PrincessLK

Thanks Wannabe, I'm off tomorrow, very nervous, just trying to pack here now, Thanks for the good wishes! x

Hi Wannabe, yep was banded by ACS but got a very dodgy band, never lost any weight or got any restriction until band slipped, lost a lot of weight but couldn't eat or drink a thing so as soon as it was fixed I gained all the weight again. Getting a new band with Dr. Chris this day next week and very apprehensive about the whole thing, can't belieive I have to do this again! Thanks for getting back to me...have you reached your goal weight now? How long did it take you?

Hi All, I'm being banded next Wednesday by Dr Chris De Bruyne in Belgium. Just wondering if you'd mind telling me what kind of weight loss you achieved in the first 6 months, just so I can adjust my expectations. Also, any tips? Did you receive nutritional/dietary advice or do I need to research this by myself? Any info, insight, tips would be much appreciated. L

Hi there, thanks so much skinnyminny2b for the info, met with Dr. Marc yesterday in dublin, he took out 2.5 out of 4.5 and what a difference a day makes. I haven't vommited since, and have been eating really well. Still cautious, won't chance bread or anything but have been able to eat fish, veg, chicken, cheese, ham, crackers and a slice of quiche too! It feels so good to eat and drink again. I would definitely recommend him, he was very professional and was able to access my port straight away. He was very expensive, €120 for the few minutes I was in with him but in my situation it was worth every penny and I will definitely consider seeing him in the new year for a re-fill once the baby is born, cost being the only draw back. xx

Thanks for that, will try them tomorrow, only looking at this now...been so busy. Really need an unfill and tried Wendy but they won't be back in Dublin until after Christmas...Say a prayer I get sorted cos I haven't really eaten all week, can sometimes not even hold liquid down, I'm wrecked!

hi there, I had my band done by ACS Oct 07. Have lost 5 and a half stone so far, am happy with it as am almost 9 months pregnant with that too so weight loss is probably closer to 6 and half stone. thing is, I found ACS and then Hosp Group crap and really don't want to go back to them but I need a de-fill, band is now way too tight at this stage in pregnancy and I need to get some fluid taken out so I can eat something! Anyone know if anyone in Ireland doing fills? How much does it cost etc? Pls Help! xx

hi, i just found out a week and a half ago i'm pregnant, i cancelled a fill i had for that weekend but since then I have gained 12 pounds!!! my band was feeling a tiny little bit loose before but is soooo loose now....I can't stop eating, I have stopped smoking so I suppose this has something to do with it and I am so bloated, but 12 pounds in 10 days??? I'm so upset and scared that I'm going to gain all the weight I had lost, I was down 63 pounds! I was feeling so good about myself but now with hormones and all am really upset at how much weight i'm gaining already and feeling very down about it. eating bread for the first time in a year.....feel like it's all gone to pot....anyone else experience this? xx

Hi All I've just sent a letter to the Hospital Group too asking for my medical records, I just decided I wouldn't trust them with it as they seem so unprofessional. It's funny that you thought of it too, I would also second Coco and say all ACS patients should do the same. Gerri, let us know how you get on with Obesity Solutions, I was just gonna use Dr. De Bruyne but if there's someone with an office in Dublin that are here permanently that would be a great solution. I think that's the clinic that Jan the surgeon who operated on me for ACS is with...

Hi there, I heard this about the Hospital Group today, have had up to here to be honest and if I ever saw that Halina one I'd give her a piece of my mind. €10,000 for nothing but a crappy op with a band that doesn't work and a twisted port that noone can access. I have to give in now too, but I tell you I will do whatever I can to let people know not to deal with the Hospital Group either. And I certainly won't be giving them my business, I'd rather pay Dr. Chris or Fred for a fill than those cowboys. If you look at the UK thread you can see how many of their patients in the UK are having trouble with them too trying to get aftercare etc....they should be banned as it's such a serious and important part of the process. I just feel robbed now, and bitter about it too. Can anyone send me Fred's number please? Thanks

