# 522

Posted: 19/11/2009 22:45

Hi Lisa,

Well done on the weight loss so far xx your doing brilliantly!

# 521

Posted: 18/11/2009 20:55

Hi to All especially Hilliary,Aren't you one of the lucky ones securing a place on the surgery list in Loughlinstown.Would love to hear how you got on and how you are feeling now its all over.I can understand how you felt you are uptight for so long pre op and then the surgery day comes and goes so quickly it over before you know it.Well I hope it is all going very well for you!!!!!!!!

Regards, Mary.

# 520

Posted: 17/11/2009 20:18

hi hillary

congrats on the opp....!!! liz was telling me all about it you are doin just great....!!! am still at my weight watchers goin great ive hit my 3 stone mark last friday...!!! i was suppose to have my pre opp apointment last friday but they re scheduled it till the 1st of dac i suppose i may get used to that...lol tell us all about the opp when ever u get a chance love to hear all bout it... take care ... lisa

ps ... how is everyone else getin on....???? 

# 519

Posted: 17/11/2009 15:30

Hi ya Hiliary,

Dont worry bout not posting too often.....life tends to get in the way!!  Congrats on the op and say hi to BizzyLizzy from me!

How are you doing? Can you tell me what op you had and how long it took? What is the risk percentage?  Sorry for all the questions:)   Im at Loughlinstown too and Im having my last appointment soon. I dont really know what happens after that, I have asked but the two people I spoke to gave me different stories so Im a little confused!   How do they decide you need the op and who gets it first? Is there a long waiting list and is the pre and post op diet hard?

Do you have to have to had a good weight loss through your 9 monthly appointments or they dont take you seriously?? And my last and most important question.....if they think your food problems are related to the psychological side of things will they turn you down untill you get counseling? Because you may have the same problems when you start loosing weight and you cant block the feelings with food?

Again Hiliary... so sorry about all the questions! Im just dying to know what the next steps are because I just cant keep living my old life any longer.

All the best xx

# 518

Posted: 16/11/2009 19:00

hey sorry for being such a sporadic poster on here. Im brutal at keeping up with with forums :(

anyhow had my gastric bypass in loughlinstown last monday... Still a bit tender but going great. I have to say its kinda been a bit surreal for me. For such a long time I've been all hyped up about the op and the next thing i know its happened. I thought the day would never come and now that it has its kinda weird-but good weird lol I'm sticking rigidly to the rules as I've waited so long for the op that I'm not gonna mess up the post op stages.

It's strange, cuz when my sister (Bizzylizzy) went to have this operation 2 and half yrs ago, my family INCLUDING ME were very against it. her success is what spurred me onto following the same route. At the end of the day it is an individuals choice, no matter how much input and opinions others give.

I don't know how true it is but I believe the list for surgery has been kinda held up a bit.  Last monday was my third attempt at securing a bed for the op. Plus there are circumstances where emergency cases come up and need priority surgery so this kinda stalls things too.

Hilary

# 517

Posted: 11/11/2009 17:35

Hi Spacey, Good to hear from you and that you are encouraged by the little I told you. I too migrated for love but only to the Midlands of Our Emerald Isle.I tried everything on the market too and believe me nothing worked like this is working for me.I am bounding with energy and the 'want' for food is no where to be seen at the present moment.It is refreshing to say that every morning I almost feel like looking in the mirror because I know that I am losing everyday.

Sorry that the email address did not work try e-mailing me on mtwyer@hotmail.com and hopefully I can give you futher details that would be blocked on this website.

# 516

Posted: 09/11/2009 16:16

Mary, tried that e-mail address, but got 2 failure notices? Don't you hate that when you type out a long e-mail, and it doesn't go.!!

# 515

Posted: 09/11/2009 14:30

Thanks for your responses. Mary, I will contact you for more info. It's reassuring to hear that your head gets tweaked a bit by the gastric bypass, not just your stomach. I have had an intractable battle with obesity since I was a teenager(now 46), and before that I was a "chubby kid". I have weighed between 17 and 21 stone for around 25 years. Once in my late 20's I lost over 10 stone on "Nutri-system" an American (I'm a displaced American- I emigrated for love..) meal replacement program. I don't know how, but I got into the zone and just cruised through,losing that weight in 16 months. Unfortunately I was completely unprepared for the attention I attracted as a "hot chick" nor for eating properly and the weight piled back on. Since then I've tried all the diets, but have not repeated that success. In the past I've been able to lose 1 1/2-3 stone when I set my mind to it (though the last time I lost 3 stone I got pregnant with twins!), but this past year or so I've been unable to get motivated to even start. The medical consequences are piling up- high BP, sore back, sore hip, etc. So far I'm still able to work and take care of the house and kids, but for how long if I don't do something?  Anyhow, that's where I'm coming from. Looking forward to hearig from you all again.

