hi,

my name is tracy, i'm 23 years old..

i've always been a very big person and my weight is at a all time high! i'm now 24 stone and 4 pounds (was weighed at slimming world last week)

i googled my bmi and its 52.8, i know over 40 is very bad! :confused: about a year ago i was given xenical from the doctor, i took it for a little while but i never went back for a refil as the side effects were so bad!

i now dont have a doctor as i moved, i'm not sure what qualify's me to get a lap band.. or if i would need to join to a doctors? or i could do it somewhere else?

i've tried the xenical, i'm doing slimming world, i lost half a stone and i put it all back on i just cant seem to find anything else that works, can someone please give me some advice?

thanks :eek:

also i live in the uk, so i was hoping i could get it done on the nhs?

It sounds like you would be a candidate for weight loss surgery, but how long would the waiting list be for nhs? When I was going through the process my insurance required a 3month physician assisted weight loss so my doctor prescribed phentermine. It is an appetite suppressant I took a 1/2 tablet 2xday and it worked well. It also gave me that extra energy that I needed to do some excersise. I didn't have any negative side effects with it. I just had that lap band done 3/2/09, I have my follow up today so I will be curious to see if I have lost any more weight. My BMI when I started was 40 and that is a requirement for the surgery. Where do you live in the UK? I used to live in Newmarket.

i live in southampton, i dont know how long i would have to wait. i have no problem getting out and walking and getting on my trampoline.. i do try my best it's just really hard! :confused:

i font want to gain anymore weight

You should make an appt. with a Dr. and see what advice they can give you. I thought about having the band for the past 5 years and just had it done last week. I have private insurance so I'm not sure the difference between the two insurances. I know the feeling about not wanting to gain anymore weight...It is such a struggle and I think that even with the band on I will struggle for the rest of my life. That is why I like this support group there is a lot of good people on here and everybody has good advice. Take care!

i would love to be able to have the band op, i have thought about it for years! i'm only 23 but i have been very over weight from the age of 10..

i dont have a doctors but feel like by asking i'm taking the easier option? even tho i know it wont be the easier option..

well i say i thought about it for years and read the stories but never looked into if i meet the standards they have..

hi tracy, i live in the UK & i had my surgery on the NHS, my waiting time was 5 months, i think it depends on where you live for different waiting times,

I also think to get it on the NHS you would need to be referred by a GP to a surgeon/hospital.. unless you want to pay private or have it done abroad,

you would really need to speak to a GP to see if you qualify for banding, but its not for everyone, you need to have your eyes open & understand all there is to know about how the band works etc,

Do you have a past history with a GP about your weight problem? that will help in your favour,

Its best to get your weight problem under control now rather than keep putting it off & develop more health problems..

good luck & welcome to the forum

Hi English Rose

If you are to stand any chance of getting referred for weight loss surgery on the NHS then you will need to register with a GP first off.

Different PCt's have their own criteria, you would meet the NICe guidelines on BMI alone- do you have any other weight related issues or 'co-morbidities? this would help your case.

i have a band, paid for privately but op carried out in an NHS hospital. My BMi was 41 but as I was commpletely healthy apart from my weight, my doctor would not refer me.

Sue

I was the opposite of sue, my doctor DID refer me & i too have no other health problems apart from my weight, I guess it depends where you live or what doctor you see.. good luck make that appointment soon

well i have found a doctors thats just down the road so i will take a walk down there 2moro and get myself in there.

i have got a really painful hip but as i havent had a doctor for a year or so i havent gone about it..

i live in southampton, i dont know what the waiting time will be like.

i find it rather hard to trust a doctor as the last one i had was really rubbish! he gave me xenical and didnt tell me to reduce my fat in take and well i think you can all guess what happened..

and then he said if it came to it i could have my jaw wired! and i didnt want that...

Its good news actually that you have already tried xenical and failed because a lot of gps see weight loss surgery as a last resort for people who have tried other methods and failed so at least you have already gone down that route.

I went to St Richards hospital in Chichester for my surgery as there is a bariatric unit there. I know some NHS patients who have waited 3 or 4 months just to get funding approved, a further 4 months wait to see the consultant there, then a further 4 months once he has approved surgery for them so be prepared you may have a long journey.

On the other hand you might be lucky and get approved and operated on much quicker, good luck any way and at least you are taking the first step of registering with a GP.

Sue