POSE Surgery

[LyndaB]

Thank you so much for this.

I'm going to check this out .

I was speaking to a surgeon today who does pose ( not my own surgeon who performed my pose) and his opinion is - the manufacturers of the pose device usgi medical in USA , there are too many " variables" with how the surgery is done and no "uniformity" as such . I queried if the larger pleats / more anchors would have a better outcome but his reply was as I have already stated .
He said he has seen the data collected from all over the world and the results from his patients came out on top .

He spent 17 mins talking to me today . I am enquiring about a revision from pose to sleeve but he has declined me on the basis that my bmi is too low ( even though I have high cholesterol and high blood pressure , he said no , which I respect and acknowledge.
He did state however that if my bmi were to creep up to 35 in years to come again that he would then consider me for revision .
He told me the revision from pose to sleeve can be done but with slightly higher risk of a leak .
I was shocked to hear that the anchors can NOT be removed ( as stated by another member earlier on in this thread) ( for a cost of 4000 pounds) .
He explained that the pose is effective with recognising the very early signs of fullness and is NOT a RESTRICTIVE surgery ( not what I was sold - not what is marketed on all the pose websites !!

Very interesting phone call ,

I would value everyones opinions on this

Alexandrite

Thank you all for your very interesting comments.

I have already contacted, on separate occasions, several solicitors (and those who specialise in medical no win/no fee actions)but they all declined. None of them seems brave enough to risk taking on an unusual case. They all said that it's "complicated" by the fact that it's not the usual malpractice situation where the surgeon has made an error. It's a new procedure and is, therefore, unchartered territory.
I had lodged a letter of complaint with the hospital concerned. They just responded with the usual 'fall-back position' - no surgical error has been made. I have now taken it a stage further and requested an investigation into the case.

Thanks for the info about Visa.

Alexandrite: That WAS an interesting conversation you had with the surgeon.
Yes, I was told at the beginning that POSE could be reversed and also, yes, it was supposedly restrictive so far as appetite and consumption were concerned. I was filled with all sorts of hope and determination and now I'm £8,500 lighter and full of disappointment. I am also in the position where my BMI isn't high enough for a band/sleeve (yet!). If I continue the way I'm going it won't be long until I'm ready for that next!

Lynda

 

[Alexandrite]

Hi all

The visa/ visa debit thing must be reported within 120 days " for services NOT received"
The way I see it - we DID receive the service -ie surgeon , hospital fees, etc , we simply did not get the RESULTS as sold to us or as promised .

I find that this entire situation is actually making me look for other options / solutions that for me are unsuitable given my bmi of 30 at present . The failour of this is making me depressed and a little " obsessed" with dieting / food etc which is not healthy for me . I'm sure there are lots of people out there shocked that I would even consider such a procedure with a bmi of 30 . I no longer are thinking along those lines . In fact I'm going to try very hard not to dwell too much on this failed pose procedure anymore as I recognise it's not doing me any good .

The clinical director of NOSC got back to me yesterday ( she is handling my written complaint ) the managing director is on holidays until may 14 th so she will get back to me then .

I'm not very hopeful of any kind of resolution . I just wanted something that worked .


Alexandrite

 

[scottt]

Hi .I'm sorry you too were Sold a non effective procedure .I had to walk away from the whole thing as I was getting angry all the time .It really wasn't the money it was the old obsession started again .New diet starts Monday and total failure by friday then the self loathing would start again .I hope this doesnt make me sound really extreme or strange but that's how i felt at the time .Nobody else noticed anything different about me ,but this was a routine I went through for several years before the operation, and then started again soon after .I know I've just had a gastric band but I couldn't stand the " routine " any more .Yes it was a waste of £8500 but the anger was making me unhappy all the time .I wish I could have just dieted but alas I couldn't .I know this won't make any difference to your situation but please believe me I know a dozen of my friends who go through everything I did and it makes me so angry thinking that we did do something to change our situations only to have it not work and lose money as well .I'm sorry about the big long rant .I was only gonna say I walked away from the anger but I'm still angry but more for the people who are not able to have further surgery I hope that doesn't make me sound patronising in any way because I didn't mean it too .Well that's it .LiZ x

 

[LyndaB]

Hi .I'm sorry you too were Sold a non effective procedure .I had to walk away from the whole thing as I was getting angry all the time .It really wasn't the money it was the old obsession started again .New diet starts Monday and total failure by friday then the self loathing would start again .I hope this doesnt make me sound really extreme or strange but that's how i felt at the time .Nobody else noticed anything different about me ,but this was a routine I went through for several years before the operation, and then started again soon after .I know I've just had a gastric band but I couldn't stand the " routine " any more .Yes it was a waste of £8500 but the anger was making me unhappy all the time .I wish I could have just dieted but alas I couldn't .I know this won't make any difference to your situation but please believe me I know a dozen of my friends who go through everything I did and it makes me so angry thinking that we did do something to change our situations only to have it not work and lose money as well .I'm sorry about the big long rant .I was only gonna say I walked away from the anger but I'm still angry but more for the people who are not able to have further surgery I hope that doesn't make me sound patronising in any way because I didn't mean it too .Well that's it .LiZ x

That's the thing, isn't it? It's less about the money and more about getting back on to the old treadmill again - diet starts Monday and by Wednesday it's in bits. It's the disappointment, it's repeating old negative habits. It's feeling that you're on your own with this psychological/physical battle against eating.
Don't wish to sound so doom and gloom. Just expressing my thoughts at this precise moment.

