Hi

I have decided to get the procedure done - just have to save up for it. I live in uk and want to go to Brussels as it seems cheapest and safest there. Anyone know of the above?

Thanks

Thank you Flirtylass for all the information its a great help, i was going to book flights ryanair glad now i did nt hope to chat again to you if you dont mind all the questions to much.

by for now,

many thanks/

shoes.

shoes

Shoes, everyone is different as regards to what they can/cannot eat after their band is fitted.

I had my band implanted in December 2005, not by Dr Chris, but I wish I had gone to him:crying:

I had my op done in the UK by Michael Van den Bossche, who is also a terrific surgeon, the best in his field in the UK and Europe.

We all do research before we decide, and go for what is best for us.

I had a different kind of restriction, I couldnt eat anything except soup and all the bad stuff like, chocolate (sometimes) ice cream and crisps. Hence my weight loss over 2 years was only 2 stone.

How stupid I hear you say, but when you're absolutely starving and you can only eat soup you grab whatever will stay down.

The only time I had good restriction and didnt feel hungry was after a long haul flight (the pressure tightens the band)

I always came back from holidays lighter than when I went, which is a good thing, but maybe my band didnt have enough saline in it to start with.

Everyone has to find their 'sweet point' regarding fills.

Then it was discovered that I had a hole in my band, personally I think that was the reason for poor weight loss and not enough restriction, over the 2 years. What I mean is that the band was leaking.

I am having to pay again, although the manufacturer is giving me a new band and the Bupa a discount I still have to cough up almost £4000, which I hope to claim back once the band has been removed and examined by the company who manufactured it.

I hope I havent bored you, with my tale of woe, but sometimes these things happen and I believe every potential bandster should be aware of all the hazards.

Just for the record and it may put your mind at ease, my surgeon in all his years of doing these operations has only ever had another lady with a hole in her band like me.

It is not a very common occurance.

But if i were you I would go with Dr Chris, he seems to be a very reputable surgeon.

Edited January 22, 200917 yr by Freckles

Welcome cherryhog and shoes, i was banded last friday by dr chris and his team.. i had booked through bridget at europesurgery, iv got no regrets of having my band or going with dr chris and already lost a stone in weight.. im still getting a little stinging pain around the port area but thats only if i bend forward, other than that i get no pain. I have yoghurt drinks, slimfast or cup a soup during the day and plenty of water. Goodluck with what you decide and keep us posted x :thumbup:

Edited January 22, 200917 yr by wishfull

Hi everyone. I have just been on the scales and i have lost 1 STONE, yippeee. That is including my preop aswell.. i had a look at some recent photos and you can allready see the difference,especially in my face. I am totally made up. Good luck 2 everyone else who has just been banded and the ones who are about to go xx

What FAB news 1 stone gone already, I am soooo envious I cant wait to have mine fitted Woop Woop mmm :thumbup:

I was banded by dr chris in oct 2008. Im pleased i had the procedure and would do it 10 times over!!!..but.....as much as i read and researched they dont tell you how tough its goin to be!! I know we are all responsible for what we put in our mouths but when you are told you WILL lose a stone in a month you cant wait for the results! I have lost 2 stone since oct but due to eating healthy and liquids during pre op and fills (NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BAND). I was glad to go for my second fill this week because i can eat vast amounts and whatever i please. Bread occasionally gets stuck if not chewed tidy but when that passes i can easily finish the sandwich!! I have been bad over xmas and actually put on weight (which fredrick wasnt impressed!!) ha ha. I back on track now but wanted everyone to know that this is far from a quick fix!! Like everone else we all want instant results but sitting in the waiting room having a fill and talking to all the other dispondent patients i realise im not alone especially when the woman next to me has lost 4 stone but tells me that it is from folowing weight watchers for the last 8months and not because of the band!! and i breathed a sigh of relief. phewww. And the good old fern briton was banded a few yrs ago and only now looks fantastic....so now ive got that off my chest back i now going back to trying reallly hard and remembering to stay patient and positive and also remember that everyone is different!!

