Freckles

Thanx everyone for your positive replies, to tell you the truth I feel really good about Dr Chris, cant wait to go now. I expect, nearer the date (when I get one) I'll be bricking it :wink: But its only for a day or two and then the fat will fall off....cant wait, I have a wardrobe full of clothes that are too tight, even my underwear wont fit me anymore, had to buy fat stuff it really sucks doesnt it. Well Mmm when you fly the pressure tightens your band hunny, I didnt usually have a problem with flights of 2/3 hours it was the ones over 7hours....and it was both ways. So came back from New York and Florida etc....thinner than when I went, which is all good, cos those places are full of eateries, and I couldnt eat ...I could inhale though and watch the others eat. I find it strange that Dr Chris is not charging me extra for removal of the band, so have written asking him to confirm thanx Wishful for the info. If i have missed anyone who replied to my posts, I apologise...but there was so many posts after mine...sorry...and thanx again for your good wishes and help

I wish, I doubt if i will get an appointment that fast...do you? I see you going for your band !!!!! Great news!! btw I dont know if the price includes any fills, does anyone else know? I have sent my x-rays off to Belgium today...would be great if I got one that fast though...I have actually asked for any date after 9th FEB as we're on holiday, so fingers crossed. Wishful, no :thumbup: its deffo cos of my age, cos he said UK ladies over 55 he does not usually operate on so he would charge an extra forfeit of 500euros....damn!!! The price quoted ... But sweet of you to say that, forgot to say that to Gillian too:laugh: I dont know if thats the normal price or if its more because of the removal of the old band cos surgery will obviously take longer.

You gotta be kidding me??? £28,000 for the removal of your band??? That is silly money and what a dreadful thing to happen to you Wolf. However, erosion of gastric bands is quite common I believe, if I'm wrong i'm sure someone will correct me. But why didnt the surgeon replace the faulty band when he operated? Did he give you that option? btw welcome to the forum and congratulations on you weight loss.:thumbup:

Hig girls, I havent read every post in this thread but i did notice someone mentioned LAP BAND. Can I just ask if that band was made by a certain American company called Allergan? I was self-funded in December 2005, only lost 2 stone, never seemed to have the right amount of restriction and then in February 2008 it was discovered that my actual band has a leak. My surgeon will not do the corrective surgery at a reduced rate, the hospital will give me a discount, but havent said how much. Allergan have agreed with my surgeon to supply a new band but will not take any responsibility until they have examined the faulty band. To do this I must have surgery. Bit of a cache 22 eh.:thumbup: Btw I am in the UK.

Yes i told them and they offered me a discount on my next op, didnt say how much though:frown: My surgeon told the manufacturer and they have offered a new band (but I dont have any faith in theirs now, so will decline) they simply refuse to pay for surgery as they want to examine it first!!!!!! How????? :thumbup: CDB knows that I have still got the faulty band implanted and will remove it for me, when he puts the new one in. The only time my band worked as it should have (only recently found this out from reading on all the weight loss sites) was after long-haul flights, hence I only lost 2 stone. It would appear that the band had a sort of 'slow puncture' and then sort of blew, if you get my drift, thats my theory anyway, I may be wrong on that. Thanx Gillian and Wishful for your replies:teeth_smile:

I should have said that I already have a band, since december 2005. Was banded in the Spire Southampton...but in Feb 2008 it developed a hole.:thumbup: So am going to get done again....I loved my band so much, and have put on weight so am now heavier than when I started in 2005.:thumbup: I think maybe I am the oldest bandster here, cos I have to pay an extra 500 euros because I am an old trout:blink:

Thank you Wishful, I did post earlier this year with my story, but I didnt get many replies, so sort of lost heart. Good luck to all of you, I'm sure everything will go great.:thumbup:

Its a while since i posted my story, and now I have decided the only way out is to pay again.:thumbup: I am looking at going to Belgium with Dr Chris Debryune..in February if possible.

This must be the longest running thread on earth :thumbup: and I am so glad. I too am probably going with Dr Chris hopefully some time in February, so will be able to look back at all the excellent information provided by you girls here. A big thank you to you all :thumbup:

Thank you Camjay for your reply. I'm so glad your friend is having her port replaced, at least the NHS are taking responsibility, not like the private surgeons. I think you would be wise to check your contract, I was foolish and ignorant not to have checked this at the time. If I had known all of this could occur, then I may have thought twice before shelling out my hard-earned savings. I have a private healthcare but they do not cover cosmetic surgery. I really think its about time everyone got up to speed and started changing their rules for obesity surgery. As usual the UK is in the dark and the last to comply. I am awaiting a phone call from a doctor from my healthcare who may give me some advice as to where I should go from here. I dont want to 'sue' anyone or go through the courts, but if I have to then I will.:thumbup: EDIT: The doctor from my healthcare has avised me (as everyone has done) to seek legal advice. I have also phoned my surgeon's secretary and asked her for all my notes and she is also going to ask him for the confirmation that the manufacturer will supply a new band. Once i have all of this i can go ahead and seek the lagal advice.

Hi girls, thank you so much for the nice welcome. I have told my story in te Uk banders section, any advice/comments gratefully recieved. Good luck Barbiek for tomorrow, everything will be fine I have to go to bed now as its 2:30 am here in the UK Goodnight, speak soon

I was banded in December 2005, at the (then) Bupa Southampton by Michael Van den Bossche ( Leading surgeon in his field). I didnt lose much weight at first, then after the second fill, I did a long haul flight and the restriction was really good, I couldnt eat at all while i was away, and came home almost a stone lighter!! However, I soon needed another fill, and Mr VDB had trouble finding my port, the bruising that appeared later was horrendous, and my stomach very tender. To cut a long story short, the only time I got real restriction was when I went on holiday. (flying increases the tightness of the band due to the pressure) I should have realised at the time that this wasnt normal, but I had lost 2 stone and thought it was just slow coming off. Just after last Christmas I woke up one day and just knew i could eat things I hadnt been able to eat for over 2 years, and I havent stopped since, much to my embarrassment. I have put back on the 2 stone and more. I booked an appointment for a fill ( couldnt get an appointment for 5 weeks)and explained about the non-restriction, but this fill wasnt with my surgeon, but at manchester x-ray. The next day I could still eat anything, much to my shock and dismay. i contacted my surgeon and asked for a fill ...I had to wait another 5 weeks for that. he tried to take out the 4mls the manchester clinic had put in, only to find it was empty. he said looks like you have a leak. I needed then to book an appointment for a contrast study done under x-ray. This cost £269, adding the other 2 fills one at £150 ans the other at £100, the money was mounting up. The x-ray took about 30 mins and was very thorough, it came to light that my actual band was leaking. Weeks later my surgeon advised me of this, although i already knew, but he wanted to see the x-rays before making judgement. I asked if there was any chance of the manufacturer footing the bill, or indeed the Bupa hospital. imagine my horror to find out the Bupa only guarantee their ops for 30 days!!! Anyway 4 months on and this is where I stand now. The manufacturer will give me a new band as mine was faulty, through no fault of my own , in fact I think it must have been faulty from day one. However, who will take the faulty one out and put the new one in? nobody wants to take this responsibilty. I am now going to seek legal advice, because i think its shocking that this has happened, and I also think private hospitals should have new rules for gastric operations in regards to their warrenty policies. So thats my story up to now.

This is my first post, I think I was just reading posts before:smile: Anyway, pleased to meet you all, I am in the UK btw. I have a tale of woe to tell, so hope i dont bore you.