Hi Ailbhe Sorry to hear you're having such a rough time of it at the moment, hope all works out for the best for you and your family xx

Hi Roe That was me, I think! I think I also might be the only ACS patient with the 'serious' port problem that Ailbhe's talking about as again Chris the nurse couldn't get to it and then when he did couldn't get any liquid into it, Dr. Chris came in and saved the day, he said I need to have my port repositioned as only he can get to it, not a nurse. I spoke to the girl there running the show and she made me wait another half an hour on top of the 2 hours I was there already only to be taken back into the nurse Chris and told that my port is not a problem for the moment. So I couldnt' get any sense out of them , waiting for a phonecall to discuss with somebody, but I'd say until they sort out a clinic manager that these admin probs are still going to be there, they didn't even have Water there for people to drink after their fills...they had to run out and buy bottles. No more restriction yet, will give it a few days and then call, I want this sorted out. Have a good weekend all

Hi All, just back from my fill, got on grand, now have 4cc in there, so hopefully will feel some restriction soon and start dropping these pounds. I also found out while i was there (it was a bit chaotic with loads of new girls working there) that Lydia and Kim both left yesterday. I don't know yet who the new clinic manager is, hopefully they get their administration in order soon, but have to say that Dr. Chris and the 2 bariatric nurses Chris and Fred are all excellent and very professional so at least it's getting better. xxx

hi there I have my fill at 11.15 but have been told to go to the Regus Centre on Pembrook Street. I have rush back to work then so won't get to meet up with you all. Looking forward to some restriction today, hopefully I'll be ok for a fill today, last time he couldn't get any fluid into the band... good luck all today xxx

Hi Coco, Thanks for that, I have no restriction at the moment. I know because I can eat bread and meat no problem. I think I'll call and book my next fill. My port is in a really awkward spot so he couldn't get at it easily (took 9 attempts with needle) and then he took everything out but couldn't get it all back in, the band kept rejecting it. I don't know what that means, so I need to see them again fairly soon as I now have less than I had to begin with (only 2 in now I'm sure even though he said he got another 1/2 in I don't think he did).

Hi Lil, I was there from 10.30am to about 12.30pm...had to leave quickly as it was a lot longer than I thought it would be. Still not feeling any restriction, but am gonna give it a few days. How's everyone else doing? x

Hi All, Gerri I had a similar experience to you today but with Chris. He was poking around for ages to find my port he eventually got it and said there was only 2 1/2 cc in it so he tried to put another 1 1/2 in but said there was resistance, so he could only put 1/2 in, was really disappointed about that so gonna see how this goes. Will give them a ring next week if there's no difference in restiction. Apparently my port is really badly twisted which must be why only Jerome and Lou have been able to get a fill in each out of about 6 fills. There was a long wait today to be seen too but I suppose we should just be glad that it's all been sorted out fill wise. Just so you know though, it's not in and out in 10 mins any more like it had been before. Overall though, am happy to be in the hands of professionals and a proper service available to us at last! I won't be losing sleep over it any more, now I can just concentrate on losing this weight. Was jsut wondering if anyone (ie. Allure, Coco, Gerri etc) who's had success with weight loss with the band would mind telling me what their daily diet would consist of when you're at your sweet spot? How much weight did you lose on a weekly basis? Did you feel weak from lack or nutrition or your hair fall out? Thanks PrincessLK

congratulations allure, that's such a happy inspiring story. I'm hoping to lose weight to have another baby too, planning on trying again at the end of this year. I'm only 2 stone down in 6 months after my op, so hoping to get some real restriction now with my next fill. I was also told that I was too heavy to have a baby after my first one, Gerri! It's not nice, but hopefully now we'll start to see loads more good stories like Allure's, wow, 5 stone I dream about it! PrincessLK xx

Hi Girls I just want to clarify that I didn't get a letter re: fills from ACS - I had just been emailing them re:getting a fill and was booking an appointment in Belfast until they got sorted, so just got a mail to say they should have nurses in Dublin to do fills next week. Sorry for any confusion or annoyance caused.