Hello, im new to this site ive really enjoyed reading all of your expriences with the lap band...Im really interested in dr chris as the cost of the band in the uk are very expensive...can i ask what bmi is acceptable for the banding thanks

Welcome cherryhog (oohhh that could have been my name as I eat them by the kilo when I'm if france (April til Oct) Try and contact Dr Chris directly because he accepted me at BMI 35, I have no other health risk, but I dont know what his upper and lower BMI are, no doubt he will want to take into account your age and other medical history. There is no hard sell and as you are only making an e,mail enquiery there is no committment. Good luck let us know what he says. Love mmmm

Hi shoes

the band the put in is empty and not filled so restriction wont be for a while...some people notice a difference straight away but this is rare. They start to fill your band monthly after your op. I had 4mls first fill which i believe is average then a ml at a time but they will double fill in belguim. dr Chris said most people notice a difference between 3rd or 4th fill (4 months plus after op??) Ive had 5 and half ml in mine and still have no restriction and can eat what i dam well like....its hard work but sure will be well worth it in time

Hi Guys i am thinking of getting this surgery done with Dr Chris really want to get it done but really nervous could anyone give me information how they made there arrangement from booking fees to arriving for surgey

I found everytring on the internet and was speaking to a lovely lady called Bridget to book could anyone let me know how they went through booking it and if you have had the surgery done let me know how it affects you afterwards

Thanking you and cant wait for the replies

Shoes:tongue2:

Hi Shoes, I booked the same as flirtylass, for the package, to include hotels and taxi's, you just need to book flights into Brussels international.

Around 2 weeks before the op you need to send your deposit and take the rest of the money with the brussels to pay in cash (euros). My date is Feb 13th. There is a lot of information in past posts on this thread, happy reading. mmm

Hi sparky1 i agree with everything you have said about the band, it is up to us to make it work.. its not a quick fix but a tool to help us lose the weight. I have done well for the last 3 wks and yes i have lost a lot in that time but i really want this and want this to work, im not going to pay all that money to start eating what i was before, no doubt ill have a bit of a relapse during my journey but i will make this work. I wish you well with your weight loss and im sure after your next fill you will have a bit more restriction x

Hi freckles, my port scare is about 1 inch long but the others are smaller and all healing very well x

Hi sparky1, Glad you joined us, you should be so proud of yourself to lose 2 stone since Oct is FANTASTIC, its only January, and we have had christmas and all the excessess that brings, I have'nt been banded yet , I'm due in two weeks but I've gone up from 88KG to 91 since the beginning of Dec, so cant wait to get some of this spare tyre off.

I know its no quick trick, but it must be doing something for you.

I dont know anyone who has'nt got a band, that could loose that amount over christmas. So big pat on the back for you and well done. mmm

Edited January 22, 200917 yr by mmm

Freckles, mmm, bigsister, wishful and gillian thanks so much for your advice and support. I am so glad that I have found this forum. I have told my mum and brother that I am getting banded but have decided not to tell my friends until after 'the deed (!)'. My husband works away alot so it is so nice to have people to speak to and even better that you have gone or are going through the same experience.

Freckles, I am sorry to hear that you have had problems. I really hope you sort it out and it's great that you have remained positive!

I am working my way through the previous pages on this thread but had a few specific questions if someone wouldn't mind helping me out!

- Have you had any problems getting an appointment for a fill when Dr Chris is in UK? Specifically London?

- Does anyone know roughly how much they are?

- Once you get the right fill do you still need to keep getting them monthly? Do you need monthly fills forever (as long as you have the band)?

- Do you need extra travel insurance for the trip/procedure? If so is there any specific companies anyone can recommend?

Sorry for all the questions!!

It seems everywhere I look at the moment people are talking about gastric surgery! On TV, in magazines! I hasn't put me off, I am more certain than ever that this will be the best move I ever make! I am not a junk food freak, I just love food and unfortunately often don't know when to stop :thumbup:!!