# 514

Posted: 07/11/2009 17:04

Hey Spacey,

Welcome aboard!!

Hope you will find lots of tips advice and help on here as we all could use the oppertunity to talk to others who know what were going through!

xx

# 513

Posted: 07/11/2009 08:40

Hi Spacey,

Welcome to the site. I had the bypass a year ago, and was also questioning how I would get around the want, rather than the need, for food. The first 6 weeks were pure hell for me. I had my op done in England, and the surgeon recommended a fluid only diet for the first 4 weeks. Pure, unadulterated hell. I had never realised just how many food ads there were on telly! And because you can only take tiny sips of water until your tummy stretches, I was permanently thirsty and all I wanted to do was down a huge pint glass of water! However, that soon passes and you start eating. I now eat all and everything I want, however, in smaller quantities. I still battle sometimes with meat. You have to chew it so many times, and I tend not to (and then I see it floating around in the loo after I get sick! - aargh - sorry if you are squeemish!). That is the only prob I still face. Honestly, post bypass, food becomes a necessary chore. You don't get hungry (sometimes around the time of month - but thats it), and when you want food for the sake of food, thats ok, you just cant get it down in the same quantities as before!!! I still do the lazy saturdays in front of the telly with a bag of crisps, but then, hey, who doesnt. I usually only eat one, and not the 6-pack!

Hope this has answered your questions. But like I said before, This op is not magic. It will only work if you help it to work. Don't be liquidising choc and drinking it in your fluid only period, and don't abuse your new belly. The rest, the body takes care of, and WOW it sure is worth it!

Good Luck to all out there on their Quest!

# 512

Posted: 06/11/2009 18:32

Hi Spacey, Welcome to the forum.I think you will find everyone very open in their feelings and advice.I am now 6 weeks post op and had it done privately in Galway General Hospital and it was approved by the VHI.I was to have it in the Galway Clinic however my surgeon wanted me to have ICU treatment after and it was provided better in UCHG.The VHI approve this surgery after you have gone through all the hoops with the physc and surgeon  and they deal with everyone on as individual case as they classify this surgery as cosmetic (Joke!!) how could they think it was cosmetic this is what I consider a life saving op.Almost 5 stone gone now but still plenty to go.I would advise anyone who has been down all the fad diets and meds road to definately approach your GP for a referral.I hope this was helpful to you.

And finally on the wanting food side of things believe me its like a miracle happens in your brain where you no longer yearn the rubbish and volume of before.It is said that the hunger returns over time but I hope that I will be in a better frame of mind when I have to face that and believe me the buzz from the weight loss is equal to the buzz from crisps and choolate!!

So go for it and if I can help any more just mail me and I can give you names and numbers mtwyer@yahoo.com

# 511

Posted: 05/11/2009 23:39

Hello folks. I've finally joined up. I've been reading this forum for months. My story is the same as yours. I would like to ask someone who has had a gastric bypass how they deal with the psychlogical desire for food? While you may be unable to overeat, how do you deal with the wanting of food for reasons other than hunger or sustenance? Also, does anyone know where the gastric bypass is available privately(on VHI) further up the country than Cork(I'm from Donegal)? Looking forward to taking part from now on.

# 510

Posted: 27/10/2009 18:33

Hi Kitty, Thanks for the support.I was 1 month post op last Wednesday and I have not looked back since, its the best decision I ever made, already I feel like the old me and in 12 months PG I will look like the old me. Dont get me worng I was never a stick insect but for my size I was active and pain free and thats what I want back again FREEDOM!!

My family and husband are all very happy nad supportive but it comes down to you and you alone, it is hard but its worth it my brain is still telling me that I want the big portions but once it hits the mouth you realise that it will not go down,I have been adventureous this week I had a fish finger one day and a slice of wholemeal bread today at lunch so everyday I am trying different things.

Any advice I can help you with or if you just need someone with the same issues just email me.

# 509

Posted: 26/10/2009 17:24

Hi Mary,

Oh my God thats fantastic news !!! Im so happy for you, and so proud.

