Off to C&W on Monday

[rudders]

Hi all
I'm off to the Chelsea and Westminster on Monday for my first appointment. It's with the bariatric nurse, can anyone let me know what to expect? Ta muchly x
Rudders

 

[nikki f]

I'm with Chelsea and west bariatric nurse nuala is amazing gives you loads of info do that you can make an informed decision listens and answers any questions she and the rest of the team are amazing so don't worry embrace their knowledge and help their a great bunch xxx

 

[rudders]

I'm with Chelsea and west bariatric nurse nuala is amazing gives you loads of info do that you can make an informed decision listens and answers any questions she and the rest of the team are amazing so don't worry embrace their knowledge and help their a great bunch xxx

Thank you so much for responding, I'm feeling quite nervous as have no idea what to expect. May I ask what stage you are at? I'm not yet able to look at people's profiles. will my first appointment be alone or part of a group? Thanks again nikki x

 

[SAS1]

Hiya good luck with your appointment, very exciting! Mine was not in your hospital but I presume be similar.

First I saw the dietician and watched short clips on each operation, then she went through my dieting and food history. Very nice explainef everything in detail. I also met the surgeon who took my medical history, weight, BP and talked about my expectations and suitability. I presume it will be something similar, you will be made very comfortable and at ease. Let us know how you get on x

 

[rudders]

Well I had my appointment with Nuala who was really lovely and helpful. I have just got the dreaded wait for funding....I shall report back soon x

 

[Lush121]

Good luck with everything, hope the funding comes through

 

[nikki f]

Hiya glad ur meeting went well I'm currently waiting for my final app with the surgeon in a couple of weeks to give me a date. At Chelsea you'll have to go to 2 group meetings so that they can give you all info and make sure your prepared for life after surgery. You'll also have an app with surgery team and dietician possibly twice before they confirm your surgery.
On the funding issue when I had my first ap with nuala I wasn't sure if I had funding so I asked her when I'd find out and she said they funding is approved otherwise I wouldn't have been having a meet with her. So just call and confirm you might be worrying for nothing.
My first ap with nuala was in may and hopefully will get surgery date at end if the month.
Good luck with it all if you need anymore advice I'll be glad to help.
Xxxx

 

[rudders]

Thank you nikki, unfortunately I thought I had skipped the funding bit as I came in through the back door from another specialist within the hospital. But alas nuala said no escaping the PCT. it's worrying because I'm in bexley pct and they are in administration. Have you decided which op yet?
Thanks
Rudders x

 

[nikki f]

Oh sorry to hear that fingers crossed for ya. I decided on the bypass because I want the assistance surgery gives you for life and no way to escape it and cheat. Also with the banding I didn't really like the idea if having to keep going for fill appointments. Let me know how it goes and good luck for your funding.
X

 

[misselvis]

i was refused funding
so good luck and i hope you get it
i have had to go private
having op sunday 14th oct 12

kay x

 

[rudders]

Misselvis are you bexley too?

 

[JenniJJ]

Hi there - I had my gastric sleeve at C&W on 23rd August - you are in very good hands - the team are great. Yes, as I see from the replies you have had, there is a very defined process you have to o through but it is all geared to make sure you are ready for surgery. You will meet some great people ESP if you go to the patients forum once a month on a Tuesday night. I too thought I had hit a funding barrier but got a call to ask if I would like to take a cancellation date for surgery and after an 18 month wait it ll happened very quickly !!

 

[rudders]

Thanks jennijj, I didn't know you had replied to me, I not sure how to use this forum on a mobile. It also seems very limited until after 50 posts. How did you find the chelwest for waiting times? Did you have Nuala? What are the stages? Sorry to blast you with Q's but I have so many x
Thanks again and sorry for not seeing your response before now x
Rudders

 

[JenniJJ]

Thanx for your message rudders!

I have to admit that I did get frustrated - I was referred by my local dietician in Mar & again in May 2011 and got my first appt at ChelWest in Jan 2012. I come under Lewisham PCT so don't know if there was a mix up there.

I saw Nuala first (what a lovely lady) and she gave me loads and loads of information about all of the procedures they offer. Then saw Kelly, a dietician, on the same day. Was also sent on the same day for a raft of blood tests.

There followed appts to review bloods, get treatment for vit d deficiency and a sleep study to check for sleep apnea. During this process funding became an issue and I began to worry that the rug was about to be pulled from under my feet! Sleep apnea, as a qualifier seems to have become important (depending on which PCT you come under) and whilst I have sleep apnea I do not have it badly enough to require CPAP treatment. Anyway my advise is that If you come up against any barriers just keep pushing and asking the team for help.

Have you decided which procedure you want? If not, read the information Nuala gave you and read it again and again and again!! You need to be honest with yourself about the type of eater you are. I rapidly came to the conclusion that I would eat my way round a band so had to decide between a sleeve and a bypass. Funnily enough I was at ChelWest today for a follow up appt.

Happy to answer questions you may have )

 

[misselvis]

Thank you nikki, unfortunately I thought I had skipped the funding bit as I came in through the back door from another specialist within the hospital. But alas nuala said no escaping the PCT. it's worrying because I'm in bexley pct and they are in administration. Have you decided which op yet?
Thanks
Rudders x

hello

no i live in staffordshire
as our nearest hospital for gastic banding was in birmingham but
still had to apply for funding from staffs

kay xx

 

[rudders]

Thank you both again for replying. Bexley PCT IS Also in the Lewisham trust (S E London) so not having sleep apnoea will be an issue for me? My BMI is 51 so hoping that's in my favour. I have got my decision down to sleeve or bypass as portion control and eating past full is my problem
Did your check up go ok today?
Thanks again
Rudders x

 

[JenniJJ]

My follow up appt went well - they are happy with my progress, which is now about 23kgs, and took bloods. I know from the blood tests my doctor has done that my vit d level has increased dramatically since ChelWest put me on supplements - the doc is monitoring to confirm when I can stop taking the vit d tablets. Blood pressure also down so hoping the doctor will reduce my ramipril dose next week.

Sounds as if we are similar in our eating habits - for me it boiled down to the sleeve on the basis that it would give me the restriction I needed with less surgery - why bother mucking around with the bits and bobs lower down if you don't need to ).

 

[rudders]

You are doing so well, well done you x

Who was your surgeon?

Thanks

Rudders x

 

[JenniJJ]

My surgeon is Gianluca Bonanomi I feel really well and recovered very quickly after the op. i think the important thing is to follow all of the guidance he team will give you and, if in doubt, ask.