I also feel such a strong sense of injustice - why should these organisations/hospitals not be held to account over a procedure that has such a high failure rate?!

Lynda x

 

[scottt]

Hi Lynda I rang you last night about 9 .I will try again tonight .Liz x

 

[LyndaB]

Liz,
Am out tonight. Could you try Sunday?

Lyn x

 

[scottt]

Hi .yes no problem .Liz x

 

[Alexandrite]

High failure rate

That's the thing, isn't it? It's less about the money and more about getting back on to the old treadmill again - diet starts Monday and by Wednesday it's in bits. It's the disappointment, it's repeating old negative habits. It's feeling that you're on your own with this psychological/physical battle against eating.
Don't wish to sound so doom and gloom. Just expressing my thoughts at this precise moment.

I also feel such a strong sense of injustice - why should these organisations/hospitals not be held to account over a procedure that has such a high failure rate?!

Lynda x

Hi lynda and Liz
But does it ?
What exactly are the failures / successes of pose ??
Could it just be us / by memory on hid site alone - shax, still big, Scott , lyndab , alexandrite ???
Very unhappy with effects ??
Am I correct in saying 1. The " effects" wore off after a limited time ( I'm my case 3 months )
2. Limited amounts of weight loss ?

Please correct me if I am wrong ??

If there are any longer term pose patients following this thread , that may feel the same , but are not posting ( for many / any reason s) please please let us know how you are getting on ,

Is it working for you long term ??

I'm specifically asking Von ? Thinkingman ?? And all longer term pose patients out there ??? Please let us know how YOU are getting on

Alexandrite

 

[Alexandrite]

I contacted usgi medical earlier today for some facts on this .

I am looking for some white papers and specific proof that this actually works ( and for whom it does not )

Usgi medical are the company that invented the pose device and most probably the pose surgery itself ( from what I can gather from their website )

I have informed them ( in direct terms) how I have found the pose surgery , ( in my case) ineffective and disappointing

It will be interesting to see how they will treat a " punter" calling to their door instead of the usual hospital administrator / surgeon ??!!

There are many more doors I will be knocking in my quest to see a conclusion to my pose experience

Alexandrite

 

[scottt]

Hi .I had no success at all with pose .I was hungry from the minute I woke up after the op .I'm not being dramatic in any way .I stuck to the low GI diet book I was given this was the only reason I lost any weight , it was only the dieting that had any effect on me. My hunger was no different than the day before the op ,I had no reduction in appetite that I was promised ( 40 - 50 % less appetite ) I had no feeling of fulness. I was hungry after every meal .Since having a gastric band in January I am more aware than ever of the difference .Liz x

 

[LyndaB]

I found no difference at all from immediately after the procedure.

From what I can see it would seem that failure, whether immediately or within a comparatively short space of time, is the outcome in the majority of cases. It will, therefore, be interesting to see what response you get from Usgi Medical. I look forward, Alexandrite, to hearing what they say.

 

[Eviecat]

POSE

I am really sorry for you guys who have obviously had a horrid time with your procedures. I have a friend who had a POSE 9 months ago and they've lost 3.5 stone and are very happy. I am considering it myself and don't want to have an "operation" like a band or sleeve.
I work with another person who had a bypass and is very poorly.... they've lost loads of weight but are unable to eat properly and have been in and out of hospital.
I've looked into this quite a lot... as we all do i'm sure, and it looks like there have been over 100 POSE's done in this country, but i only see a small number of people posting negative comments.
Could it be that you've just been a few of the really unlucky ones and that most people are happy? I know that my consultant said that with all weight loss procedures there is a chance that it just won't work, and that is the risk i had to take?

 

[scottt]

Hi Please think carefully before you pay for the op .pose can be a tool , but I've had both procedures and the band op is fine .I chose pose first because of the no pain no time of work thing but you still can't drive for at least a week after pose and it was only a few more days with the band .I have looked at the weight loss sites on the USA and they only seem to have small losses with pose and it's been around a little longer there .The decision is yours to make but I and 3 others had the procedure on the same day at the same hospital and we are all disappointed .seems an awfully large percentage for just one day . Good luck with which ever you choose .Liz x

 

[Eviecat]

Thanks Liz... i'll need to look into it more i guess. Where did you get your band done, at the same place you had your POSE?

