Newbie in Ireland - ThinnerTimes

Siepie · 01-21-2008, 02:41 AM

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for some general advice and feedback on gastric banding. I am currently at 244 pounds, 178cm with a BMI of 35.4,type II diabetes (diagnosed in the last 12 months) and elevated blood pressure. I've done a bunch of reading online and I think that gastric banding may be an option for me. I'm looking to have the surgery done by Dr Dillemans in Belgium - I'm Australian but living in Ireland, the research back home suggests that a lap band would be enormously helpful in getting my weight and other health problems under control but when I spoke to my GP here in Ireland he said I was foolish and to just try and continue to lose weight

I will keep reading all the great posts here but any advice or insight you could give me into the gastric banding process and results would be greatly appreciated!

Siepie

Gwen · 01-21-2008, 03:34 AM

Welcome to the Family

You're asking for some more info on the LapBand and unfrotunately I had the RNY so can't be of much help there but I can point you in the right direction

Firstly - have you spoken to Dr D yet? Did you know that you can arrange your surgery through him direct and that you do not have to use an agency?

Use this e-mail address and write to him: bruno.dillemans@azbrugge.be

Also have a look at this Thread I started:

Welcome all Newbies to the TT Forum

See specifically the thread about:

Surgical Methods - a few of the different Weight Loss Surgeries explained - this is actually from Dr D's website and explains the different surgeries.

Good luck and let me know if there is anything else I can help with.

XXX

Siepie · 01-21-2008, 03:54 AM

Hi Gwen,

Thanks for that info - I have been looking at www.obesitycare.co.uk website, apologies for my ignorance but I thought this was Dr Dillemans site - am I better off contacting him directly?

Thanks again for the direction

Siepie

Gwen · 01-21-2008, 04:32 AM

It is his site but if you go direct then you might save a couple of 100 pounds

- contact him via e-mail and ask - perhaps he prefers you to go through obesitycare for them to take care of the admin??

Tell him Gwen; his Little South African referred you

XXX

Der Biermeister · 01-21-2008, 03:24 PM

Siepie - sounds like you are on the low end of BMI to qualify BUT you also have 2 extenuating circumstances that should put you over the top. Without knowing more other than you are a woman -- it sounds like you need to lose at least 100 lbs. That is not easy to do on regular diets without putting it all back on again months or a few years later.

galaxy135 · 01-24-2008, 05:18 PM

Hi

Mr Kerrigan in Liverpool does banding and RNY privately at University Hospital, Aintree if that helps as well. I think there is someone in Ireland as well. I'll have a look and come back to you.

As already said your BMI is under the surgery recommendation of 40+ but they will consider if you have at least 2 co morbidities. I have a bypass myself but my good friend Mel had a band and is now looking at a DS or bypass as her band has caused her problems with her gullet, can't spell the other word, lol

Weight loss also tends to be slower with a band.

Siepie · 01-26-2008, 10:59 AM

Hi Gwen, Galaxy and Der,

Gwen - I dropped Dr Dillemans an email with your name in it Gwen, I've not heard anything back from him as of yet. Hopefully he will get back to me, otherwise I will make further enquiries with obesitycare

The more research I do the more I think banding may be the way to go for me.

Galaxy/Der - my current BMI is 35.8 which with two co-morbidities should mean I am within the parameters for consideration for surgery. I have type II diabetes and high blood pressure. There was a private cosmetic surgery clinic in Dublin doing banding but it was €10k and it was closed down prior to Xmas, I'm not sure why exactly but it didnt sound great! The reviews I have read of Dr Dillemans work is great my only concern at this time is the aftercare and fills and having to travel for those.

Did you find any issues with losing hair after having the RNY? My reasons for choosing banding over RNY at this point in time is that we are trying to conceive and this was the better option for maintaining my nutrition throughout a pregnancy - I could have been totally mislead though!

Thanks for all your advice so far, its a difficult decision to make but in some ways easier, I have to get my weight under control in order to get my diabetes under control, Im already having complications in my eyes because of it

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Siepie

Gwen · 01-26-2008, 12:41 PM

Hi Siepie

I have asked Olivia (fatalbeauty) to ask Dr D to get back to you on the e-mail you've sent him. She is meeting with him on Tuesday so just hang in there - he'll get back to you shortly.

Please send me a copy of the e-mail you've sent him (if you feel comfortable with that) at gwenpowell2007@googlemail.com

XXX

coptergirl · 01-26-2008, 04:58 PM

Hi and welcome to our family here at TT...so glad you found us

Siepie · 01-27-2008, 06:12 AM

Hi Gwen,

I got an email back from Dr Dillemans today, I also got an email from Marc his assistant with all the details - Dr Dillemans has offered to call me which Im guessing is a good thing to do so I can discuss with him the options. I have a question - do they try and steer you towards having a RNY as opposed to the band?

Thanks again for all your help Gwen, its much appreciated!

Siepie

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