lifebegins2012

Hi everyone. I'm 4 days away from my 'B'day' and am thinking about what I want to record. I'll take a pre-op pic as normally I avoid cameras like the plague so I don't have one where I'm not stood at the back of a crowd! I'm not sure what to do about measurements tho. All along I've thought I wouldn't measure myself as I know I'm big and I don't want to be reminded how embarrassingly big I got. I'd never tell other people my measurements as I find figures are a stark reality( and we all kid ourselves that we don't look as big as we actually are). Will I regret not measuring?? At 5 days my surgery co-ordinator was happy with my weight -loss on a calorie counting preop diet so I'm sticking to that until the op. I'm doing 1,000 to 1,200 a day. She reassured me that some people find it really hard to stick to calorie counting which is why the milk diet if often suggested to take the focus off food. I've had 2 sticky days where I have gone over the calories but I think they have balanced out overall. I've decided that because I'm calorie counting, any pre-op loss won't be in my overall figures as it's just like any other diet. My starting weight will be whatever my kitchen scales show on the morning of surgery. In a way I think this is just a self preservation thing- not wanting to think I got as big as I did. I'll be more than content to know I'm down to wearing a UK size 12 clothes rather than having lost 5stone( 70lbs). If I mention 5 stone loss I'll get gasps but will just be reminding myself of the guilt for getting so heavy. What's everyone else going to do? Any thoughts?

Great news!!!! You'll be making your mind boggle from the avid reading you're about to do on here!! I'm 7 days away, no liquid diet but calorie counting xx

HI. My surgeon has told he that he may leave some in at the time of fitting but I won't expect it:)

I googled wls and the word 'support'. It lists ones round the country but my local one isnt on there. Only that group came up xx It looks like most are set up by patients having surgery at nearby hospitals. The group I'm going to tomorrow night is similar but there are members who have travelled abroad for their surgery. xx nite xx

Found this one for you... Liverpool Location: Lee Vally Millenium Centre Childwall Valley Rd Liverpool, Merseyside, L25 2PR liverpoolsupport@wlsinfo.org.uk Meeting day: Tuesday Time: 6.30pm-10pm Frequency: Monthly - Third Tuesday

HI Sarah. There's lots of support and good suggestions here. I read your status but had a neighbour round for the evening so couldnt coment earlier. She had me in tears. I only told her last night, she's told her boyfriend who apparently said ' Why's she ****ing having a band' etc etc. In the end I told her to stop talking about it as I didn't need to justify myself to anybody(after I'd expalined over and over). She said if I was doing it for me then go ahead. LIKE I NEED HER APPROVAL. I got upset, she came over and hugged me( I wanted to punch her. SHE'D made me upset). As you know I've told people I'm having the surgery and it seems to be men who just don't 'get it'-my dad, both my brother in laws and now a neighbours boyfriend. My brother was fab tho( he's just married his love who has been at least 340lb since they met 10years ago) Nothing is going to change my mind.I can't wait until I have the power of confidence when I can hold my head high, be brave enough to walk into a pub alone and wear those 'oh so high stilettos'. Sarah it does sound like you need to talk to a few people. Start with the co-ordinator and ask for other people that may be more appropriate. The psych assessments are done if having surgery on the NHS and ours was just the tickboxes on the form. I agree they should have at least been more comprehensive and gone over at consultaton. I wish you well whatever you decide . You could probably do with writing things done-- pros/cons and a big long list of questions you need answering xxxxxx

My post was based on what I have learnt from fellow patients at my hospital but obviously it is just for info and every surgeon have their own criteria xx

HI.All surgeons are different but as a guide.. I had a choice of pre op diet but the total time is 2 weeks. The standard diet they( at the hospital i've used) ask you to follow is 'the milk and yoghurt' diet but I don't eat yoghurt or milkshakes so was given 2 other diet sheets. One is a basic 3 meal 1,000-1,200calorie a day sheet and the other is fluids, 3 fruits a day and 2 meals of steamed chicken/salmon with tonnes of veggies(no milk allowed). I'm 2 days in on the calorie counting one and have lost 3-4lb. As I haven't been told to lose a specific amount of weight, I had to push the co-ordinator to give me a figure to focus on. She said If I haven't lost 4-5lb after the first week, to really try the milk diet for the last week. Not everyone can manage the fluid diet but if you step up with your exercise, you will more than compensate any 'blips' along the way. They won't know you have eaten one thing bad from your blood test( I'm a nurse I know) but can check your liver function test which should be lower than a recent test just by the fact you have been dieting and eating less carbs overall xx

How exciting!! I have mine later this month, can't wait. Try and focus on all the positives as there are SOOO many. Are you going to take a pre op picture of yourself? It doesn't have to be something you'll share with others but as you go through your journey you can keep looking at it . Maybe start a 'secret diary' to jot down your measurements and thoughts, even your goals however big or small they are. Wishing you the very best of luck xx

Hi. Surgery is a HUGE thing so needs a lot of consideration. My starting bmi was 38( it might seem low on here but we're classed as obese from a bmi of 30) but that still means I'm carrying 5 stone of excess weight! Try not to compare yourself to other people, everyone has their own starting weight/health issues and targets. The way I see it is that I can lose some weight on a diet but can't maintain the loss and haven't been anywhere near target for over 10years. I'm not on any medication and have no health concerns (except for pain in my left foot when I first get up) so I'm doing this to stop the onset of problems such as type 2 diabetes,etc. I should be about 195-198lb on the day of my surgery and will be glad to be under 200lb. xx

