Easyband

Hi,

Anyone had (or is going to have) the Easyband Telemetric Adjustable Gastric Band (TAGB)?

I am going to Belgium to be banded by Dr Foquet (hopefully) and he is just starting to do this new band with no port. Just wondering if anyone has any experience of it.

Thanks,

The telemetric band is really new. Hopefully you will be able to find someone to chat with. I seem to recall that there was another lady having it done in the UK.

Hope you find someone with experience, the concept sounds brilliant!

Let us know how it goes.

Kind regards

Suzanne

Yes I was going to have it done but when it came to the op two of the surgeons decided that it was too big for my stomach. Apparently it is a fairly large band and they said that they thought there would not be enough restriction - which would have meant it was a total waste of money. So they put the Inamed Lap Band instead. Was a little disappointed as I really fancied not having the port - but on the bright side I got a refund of £1000 as the Lap Band is cheaper than the Easyband. I am now really pleased that the doc didn't just stick the Easyband in anyway [after all I had already paid for it] just shows how honest he is

Please post and let us know about it when you are done. We are all interested in the new stuff out there!:D :D :D

I had an Easyband fitted in Manchester on March 10th with the Healthier Weight Group headed by Dr David Ashton. The op. was performed by Dr Favretti who flies in from Italy with his assistant & they operated on 9 patients Saturday & a further 10, I think, on Sunday. We assume he has a private jet! Ok, it's the expensive option to be operated on in the UK but I think the after care is equally important & so far I'm impressed by the care I have had. I'm astounded to find my hunger is almost zero so staying on the liquid diet has been a doddle. My telemetric device seems to have healed up very quickly as have the other small wounds. So far, so good & I've lost 14lbs since my op.12 days ago! I'm astounded.

Hi
I was supposed to be one of those being operated on on Sunday 11th in Manchester and was supposed to be having the Easyband. However during the op Dr. Ashton and Dr Favretti decided that it was too big for the size of my stomach. They thought it qwould not be able to be adjusted enough as it is a large band so wouldn't give me enough restriction. They fitted the Lap Band instead. Would you mind awfully giving your starting weight as I have lost 10lbs and it would be interesting to see if the easyband helps you to lost more than the Lap Band. Are you still on a liquid diet and did you do the ten day pre-op?
I was so disappointed as I really don't fancy the injections for the fills/unfills. I am also interested in the after care you have received. I have only had one phone call from the dietician the day after I got home and do not have a follow up appointment as yet.

Sound great so far! Let us know when you get your first adjustment. We're all curious.

Hi, its a pity they didn't get us all to meet up beforehand so we could swap emails! I guess that's presuming patients don't want to stay anonymous & I have to admit in my case only my wife knows! I'm interested to see the reaction of my family & friends after all these years of struggle to lose weight if I succeed. I'm also plotting a few ripe things to say to some of the people who have been so rude about my size! They may not realise it but they can be so hurtful which just compounds the problem.

Ok, so I'm male & in my early 60's which may be why I got Dr Favretti's first slot. They wanted to see if I would survive the op! I've had heart problems & sleep apnoea so it's imperative I succeed. Dr Ashton originally weighed me at 19 stone! Wow, I was mortified having tried his diet & everything else. Obviously had I been able to stick to his diet I may well have succeeded but after a few weeks on a diet I'm one of those people who start to think life is no longer worth living. I did my best on the pre-op diet so frankly I couldn't follow it! I also had a "last supper" in the hospital the night before & they did us proud! (& I've just got the bill)

I guess being bigger allowed them to use the easyband & after a couple of days I found I could swallow any liquid almost as normal. I'm still on liquid's but have found that "bits" in soup etc are just not a problem so I guess the band is fairly open at present. I can also swallow my "horse pill" medication. However the great blessing is that I just do not feel hunger. I gather this may return 14 days after the op. but so far, so good. Like you, I have only had one phone call the day after I got back. My wife says they are all in Las Vegas spending our money! If you have any problems try the emergency number.

