Cadence121

Hi All, This time next week I'll be in Belgium, awaiting surgery. I'm a bit worried though - Frederik said I should follow a 2 week 'low-fat' diet, so I just started eating healthier foods, but haven't really been calorie counting or anything. And I'm eating a lot of carbs. However, the real problem is that I got panicky at the weekend and stuffed myself with absolute garbage (pizza, chocolate ice cream etc). So - did anyone cheat on their pre-op diet? (I plan to make up for it this week), and is there any recommendation on what diet to follow? I see a whole bunch of people on liquid diets PRE op. Have I put myself at risk? I know it sounds like I have NO self-control at all, but I have managed to successfully follow diets in the ast, I think it's all the 'after surgery you can't' got into my head and I went a bit nuts. I'm getting really worried, and waking up thining 'what am I doing??' R

Thanks wannabe! I'm booked for 18th October...I'm so glad I found this forum - people seem to be very supportive and it's a great source of information. )

Oh wow. I know everyone reacts in diferent ways, but since I booked my surgery it seems like all I'm hearing of is people having really bad experiences. Is it really worth it? I hope you're feeling better blondynurse! Sounds really traumatic you poor thing.

Yes Ellen - I've bitten the bullet. Paid my deposit today....argh!!!! Wannabe - thanks for the words of encouragement! I think I have a friend coming with me (she's letting me know this evening). I don't think she's fully supportive of it, but she doesn't want me to go by myself either. I can't quite tell if I'm excited or just plain freaked out about this. I finish my contract with work on the 14th, then flying to Belgium on the 17th? It's all so sudden. I guess it'll keep my mind off not having a job though!

Hi All, I'm booked in for 18th with Dr Chris. Still very scared, but really hopeful too. I know it's not a quick fix, but I'm hoping it will give me a helping hand to get myself on track. Terrified! R

Hey Ellen, Sorry for the delay, have been in London for the past week! I'm based in Dublin, so the fills would be nice and handy. I really just need to bite the bullet and book at this stage I think. I'm falling into a scary habit of eating all around me based on the fact I won't be able to when I get the band (arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!) - lol. I'm a nightmare! Thanks so, so much for sharing your story with me. Did you get any trouble with loose skin by the way? You lost it so quickly! I'm so nervous still - and I'm out of a job in a couple of weeks which isn't helping my stress levels. Urgh.

Hi Ellen! Thanks so, so much for your reply. Your story is absolutely incredible, and it's great to hear you had so much success - I feel so much better having heard your story. The yoyo-ing up and down is so soul destroying - it's so bananas! I KNOW I feel better when I lose weight...and yet somehow can't break the binging/overeating cycle! Wow...I think I'm really going to do this. My contract at work finishes mid-October...so I think I'll try and get an appointment for that week. I'll be broke...but hopefully losing weight! Thanks Ellen!!!!

Hi All! I'm very close to booking with Dr Chris De Bruyne to get the lap band. I'm really nervous though, and randomly feel very guilty (I've been trying to save for a housing deposit...and getting the surgery will blow half of my savings). I don't have much of a support network, and those I do have would not be supportive of surgery - and that's kinda of scaring me. I'm 5ft 5, 30 years old and approx 14 stone. I have avoided having my photo taken for years (apart from a brief spell at college when i went from a size 20 to a size 14....but it all crept back on over the following 2 years), and I'm always putting off doing things 'until I'm slim'. I haven't been slim since I was 10 years of age! I'd love to hear how some of you are getting on now. The forum for Ireland looks very quiet......Anyone from Ireland banded by Dr Chris? I had found a website touting Dr Chris, but when they contacted me they said they wouldn't work with him. Turns out it was Tullia Law (who is STILL emailing me despite me saying I wouldn't be going ahead) - I have seen some negative press about her on here. In the end I contacted Dr Chris and Frederk directly. Argh I'm so scared! I've seen people have traveelled over alone, which if I go ahead is what I'll do....definitely nervous about it though! Would love to hear back from you guys in Dublin/Ireland about how things are going....

Hi Yoyo, I'm in the same boat - trying to make the decision is really scary isn't it? I'm scared or judgement from family and friends, but I've struggled with my weight since I was 11. I'm now finding that I'm very stiff in the mornings. I put off doing anything fun etc because I'm always mentally saying 'I'll do it when I'm slim'. I've never been slim! I think there seems to be amazing support on this site, and reading all the different forums is definitely moving me towards getting it done! I think the other posters are bang on, it's got to be a decision that makes you happy! Very best of luck...maybe I'll see you on here again and we'll both be newly banded! )

Thanks very much for the reply. Frederik recommended I book a consultation with Dr Chris so that my mind could be put at ease. Told one friend yesterday that I was thinking about it, and she wasn't very supportive at all. It's so tough to know what's right!

Ok...so I'm looking into this whole gastric band thing, and I'm completely terrified. I'm 5 ft 5, approx 14 stone. and 30 years of age. I've been overweight since I was 11. I once lost 4.5 stone and maintained for over a year, but gradually it came back. It looks like Dr Chris has some great feedback, so I think if I go ahead, he looks like a solid choice. I have been in touch with himself and Frederick, and I need to fill out the hospital form. I had previously enquired with another company who had Dr Chris mentioned on their website, but when they followed up on my enquiry they said they don't work with him. They also seemed very pushy so I backed right off. If someone could help me with some questions, I'd really, really appreciate it. As much as the pros seem amazing, the down sides are really making me nervous! I'm going to throw out some questions, and I would really appreciate any input from personal experience! 1. I've heard that meats, breads and pastas are very difficult to eat after banding...in which case, what on earth do people survive on? I can't eat fish, it makes me feel ill! Is it mainly vegetarian diets? 2. I'm most definitely, absolutely, positively an emotional eater and I guess a food addict. I quit alcohol a year ago (not good for me at all), and smoking earlier this year. Seeing as I clearly have an addictive personality, I'm very worried that removing the food addiction by force may end up in a brand spanking new addiction rising....anyone found other compulsive areas arising post-band? I know that's very personal, so you obviously don't need to answer on the boards! 3. Is PBing really as terrible as it sounds? How can you avoid it? Do you have time to get out of company before everything comes back up? 4. I had heard of an increase in complications after 5 years -anyone know if this is true? 5. The port - can you feel it? As in, if you touch the skin over where it is, can you feel the port? Or can you feel it moving around in there? Do the fills hurt? 6. Has anyone regretted getting the band fitted? If I go ahead, I'll be using money I was supposed to be saving for a housing deposit....I feel enormous guilt at the thought of that...and I'm scared to tell my family as I think they'll judge me as vain. Any advice at all on the above would be much valued. And feedback on Dr Chris and the team from personal experience would be great! R