Vixon

Fantastic news Keving, I just came on the forum for first time since January in hopes of an update from you and there it was posted yesterday. It seems you've hit a plateau weight wise but your health must be really coming on with all the Rugby. Hope everything continues to go well for you.

Hi Lily - I'm flying into Brussels Int and back via Charleroi. I'm not thrilled at the ryanair sale at the moment - my flights have been booked for 2 months and seats on the same flight are now 140 euros cheaper . Glad someone is benefiting though and the more expensive flights already being booked kept me focused during a bad patch financially where it would have been easy to just write off the cost of the flights and re-arrange the op for a later date. Sorry I digress lol. Charleroi airport has it's own website - just google it and it gives details of a shuttlebus from the train station in brussels right to the airport. There is also a taxi firm that advertises brussels to charelroi for 75 euros so frederik offering to add it for 250 euros is over inflated even for a 2 way trip.

Phew, had my first consult today with Dr Chris De Bruyne and I have to say that even though I had to wait an hour beyond my appointment time due to a delayed flight for Dr Chris, I am feeling confident and excited about being banded. I'm booked in for 19th December for financial and practical considerations (husbands holidays so he's able to come with me, and look after me and my young son when I am post op) - woohooo Christmas is gonna come early for me :tongue_smilie: To anyone in Dr Chris's waiting room today I was the woman with the excited baby and sorry if you noticed a lingering eau de vomit, said son threw up down my back whilst waiting:cursing:

Yeah 2 hours is too long a wait but morning will probably be the same time, i'm sure you are right. I don't know exactly what pre-op diet I will do, I've never been good at calorie counting and the milk diet sounds like torture. So I think I will stick with the diet Dr Chris recommended - 2 week low fat. I just hope I can avoid the temptation to have a blow out before hand. I had my first consultation with Dr Chris back in August, seemed like it would be forever until December then but now pre-op diet is only 3 weeks way but I choose to have a UK consult before commiting to travelling to Belguim for my own and my husbands peace of mind. sndeall - Dr Chris operates at the Jan Portals hospital in Brussels, I'm not sure how far that is from Brugges but I don't think it's too close, as Brugge is on the coast and Brussels more central. Oh I forgot to mention, I have a few dutch speaking friends and will be getting a basic lesson in useful phrases like where's the loo and how much is that please? before I go, will pass them on lol

Hi Lily, wont be long now will it, I'm already planning pre-op diet. I am also booked in at the Campanile - they really ought to pay Dr Chris commision lmao. Look forward to seeing you. Will you be going to Dr Chris' surgery/house the evening before? I am going at 9pm, if you are it would make sense to share taxi's and things. Feel free to pm me we can arrange something I'm sure. Will you be travelling alone? I have my hubby to hold my hand thank god or I think I might brick it!

chris.debruyne@advalvas.be is the e-mail address for Dr Chris posted numerous times on this thread already but here you go again

That is great news Kev, hope you get your 14st 10lb target but remember if you are playing rugby regularly again you will gain some muscle mass so this might now make the scales a less accurate tool for how your band is helping. Besides got to leave a little bit for Mrs Kev to snuggle into

Congratulations!!!! This just goes to show that you should try not to get down-heartened just because those nasty scales don't say what you want them too, because even when your weight isn't dropping much your body is still working away inside doing magic stuff that gives those amazing results in the wardrobe department. Enjoy your size 16's and I hope your time in them is short lived and size 14 shopping starts :thumbup:

Hiya, I too am getting banded in December, 1 tip I'm trying to get myself to listen to is to try not to blow out too much before hand. I am also trying to cut down on my Pepsi Max addiction, it may be sugar free but those bubbles wont be good for my band so I'm working on that already. Good luck with your band and just think by Christmas next year we'll be crackers

There is nothing "legal" about the guidelines, they are exactly what they say they are guidelines. It would be fantastic if every nhs trust could and would follow those guidelines exactly but the fact they don't has nothing to do with legality.

Yes I am going to Belgium for my surgery annie, flying out from Glasgow and back via Prestwick to get the best price on flights which are twice as expensive as you can get if you dont choose the week before Christmas haha. I choose that date myself I could have had it last week if finances had allowed but choose 19th December to fall in with money and husbands holidays to help look after me and our son post-op. I'm really pleased with my choice of surgeon but if I could I'd go to Ross Hall as with Dr Chris doing the op.....oh to win the lotto lol I did go to Edinburgh for my consultation, I know a number of people don't bother and just get the free consult in Brussel the night before the op but for my own and husbands peace of mind I chose to pay for a UK consult in advance.

