• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Gastric sleeve

R

Robyn8640

Member
I'm type 2, a few years ago went on a weight management course inevitably leading to gastric surgery. I decided not to have surgery and to try and loose weight on my own. Now I'm down a stone (was more but put back on) I'm not eligible to have the sleeve on the nhs as my bmi isn't high enough (it's 33 I need to be 35)! This is so frustrating as the sleeve would be a tool to help better control my diabetes (and weight loss a well welcomed side effect) but it seems like the door has just been slammed in my face.

I feel like the only way forward is to put the weight back on and my referral will sail through... am I being daft? Has anyone else had trouble getting the help they need in regards to gastric surgery?
 
Robyn8640 said:
I'm type 2, a few years ago went on a weight management course inevitably leading to gastric surgery. I decided not to have surgery and to try and loose weight on my own. Now I'm down a stone (was more but put back on) I'm not eligible to have the sleeve on the nhs as my bmi isn't high enough (it's 33 I need to be 35)! This is so frustrating as the sleeve would be a tool to help better control my diabetes (and weight loss a well welcomed side effect) but it seems like the door has just been slammed in my face.

I feel like the only way forward is to put the weight back on and my referral will sail through... am I being daft? Has anyone else had trouble getting the help they need in regards to gastric surgery?
Click to expand...
Have you a diabetes specialist? Or who originally did your first referral, are they still available?
Don't panic....if you can. I'm sure your health team will allow the operation, if its right for you.
Secondly this adding and losing weight rebounding may need some help first. Did you see the bariatric psychologist before the gastic sleeve op date?
Any eating disorder issues have to be resolved first, normally.
You may not have an eating disorder but rebounding weight loss and gain won't sit well with the surgeon.

Do you really need this op? If you had more support with your eating and diabetes, you may not need it?
These ops aren't an easy solution. They are very very restrictive.
I'm going to bariatric surgery as I would like my body to be lighter incase I end up in a wheelchair with my bad back, in the future and of course better diabetes management.
I may need a back op and currently my weight would stop that. I'd like to get back to being me. Not in this body which is severely holding me back.

Ps. We are never daft where are feelings are concerned!

Make an appointment with gp or consultant via his/her secretary of the person who originally referred you for the sleeve. They can make exceptional circumstances. Surgeon has to be happy to do op, for the right reasons.
 
I'm afraid that, having known several people who opted to have surgery over the years, it failed if they did not alter their diets, and also caused a lot of upset - even divorce in one case - and there was a lot of vomiting involved.
I really do urge you to reconsider diet as an altogether easier and more effective treatment for type 2 - you don't have to lose weight to control your blood glucose, despite what doctors seem to think, but I have found it comes naturally once blood glucose levels drop to normal.
I eat low carb with great success, but I could not eat the low carb foods if I could only eat tiny amounts.
Diet seems to be very misunderstood - as are people who are over weight. I have been told that I eat too much when I was scarcely eating at all, and having found low carb have been told that it impossible to lose weight eating so much food, so much fat so much meat - but I am losing without even trying.
All I want to do is control my blood glucose and keep it in the normal range - which is proving to be very easy.
All the clothes I wore at diagnosis last November are now too big, particularly around the waist. Even my feet have shrunk
I feel happier and have more energy, and so glad that I am eating low carb.
 
Robyn8640 said:
The same doc referred me twice this time to get turned away. I May ask to be referred to specialist directly
Click to expand...
On your letter telling you you were refused due to your bmi being too low. Who signed it?
Bariatric surgeon or nursing team?
Show your letter to gp and he/she should be able to advise you hun.
 
It was my gp who referred me on both occasions by email, I might see if he can refer me direct to the surgeon and see where I get with that but normally all has to go through the weight management programme
 
Resurgam said:
I'm afraid that, having known several people who opted to have surgery over the years, it failed if they did not alter their diets, and also caused a lot of upset - even divorce in one case - and there was a lot of vomiting involved.
I really do urge you to reconsider diet as an altogether easier and more effective treatment for type 2 - you don't have to lose weight to control your blood glucose, despite what doctors seem to think, but I have found it comes naturally once blood glucose levels drop to normal.
I eat low carb with great success, but I could not eat the low carb foods if I could only eat tiny amounts.
Diet seems to be very misunderstood - as are people who are over weight. I have been told that I eat too much when I was scarcely eating at all, and having found low carb have been told that it impossible to lose weight eating so much food, so much fat so much meat - but I am losing without even trying.
All I want to do is control my blood glucose and keep it in the normal range - which is proving to be very easy.
All the clothes I wore at diagnosis last November are now too big, particularly around the waist. Even my feet have shrunk
I feel happier and have more energy, and so glad that I am eating low carb.
Click to expand...
I have an appointment with a dietician next week. I was diagnosed 5 years ago and found not much structure was offered in way to what I can eat rather than what I can't. I feel like I am addicted to what I'm 'not' allowed to eat.. sugar in particular.. I feel like if i was addicted to street drugs the help would be available more easily ( I'm probably nieve in thinking this but it's how it feels) sugar is evil and I can't get it out of my head :(
 
Robyn8640 said:
I'm type 2, a few years ago went on a weight management course inevitably leading to gastric surgery. I decided not to have surgery and to try and loose weight on my own. Now I'm down a stone (was more but put back on) I'm not eligible to have the sleeve on the nhs as my bmi isn't high enough (it's 33 I need to be 35)! This is so frustrating as the sleeve would be a tool to help better control my diabetes (and weight loss a well welcomed side effect) but it seems like the door has just been slammed in my face.

