Suzanne Scott, gastric bypass, October 2010:
"The weight dropped off. During the first four months I lost over 4 stone"
Suzanne Scott, gastric bypass, October 2011
Suzanne was 24 stone 1lb prior to weight loss surgery. In the eight months since having surgery, she has lost 7.5 stone and now weighs 16 stone 8lbs.
"I had thought seriously about losing weight for about six months before my surgery. This was mainly because I started to get health issues – breathlessness and some chest pains. My GP suggested seeing a dietician but I had tried many diets already – everything from cabbage soup to an egg diet (eggs for every meal). I knew I needed to do something radical so I thought about weight loss surgery.
"Lorna (the specialist nurse) was great, she explained everything. We discussed my eating habits, lifestyle and discussed what would be the best option for me. The next step was to meet my consultant, Mr Andrew de Beaux. He explained the different options again and I decided to go with a gastric bypass. Prior to the operation I also came in to see the psychologist, Carol Sunderland. She talked me through the pros and cons of the operation, and explained that some things may change after weight loss, like my confidence. She wanted me to understand that people may have a different view of me once I lost a significant amount of weight.
"I wasn’t nervous before the operation. I already knew all the nurses and staff as I work with them everyday. The operation itself took less than two hours and as I had laparoscopic surgery, I had no big scars, just five small incisions. People are amazed at how little scarring there is.
"I was uncomfortable for a few days after surgery but was up and about by 9am the following morning. I was determined to manage without a catheter and with a little help from the nurses I managed to get to the bathroom. On the second morning I managed a shower by myself. Three days after the operation I went home. I wasn’t hungry for the first few days which made the diet of water and jelly a little easier to handle. I was surprised that the effect on my appetite was so immediate.
"Over the first few weeks you have to relearn how to swallow and chew. It’s like being a baby again. I moved from jelly and water to baby food, followed by soups, vegetables, eggs and mashed potato. The weight dropped off. During the first four months I lost over 4 stone. Now it’s plateauing out and I lose 1 to 2lbs a week and I feel fantastic!"
Elaine Mcloughlin's story, gastric banding, November 2007:
"I’ve had weight problems from an early age. When I got engaged in 1986 to Michael, my husband, we lost both our fathers just before, in August and October, and I just comfort ate basically. We got married in 1988 and by then I was size 18 and continued to comfort eat, because I was happy with Michael. As time went on I tried everything else – slimming clubs, slimming tablets - but nothing worked for me.
"As I got older, I developed Type 2 Diabetes and dangerously high blood pressure; I didn’t exercise, I just sat like a couch potato. We used to go on caravan holidays but I couldn’t even walk to the beach.
"I read that gastric surgery has been on the go for a good while but had just started being offered at Spire Murrayfield Edinburgh. As nothing else had worked for me, I went to the doctors for a referral to go private. I was one of the first through the door for the procedure. I was hitting 25 stone and I knew that something had to be done.
"From the first consultation, they went through everything really thoroughly; they advised me but I’d done a lot of research and I thought the lap band (laparoscopic gastric banding) was the best option for me.
"It was three months before I had the operation. During that time, I’d gone through the different stages and everything was thoroughly explained to me by the weight loss team. It was an overnight procedure and upon discharge, the weight loss nurses phoned regularly and checked that I was coping alright and that I was following the diet.
"The after-care was excellent; they keep an eye on you too - for the first six months they really make sure you’re ticketyboo, they then let you get on with it – they still support you and you’re welcome to phone them if you’ve got a problem though.
"There's now a support group for weight loss patients, which I'm actively involved in and if anybody's got any questions or concerns they can ask me about them. I think if the support group had been started when I went in for surgery, it would have been really helpful. November 2008 is my one-year banding anniversary and a milestone – I’ve lost ten stone, from 25 stone."
Anonymous, gastric band, 2010:
"The whole surgery team were very supportive and informative throughout the process of choosing surgery, taking their time to answer questions and clarify any issues that arose. They listened and understood what my needs were and explained the process fully. We worked together to agree on what type of surgery would best suit my situation and what my expectations were. I wanted a surgery option that would give me a tool to help lose weight and one that would act slowly over a long period of time so the changes were gradual and sustainable, which is why the gastric band was my preferred choice.
"I felt at all times that the service was tailored individually to me and my requirements. As well as being professional, there was a high level of care and concern at all times that I felt comfortable with the choices I was making and the pace at which we progressed. It felt like there was a team behind me and my decision at every step. I really enjoyed my session with the psychologist. She was so friendly and open and it was good to be able to talk over the reasons for having the surgery and what my expectations were so I felt prepared for the journey ahead.
"On the day of surgery, the staff were wonderful. The anaesthetist in particular was very gentle and reassuring and soothed any nerves I had. The immediate aftercare was exceptional with regular checks on how I was feeling. I was monitored closely in a way that was supportive and caring, making me feel even more positive about the surgery I had just undergone. As well as starting to see gradual weight loss, the unexpected bonus I feel now is a sense of calm around food and eating. This is a life-long commitment and one I’m glad I made and I’m happy I chose the Spire team to help me on my journey."