Hi Everyone,

I have been overweight all my life and to be honest am fed up of diets and weight loss tablets that never work. I can honestly say that I really did try.

I have decided to see a consultant about a band and would like some advice. I understand that it is a complete life style change and I am so ready for that but I have a few questions as I can't wait until I see the consultant:-

After the op - how long was is before you go back to work?

What is the realistic weight loss.

By the way I'm 5'5" and 14stone 11 pounds

Thanks very much

Celina

Hi Celina

It is a very individual choice and I wouldn't want to say have the band or not but for me I don't regret a second. I had my op over 5 months ago and have lost over 3st so it def works.

I was back to work after 1 week and I told everyone I had been in hopsital to have my gallstones removed which worked out well as people were really careful that I didn't pick up anything too heavy etc.

I started out at 22st and am now 18st 9lb and I am only 5'2 so I am a LOT bigger than you so your weight loss might be slower in the beginning. I know there are a lot of people who are around your weight who have been banded so it might be worth searching for the lower BMI people to ask their advice and see if it has been worth it to them - Im sure it has.

Hope this helps a little

Cookies'n'cream is right. I started with a much higher BMI at 47 but I know some surgeons will operate on lower BMI. You will have to find the right one. My surgeon would not operate on me now and my BMI is still higher than yours.

However there have been good results to lower BMI banding, so keep in there.

I was back at work with 10 days (thought I would have a holiday at the same time. though I could have gone within a few days really) but I was up front about my op and everyone and sundries knew what was happening. For a high BMI they expect a weight loss of around 5st in the first 6 months and I was consistent with that although I then lost nothing for 8 months due to bad after care (sorted now and started losing again! Yipee!)

Good luck with everything and let us how your appointment goes.

I started off at 16st 3lb and I am 5ft 3in, mind you 1 stone of that was panic eating in the last 3 months waiting to save up for the band . I have lost about 2 stone and was banded on 10th April.

I think it is vital to talk to as many people as you can before having the op and read everything going. Bear in mind that people trying to sell the band to you, may leave out the negative things.

I don't regret it at all but it can be very difficult at times and it is a real learning curve. It is by no means an easy option, but having said that it works. But every bandster I have ever met has had days when you just wish you could rip the thing out.

PM me if you want to know more, mind you I am still learning myself.

Good luck

Trish

I have to say that if you are looking for a UK surgeon to do the op, you'll be hard pressed to find one, as you BMI is less than 35 at the moment, the guidelines for doing WLS are BMI of more than 40 with not co-morbidities (weight related health problems) and BMI of 35 or more with co-morbidities, so you'll have to gain a bit more weight (15st 2lb makes your BMI 35.2) and have a weight related problem to be considered.

My BMI was 38.5 when I first decided to have the op and 43 by the time I'd saved up enough money to get it done, scarily that was only 6 months!

I've been banded now for 17 weeks now and have lost 3stone and 4lbs so far.

I'm delighted with my progress and have to say that the consistency of my weight loss has been down to the band.... Yes I can diet, but my attention span is around 8 weeks so I'd be back on the gain path by now. My band has stopped me falling from grace and although I've tried to binge.... it's not been possible and I've paid with my head down the loo! I'm learning and it's not always easy, but I don't regret having it, despite having the fills from hell!

the op itself was a dream, no bruising, no pain and I was back at work 5 days post op, but that's because i don't have a physically demaning job. If you do a lot of lifting then it would be a longer recovery time.

You should ask how many of these ops have they done

Is there a pre operative diet?

What is the weight loss average of the patients

What sort of changes will I have to make to my life to be successful

What complications can happen, can they be fixed

If things go wrong, how much will it cost to put them right.

Where will I get fills... what's the protocol? Do I have to pay for them?

I hope that this helps a bit!

i find you say very interessant.

I have one question how do you do your fills as Dr anfroy is in paris ?

How is the post op

No I have my fills in the UK, it's quite easy to find a fill provider here for them.

Post op was a breeze, no problems at all in fact I had to check that I'd actually had an operation when I woke up!

Sorry for the late reply!

thanks anon

lolita, tu parle francais?.

Oui je parle français.

Hi All

Thanks for all your advice. Things have changed a bit now. I had a bad chest infection and I had a scan which showed that I have furing of the artery in my heart. I am told its nothing to worry about if I change my lifestyle and weight.

My doctor as now written to a specialist as he now thinks that I can get it done on the NHS so figgers crossed.

Thanks again for your advice.

Celina

My sister was approved for nhs banding due to her diabetes - however she has been waiting for the op for over a year and has had to jump through hoops - and still no date set! If you pay for it these companies arn't too bothered about the BMI mine was about 38 and I weighed same as you and I certainly wasn't going to gain weight simply to get the op which I'm paying for! Whatever you do - DO NOT GO THROUGH THE HOSPITAL GROUP!! good luck