Sarah

Hi, I'm a new member of this forum and wanted to introduce myself! I'm an English 40 something mother of 2 boys (5 and 10) living near Paris, France. I was banded by Dr Marre in Port Marly, near Paris on 5 August 2003 and have dropped from 112 kg (227 lb) to 97 kg (213) in the 4 weeks post op, which is great! I recovered very fast from my surgery and almost feel like it never happened. I can eat solid food and, though I can delay eating by drinking, I do get hungry............which was a surprise as I thought being banded would remove hunger. However, I think it might be that I need a fill, so I'm off to see my doctor this week. Well, that's me, in a nutshell..............glad to be part of this group! Sarah

Hi Babs (now realised what your name is....) I've just been reading upthread and noticed you talked about a barium swallow and fill. Tell me, I'm due to have a barium swallow x-ray on Monday - but no-one mentioned a fill. I am due to talk to the surgeon on Wednesday. Do you always need to do the barium stuff and fill combined or do they do fills separately? I'm beginning to think I perhaps do need a fill (I'm 4 weeks post band and do feel hunger and don't feel any restriction so far) and wondered whether it's time to ask! I have lost around 17.5 lbs (8 kg) since the op. but I do feel like I'm on a diet and am having to make a mental effort to be careful what I eat. I 'think' I could eat a lot more than I do, but I'm not pushing it because I don't want to throw up (I just hate that!). I'd love to be in the position my friend was (the one that halved her bodyweight) - she said she was never hungry. Anyway, if you (or anyone else) have any ideas, do let me know! Thanks! Sarah PS: Bright, don't let my whinge put you off......I'm sure it's a matter of adjustment!

Hey Bright! Thanks for the info on the clothes.......I'll check out the website! If you need any help with the French, just ask! TTFN, Sarah PS: I hope you DO live to be at least 100!

Hi BBrecruiter2000! Yep, you're so right about clothes shopping in France! I usually buy clothes in England, when I'm visiting family, or buy men's polo shirts at sports warehouses! I'm seriously looking forward to the day when I can walk into any shop and buy what I want rather than what fits! The final crunch came for me when we wanted to take the kids skiing - something I did quite a bit when younger. I couldn't find anything to fit - even at Decathlon (mega French sports warehouse). In the men's section I could get the waist size, but I'd have needed to be 10 feet tall....................aagggh! Anyway, hopefully, by next February (skiing season here), I'll be able to get an all-in-one and actually accompany my kids on the slopes! TTFN, Sarah

Hi Bright I was operated on by Dr Philippe Marre, who also operated on the friend who introduced me to this type of surgery (who went from 112 kg to 54 kg in 18 months and looks fabulous!). He has also operated on several patients referred by my GP and has carried out many, many lapband operations (a lapband is known as an 'anneau gastrique' in France). He doesn't have a webpage, but he is listed on the following website, which lists all the surgeons in France performing bariatric surgery: http://www.sofco.asso.fr/membres.html I notice that this site doesn't give the phone number, but here it is: 00 33 1 39 17 21 00. This will get you through to the receptionists, who probably don't speak English. I'm not sure if Dr Marre does...... My surgery was fine. I was very nervous beforehand, but it was really ok. I was admitted on the Sunday evening, spent Monday doing every x-ray, scan, test imaginable, was operated on Tuesday morning at 10.30 and was awake in my room at around 1pm. After one session on a bedpan, I got up to go to the loo around midnight and next day was walking around fine. I left hospital the following morning. Two days later, I was at the supermarket, having driven there in my car (I wasn't on my own, though!). So, compared to my 2 cesarians, it really was much better). Now, 4 weeks on, I hardly realise I've had the surgery! I never thought about Protein shakes or Meal Replacements - I think it's better to stick to real food (my personal opinion). I think Weetabix sounds great, but I would lay off the sugar perhaps.....maybe Canderelle? This is pre-op, mind. After the operation, you shouldn't feel hungry and it's then that the protein over carbs would be good (Weetabix is, mostly carbohydrate, which turns into sugar really fast!). A typical Breakfast for me is one Ryvita with a teaspoon of low sugar jam and a natural yoghurt. I haven't had any headaches or kidney pain problems like I did with the Atkins diet (my last ditch attempt before the lapband) and I feel perfectly normal with enough energy to look after the house, kids, shopping, garden, etc. Anyway, I hope this helps! Good luck on your weight loss journey! Keep in touch! Sarah

Hi Bright! I've been reading your thread with interest! I'm English, living in Paris, (married to a Belgian) banded 4 weeks ago and have lost 8kg so far - with no exercise (apart from a couple of sessions of badminton with my kids - one of whom is just 5, so it wasn't that strenous apart from searching for lost shuttlecocks!) I just wondered, I read on another board recently that lapband operations are much cheaper in France (around 4,000 Euros) and there are many doctors who do them. I got mine done on the social security here, because morbid obesity is taken very seriously here (how many fat French women have you seen!). It might be worth investigating having the surgery done here, particularly if you speak French. Also, Ryannair fly cheap flights to Paris daily! Just a thought! Good luck with everything and above all, don't worry! Sarah PS: I didn't have to follow any pre-op diet and no one mentioned anything about Slimfast. I was NIL BY MOUTH from midnight onwards and was given a natural yoghurt (with sugar!) and clear broth for dinner at 6pm, having been operated at 10.30 am that day. Since the op. I was advised to eat around 100 grammes of either yoghourt or fruit puree for a week (but I adapted this to include hot home-made vegetable Soup, fresh fruit smoothies and cold gazpacho - all of which can be whizzed up in a blender/liquidizer. Added to this, I had a small individual portion of Boursin or a Diarylea, just to make life worth living. After 2-3 weeks I started experimenting with the odd piece of French toast (!) and small pieces of cubed cooked chicken. No problems so far.