Have been telling my family about your sucess but they are still insisting that with weight watchers and excercise I would change my life that drasticly too.Why dont the ever listen?

In my eyes now this is the only action for me to take- how long is it since you had the treatment?

Keep up the good work hun- sexy little black dress on its way for Xmas maybe??

Read back over your posts that you made this time last year and see how far you have come! 

All the best xxxxx

# 508

Posted: 25/10/2009 20:01

Hi All,Its good to see some activitity lately.Had my one month post op consult and had great new apart from feeling great and having bounds of energy I weghted in 1stone 3lbs lighter.That brings me to a grand total of just under 4 stone.Its right what Jen says dont think just do as its the start of a nice lifestyle for us all post ops.Good luck to all those who are facing the pre op test and consults dont give up it is so worth it.Anyone wanting to know any details just private message me.

# 507

Posted: 25/10/2009 11:00

Hi Cath, thank you for the information.

Thanks for the support Kitty, lots of decisions to make, I dont know where to start. This site is very useful, hearing all your stories is a great help, thank you.

I know I have to get one of the treatments and I know the consultants will tell me which is most suited for me. What I am struggling with is where to get the treatment done. My preference is Ireland but options are limited, there is a place in Sandyford but it cost approx €12,000 for a gastric band or is that what I should expect to pay?

DeathsMistress congrats on the weight loss, fair play. I would love to chat to you directly re your experience, where you got the treatment done, after care etc. my email address is duchess09irl@gmail.com

If there is anyone else who would like to share information on where they got their treatments I would be very greatful to hear from you. duchess09irl@gmail.com

Keep up the great work, I cant wait until I am sharing my success story

Duches09

# 506

Posted: 22/10/2009 15:46

Hi All xx

Lisa- Thanks for your support, am at Loughlinstown since Feb, Finding Ruth a great help, While I totally support what they do I cant help but get the feeling that fat=lazy+stupid?  Maybe this fat girl is a little hyper sensitive tho?? I think I need to concentrate on getting my head sorted first before the weightloss can begin but htat will take a whole lot of time and a lot of money I dont have .(thats the fat girl making excusses again I recon)

DeathsMistress-Well done and keep it up!! Would love to have a chat with you some time- If you want to post an email add I will drop you a line! Thank you. You must be so proud!!

Jen- Everything you say is true and you explain everything so beautifully!! I cant just wait around in the hope that my llife will start when I eventually loose weight. I need to take a drastic step towards surgery. All my friends, although massivly supportive, cant even begin to feel how a fat girl feels and how the weight not only takes over your life- it becomes who you are and what you are known for.

Love and best wishes to all xxxx 

# 505

Posted: 21/10/2009 14:50

Hi Deaths Mistress, and others!!

I can totally agree with you. I had the gastric bypass last july. Having spent my whole entire life being overweight, obese and morbidly obese, I missed out on so much. I am now 36, and wish I had had the op when I was a teen. I have utmost confidence in myself, I go out all the time, can hold my head high, and i am so proud of who and what I am. I never realised just what a hold my weight had on my life until now. People say to me all the time, "I can't believe you were ever overweight".

To those contemplating surgery, ....don't! Just have it done, and see the end of your weight problems. I cannot express to you how good life is when people treat you how you ought to be treated, instead of just being the blob in the corner. I know I go on about it, but I am the same person, with the same set of values, I didn't get a brain transplant when having the bypass, but somehow, my opinion never seemed to count for anything before.

I know it shouldn't matter (but it does thrill me!), I will be the first of my friends to be chatted up, hauled off to dance. I get paid into night clubs by complete strangers and have drinks bought for me. and I can assure you, this has never happened before!!!!

I know a few of you have chatted about the gastric balloon. I don't know much about it, but when I visited the obesity surgeon, there were a couple people who had had one in the past, and didn't rate it at all. They were going for the band, as they had not lost any weight with the balloon. Now I know, all these surgery's are a mere tool, and what we do with them, are completely up to us, but thought i would let you know what they thought. I have read that they are more suited to people with a lesser weight prob ie those who maybe want to shift a couple stone. I don't think they are suited to the obese.

Anyway, good luck to everyone losing weight, and more luck to those struggling.