Hi All I haven't posted in ages! I was in Thailand for a couple of weeks over Easter and then away for a couple of weekends when we got back so just after catching up on all posts now. Last time I was on, I was so p'ed off with ACS re fills etc. I then heard about the Mail and decided not to post to give them any more info but I got news today from ACS that they can now do fills in Dublin, so I can post again without being afraid!!! I'm just so thrilled to know there will be someone in Dublin to deal with us, it's such a relief. I went for a fill in Belfast just before I went away. I had never met Jerome before, as i was operated on by Jan. I have to say that he seemed like a very nice man and very capable of his job, in and out in no time ( even Lou took ages to find my port). The whole day of travelling (I had my baby with me) really took it out of me and I was dreading having to do that again for next fill. I didn't feel much restriction for the weekend after, then felt a little on the Monday but it wasn't really until the following thursday that it really hit me. And oh my God, did it hit me, just for a couple of weeks or so, managed to lose a couple of pounds on holidays which I have never done before! But really I've been losing during the week, then drinking and eating rubbish at the weekends and gaining it all again, I'm still down but it's time for another fill and to cop on...Feeling really excited now that I've experienced real restriction and know that I could lose so much with the next fill, just have a feeling about it. Anyway, that's my news for the moment, I hit the 2 stone mark the other day. I know it's not that much in 6 months but it's still something and it's going in the right direction. Would love to have 5 stone gone altogether by the year mark...need to start excerising. Nikki, I was chatting to you before, great news about the baby - and the weight loss - congrats on both - you must be thrilled. Looking forward to chatting to all in the future, now we have access to fills again, hopefully there'll be loads of weight loss to post about!

Hi Coco that's grand, sorry I didn't mean about taking 'legal' action I meant about going to the media etc about it as was talked about in the couple of posts before mine. I am free to meet up this Saturday or next and am away after that. Let me know what's arranged. Thanks x

Hi there I agree with Roe and Coco and think waiting 2 weeks to see what ACS come up with is a good idea. I would rather get my proper aftercare and fills at the end of the day than going in all guns blazing. Lydia told me yesterday that they are arranging for fills supervised by Jerome in Belfast on Friday week, I have emailed with the possibility of doing this because of my holiday on 13th. I would rather see Jan if he is back before I go but there are no guarantees. If the Belfast appointment is confirmed, it might be an idea for you to call up and see if you can get a spot if you need a fill at the moment. Lydia called me back yesterday to say that she had spoken to Jan, he's due back in Ireland in 2 weeks and wants all of his patients to know that he's not leaving them in the lurch. She also said he would give his number to anyone that wanted to speak to him or take our number and call us. She said she just didn't have a guarantee that he was coming back to work for ACS and that was all she could say. She also said that they were talking to some crowd in England about doing the Lap Band surgery for them, so perhaps if that is organised than a surgeon would come from England periodically to do fills? I don't know any of this, just wondering aloud really. Anyway, am hoping that I hear back from Lydia today re: Belfast or Jan before I go away and am happy to wait regarding taking any action collectively against ACS for 2 weeks. What does everyone else think? Thanks xx

