How to get a band fitted on nhs?

[saraian24]

Bsically im fighting a losing battle, i need to do something cos i never feel full and im grazing all the time now and Im so disgusted with myself.

What are the chances of me convincing my doctor im deserving of this, i cant afford to go private

im 16 stone and 5,2 and just hate myself. Diets are not working for me.

 

[dumplindust]

Hi, I know how you feel, I too am 5'2" but weigh more than you. I see from your ticker that you have lost over 30lbs so diets are working for you even if it's not as fast or as much as you'd like. For some of us losing weight is an uphill and lifelong struggle. But I also noticed that you have two small children. Do you really want to have surgery and the risks it carries? Your babies won't care what size you are, they will love their mummy whatever her size. I was scanning the WLS forum for ideas on what to say to my own GP as I too am thinking about gastric banding. However, I have 3 grown up children and I know that each of them would be horrified if they knew that I was even considering surgery.

I hope you will feel better about yourself tomorrow (oops, today) and give the diet another chance. I wish you well whatever path you take.

Nite nite.
Dumplin.

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

sarian no 1 on this forum has the right to tell u that u shouldnt go 4 surgery,you have made a positive decision here, do this for you and your babies as they will benefit from a better life as well as your self, my son was 4 when i was banded, and now i can do things other normal mummies do with there kids, if i hadnt of had wls then id still be sad and not interact with my son physically, swimming, running around with him ect.
tell your gp. you have tried so hard with every other diet but they have not worked out 4 u, i have no regrets with my band the only regret is that i didnt do it sooner.
i wish you luck with your gp it should be straight forward.

liz x




ps dumpling i think your post is very negitive and bang out of order considering your giving band advice as a non bander :nono:

 

[jinkles]

Hi Sarian24, I too must agree with liz2008. I also am 5'2'' and at my heaviest weighed 19.7stones. I spent 14 yrs on different diets (managed to loose weight initially but failed to keep it off). I was successfully banded on 2nd Jan this year and I know already that it was the right choice for me. I have 2 small children 4 1/2 yrs and 2yrs and did struggle with the choice of being 'banded' and it's risks or being an unhealthy, overweight mum who couldn't play with them. But like I said 'I KNOW I'VE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE'!!!

I definatley think it is worth you approaching ur GP, I did and he said they would probably fund me to have wls but I would have to jump through certain hoops first and that would take up to 12months. I fortunatley have a fantastic mum who offered to pay for the wls so I could have it done sooner rather than later.
Alot of funding is being made available at the mo so that the uk as a nation can tackle and control obesity, ask away to your GP (that's the hardest bit out the way in my opinion).

Good luck in ur quest, keep us informed, as I have found you will get alot of good support, advice and encouragement on the forum.

Take care x x x

 

[LizzieBee]

Bsically im fighting a losing battle, i need to do something cos i never feel full and im grazing all the time now and Im so disgusted with myself.

What are the chances of me convincing my doctor im deserving of this, i cant afford to go private

im 16 stone and 5,2 and just hate myself. Diets are not working for me.

Hi! :wavey:
Have a look at this thread - http://www.minimins.com/surgical-weight-loss/66792-nhs-funding-surgery-where-start.html
It has lots of info you might need to tell your GP - sadly not all GPs are aware of the criteria for referrals for WLS, it is (still *sigh*) seen as a fairly new treatment.
You've made a decision that will benefit you and your family for many, many years - please don't listen to the negativity of doubters and the ignorant!
The arrival of my grandson has kicked my butt into action - I want to be around to see him grow up and to be able to chase after him when he comes to play! I didn't want him to know me as 'fat nana' but 'fun nana'!
Lots of luck - there'll be lots more fab supportive people along with advice for from their own experiences. Sorry that some people forget the title of Mini's - it's a weight loss SUPPORT forum!
Do let us know how you get on.
Lxx

 

[tracey113]

Good luck at the gp. Losing weight is fine but keeping it off is another matter!
if ur weight is getting you down then you should go and ask. let us know how you get on

 

[saraian24]

Thank you so much ladies for the lovely replies. I will have to explain myself a bit better as that sounded like a rant above.
To be honest im becoming desperate. Yes i have lot weight but on my ticker it is coming back on, i havent adjusted it. Im sick of doing all these diets and nothing is working for me - im feeling the back problems coming back on as the weight keeps coming back - i cant keep doing a quick fix everytime becase i feel its harming my body.
I want to be able to be a parent and feel the surgery would benefit me more thebn these bleeding permanant diets im on. I dont want to diet for the rest of my life, i eat well and very healthily but the lack of feeling in my stomach not knowing when its full is seriously worrying me.
I could be such a better mum 50lbs lighter - it would change my life forever.

 

[saraian24]

The only thing is im terrifed il get turned down becuase although im 'obese', im obese with no health problems as such, i was diagnosed with depression a while ago though i feel that is very clearly linked to my weight.

 

[tracey113]

make an appointment, and you should feel like you have to explain urself. Only you know what how you feel and if your not happy and feel surgery would benefit you then go4 it!

 

[starry]

Hi

Hi,

We all know how this feels and I believe you get to a point - well I did anyway I realised I have an addiction and a serious problem and diets will never work as the demons in my head wont let them !! ie you know you will fail, when will you fall off the wagon etc etc and people almost not taking you seriously and encouraging you as they have seen you fail so may times - however all that negativity is behind me now no more beating up on myself.