Take care, Jen X

# 504

Posted: 20/10/2009 21:36

I am intrigued reading all your messages.  I had a laparoscopic gastric bypass back in June 09. I am down over 4stone, 30kg or have lost 56% of my excess weight to date. I have a new lease of life. I am back at dancing and exercising 5 days a week. I am not tired during the day anymore I feel like im 21 again and Im actually 28. I missed out in doing so much in the last 7yrs being morbidly obese.  I like urselves tried everything from Weightwatcher to shakes to AComplia (until it was taken off the market) and nothing worked.  

If anyone has any questions u can contact me if u wish. I would be more then delighted to talk to u about my experience.

# 503

Posted: 20/10/2009 17:43

hi kitty

thanks for your support . just wondering how long you are at loughlinstown? i am at it nearly a year and a half and it is only in the last 2 months that am actullty losing weight you really have to have it in your head i started counceling a few months ago and i swear by it, its not that i have lots to talk about but its for my confidence and to get me back in to the land of the living. i was just excisting at home and at the end of the day ' this is it' this is as good as it gets we go around sometimes like we have another life stored in the bank  and just accept things so this is why we have to do this for our selves no body else we deserve to be as happy as the next person and wat ever it takes do it ....!!!

# 502

Posted: 20/10/2009 16:56

Hi Duchess,

Welcome on board! I hope this site helps you out on your way to your goal!

Well done Lisa you are doing amazingly!!!! Your an inspiration to us all!

Mary, Cath and Ashtowngirl hope you are all doing well xx

Ive just come back from my doc, he seems so despondant with me that he even thinks surgery is my only answer! I dont get why they think I sit at home all day long and shovel cake into myself.  I have 2 jobs, Im on the xenecal, excercising and watching what I eat and my weight has fluctuated but im a couple of pounds heavier now than when i started with Loughlinstown!!

Am seriously gonna look into the balloon or gastric sleve. Would be greatful for any info or tips as am lost and dont know where to start :(

# 501

Posted: 19/10/2009 18:28

Well Done Lisa, Thank you fro your kind words.

Ashtowngirl Its a small world my Mam was telling me about these fab sweets she bought in the hairdressers a week or 2 ago and I was telling her about you and I chatting here I am assuming that it was your sweets in Paulas hairdressers in Blanchardstown she said she defo is ordering some for Christmas she said that she didnt have that sickly feeling after eating them they were beautiful.So hope you are going well in the sweet business.

# 500

Posted: 19/10/2009 16:38

hi mary

just want to wish u the very best with the new start of your life am so happy for u you were so brave fair play....xx

how is every one else am doin great at my weight watchers ive 2 stone and 7 pound off now its slow but is goin in the right direction.....

# 499

Posted: 17/10/2009 11:28

Duchesse 09

Clinic in Wicklow offering the gastric balloon costs between 5 and 6 k, cant remember the name of the clinic offhand but it wouldnt matter cant post stuff like that on the board, did you google it?

Mary

Hows it going? how are you feeling now?

# 498

Posted: 14/10/2009 12:25

Hi all,

I am new to this site and I have been reading the recent posts, fantastic support available, great to see.

I am considering the gastric balloon but I am not hearing much about it, it is not as successful as other options? Does anyone know how much it cost?

Thanks

# 497

Posted: 12/10/2009 17:58

Hi ya Mary,

Hope your well and everything is going great for you. I would love some info on the procedure if you have time?

My email is cathycorry@gmail.com if you want to drop me a line. Just wondering bout the who , how , where and how much about the opperation!!

Thanks a million xx

# 496

Posted: 06/10/2009 15:24

Hi Mary,

This is absolutely brilliant!  I am soooo happy for you. Pretty soon you will spend a fortune on a whole new wardrobe-)

# 495

Posted: 01/10/2009 09:57

Hi All, Just to fill you in on progress.Had post op consult with my surgeon and got my staples removed which was pretty painless.Thank God.I was weighted and to my unbelievement I lost 35lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was a combined lossed from the 4 week pre op and 1 week post op which I am jsut thrilled with never have I lost so much and know that I cant and wont put it back on.

On the the liquids and sloppy foods for 3 more weeks till I see surgeon again.I know I will not have that loss again but I will have a loss that I am sure of.

# 494

Posted: 30/09/2009 00:23

Mary

So glad to hear that it went so well for you, will be dying to hear how the weigh in goes. 