HI. Congrats on your weightloss so far! I agree with Allison that last supper( or suppers for some of us) were up to the pre op diet. I bet you are buzzing right know and have managed a fab loss so maybe if you feel you HAVE to have a treat, have just one thing thats naughty -but- nice rather than a whole meal. That way you have rewarded yourself but won't be beating yourself up about it in the morning. Good luck with the surgery.. I'm having mine on 29th xx

Happy St Patrick's Day to you too!! I'm being banded in 13days. Am still trying to get my head round the protein shakes and other things on my shopping list. Hope you get a better night's sleep tonight x

I wondered what it was too!! Wasn't sure if it was a good place or not. 17days to go til banding

Hi Saz, I'm glad you've found it useful.Since I had my meet with the consultant I have had a little breather, some 'me' space. Travelling to the hospital and seeing the team and talking to them about the date (or should I say 'our day' lol) of surgery was somehow a massive step forward even though I had already paid the deposit, booked the op and talked about it none stop weeks. Yesterday I was a little quiet but I think it was because Friday was so important and I had a bit of a tension headache leading up to my appointment. I couldn't see a reason I might have been rejected for surgery but the worry was still there.I just need to get the next 11days over and start the pre op diet! 25days to go xx

For those of us who are UK based and self funding our gastric bands, cost is a HUGE consideration. The adverts for travelling to Europe for cheaper surgery can sometimes almost seem an ideal option but what about 'unexpected costs'? With all surgery comes the concerns of potential problems and for me, that was the one of my major deciding factors. A recent reduction in UK banding surgery was enough to keep me here. A finance tip is given at the bottom of this write up:) The comparisons- TRAVEL TO EUROPE FOR BANDING If you want your initial consultation in the UK there is a charge of £100 or more-plus travel costs. Quite often the surgeon will say it is fine to have the consultation on the night before your surgery when you are in Europe (a long way to travel and possibly find out that for whatever reason, you are not suitable for surgery). You will need to factor the cost of travel for you and a friend to the country and the taxis to and from your accomodation. You will need 2 nights stay at a hotel- sometimes this is in with the cost of surgery but not always. The cost of surgery can be from £4,000 Once back in the UK you have to pay for your consultation/band fills- each one is around £150. As a guide I have been told it is normal to have 6-8 adjustments over 2 years The doctors insist on a yearly xray or scan- cost unknown. Travel to the follow up appointments quite often mean a trip to London which can take a number of hours each way for some of us and therefore significant fuel cost. UK BANDING Initial consultation can be free (mine was) or up to £150 Cost of surgery is from £5,000 (Feb/March 2012offer at The Hospital Group-£1,000 off normal starting price) which INCLUDES an overnight stay following surgery, blood tests/band fills/adjustments etc for 2YEARS. Hospitals throughout the UK so you can be seen local therefore shorter commute time and fuel costs. Knowing I will have no further outlay for the next 24months by having my surgery in the UK gives me peace of mind as I am the sort of person who thinks if something can go wrong, it's likely to happen to me. I hope this helps some people when considering where to have the surgery but continue to do your research until you are satisfied with your descision. You can always go for a consutation with a UK surgeon which is often FREE and you are under no obligation to proceed with them so could still go further afield for surgery. Finance Tip. With limited savings and being someone who hates to pay interest, I searched the internet for credit card offers. The best deal for me was to open a Nationwide current account which gave me a nice interest free overdraft for 3 months but also enabled me to have a Nationwide credit card with a significant amount of credit and, get this, it's 18 MONTHS INTEREST FREE. There was an offer where you just had the credit card without having to have a current account but the interest free period was only 6 months. I found a number of other good credit card deals including Sainsburys and Tesco but the Nationwide one was best for me. There are new deals all the time so get surfing the Net! If you've found this page useful, please drop me a line to say 'Hi'.

oh, that could work well!! If you still didnt want to tell anyone,you could stay in my spare room and my parents could take us there and back. i think you'd have to stay here a second night before being allowed to drive. my surgery is booked for Thursday 29th March ( I was hoping to move it as early as the 22nd March but 2 of our Gp's are away that week and my boss said all the nurses will have full clinics so I can't be spared). Night xx

yes,I've looked through loads of stuff. they advertise everywhere! I assumed they do this the gastric bands at everyone of there hospital but perhaps they do other surgery. Dolan is my nearest one anyway. I worked with one of the consultants who does the surgery ( and he was the best in the hospital we worked at) but he's not available when I want it. The same consultants also do the surgery at the Bupa hospitals but it costs £7,000 there! x If you reseach the surgeon on the bupa site, you get more of an insight .. for example i know now my surgeon has 4 boys, supports Liverpool FC and likes yauchting!

Thats where I'm going. It's in Bromsgrove, near Birmingham:) x

I'm one month away from my self funded surgery in the UK. I have told some family and limited friends. I too have previously thought of myself as a failure for considering surgery and worried that others might think that too. Recently I've taken a good hard look at myself and realised I do everything to hide my weight. I want a fulfilling life and it's only myself stopping that. A TV celebrity said after her lap band surgery that the band is there to moderate her food because she can't do it herself. I feel I need this as my starting tool. With weight loss comes confidence and energy. I'm quite prepared not to be able to afford to socialise for quite a while but when I do, I'll be holding my head up high instead of hiding away at the back of a room!!