Hi All I just called ACS and it's not good news. Apparently Lydia has a list of people to call today so you will all know sooner or later. There are no fills available there for at least the next 3 weeks. There's no guarantee that they will have a surgeon to do fills in the future, I was just given the same line 'please bear with us', when I explained that I need a fill, am so upset and am down 10K for nothing in return I was just asked to re-submit my letter of complaint with an update as to how upset I am. Lydia mentioned the possibility of Lou doing fills in Belfast with Jerome supervising and she's seeing what the interest in that is but for insurance reasons she can't do them here as a nurse unsupervised by a surgeon, something I had pointed out to them previously when they would not let me see Jan. She said that they had hoped Jan would return this week but have been informed that it will be at least 3 weeks before he's back. I have an awful feeling he's not coming back, and that they are just delaying the inevitable. I personally am devastated, I am going to Thailand on holidays in 2 weeks, with no fill before that and no guarantee of one when I get back. I really thought that I would be a lot lighter going on this holiday of a lifetime, instead I'm going at a weight that's very near to the weight I was when I had the op (most of my weight loss was pre-op once I had it booked I decided to lose some to lessen risk of surgery). I have lost just 11 pounds now since 4th October, and 10,000 euro and almost my reason dealing with ACS, I have had 7 fills, just 2 of which have gotten into my port, had x-rays because my port has moved - that ACS then lost from my file...the list goes on. Sorry to sound so down, just feeling helpless now as my restriction from the last fill with Lou has disappeared and not feeling that motivated. My husband says to forget about the money and jsut stay positive but how can I when we're still paying off thsi loan with interest for nothing? No results, no aftercare - only stress. I asked Lydia would ACS cover the costs of me getting a fill elsewhere (was thinking of the Beacon?) but she said that as far as they are aware there is no-one else doing fills in Ireland. I asked then would ACS be refundign me the money I had paid as they are not providing the service that they said they would be and she said that I'd need to speak to Halina about that, but I've never received a call from management whenever I've complained...so doubt I will now. So there you go, there's the update....don't know what else we can do to be honest, they have us over a barrel as we paid up front in good faith for a service that they now refuse to provide. Thanks LK

Hi All Firstly, Coco, congrats on the 5 stone mark, a real achievement! Can see it happening for me in the near future, really need a fill right now, have little restriction. I saw Lou last time and she told me to come back last week but I havent' been able to get an appointment. Then I got one for next Sat 1st March with Lou. Wanted Jan but they said they don't know if he's coming back. I rang ACS today to see if I could get a date with him instead of Lou and I was told by Lynne that they meant to call me but that my appointment for this Saturday is cancelled and there are no more dates available for the moment. As you can understand I hit the roof, she said they were having a meeting about it tonight and should have more info on it soon...but that's it for the moment, no fills available in ACS for the forseeable future. I will call again tomorrow for an update and let you all know how I get on. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news on this miserable day! xxx

Hi Loriha, I had similar bother with ACS on the phone yesterday. I saw Lou last week and she said to come back in 2 weeks to either her or Jan (I'd prefer Jan as that was my first time with her). So called yesterday to book and was told no fills will be done until 1st March, only 1 appointment available with Lou. I asked was Jan back and could I book with him, was told that they had no idea if or when he was coming back. So I told the girl - Lynne - that I wanted to speak to someone in management as this was important to me. Kim then called me back and said that Jan was still here but that they had no dates for him in the forseeable future and that they would soon, I said I'd prefer to see him, she asked any reason why and I just said because he's my surgeon, Lou is just a nurse and that I had only seen her once. She then started to question the amount of times that I had been in with them, I decided not to go into the fact that after 7 fills, only 3 of them have actually gotten into my band...I was in work and couldn't go into too much detail in case I was overheard. So she convinced me to see Lou for the moment on 1st and said I could call back to enquire about Jan. This has left me realyl worried again, I told Kim that she should tell Lynne what's happening as she seems to have a different story when you call, she just asked that in future if I'm calling ACS could I ask to speak directly to her.....all very suspicious, really annoying. I just want to be able to see my surgeon, it's not a lot to ask after paying out 10K for procedure with aftercare included. My GP really didn't want me to go to ACS, said they were cowboys, God he was right, should have listened. If it ends up that I have to go elsewhere and pay for fills I will but I'll also look into what action can be taken against ACS for breach of contract.

Hi All I sent my form in early January too and got my cheque a week or so later. I have all receipts etc, but don't have a letter of referral to ACS like the rest of us if they decide to do an audit at the tax office. I didn't know that was needed? Hope you get on ok with them, let us know anyway how you get on. Getting on OK myself at the moment, have yet to start excercising properly, need a kick up the ass. I am feeling less restriction now since last Frdiay, so going to book another fill, as Lou said to come back in 2 weeks after last week anyway. Hope everyone is getting lighter! xx