Hi,

www.wlsinfo.org

I cannot recommend this site enough if you are UK based- the have a whole list of support groups, i'm looking forward to attending the first in my area on the 27th.

i have to agree

this was the first site taht i went on and has been a total God send

unfortyunately tehy are a victim of their own sucess as the site is having problems at teh mo with the server being over busy but tey are working on it

biggest prob is caused by the fact taht the web master has been seriously ill and is only able to do a limited amount of stuff right now so all teh little gremlins are running amock

but if you do ahve problems keep trying

i am from teh uk and i would not be in the postion that i am into with out wls info and support

dee

Hi - I live in London and am due to be banded in Beguimon May 16th. I am a bit nervous - but lookin forward to sometime in July or so when hopefully it willtake effect and I will start lossing the pounds.

Hi, can someone point me towards some other UK based forums relating to obesity surgery? I'm very interested in having a lap band but my husband needs more convincing, particularly in relation to the impact it will have on our relationship - such as will I still want to go for a curry!

Cheers

Eleda

Hi I am in uk

Portsmouth south coast

I have found a site www.wlsinfo.co.uk I think, I have found it really useful, as a guest you can view the forum titles but you need to sign in to have a good look round, then (sorry there is more) to be a full member there is a fee of £15.00 .I have not joined as a full member yet, but probably will in the next few days. I must say it certainly seems to be worth the fee as there is so much info, you will be amazed how many people in the are uk online and willing to share all the experiences that they have had. Don't be put off by the mention of the fee ,go and have a good look round first Im sure you will think it is good value for money.

I to am considering surgery and have an appointment with Dr Mignon to be assessed then the op would be done at the Elyzea clinic in Belgium. If you have any info please share with me.

best wishes

J

Thanks for your reply - I will go on the site and look. I had my consult. in Manchester as the wtg list for London was too long. i going for surgery on 16th May - so will be able to update you then. I am aiming to loose 50lbs

Good luck for 16th may

and you will lose 50lbs

I would like to lose about 75lbs and if I have surgery I WILL lose it

bye for now

J

Hi everyone

I'm in the UK too and seriously thinking about having this done but at the moment my finances are not looking too good and i am trying to figure out ways of raising the funds.

I was very pleased to have found Elyzea as they seem to be offering a fanastic deal.

Has anyone had anyluck getting an op done on the NHS?

X Katie

Hi I am new to this site and am being banded in Winchester on the 22nd May. Not NHS, I was told that you have to be VERY large (over 30 stones) for WLS on the NHS and if you are that big you are probably recommended to go for bypass not lapband anyway. I considered Belgium because of lower costs but opted for nearer home because of fills etc.. At the BMI hospital in Winchester it is £5,250 for everything including 2 fills (initial consultation is a separate charge). This seems cheap for UK.

I have gained an enormous amount of support and advice from ObesityHelp.com. Would recommend it. It is American and so you need to think in pounds not stone and there are clear differences in approach but there are so many lapbanders out there that there is always someone who has experienced anything you want to discuss. If you go there, go to forums and then make sure you select lapband surgery under surgery type or you will find yourself bogged dwon in bypass patients! Kate

I used to be a moderator on this site - it's a great place for local support & has loads of support groups dotted around the country.

Here's the web address to get you on it - It's moved as the old site was crashingl over the place.

http://www.wlsinfoforums.org.uk

Cheers

Aud x

I have been given a date for my procedure, Lap band, with Mr Shaw Somers, very local to where I live, only 22 days away, WOW how thrilled am I even the thought of all that money has not put a dampner on it (Self funded) thank you to all for all the info I have been able to get.

JJ

Hi JJ

I have my firt appointment in Manchester on 2nd June. when did you find out who your surgeon would be and when you say Mr somers is close to home what did you mean ie is he from your neck of the woods yet works in Belgium? Sorry to sound thick but I am keen to know everything I can about the Elyzea clinic. What did your consultation consist of and can you pay for that by credit card?

Hi Dapper

Mr Somers the surgeon is very experienced in lap band surgery and is based local to where I live and also does the surgery locally

I decided not to go to Belgium as the costs would probably work out the same when paying for flights, hotel, trips to london and payments for fills.

I have got an all inclusive price to include fills and aftercare for £6500.00

at the Bupa hospital in Portsmouth a couple of miles from where I live, so no traveling or hassle, so for me this was the best choice. Also only a short wait for op.

JJ

Hi,

I have my first consult with the dietician on Monday via BMI Healthcare in Kent. Cost is 7,995 GBP but includes monthly appointments with dietician for 1 year after surgery, as many lap fills as consultant thinks, 4 appointments with surgeon for 1 year after surgury & all pre op appointments are inclusive of the price too. Looked at Bupa but the pre & after care isn't so good price when comparing with BMI IMO.

Does anyone know the approx time frame from first consult to surgury when private? NHS in SE London is approx 3 years!!!!!

My sister had this done 4 years ago & has lost 9 stone & is a different, better, more confident & motivated person.

Good luck to everyone having this done.

Hi All,

Just picked up your threads and as a wanted to give you all a "view". Number #1, Shaw is the best - he is both skilled, professional and also absolutely straight down the line which is what you need when going through either lap-band or bypass surgery. If you're on the south coast, or south of the M4 I can recommend no better.

Second, as a husband and someone who is married to a gal that's had the lap band in for a year now I can only say one thing. Post-Op, and follow-up is what it is all about. The lap band is not a miracle cure, it needs managing as does your state of mind afterwards, and the expectation of what it delivers. Remember, you can liquidise chips and mars bars if you really want and you will cheat your band.

That is why I am so glad my wife didn't go to the "cheaper chaps" in Belgium - because it is all about what happens after youlve had the band fitted. Ask yourself why Anne Diamond on that weight loss programme didn;t lose weight ..... I am sure there could be many reasons but if her support was local then I'm sure she'd have a better chance.

Good on you all - but please, carry your partners with you because they may feel that you are on a journey that is more about making yourself special for others, than making you self special for YOU and also for them.

All the best

Ricky

I am also in the uk and have arranged for my 1st consultation with a doctor from the elyzea clinic. His name is Dr Mignon. It takes place on august 4th.

I too have found it difficult getting the finances together. However out of the blue the opportunity arose for me to take redundancy. After much soul searching (You know feeling guilty about spending so much money on myself) i have decided to go ahead with the banding. Once I had made that decision, everything else has fallen into place, as I have been offered another job.

I just hope everything goes well with consultation, and I can have procedure done before starting in my new post.

Meanwhile I hope everything works out for you.

I am more that happy to inform you of my experiences with elyzea if you like.

P.S. I am new to this site, so if I am going over old ground please forgive me.

Steph H.:nervous