I still feel that Dr Ashton's team are very professional & I have faith that the aftercare adjustments etc. will bring restriction if it's needed & that SLOWLY we will all lose a good amount of weight. I'm really relieved that it's over, that I survived & that I already feel so much better. Ok, I'm down £10K but maybe will live long enough to spend the rest! I'm doing 5000 steps a day & next week will up it to 10,000. I was invited to Birmingham to meet up with other patients but can't make Sats. I'm London based, where are you? I've asked Colleen to see if she can get up a group in the South. Keep me posted on how you are doing.

Hi Babyboomer - I have Pm'd you too in case you didn't want your starting weight made public.
I don't have any problems at all so I don't need to call emergency or any other doctors - I was just surprised because on my initial consult Judith told me 'you will get sick of them calling you to see if you are OK' and I only got one call - that said I agree with you and I do think they are very professional. I have lost about 11lbs so I'm thrilled to bits but I am sticking to the liquid with 'no bits' religiously - I've had a few really smooth virtually fat free yoghurts but that's as thick as it gets. I have no hunger at all - I did also stick to the pre-op diet to the letter. Can't you tell I'm really proud of myself - because my diets usually last from first thing Monday morning 'til about elevenses on the same Monday morning!!!!!

I am from Harrogate so it's only just over an hour for me to travel to Manchester. I'm surprised you didn't get it done in London.

Talking of bills from the hospital - did you get one for having your bloods taken???

Hi G, Well done, it sounds like you have will power if you stuck to the pre-op & now you have the help of the band. Isn't it so strange not have hunger & your life almost ruled by food? I can't quite see the point of the no bits rule but I am being careful. I just record calories & I'm creaping up a little to about 1200 plus milk in drinks which I just can't drink without.

No, I've only the "last supper" bill so far from the hospital everything else seems to have been included even 2 nights in the hospital although I had to pay £800 extra for one night in high dependancy because of my other medical conditions & my advanced age! No bill yet from the Pharmacy for Co-Codamol & no bloods bill.

I would have stayed in London but Dr Rogers is their surgeon here & he won't fit the easyband because he says "it's not yet proven or had a long enough history". I just took a chance that the Swiss know what they are doing & have since learnt that the company that makes the Lap Band have just bought out the Swiss company so they must feel the technology is good. Anyway I've never been to Manchester before & still haven't as the hospital is in Cheadle!

Keep going. Keep me posted.

Yes sorry - Cheadle - but I just class the whole area as Manchester. You sound as though you are doing really well though. I am now thinking a few little bits is not going to hurt but until I speak to someone I don't want to do anything to hurt my precious band so I guess I will wait for either Helen or Wendy to call me before I progress. I love my milky coffees too but can take them black. In fact I would sooner have them black than with just a little spash of milk.

Hello... I'm going to Dr Ashton too! I've spoken to Judith over the phone & I'm confident in the service they will provide.. I see you were all treated well too... My sis is coming with me.. after her my best friend knows & my Husband knows... I don't want to tell my parents.. I'll prob end up telling them though coz I know me "just not being hungry" won't really stand up to much scrutiny! Haha... You never know.. I'm devious enough when I wanna Be!

You will be in good hands. Dr Ashton is great and his staff are very helpful and friendly. You are treated like a Queen in the hospital.

Have you had your first fill yet with the Easyband?

Yes, at exactly the eight week stage, they won't do it sooner. Looks amazing on x-ray to see this gadget in place & barium swallows going through. At the start it's 29mm & although I completely lost my appetite for four weeks at the beginning it then came back with a vengeance as I healed up. I then found I had almost no restriction except occasionally particularly with bread. After losing a stone I slowly put back a few lbs especially as I had a holiday!

Using the electronic wizardry Dr Ashton took the easyband down to 25mm & I've already found that I have much more restriction. Apparently from now on just 0.5mm adjustments may cause big changes in restriction. I've been on liquids again until today when I just managed half a baked potato & cottage cheese & salad for lunch. Mind you, deserts (Tiramisu, count on us) slip down just as easily! Certainly drier foods make you eat so much more slowly which gives your brain time to catch up? The only side effect I have is hiccups! We will see, I'm now resolved to counting calories again & hopefully won't feel so much hunger as I used to.

Keep you posted, certainly the adjusments are a piece of cake, I gather subsequent small adjustments can be made by the nurse in her consulting room. I feel the extra control & ease of adjustment plus the completely circular shape will eventually make the easyband the band of choice.