Thanks guys x :laugh:

Hi sammy iv never had a problem getting a fill appointment though i go to dublin clinic to see dr chris fills are €120 i think he only accepts euro but not sure as for fills once u have restriction u dont need anymore fills as long as ur happy wit level of restriction but u go every month until ur happy with the level or reach ur sweet spot i personally didnt bother with travel insurance

Freckles, mmm, bigsister, wishful and gillian thanks so much for your advice and support. I am so glad that I have found this forum. I have told my mum and brother that I am getting banded but have decided not to tell my friends until after 'the deed (!)'. My husband works away alot so it is so nice to have people to speak to and even better that you have gone or are going through the same experience.

Freckles, I am sorry to hear that you have had problems. I really hope you sort it out and it's great that you have remained positive!

I am working my way through the previous pages on this thread but had a few specific questions if someone wouldn't mind helping me out!

- Have you had any problems getting an appointment for a fill when Dr Chris is in UK? Specifically London?

- Does anyone know roughly how much they are?

- Once you get the right fill do you still need to keep getting them monthly? Do you need monthly fills forever (as long as you have the band)?

- Do you need extra travel insurance for the trip/procedure? If so is there any specific companies anyone can recommend?

Sorry for all the questions!!

It seems everywhere I look at the moment people are talking about gastric surgery! On TV, in magazines! I hasn't put me off, I am more certain than ever that this will be the best move I ever make! I am not a junk food freak, I just love food and unfortunately often don't know when to stop :thumbup:!!

Thanks guys x :laugh:

Hi again Sammy. Good for you for being decisive and deciding to go for it. Not sure about difficulties getting an appt for fill as me and gillian made our first appt while in Belgium for the surgery last week, maybe it depends on the location you want to visit? Also unsure of price, I had understood it may be 90-100 but they didn't tell us the price when we booked it, therefore, flirtylass's info is more reliable than mine on that. I did get travel insurance from a company specialising in insuring for surgery abroad, its www.allcleartreatmentabroad.co.uk although this will not cover you for any claims arising as a result of the surgery you have gone for, it is still only for basic stuff but I believe that if you travel with just ordinary travel insurance and then they become aware that you have travelled for elective surgery, then it will invalidate a claim for anything. It cost me about £30 I think, you fill in the details online for a quote. Hope this helps, bigsister x

Freckles, mmm, bigsister, wishful and gillian thanks so much for your advice and support. I am so glad that I have found this forum. I have told my mum and brother that I am getting banded but have decided not to tell my friends until after 'the deed (!)'. My husband works away alot so it is so nice to have people to speak to and even better that you have gone or are going through the same experience.

Freckles, I am sorry to hear that you have had problems. I really hope you sort it out and it's great that you have remained positive!

I am working my way through the previous pages on this thread but had a few specific questions if someone wouldn't mind helping me out!

- Have you had any problems getting an appointment for a fill when Dr Chris is in UK? Specifically London?

- Does anyone know roughly how much they are?

- Once you get the right fill do you still need to keep getting them monthly? Do you need monthly fills forever (as long as you have the band)?

- Do you need extra travel insurance for the trip/procedure? If so is there any specific companies anyone can recommend?

Sorry for all the questions!!

It seems everywhere I look at the moment people are talking about gastric surgery! On TV, in magazines! I hasn't put me off, I am more certain than ever that this will be the best move I ever make! I am not a junk food freak, I just love food and unfortunately often don't know when to stop :thumbup:!!

Thanks guys x :laugh:

Hi Sammy, concerning your questions on fills, I've found it easier if you book a month in advance. The price seems to vary, I went to London for my first fill,( as the Manchester office didn't open until October), and Dr Chris charged me £80. When I went to Manchester in Nov & Jan, I was charged £90. Also, you don't have to go every month....I was banded in Aug 2008 and I've just had my 3rd fill in Jan, taking me up to 6.5mls. I'm feeling quite restricted at the moment, but as Frederick was explaining, as you lose the weight, you also lose it on the inside, so every now & again you will need a top-up to keep the band tight!BUT as some of the other girls have been saying, you do need a lot of will-power too as the band won't do all the work for you. Hope I've been of some help Kath x.:smile: