yo:crying: Thanks a million I'm bricking it for Tuesday. I'm upto 90 because the infection hasn't cleared and I'm on my 2nd dose of antibiotics (4 times a day!!), he said he'll only take the port out and leave out for 6 months if infection not cleared so I've everything crossed it will be, though not looking likely its so sore.

    Brenners thats great you have someone looking after you now it'll be worth the money if you can get back on track. I'm hoping Chris De Bruyne will sort mine out for it


  12. :w00t:

    Hi Garry and everyone who has sent good wishes. Just got back to the hotel. We are all 7 of us doing well. I was the last on the list so didn't get done till after 4pm. Leave the old boilers till last.

    Feel ok though bit tender at the moment but glad Sam is here with me for the suppoert and to do the fetching and carring.

    All 7 of us have got on well so we have all been looking out for each other.

    Will talk again next week as travelling tomorrow am.:)

    Hi Baarbs delighted all went well for you all. Take it easy now and recover xx


  13. Hi girls great to see you back posting. I'm heading over to Brussels early Monday morning, operation Tues with Chris

    De Bruyne. Port area still infected, on my 2nd dose of antibiotics and still not clearing so I'm bricking it, he said he will only take the port out and leave out for 6 mths if infection still there so hoping for a miracle at this stage.

    Brenners what does the money include with the Blackrock clinic? Like you I paid 10 grand plus all the fills I've had to pay for and now this is costing another 2 grand plus flights!! If I could get my hands on the lady responsible I'd swing for the bitch:angry:

    Hopefully people will start posting, I agree Brenners we should all stick together especially when we're having problems. I'm hoping Chris De Bruyne is going to sort my band out for me now


  14. Dublin was the last two days of our trip. We stayed at Stephen's Hall. We had lunch at Judge Roy Bean's. We did all the touist-y things like the bus tours and horse and buggy ride and loved St. Stephen's Green. And of course we shopped in the very crowded shopping district. I would love to go back to Ireland but it just wouldn't be the same without my husband.

    Sorry hadn't seen that your husband had died, sorry to hear that xx


  15. My husband, children and I vacationed in Ireland for two weeks in the summer of 1996. It was a vacation of a lifetime. The country is so beautiful. We especially loved Dingle and the Ring of Kerry. Around every corner was what I called a calendar picture - you know those calendars of Ireland? We got a chance to meet one of my husband's relatives in Co. Cavan (Shercock). I am so glad we had the chance to go there before my husband died (far too young) 4 years ago.

    Now onto the band. I was banded in Sept. 2008 and it has never worked for me like it has for others, either. I have a 4cc band and my former surgeon overfilled me in 2 fills to 3cc's. I developed a lot of problems and he took out 1cc. I then switched doctors and am happy with my current doctor.

    I have only lost about 15 lbs due to the band and have not lost any weight in almost a year. My total weight loss is about 75 lbs from my highest but that is due to my own dieting, the 6 month pre-op diet and the liquid diets before and after surgery.

    Plus, I got stuck about a month ago and it landed me in the ER and an overnight hospital stay. All my fill was removed. An upper GI showed I have esophageal motility disorder, plus previous ones show I have a hiatal hernia. I had never had either before the band. Plus I get left shoulder pain from time to time, also band related.

    So, all in all, I am disappointed in how the band has worked for me, because I follow all the band guidelines and exercise every day.

    I hope you are able to resolve your band problems. Good luck.

    Hiya yes there are beautiful places in Ireland alright, I live in Dublin. Sorry you're having so many problems with your band. I hope you can get them sorted out, its very frustrating alright. Thanks for your good wishes, hopefully when I have the port replaced the band will start working properly for me.


  16. Hi Lil, When are you going to see Dr Chris. I am going on the 14th of Jan and my husband is going with me, if it is the same time the men could keep each other company. I know there is an age difference but my husband is good company and also Irish (don't know that that is such a good idea 2 Irish men let loose in Belgium ha ha) apparently the Campanile is in a small town but it has a square with restaurants and bars.

    Hiya I'm not arriving until 18th January and op is on 19th. That would have been great thanks a million for the offer. Are you getting nervous/excited now about the op? It won't be long now


  17. hi, i guess you are booked with ecfs, do they know its that airport as i know taxis are included but i know they also add quite a bit for that airport, just checking as i would hate you too have a problem when your there.

    g

    Hiya Garry yes I emailed Chris De Bruyne first and Frederick from ECFS got in touch with me then. I emailed him and asked was return taxi fares to Charleroi included in the price and he said yes. Maybe its different when you are getting a band done as its a set price or something? Did you stay in the Campanile hotel? I so was it ok, is it in the middle of nowhere? My poor hubby is coming with me so will probably be bored to death!

    Thanks again for all the help


  18. Hi everyone,

    I'm new to this site. Just wondering if anyone has had their band done in Birmingham with the "Hospital Group" or if anyone has heard good or bad reports about them. I'm booked to have my Band fitted on the 23th Jan '10. It is costing £6995(stg) or just under €8000 for 2 years aftercare and with unlimited fills. I live in the Northwest so I am going to be getting my fills in Belfast as they have a weekly clinic there and because its closest to me. They also have clinics in Dublin, Cork and Galway. From reading this site it seems that most people have gone to Dr Chris De Bruyne in Brussels. The reason I chose the Hospital Group was because of the weekly clinic but now i'm wondering should I change to Dr De Bruyne and he seems to be alot cheaper. I have only paid a deposit of €500, so still have time to change my mind. Would love to hear anyones advise.

    Hiya if I were you I would post on the UK thread aswell as there are probably lots on there who have been banded there.

    I'm from Dublin and was banded in 2007 by ACS, I paid 10,000 euro compared to the 4,000-4,500 being charged abroad. I was afraid to go abroad in case anything happened to me here and there would be no-one to look after me so I borrowed the 10 grand to feel safer. Boy was I wrong:unsure: a few months after I was banded ACS went belly up and we were left with no aftercare. I was overfilled one time and rang the clinic all weekend which was closed, I ended up having to go to my local hospital who could only put me on a drip to rehydrate me until the surgeon arrived back in Dublin to give me a defill. I paid the extra money to avoid this:mad2:

    After all the money I paid I was left with no aftercare whatsover. I now attend fill clinics which are held I think its the 1st Thursday of the month in Dublin...as far as I know they go to Belfast aswell but I would double check that if I were you. Its Chris De Bruynes management company who do the fills this is their website www.ecfs.be. They also organise banding for Chris as far as I know.

    I'm going over to Chris De Bruyne in 2 weeks time to have my port replaced. Theres another thread on here http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/anyone-know-dr-de-bruyne-chris-41669/ theres lots of info on there you should take a look.

    I would really think hard about it, I have been in touch with lots of girls who were banded by Chris De Bruyne and others abroad and they are all very happy.

    Best of luck whatever you decide


  19. Hi everyone, can't believe how quiet the thread has gone, nobody ever seems to post anymore. I'm banded 3 years today and still not at target:crying: the band just hasnt worked properly for me. I'm either way overfilled I can't swallow my own saliva never mind anything else or underfilled and can eat for Ireland:cursing:

    I put on about 6lb over xmas. My port is causing me problems and is way too near my skin so has to be moved. Its really sore at the minute and just about through my skin, going to my GP tomorrow to get antibiotics. I'm going over to Chris De Bruyne on 18th January to have the port moved. Not looking forward to that at all. Its costing another 2,000 euro to have done so in total I've spent 12,000 not including the fills at 120e a pop. I'm so sick of it at this stage.

    Would love to hear how everyone else is getting on


  20. hi< i never went to that airport but i think its quite a distnce i have heard about 80-100 euro in a taxi, have u booked your flights if not try and get to international s in the long run with taxis its about the same.

    Thanks Garry. Yes have booked the flights with Ryanair, Aer Lingus was too dear. Thankfully the taxi fares is included, was just curious how long it was as we've a very early flight coming back and was wondering what time we'd have to leave the hotel.


  21. Hello everyone I was banded in Dublin January 2007 the company went into liquidation and the aftercare was virtually non existent. I havent had much success with the band as I am either overfilled or can eat anything.

    Anyway I went to see Chris Duprez in Dublin for a fill and he said my port was now way too close to my skin and it would need to be replaced. I have been in touch with Chris De Bruyne and it will cost 2000 euro to have the port replaced.

    Has anyone else had to have this done with Chris? Would love some feedback.

    Thanks a million


  22. Hi Lil,

    Did you do a a barium swallow the last time you were filled to make sure the band hasn't slipped?

    Mine slipped last year after having it for 3yrs. I had to get it replaced in November because it went un-noticed for too long. I also had problems at night and would have to get up, due to acid reflux.

    Some people do notice that their band seems tighter from excercising so it could be that as well.

    I would definately go to the Dr. asap and have them check you out to avoid having to go through any more than you have to!

    I had to call my Ireland friend to get the conversion from stone to pound to figure out what 3 1/2 was!

    I hope this helps some and that everything turns out ok for you!

    Thankyou so much for replying. Last time this happened the surgeon just said I'd know all about if I had a slip and that I was just overfilled, even though I hadn't had a fill for months before that and was fine. He took about 1/2 ml out and was grand again. He then put the 1/2 ml back in and I've been fine for months and its happened again. I didn't have a barium swallow done, he does the fills without xray.

    My surgeon is not in the country anymore but I will try to find someone else I can go and see.

    Thanks again:thumbup:

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