A great big hello from the UK. My name is Kim and I live in a little village in the UK called Pinchbeck, used to live near London, but the smog was choking me!

I am due to be banded some time during October and am just waiting for confirmation of my date. It is being done in Derby via the NHS and I am starting to get nervous and excited and apprehensive and all sort of emotions I expect most of you have been through. But what I am looking forward to is starting my journey with my new best friend, my band, which will be holding my hand every step of the way.

Normally the NHS won't consider anyone that has a BMI under 40 (mine is around 37/38) but I have so many medical problems that they have agreed to go ahead with the band. I am Type 2 diabetic, but currently waiting for an emergency appointment with the specialist as my sugar levels have been excessively high so they are putting me on insulin BOOOOOO !!

So the list is.....I now have Type 1 diabetes, PCOS, high blood pressure, high cholesterol (but cannot tolerate any medication for it) gastric something-or-other (stomach acid) & occasional bouts of asthma. After taking my pills in the morning, I rattle! So I am hoping to become much healthier by reducing my blood pressure & cholesterol and go back to medication rather than injections for my diabetes, who knows, maybe I can get rid of it all together, although I think that is wishful thinking. And of course being slimmer is a great big bonus which I think, as vain as it sounds, is probably the most important factor for me as I have battled my weight since I was 7 or 8 and the plain and simple fact is I will never accept myself being big. I admire those people that are what they are and are happy with it, I am not one of those people and constantly stress over my weight, which I'm sure most of you can relate to. So slim & healthy I will be and I was hoping to make some other friends to hold my hand too!

Well, I rattled on for long enough, bye for now and I hope to chat to some of you soon

Mastiff Mum

Welcome Mastiff Mum. Congratulations on your decision to be a healthier and happier you. Although my co morbidities were not as bad as yours, I am finding that after 6 months out I am feeling so much better. I am able to walk again and am enjoying life so much more. Good luck with your journey.

Welcome to LBT! Good luck, and remember to keep us posted on your progress!

Welcome Mum,

I've only lost 20 lbs so far but look what this weight loss has already done for me

1. Reduced my fasting blood sugar from 7.5 to 5.9.

2. Eliminated one of my blood pressure meds.

3. Reduced the amount of acid reflux meds.

I haven't even had my first fill yet. It's scheduled for Oct 5 and I can't wait to see what this will do for me.

Good Luck with your journey!!!

Welcome to LBT, Mastiff Mum.

As a man who has been married to a British woman for 39 years, I feel as if we are mates already.

I hope I will be able to answer any questions you might have and I am sure if I can't, someone else at LBT can.

HI MUM IM FROM THE UK AS WELL. I ALSO HAD MY LAP BAND DONE ON THE NHS, IN THE NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND. WELCOME TO LAP BAND TALK XX

Hi Mastiff Mum,

Welcome to LBT, you will love it here. I am sure you are excited and nervous, but October will come and go before you know it, and it will be so worth it.

I take it from your name that you a Mastiff? Those are beautiful dogs, big, but beautiful.

Hi Mastiffmum,

I'm from the Uk as well, I got banded July 18th. I have PCOS and have found although my weight is still high, I have started to have periods which I have never had regularly and sometimes only 1 a year... I'm also bordeline diabetic type 2 and I hope this will prevent it from becoming full blown and from what I've heard on this site, I'm sure mine and your co morbidities will improve....good luck

Thank you all for your warm welcomes, I certainly will keep you posted, right from the wonderful pre-op diet through to my mushies!

And yes, Susan, I own an English Mastiff and a Neapolitan Mastiff, my two beautiful babies, the biggest weighing 140 pounds thinks she's a little lap dog!

Is there anywhere we can post pictures on here, I'd like to do one of myself and of my woofers, if that would be ok?