 

[Eviecat]

Just looking at your 'stats' Alexandrite. I'd dance a jig (or eat some chocolate) if i were:cry: only 13 stone! Why are you trying to get to BMI 21? I don't think i know anyone who is that light apart from in Hello magazine! Could it be that POSE only works if you are really overweight (like me)??http://www.wlsurgery.com/images/smilies/cry.gif

 

[scottt]

Hi again .no would never go back to that place they were unhelpful and rude even though I never made a big stink about it all .I had my band done with the hospital group .I live near Manchester but the hospital was in Birmingham ,they pick you up and drop you off the next day .they were really lovely and have been great with aftercare .Liz x

 

[Eviecat]

Hi Liz
Sounds like you are in a good place now. I hope you get to your target BMI. I'll let you know how i go.
x

 

[Alexandrite]

I am really sorry for you guys who have obviously had a horrid time with your procedures. I have a friend who had a POSE 9 months ago and they've lost 3.5 stone and are very happy. I am considering it myself and don't want to have an "operation" like a band or sleeve.
I work with another person who had a bypass and is very poorly.... they've lost loads of weight but are unable to eat properly and have been in and out of hospital.
I've looked into this quite a lot... as we all do i'm sure, and it looks like there have been over 100 POSE's done in this country, but i only see a small number of people posting negative comments.
Could it be that you've just been a few of the really unlucky ones and that most people are happy? I know that my consultant said that with all weight loss procedures there is a chance that it just won't work, and that is the risk i had to take?

Hi eviecat
I can see why this operation is so appealing / I felt exactly the same . No incisions , quick recovery etc but I would urge you to get some FACTS about both the SUCESS rate ie actual weight loss and it's other claim - reduction in appetite .
I feel there has to be more than 100 people out there whom have had this pose operation done .
I also think it's a " cop out" for these salespeople ( weight loss surgery providers) to claim " there are no stats yet as it's so new , and there s a chance as with all weight loss surgery - that it may not work . ( as in to suggest from the beginning - oh well if your one of the " unfortunate" people it's YOUR fault for not making it work .

I rushed into having mine - the very few negative comments at that time were very slowly coming onto this forum before I had my pose ( I had already paid for my operation by then)
If I had known now what I now know ( not by my own personal experience of having it done - but by really listening to what are saying about it - I would not have had it done .
But I understand - I did the same - hoped I would be different and one of the lucky ones and really make it work for me etc .
I didn't want to read the negative - I desperately wanted something to help me , I listened to what I wanted to hear by the sales people , and now I am much lighter ( in pocket!!)

I am not suggesting you do not have the procedure done actually , I am simply suggesting - get actual FACTS before you do.

No one can argue with FACTS .

I am trying to do exactly that from the manufacturers of pose at present . ( and also my own weight loss surgery providers)
On a positive note , the operation itself ( for me) was so easy , and the liquid pard very easy as no appetite for the first week or so.

Do keep in touch please and let us know your thoughts , and what you decide .
It must be so tempting , as your friend obviously has had terrific results so this is what I'm trying to establish at present / are we the norm or the unlucky ones .
On this site alone , niffnash , stax , still big , lyndab, alexandrite - but many more people who had it done have " disappeared"

If it worked for me - I'd be shouting it's success from the rooftops .

Why are they not back on arguing with me and others and praising it ( I'm specifically talking about people who have had it done longer that 6 months to a year ago )

It's hard for me right now to be positive about pose as I'm gutted with it's failure ( I tried my best and continue each day ) ( I have under active thyroid - maybe this has affected it's success in my case )

Alexandrite

 

[Ruthiep]

My bariatric nurse (at the support group tonight) said people use POSE to lose a bit of weight for an upcoming social occasion, not for long term weight control.

 

[Janestone]

Band complications

I have read this thread with interest. I had the band about 9 years ago. It was very successful losing around 10st before erosion caused severe infection in 2007. I spent 4 months in hospital almost died twice & the band was removed. I have put on 5 of the 10 stone and at my wits end.

As a disabled woman exercise is difficult occasionally impossible. I have booked a consultation to discuss further surgery & my 1st impressions of pose were positive from the risk point of view. My cousin had the sleeve 2 weeks ago & has lost 2 stone already.

We all know that there is a risk with any surgery it is one of mant factors we have to consider along with cost.

I will be returning to my original surgeon as he is best placed to advise me on the safest & most potentially successful surgery for me.

I am really interested in everyone's experience & thought it might help to hear mine. I would say the band was successful for me & had it not eroded I would have kept it for the rest of my life.

My eating habits did change regards the type of food I eat but I am struggling with portion size.

That's what I need is the inability to eat portions that are too big.