your aftercare with us
Aftercare – the key to your success
When creating our comprehensive aftercare programme we listened to patient feedback and were guided by patients who had been there.
Our programme will ensure you learn about and have the chance to get used to the changes in lifestyle and eating habits you will need to make to get the most out of your surgery.
Included in your 24 months aftercare :-
- Post operation booklet on weight loss surgery
- Medical Identification card
- Gastric band adjustment record card
- Access to a team of specialist bariatric nurses - expert medical advice and regular medical reviews
- Access to a 24 hr emergency helpline
- Access to team of specialist specialist bariatric nutritionists - expert nutritional advice on making the most of the procedure you have chosen to have
- Unlimited band adjustments for 2 years for gastric band patients
- Access to your surgeon if clinically indicated
- Access to a team of specialist fitness advisors - increase your physical activity to work with the procedure you have chosen to have
- Access to a cosmetic surgeon specialising in body contouring after weight loss
- Access to Support groups for patients
- Quarterly support groups for family members only
- Monthly 1-1 consultations, telephone or email support
- Access to behaviour modification tools - how to get the best out of your surgery
- Invitation (subsidised) to our motivational and inspirational activity weekends away with other patients
- Free Invitation to our 2008 Christmas ball to celebrate your journey in a glamorous, comfortable environment
- Access to a patient forum to give us feedback on how we can improve our service and the opportunity to buddy up with other patients
Lifestyle Behaviour modification
We show you how to work with the surgery you have had and get the most out of it.
We cover all kinds of difficult issues and ones that other providers shy away from.
How to deal with the head hunger, hitting the wall - how to get over the plateau are a couple of subjects we cover and can affect many areas of your life.
As you lose weight you should start feeling better in yourself but weight loss surgery is no quick fix.
You have to work with the surgery you choose to have and we will show you how to do this in those first crucial weeks and beyond to help you to achieve the maximum amount of weight loss possible.
If you are taking the risk of undergoing weight loss surgery, you need to ensure that all the other behaviours and your lifestyle in general, are supportive of what you are trying to achieve.
Eating habits
Being able to do it can be a whole different ball game...
We know how challenging this can be. 99.9% of the patients we see did not get to the weight they were before their operations because they were hungry!
We truly understand how and why some people 'use' food as a crutch and know that this has nothing to do with greed and gluttony.
Food is your addiction of choice and we live in an obesogenic environment where food is readily available to us 24 hours a day...
Our team actually do get where you're coming from and are passionate about supporting you through your journey, understanding your needs, and getting you through those days when you really feel you can't cope on this rollercoaster journey.
We also know full well that this will be the hardest challenge some of you will ever face... you won't ever be given any 'prescriptive diet sheets' instead we make it our business to get to know you as an individual and work with you to get you through those hurdles...
When you're at rock bottom our team make it our business to keep you motivated and give you that light at the end of that tunnel... seeing your success and helping you achieve your goals is what we do best. Your challenge is our challenge and if it's not working for you then we will do whatever it takes to make sure you achieve what you need to - however difficult you're finding it...
We pride ourselves on being real and getting to know you, finding out who you are and what makes you tick to help you gain the tools to manage your success.
Let's face it - It's not just about the food is it... and that's why diets don't and won't work.
We work closely with you to 'manage' your old behaviours because although we may band or bypass your stomach we don't bypass and band your behaviours... and we understand this.
Gastric band adjustments
When it comes to adjustments we do follow a strict protocol - to protect you and keep you (and your band) safe.
Some patients need 2 - 3 adjustments before they feel restriction, others may need 5 or 6, every patient is different.
Following surgery there will be a period of 6-8 weeks in which we ask you to follow a strict regime (in three stages) before eating normally again. This allows sufficient time for recovery, any swelling to be reduced and the band to heal and adhere to the stomach tissue.
Once this period of time has lapsed, taking into account that you have had an uneventful recovery, your first adjustment, can normally be performed.
Following any adjustment you will be asked to follow a regime of
- 3 days of fluids
- 3 days of soft diet
- resume normal eating of textured foods on the 7th day.
Subsequent adjustment requests will be assessed by our specialist bariatric team and if appropriate a further adjustment will be offered within 2 weeks of the previous adjustment. Any deviation of this practice may incur undue swelling/obstruction or indeed give an unrealistic restriction.
Some patients get very anxious as they feel no restriction, when indeed, you may still be in the soft phase (day 4 or 5) and therefore may not feel any difference until day 7.
Please don't panic. Give yourself time, be patient and ‘listen’ to your band . All adjustments (other than your first) will be carried out clinically by a member of our specialist nursing team in one of our consultation rooms as often as you need them. (Our protocol must be followed)
If you are having any further surgery requiring a general anaesthetic you must undergo a small aspiration approx 1 week prior to admission - this is your responsibility to organise.
We also advise during pregnancy that an aspiration will be necessary. An individual assessment will be made with regards to health risks.
Medical follow up
You will receive post operative telephone support within the first few days and weeks after your surgery. You will also be offered a medical review appointment with a member of our specialist team 7 - 14 days after surgery .
We will give advice during any medical review appointment and guide you accordingly based on your individual needs and medical problems.
Gastric bypass patients will need to attend regular appointments to enable us to monitor your vitamin supplement intake and to carry out blood tests to ensure you are staying healthy
24 Hour Emergency Helpline
Knowing there is help at hand 24-hours per day is very re-assuring. We even give you a medical identification card to keep with you at all times in the event of an emergency.
Feel safe in the hands of our specialist multi-disciplinary team.
You will be given accurate medical advice and if necessary an urgent appointment to be seen in clinic.
In extreme circumstances it may be required to gain advice from your surgeon or medical intervention out sourced i.e. NHS
Definitions of emergency
- Patient experiencing sudden onset of pain not experienced before.
- Patient cannot drink / swallow - dysphasia
- Patient vomiting
- Wound infection
- Recent band adjustment with symptoms of pain and vomiting
- Patients experiencing "dumping syndrome" for the first time
- Any patient with symptoms of chest pain, dyspnoea, painful calf or wound dehiscence (opening) will be advised to call 999 and liaise with provider.
The Help line will be clearly explained within the terms and conditions.
Support Groups
Support is ultimately the one part of your journey that truly does make a real difference to your end goal...
Our monthly support groups are an essential part of your programme and provide an excellent resource for weight loss surgery information and support.
They are attended by patients who share similar goals and therefore you will naturally guide and support each other on your individual journey. We encourage you to develop relationships that will contribute to improved physical and emotional health after your weight loss surgery.
These groups are :-
- a forum for celebrating success - share the skills you have learned along the way
- to help you work through tough times - weight loss surgery is a bold step only to still struggle with old demons
- based around inspirational, motivational, behaviour modification modules – get the best out of the procedure you have chosen
- delivered by patients who have been there- we want to make the journey together
- devoted to patients who have common experiences, both pre and post procedure, who can share their feelings in a safe, comfortable environment
If you are thinking about Weight loss surgery and want to learn more about the patients perspective or help reluctant friends or family to understand your thoughts then attending a support group meeting can be invaluable.
We also run a quarterly support group for family members and friends as we acknowledge that it is not just the patient that needs support on their journey. This support network for non patients gives them the chance to ask questions they wouldn't dare ask you!!
