Freckles

Garry, all the best for your op hunny, I do hope you get back to your sweet spot asap.

Well, I'm so glad its all over for you Slinky, Cher and all you other girlies and guys. Well done, you wont be sorry. I just wanted to mention, that the low fat diet is not so you'll lose weight, its to shrink your liver. If your liver is enlarged it would get in the way of putting the band in. Dont be scared cos I drink alcohol every night, a few at least and my liver was fine. Also dont worry about the length of the seat belts on the flights, as I said before they have to carry extensions for mothers with babies, who sit on their knees, I wouldnt have known this but my daughter was cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic and she told me loads of things that I wouldnt have known otherwise. My last fill didnt seem to be working that good, had only lost 2lbs in 2 weeks, but last weekend I was busy making the christening cake and food for my grandaughters christening, going to the hairdressers etc, plus we went to a wedding on the saturday night, that I didnt have time to eat and my nerves were shot too. Hoping that the cake was up to my daughter's expectations. I could hardly eat or drink over that weekend and I have lost a few pounds. I forgot that this is what happens if you dont eat, the band tightens itself. And there was me contemplating yet another fill, which now I dont have to do.

Hope its all done and dusted for you girls who are now in Belgium. Slinky it doesnt seem 5 minutes since you said you were getting 'done' in July. I am so excited for you.!!!! I dont think you have a choice about the size of the port, unless you request it, I may be wrong though. So just ask. Some days I can feel my port more than others, but it doesnt bother me, its not prominent, maybe others have different stories??? My daughter's is in between her bust, so hers is quite prominent, but she wasnt banded by Chris. Not many surgeons put it there. Thanx Slinky about my other daughter, she cant wait. She's in a size 12/14, but has dieted all of her life, she doesnt want to tell anyone cos people will say things like....What do you want a band for? She says she cant be bothered having to justify her reasons, its what she wants and she's going for it. Nice to see you Tam, seems a long time ago since you were here. I think maybe you should try to get more fluids inside you hunny. Dont be a stranger. Love to all xxxx

My youngest daughter informed me this week that she is getting banded by Dr Chris in October. I have told her to join this board for the amazing support and information.

Welcome Emsey, you'll be fine on the flight, if the seat belt is tight, tell the flight attendant that you have had surgery on your tummy and ask for an extension, thats what I did when I flew from Southampton. They were lovely about it. Oh dear Sammy, what a pain isnt it, trying to get to the sweet spot. I cant eat much and sometimes get a little acid in my throat but nothing major. Scales is not moving though. I am eating Special K atm, and its going down a treat. I wanted to lose more weight for the christening next week, but no luck.

Congratulations Pearce and Laila, welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll find a friend on here Laila, and Pearce, tell your wifey to get ready with the liquidiser lol You wouldnt be human if you werent worried, we've all been the same way, but you'll find it wasnt worth the worry, will be over before you know it, and well worth the wait. I wont say good luck cos you wont need it.

Congratulaions Lou La Bell on your decision, you wont be sorry. Please dont forget to come back after you have been banded for any concerns you may have or problems you may encounter, we're always here to offer our help, if we can.

Hi MD, we all feel that way, that for us the band wont work, I think we are that used to failing on our lifetime of diets that it would be nothing short of a miracle if we actually got rid of all the excess weight. Dont worry chick, I'm sure everything will be fine. On the swelling thing, my tummy wasnt much different, just make sure you have loose clothing to wear for a couple of weeks. I have so much loose skin, its a nightmare and I've only lost 3 stone, its probably my age :tt2: I know i need to exercise, but i just dont do it.

Hi Puddlejumper, I havent seen you for an age, nice of you to drop by :tt2:. How very rude of that woman to say that to Ange, I would have been devastated!!!!! Poor Angie. Some people are so nasty, and their mouth works before their brain. Tell Angie to put it down to ignorance. You are doing really well with your weight loss, well done.

Radley you're very welcome. Good luck Slinky Cher and whomever else is going to begium soon.. The band is not tightened hunny, and the food is going straight through to your big tummy, no you wont stretch it, you only do that if you continue to eat a lot once you have good restriction, which will be nigh on impossible lol. Happy days, I have lost a few pounds since the fill, here's hoping its gonna continue falling off.

Scooby I am the same as you, some days I can eat more than I should and other days I cant eat hardly anything, and curry just gives me bad heartburn and my fave food is madras curry. I have only lost 2lb since my fill last week, but I'm still not back to what my ticker says. I think I have to lose another 2lb to get there. I feel like I'll still be in the same spot in 10 years time. :smile:

Good luck Slinky, bet you're so excited, and also good luck to Radley and Fullfat. Jayne, its like heartburn, except the acid comes into your mouth, causing you to cough, as you know this is the body's natural reflex, otherwise you'd choke. I think it happens because your little tummy is full to bursting and it cant go down to your big tummy so the only way out is up!! I may be wrong but thats what it feels like to me. As I said to Sammy, the only way I overcame this was to not eat for a few hours before sleeping. They say if you sleep on your left side its not as bad. We just have to learn by personal experience, its not the end of the world, just trial and error, you will learn to live with your band. Cos ...come on we're all greedy pigs otherwise we wouldnt be here... Its a learning curve for all of us, after years of eating what we like, now we cant.

Be very careful people, make sure you can drink enough as when I was over-filled I suffered extreme constipation, in fact I spent a day in hospital and had to have several enemas. All because of the lack of liquids. I just couldnt get enough down, I could eat more than drink, which was strange. I could only eat ice cubes. So be watchful of that because it was the most horrible experience, and it went on for over 7 weeks.