So i made the decision to try and get surgery, like you private was no option so I very carefully planned what I needed to say to my GP and found out the PCT funding criteria for my area ( the people who decide whether you get the cash for the op !! )

I explained everything and how I felt and that I fitted their criteria ( no expert but i think if you dont check those boxes you wont get it except in exeptional circumstances - please correct me if I am wrong but maybe can save heartache if you know what this criteria is, but I may well be wrong )

My GP I admit was very good and said she would be happy to look into it.
anyway had to keep pushing to get the letter then the PCT lost it etc etc but eventually I got the OK - now on the long 18 month wait ( only because the hospital here is so busy not normal I believe )

I learnt sooo much from programmes like The Fat Doctor etc. gives you a practical idea on the procedure etc.

But if you have decided this is what you want - go for it and inform yourself then get to that GP's armed with info and be ready !!!!

I havent had the surgery yet but I am so much more positive and happy even though still the same weight because I have taken steps to change and start my life again for me and my 3 boys.

I wish you the very best and although a novice if you want any advice please shout
xxx

 

[saraian24]

I will give you a shout and thank you for the helpful and kind answers. I do feel like food has taken over my life, and my whole day involves food and I hate it!
Im going to book a appointment with the nurse this week who saw me when i started the cambrdge diet and he said if i had problems to come back and see him. Im pretty sure he would fight my corner for me as his wife had a band fitted as well.

 

[dumplindust]

Oh dear, I was simply trying to support Saraian and make her feel better about herself as it was the early hours of the morning and she was obviously feeling very low. I was feeling fat and desperate myself and had no intention of being anything other than kind towards a lovely mum of two small children who was feeling miserable and no-one else seemed to be around on the forum.
I’m so sorry Saraian if my post came across as negative, I was trying to point out how much you’ve already achieved on your diet and to think about giving it a bit longer. I was v tired and apologise if my post came across other than how it was meant to i.e. supportive. Having been overweight and on a diet since I was 4 years old I know exactly how you feel.
I’m really upset myself now as I am neither negative nor ignorant and I don’t need to have it pointed out to me that it’s a support forum or have fingers wagged at me. I lost 5st on LL & CD a few years back and used this fab forum and its predecessor as my lifeline to keep going and to encourage others.
I congratulate all of you who have taken the step to have a band fitted, I would love to have the procedure myself and last night after another horrible day of feeling desperate, uphappy, unhealthy, out of breath, achey bones, ashamed and disgusted at my own reflection was on the forum looking for tips for how to approach my own GP & PCT, who I know are both going prove difficult to persuade.
And to Lizziebee, congratulations on the arrival of your grandson. I too am a new grandmother and want to lose weight for precisely the same reasons as you do.
Saraian, I hope I’m forgiven for what I didn’t mean to do.
Dumplin.

 

[saraian24]

Oh dear, I was simply trying to support Saraian and make her feel better about herself as it was the early hours of the morning and she was obviously feeling very low. I was feeling fat and desperate myself and had no intention of being anything other than kind towards a lovely mum of two small children who was feeling miserable and no-one else seemed to be around on the forum.
I’m so sorry Saraian if my post came across as negative, I was trying to point out how much you’ve already achieved on your diet and to think about giving it a bit longer. I was v tired and apologise if my post came across other than how it was meant to i.e. supportive. Having been overweight and on a diet since I was 4 years old I know exactly how you feel.
I’m really upset myself now as I am neither negative nor ignorant and I don’t need to have it pointed out to me that it’s a support forum or have fingers wagged at me. I lost 5st on LL & CD a few years back and used this fab forum and its predecessor as my lifeline to keep going and to encourage others.
I congratulate all of you who have taken the step to have a band fitted, I would love to have the procedure myself and last night after another horrible day of feeling desperate, uphappy, unhealthy, out of breath, achey bones, ashamed and disgusted at my own reflection was on the forum looking for tips for how to approach my own GP & PCT, who I know are both going prove difficult to persuade.
And to Lizziebee, congratulations on the arrival of your grandson. I too am a new grandmother and want to lose weight for precisely the same reasons as you do.
Saraian, I hope I’m forgiven for what I didn’t mean to do.
Dumplin.

No need to justify yourself, everyone is enetiled to their own opinion. All are appreciated.

 

[shelbell]

Saraian your BMI puts you into the range where you don't need other health problems to meet the NICE guidelines. It will though depend on your PCT's requirements, but those are easy to find out.

Dumplin and Saraian if there is anything I can do to help you find the criteria for your area just shout

Shel

 

[saraian24]

My bmi is 41.1. thats awful and what else can i say apart from that all day long - even now im fantasizing about food. Im not hungry right now but it took a bowl of cereal earlier and 4 bits of toast to stop me feeling hungry. Its disgusting. Would my mental health casue any problems at all - the depression being a factor as its weight related.
I've had enough.
I know a band wouldnt be a quick fix but im sure it will helo with my not never feeling full factor as i saod my diet its self is very good. I dont gorg on choc all day long.

Im booking appointment tomorrow morning!

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

good luck at the gp's i hope it goes well for you the depression shouldnt be a problem as loosing weight will help with that.

liz x

 

[tracey113]

well from what shellbell says things seem positive. try not to beat urself up over food obsessing as this won't help ur confidence or depression

 

[LizzieBee]

A thought I did have - I am not sure if your GP would refer you right now if you a trying for a baby, anyone know if this would affect Saraian's chances?

Thanks Dumplin - I guess I got a little defensive this morning, not everyone is very positive about WLS so I'm sorry for jumping on you! No hard feelings, I hope. P.S. Isn't grandmotherhood the very best?
Lxx

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

A thought I did have - I am not sure if your GP would refer you right now if you a trying for a baby, anyone know if this would affect Saraian's chances?


Lxx

it could yes, as the band usually has to be defilled ect when pregnant, maybe have surgery and wait 12 months to concieve, then it would be better for mum and baby after some weight loss, the gp would probably say the same thing.

 

[tracey113]

bit of a vicious circle really, need to lose weight to concieve but cant have surgery because of ur plans hmmm