# 493

Posted: 29/09/2009 10:56

Hi Kitty, If I can help you in anyway I am here to help as it was a lonely road for me when I started out on the surgery road it's like some don't like to admit they have had the surgery.VSG is vertical sleeve gastroectomy it is said to be the most natural of the weight loss surgeries.Not all surgeons in Ireland are carrying it out but I certainly can give you the info on mine.

# 492

Posted: 28/09/2009 21:17

Ah Mary am thrilled for ya!!!!! xxxxx     Thats brilliant news!

Please let us know how you get on, Would consider looking into it for myself at this rate!

P.s. Whats VSG????    

# 491

Posted: 28/09/2009 18:06

Hi Mary,

I am sooo happy for you. Keep us up to date!

# 490

Posted: 28/09/2009 16:26

Hi Guys,

Sorry for delay in getting back to you all.I am happy to say that today I am 1 week POST_OP.I never thought I would ever get to say those words.I had op on Monday last and wad home by Thursday evening,amazing.I feel great and I can jsut see the weight falling off but I dont know what I weight yet as I have an appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday and I am waiting till then.I have not been weighted since I had my pre-op diet consult which was 5 weeks ago so it will be interesting to see how I have done since then, by Wednesday I will be 10 days post-op but I dont mind the weight being all together so long as it is a good loss.They say that VSG has a slower rate of weight loss but healthier as you absorb all the nutrients and vitamins from the food you consume.I only have to take a good multi vitamin and a calcium tablet but at 38 I should be doing that anyway.

Lokk forward to telling you all how Wednesday goes.

# 489

Posted: 23/09/2009 21:11

Hi Cath

Ah am so sorry to hear that xx Would you consider the baloon op? Have to admit that I dont know much about it but its aparently done in 10 mins, and they dont have to knock ya out.

# 488

Posted: 23/09/2009 18:00

Hi Cath,

Like I wrote a while back, when you have a sweet tooth, the GBP is the best option.

There are infections, MRSA in all hosptials at point in time, but I think the percentage is less in Belgium. I only have experience in the University Hospital in Antwerp and they treat people who suffer from MRSA, who got the disease in The Netherlands.

I can meet up with you in town after 2nd October. I am temping now till then.

Take care,

# 487

Posted: 23/09/2009 17:05

Lisa,

So well done, you should feel so proud, keep it up.

Mary

Congrats, hope everything went great.

Ashtowngirl,

Thanks for the kind offer, maybe we could meet up sometime, I can understand why you go back to Belgium for your medical / dental treatment, the prices are so much better, is it true that hospital infections such as mrsa and diff c are very rare there?

I found out last week that I'm not suitable for gastric banding, too allergic ( and too much of a sweet tooth) may still be able to go for the gastric bypass (pending favourable reports from various consultants) so am a bit down at the moment. Talk to you all later.

# 486

Posted: 23/09/2009 13:40

Hi Kitty,

Belgium was fine. It was quite warm and sunny.

I paid about 10euro for a small filling of 1 tooth.

Slan,

# 485

Posted: 22/09/2009 20:23

Hiya Everyone,

Mary Im absolutley thrilled for you!! Cant wait to hear how your getting on! Fisrt day of the rest of your life!!

Ashtowngirl, how did Belgium go? Is it a cheaper and a better service over there?

Lisa -You go girl!!! Well done with the weight loss & keep it up:)

Cath, I hope everything is well your end, Chat to you soon xx

# 484

Posted: 17/09/2009 20:04

Hi Mary,

The very best of luck on Monday. I will be thinking of you. I am flying to Belgium tomorrow to see my dentist and I will be back on Wednesday, but I will keep my fingers crossed for you on Monday.-)

Hi Lisa,

Well done, hun. Keep it up and keep us posted. Treat yourself with a facial, or a new dress or handbag. You deserve it-)

# 483

Posted: 17/09/2009 13:02

hi every one

just an up date wit me! doin great at my weight watchers i have just over 2 stone off in about 8-9 weeks i really am focused just stickin to my points and i have a ' no calorie' day on a sat where if i want something i just have it it is keeping me goin, loughlinstown is movin very slow at the min was up last friday am am 9th on the list which they said aim for jan as he only does one a week and dosent get to do one every week so am kinda happy wit that as its given me more time to lose more weight as the more i lose before surgery the safer i will be on the table plus jan is a new year and a fresh new start! i can really feel the weight off me and its keeping me goin ive also started counceling about 2 months ago and i really find it just brillant am getin my confidence back slowly and excited about my future! hope everyone is keepin well xxx