getting gastric band privately - advice please

lilmissclass

I went to the consultation.

My band is getting done 23/04

And - whoopdeedo - my bank sent me a letter last week saying im all set for a 7500 loan. I just had to go in and apply - did it, got it!!

Happy lil bunny right now!

Kavanne

wish you best of luck and hope it all goes well

lilmissclass

woot woot only 9days to go

Francesanne

vik6525 wrote: »

Why not just go on a diet?

It wont cost you thousands of pounds to do so, and will help you change your eating habits for life.

Because it's a long hard slog, especially when you're very overweight. It also takes a lot of motivation, hard work and determination. Also losing weight can be the easiest part, it's keeping the weight off that's very hard. It can be very easy for naturally slim folk to think it's just a matter of going on a diet. It's not a diet and it's a change of eating habits. I've been trying to lose weight for the last forty odd years. I lose a couple of stone and then it creeps back on again. I don't smoke, drink or eat endless cakes,chocs,etc., but I'm currently under a lot of stress and I turn to food when I get upset, not because I'm hungary but I just need the comfort of eating and then hate myself because I've eaten half a loaf of bread.

lawsofnature

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

Gastric bands only restrict the volume of what you can eat. If you have problems with emotional eating then you can "eat round" a band quite easily - things like milkshakes, ice cream, chocolate and crisps all slip quite easily through a band and you can eat them all day if you want - you won't lose any weight though. The other downside is that a significant number of people have side effects such as erosion into the stomach wall, slippage, infection of the port site and other things. If you binge eat you can find yourself in serious trouble with a band - yes it makes you feel full but if you are one of the many overweight people who don't eat when they are hungry and don't stop eating when they are full you could be in real trouble with a band.

If you have a band fitted privately you get a set period of follow up but anything else, including complications, have to be paid for - you only get a 30 day guarantee, unless you pay extra for an aftercare package which includes complications and not just fills and de-fills.

If you get it done on the nhs you get aftercare and usually eating management therapy - it is the one area where I think there is a real advantage of nhs vs private.

There are loads of places doing bands now - they cost between £6000 and £8000 and that doesn't usually include much in the way of aftercare for complications. Some places do the gastric balloon - this is a more temporary thing and requires no anaesthetic (just sedation) - it is only placed in your stomach for 6 months and the side effects are less too. It costs less than a gastric band but I am not sure how much it is.

I agree with your sentiments. If someone has a true addiction to food they can simply blend foods or eating things like ice-creams. A lap band will not stop someone from hitting the Ben and Jerrys, or changing their emotional eating habits. I am slowly and steadily losing weight the old fashioned way: calorie control and maintenance. I would recommend healthy eating and exercise (even short walks), or even medications before going down the surgery route. I don't have a negative view of those who go down the surgery route, but everyone should dedicate at least a few years to trying to lose naturally.

Next week Channel 4's The Hospital looks at weight problems, and from the clip I saw, doctors express their frustration with patients clearly not following their low calorie diets after weight loss surgery.

I often wonder what the long term results of gastic bands and bypasses are? I remember Carney Wilson - the American singer from the group Wilson Philips - had a gastric by-pass. She lost all her weight, but has now gained much of it back again - this is despite having a large portion of her stomach removed. And didn't the same thing happen to Sharon Osborne? She had to get her lap band removed because the upper part of her stomach had expanded and was pushing against her diaphragm, she is now regaining her weight. The same can also be said about Randy Jackson (the American Pop Idol judge) he lost loads of weight with a lap-band, but now it's evident that he's slowly gaining again.

It seems in the short-term lap-bands have a very good success rate, but in the long term, I wonder are they worth the money. I guess only time will tell.

lawsofnature

Toothsmith wrote: »

You realise that if you're not able to eat decent sized meals, being 'very active' could be difficult. If you have difficulty getting enough calories in, it will be hard to power yourself.

Also, the pattern of eating, of more, smaller meals can put your teeth in serious danger. Teeth recover well from 3-4 acid/sugar attacks a day. If you're needing more intakes, then the teeth can suffer.

This is a very interesting point. I have never thought about the impact that eating 6-8 small meals has on one's teeth. It's not only bariatric patients who eat in this way, but also many dieters and bodybuilders who follow 'clean eating' plans.

mr_rush

>>NHS is not an option<<

Can I ask why? And also what 'criteria' do you meet?

gastricbanddisaster

Please look into the surgery. I have hadone fitted i August 08, it moved and they wany another £9000 to re-fit the exising band. I am distraught as the band was only operative for 3 months it then buckled causing me severe pain.
Now there is nothing that I can do, putting weight on. When I went back to Spire the surgeon told me to go to Weight Watchers!!!!!!!!!
I am gutted at loosing £7000 in such a short time.
Any suggestions?

grey_lady

Didnt Ann Diamonds one go wrong / not work as well?

simpywimpy

there are problems with any type of surgery and bands can and do slip but I believe they are rather rare. Unfortunately its something that the private patient needs to budget for.

As for NHS, the waiting lists can be very high and the criteria very difficult to pass in some areas - bit like postcode lottery for prescriptions.

Excessive weight loss does often involve the need for cosmetic surgery. Some areas will let you have this on the NHS whilst others (mine) wont. Again, for private patients, its something you need to budget for.

I paid for my band abroad in france and needed a tummy tuck which I had done in Cyprus - all based on costs. I could still do with upper arm work but I just tend to keep them covered where possible. I think I would much rather be the weight I am now with bingo wings that practically take off - than the weight I used to be