Hi All,

i just have a couple of questions. I am going to see the consultant for a GB on the 1st September. I know i can ask these questions when i go but i am trying to get ahead of the game, as such.

How long is the special diet before they do the band and how long after the band can i fly? I have a holiday end of Sept and another in the middle of Nov so was hoping to have it done in between the two if possible.

I am having my band privately but can't find any UK forums that discuss how good the company you use is. I am looking to go with the Hospital Group just because of the aftercare they offer.....has anyone heard any positive/negatives about them or do you have any suggestions. I live in the South West but could travel anywhere in the South.

I'm so excited.........i cant wait!!!

TIA xx

Hi Tia ????

I'm also from the UK I live in London, I had my GB done on June 12th 2015 and I also had it done privately through the hospital group, so far I haven't had any problems with them what so ever, I found the staff really helpful and answered any questions I had (I had a lot) I felt confident with the surgeon I met and was really excited to get things going.

You have to do the pre op diet for 2 weeks before your surgery to shrink your liver, don't panic it's not all a liquid diet which I was so grateful for btw lol they give you 3 options, you can do all liquids, you can do all food but you have to stick to the strict list they give and you have to weigh everything out, or you can do a mixture of the 2 which is what I done, I would have a slim fast for Breakfast and lunch then have a high Protein low carb dinner, the first few days were hard but if you make it part of your routine I found it so much easier.

I'm not 100% but I think you have to wait at least 6 weeks before you can fly to give everything a chance to heal and got swelling to go down.

If you've got anymore questions let me know ????

Megan xx

Hi Megan,

Oh i think i am going to have to be on my pre-op diet on my first holiday and i will have been banded for my second!!! dammit i didn't think this through.....

But I'm willing to make the sacrifice.....i am sure i can cope without getting drunk or eating, i guess this is the rest of my life

How much weight have you lost so far? is it all you thought it would be?

Leen xx

EWom75, so far I've lost around a stone but that's including my pre op diet, it has been a big learning curve for me and I think I went into it quite naively, I thought that I would be banded, follow the post op diet and be on my merry way to seeing the lb's drop off, but that didn't really happen,

3-4 days after I was banded my appetite was definitely back 100% almost like there was no restriction at all, and since you don't get your first fill for 5-6 weeks you do literally have to be on a diet and it's always the bad foods and the alcohol that go down the easiest lol, after my first fill I still didn't feel like there was much restriction,

I had my second fill yesterday and I definitely think I might be on my way to the much talked about 'green zone' lol, I don't feel hungry and I'm looking forward to the next few weeks to see if I starting shifting these pounds ????

Xxx

I have my op scheduled with the hospital group in October but as I live in Northern Ireland I am having to fly across to Birmingham for the surgery. This is all organised through them and they are dropping me off at the airport after the operation to fly home and they have done this many times before. So flying should be no issue. Hope this helps.