You poor thing Sammy, I used to have that every night, before I had the de-fill last October, its a nightmare, coughing and choking with a mouthful of gunge. Sorry to be explicit, but its best you would-be bandsters know what to expect if you're a bit over-filled. This is the reason they only give small fills, for your band to get adjusted, gradually. I have only had the reflux once since the last fill Sammy. I dont eat after about 8pm sometimes earlier, and that seems to stop it. Have a try of that hunny. Bo you have done so well, you deserve the break .....enjoy your weekend of freedom lol, before you're back on track. lol

I hate the fact that all I think about is food. I lay in bed at night and think of things I can cook!! Whats that all about?? I cook it and then can only manage 2 or 3 mouthfuls, I've turned into a baking queen, I make cakes and sponges and trifles from fresh fruit with custard and cream on them. Please tell me I am normal Also the girl that was too tired to exercise after doing a days work, whats wrong with that? Geez, we're not athletes are we, no wonder you're knackered after working all day. I have never exercised, not even to the point of walking. I know i should but I never seem to find the time, nor do I want to. I really admire Garry and all the others who exercise, I guess I'm just too old and lazy.

Sammy!!!! hey girlie, lovely to see you here, I hope the babies are good and you have done amazingly well considering you have been pregnant, well done you. xxx Slinky, I know I havent been much help, but you're welcome to ask me anything. All you other nice people if there's anything you need to know just direct the question at me if you dont want to send a pm, I will do my best to help. As you know I am on my 2nd band so I may be of some help to someone.

Wow, so many posts and so many questions. I too would welcome a private message from anyone who needs help or advice, not saying that I will be able to answer all questions, but I will have a damn good try. Its difficult to answer so many questions and concerns from so many, in normal posts. Also I forget the names sorry. Jayne, we all feel that way dont despair hunny, I also am really bad and eat chocolate and ice cream, I never used to but it goes down quite well so I eat a little, cos thats all I can manage. Someone asked about food sticking and was that restriction, well in my experience, yes it is, my band is telling me whoa, thats enough food!! I always chew my food very very well, and even just having a bite of a pie or a sausage I find so many tiny bits of grissle that it has put me off both. We would normally just eat these things and the grissle would just go down without us even noticing it was there, it really makes me feel sick to my stomach. Strange thing is I can eat Pork easier than any other meat. In fact I can eat anything, just a very small portion though, which I think is good. I also think if anyone gets food stuck after only a couple of mouthfulls then you're not chewing it enough!!

I feel so different since I had the little extra fill, I truly hope i AM AT MY SWEET SPOT, i HAVENT BEEN FEELING VERY HUNGRY,( sorry didnt notice my caps were on.) I cant eat very much, although I managed a piece of toast today, which i couldnt before...so weird.

Hi Sher, This board helped me with aftercare, well i should say all the great people here. I wasnt banded by Dr Chris, I dont know if he has aftercare in place but I'm sure one of the good people here will tell you hun. Dont fret over it cos you wont be alone.

Today I can eat solids again, I wasnt too bad thursday and friday except I did cheat last night and ate a bag of crisps was so hungry.

Twlight. Glad its all over for you now. You were very brave being alone, but its not too bad is it. Good luck hunny.

Thanx for that Maggs, maybe try something new then. Different meds suit different people dont they. But i will try anything if it gets rid. Last night I didnt have any reflux at all, after the little fill.

Lovely to see you Maggs, what you like with your 6 week holidays, you are soooo lucky, I am really envious. I saw Freddyboy yesterday for a 0.25 fill, and it doesnt even seem very tight, yet last year at this point I was like you and having the cough and acid reflux at night. He told me to see my GP, if it starts again and recommended Mexiam. Did a BIT of Googling and came up with this....Nexium (Esomeprazole) so maybe thats what they're called in the UK, not sure but hopefully the doc will. I will most certainly be trying those if GP will prescribe, because its the most nastiest thing when you're trying to sleep. I'm also the same havent lost anymore weight, in fact had put on a few pounds when he weighed me !!! If I hadnt had the defill when I went away last year I prolly would be at target now Anyway now to start over...and I have a wedding and a christening in the next few weeks, so gawd help me. Dont forget your friends here Maggs we miss you hunny xxx

You're very welcome Slinky, but its true. Garry my old friend you have lost another person ... I'm so proud of you, tell us what you eat/drink these days and what quantities if you dont mind.

Slinky you are becoming an expert here and so much help to others, I thank you for that. I just want you all to know that its not as bad as you think it will be, from my experience, though I wasnt banded in Belgium. I was banded in Southampton Bupa by Michael Van den Bossche the first time in 2005. In 2007 the band developed a leak and in 2009 I was re-banded by Michael ( had to pay again, at a reduced price and a free band from the manufacturer). The surgery took a little longer the second time because of the removal of the damaged band, and my port area was very sore, because the surgeon had to remove scar tissue where the band had attached itself, to my internal organs. However I would go through this again if this one failed (God forbid). It was worth all of the discomfort and anxiety, and you will all be fine and afterwards will wonder why you were worried. Dont forget girls/guys this is keyhole surgery, not a major operation, dont build it up to be worse than it actually is. I never want to be a fatty again and now I have the tools to ensure that I wont be, its like a miracle, so keep thinking positive cos you wont ever look back. I hope that helps you people, and good luck, not that you'll need it.