I feel like the only way forward is to put the weight back on and my referral will sail through... am I being daft? Has anyone else had trouble getting the help they need in regards to gastric surgery?
Click to expand...

Which bariatric centre were you referred to @Robyn8640 ? Were you on a tier three weight programme? Forgive me if that terminology is incorrect, but hopefully you'll know what I meant.

Curiously enough (cue spooky music), I was talking to a Diabetes Consultant this evening (socially), who also works in bariatric surgery for diabetics.
 
Where I Am, as far as I am aware we get referred to a weight management programme first of all to do a course to prepare, which looks at psychology, food exercise labelling etc I am in Devon.
 
Robyn8640 said:
Where I Am, as far as I am aware we get referred to a weight management programme first of all to do a course to prepare, which looks at psychology, food exercise labelling etc I am in Devon.
Click to expand...

Thanks Robyn - Were you actually on the progamme before you decided to try to do out surgery?
 
Robyn8640 said:
Yes.. but after discharge that's it they shut the doors :(
Click to expand...

As far as this guy was concerned, that is the critical gateway.

The chap I was speaking with last night isn't in Devon.

Allegedly what should happen on a re-referral, such as your own, is that reference is made to your historical files, where your weight, at the point of your original referral would be held. That should be used to assess your eligibility to move forward or not.

As you might have gathered I outlined, what little I understood, of your situation. He suggested that you discuss this again with your referring Doc, and ask them to either call, or write, pointing out your historic referral, asking that your initial reference weight is taken into account.

Allegedly your situation is not altogether unusual.
 
DCUKMod said:
As far as this guy was concerned, that is the critical gateway.

The chap I was speaking with last night isn't in Devon.

Allegedly what should happen on a re-referral, such as your own, is that reference is made to your historical files, where your weight, at the point of your original referral would be held. That should be used to assess your eligibility to move forward or not.

As you might have gathered I outlined, what little I understood, of your situation. He suggested that you discuss this again with your referring Doc, and ask them to either call, or write, pointing out your historic referral, asking that your initial reference weight is taken into account.

Allegedly your situation is not altogether unusual.
Click to expand...
Thankyou very much for putting this to them. I will take this information back to my gp. Thankyou
 
Robyn8640 said:
It was my gp who referred me on both occasions by email, I might see if he can refer me direct to the surgeon and see where I get with that but normally all has to go through the weight management programme
Click to expand...
Or ask your gp to speak to surgeon via surgeons secretary and surgeons callback to gp?
 
A good gp will always get to the bottom of a misunderstanding, if they want to.
Let us know how the callback pans out. :) :) :)
Don't lose heart whatever happens.
Now youve posted here plenty of longterm solutions whatever happens. :)
 
Robyn8640 said:
Where I Am, as far as I am aware we get referred to a weight management programme first of all to do a course to prepare, which looks at psychology, food exercise labelling etc I am in Devon.
Click to expand...
Did you reach tier2 for surgeon to refuse you the op or did the boxes not get ticked to reach the tier2 stage due to bmi not high enough only.
I know if you miss any appointments you are automatically thrown off too.
Did you miss any?
 
Very very strict as many have wasted these consultants, drs and surgeons time, in the past. Its a very expensive programme.
Poor Americans would love the chance we have.
Of course in long run nhs saves thousands back.
My op will save them in insulin costs, diabesity clinic costs, other meds reduced (please god) and a&e if ill, cardiology im hoping too. Maybe back problem meds, physio and hopeful no op on back. Fingers crossed. Healthy, fit longjevity ultimately! :)
 
ickihun said:
Very very strict as many have wasted these consultants, drs and surgeons time, in the past. Its a very expensive programme.
Poor Americans would love the chance we have.
Of course in long run nhs saves thousands back.
My op will save them in insulin costs, diabesity clinic costs, other meds reduced (please god) and a&e if ill, cardiology im hoping too. Maybe back problem meds, physio and hopeful no op on back. Fingers crossed. Healthy, fit longjevity ultimately! :)
Click to expand...
Same and this is my point. I understand it's not easy and I'm willing to put in the work. But it seems the bigger picture can't be seen :(
 
Back
Top