Hi Annie, you can contact Dr Chris via his website www.obesity-assist.co.uk I've not had my operation as yet but I'm scheduled for 19th December :redface: I didn't have much luck with my GP who after refusing previously to let me try pills suddenly suggested them the moment I mentioned surgery, only for the practice nurse to say no I couldn't get it. By the time I saw another Dr who said yes I could get it if I lose 5lbs to prove I was trying I was already booked for a consultation with Dr Chris. I had circumvented my GP's by going to my former diabetic nurse at Crosshouse who helped me when I was pregnant last year in the hope her and my endocrinologist (posh term for diabetes specialist) would be able to refer me. She did some research for me and it looks like there will eventually be a bariatric service in Ayrshire but it will take a few years. In a way I'm glad I have to go private because then I don't need to jump through the hoops of trying the tablets I know wont have any long term success. My bank balance isn't so happy though lol. Vicki

Guys don't panic about half a pound or even a pound, emptying your bladder and bowel can clear that easily, I always try to weigh in birthday suit after I've been - not easy right enough but it can make a huge difference especially when you are on liquids. 1 litre of water = 1 kg in weight

LOL Steve it's good you don't know it, bad for the teeth too I also blame it for the existence of my son, I spent a year trying to concieve with no luck, I was then diagnosed with diabetes and I stopped drinking sugared fizzy drinks and pepsi max was the only sugar free one I can tolerate. I am sure the resulting weightloss and reduction in my blood sugar helped me become pregnant just 8 weeks later. I survived the change from sugared to sugar-free drinks I'm sure I'll adjust to change from fizzy to non-fizzy. No pain no gain.

Pepsi Max is sugar free Steve, not fizz free tho, so good for zero cals bad for banded tummy.

Hey Chel, My flights are rather expensive as it is returning the week before christmas and I am still doing everything including my husband being there for £3,500 all in. For me this was the best option as even going for one of the 5k options here in the UK would involve a long drive (prob about 4 hours each way) and overnight accomodation for my husband. All I can suggest is reseach (yes lol you are on the forum to do just that) as much as possible to find the place and package to suit you.

Hi Chel :tt1: Sorry but there is a lot in your post I am unable to answer but are you aure going abroad is not an option? I have my band booked in Belguim for the 19th of December which involves flying out there on the 18th (depending where in the country you are eurostar may be a cheaper and more convenient choice). Depending on your term/holiday time this may involve minimal time away from class, certainly no more than 1 day more than in the uk. It will also mean christmas dinner will amount to a spoonful of mash pots and gravy and a spoonful of custard if u are really lucky lol :thumbup: as you can see I'm having an exciting christmas dinner heehee. Best of luck in your research, I'm sure there will be plenty of people here can help you with your queries. Vicki xx

Hi Wiz, I can commiseratate on the whole Pepsi Max thing, for me I think it will be the hardest thing to give up as I drink at least 2 litres of the stuff a day. Ribena I say Ribena!!! Well done on the weight loss already and good luck with your band and continued loss!

LMAO - Next is tummy tuck and boob job hun! (Not for Steve hahahah, don't think he'd suit a pair of DD's)

Congratulations!!! WD on all the hard work Steve and ty for all the encouragement you give to the rest of us, both by what you say on the forum and also as an example of banding success. Vicki

Brussels International is the best airport to fly into but Charloi is ok too just a bit further out. Personally as I'm flying home the sunday before christmas unless I was will to spend double the fare I had to come come home via Charloi-Prestwick with Ryanair but I'm going out with Flybe Glasgow Int - Brussels Int. I'm lucky I'm half an hour from both Glasgow airports so I have the flexibility to do that.

Kev, I've said it before and I'll say and now, and I really hope I can say many more times - WELL DONE. It's amazing not even a fill yet and you are only 1 stone short of your original target :lovechoc: Keep up the good work and I hope your fill goes well next week. Vicki

Congratulations Steve!!!!!

Hi Noosa, Sorry to hear you are so upset just when you are embarking on something that is most likely to change your life for the better. Your surgery is tomorrow so therefore you have gone through a lot of information and soul searching to decide this is the correct course of action for you. Please be strong and don't let your family's worrys get you down, they care for you and probably don't understand fully either how you feel and are affected by your weight or the surgery itself.

I have had surgery at Rosshall before when I had private medical insurance with my employer and and I found them excellent, I would have loved to go there for my band but finances meant I had to look elsewhere, I am very happy with my choice of surgeon though and I'm looking forward to December. Ross Hall is more like a hotel than a hospital, relax and enjoy the care I know you will recieve.