One procedure band out and sleeve done

HI Afakasi
I was done at knox however since I had the same surgeon for sleeve as I did for the bank they didn't charge a surgeons fee for the sleeve. Once they take you on as a patient you are a patient for life and they don't charge for further related surgeries. I also have private medical cover.
I paid the $200 excess for the hospital, $73 for medications to take home and haven't received the anaethatist bill ( maybe I have and just haven't seen it yet, better have a look) but am expecting that to be around $800.
My surgeons were Richard Gilholme and Ray McHenry. Might have had two as I had the band out, sleeve in at the same time? Guilhome is my main surgeon.
They both work out of Knox and The Valley (Mulgrave?). They have a specialist nurse Sheryl who is excellent.
There is a Dr Arly who has rooms in Bullen (just around the corner from where I live) but he is reluctant to do the sleeve preferring to persist with the band or do the by pass. His reluctance for the sleeve is around the lack of historical data given it is a relatively new procedure for weight loss.
Good luck with your search.

Hey there just wondering how much the knox people paid approx? thanks and which docs are doing the sleeve in melb

Hello Everyone,

I am all very new at this, but as it turns out I am going to be going down this road very soon too......

I see that alot of you are getting your bands out pre-christmas (me too!!! AARRGGHHHH)

I have been banded for 3 years, but I am just having alot of trouble loosing weight with this little sucker, I am either too tight where I can't eat a thing, or I am not tight enough where I can eat anything, I was relatively successful with the band in the beginning (this was when I was too tight) yeah I lost the weight, but I also lost most of my food. I fell pregnant had all the fluid removed and now just refuse to have that much restriction again.

I have spoken about my options with my surgeon, and it looks like the sleeve is the way to go, but like everyone else I am DREADING the 3 months without anything... I am currently in double digits, but have fought my way tooth and nail to get there, and I DO NOT want to get back into triples, I pleaded and begged to have the procedure all done at once, but alas, it seems that the likely hood of that is very minimal.....

I have my band out mid Dec, but I am so so so so scared about not having it there at all, isn't it funny how it is a love/hate relationship!!!

But from reading this site, the sleeve seems like such a much better option, I love the fact that I will be able to eat fruit and salad again, something that I miss dearly.

Well I will keep my eye out for you all, and surely we can come here over christmas and cry about how horrible it is to be able to eat too much again...... :[img]
and how scarey it is to watch the scales go up, because in all likely hood it is going to happen, it is something that will be a little out of our control, although I am going to try and control it as much as I can......

from Charlie

Thanks Rowena and Kitty, its good to hear that other surgeons also do both together. I'm ready and raring to go however have to slow down and make sure I am looking at all the facts which I feel like I am. I have done so much research, reading articles etc. Kitty I have had that strangling feeling for over 18 mnths now, I don't have any restrictions in my band and have gradually started eating more, I actually had a steak last week. I have just spent 3 weeks staying in a motel for work where they covered the cost of all meals so eating out, restaurant food every night etc. Luckily the motel also had a pool so I used that every night.
I'm booked in for Dec 10 unless I change my mind. I too am worried about Christmas, I feel like I haven't eaten real food for so long for as well as the band restriction I also have a trigeminal neuralgia (nerve pain in face reacts to chewwing). the neuralgia has settled and I have no restriction, not a good combination for wieght loss.
Rowena, you look gorgeous in you wedding dress.

my dr is doing both at the same time. he said that ultimately it was up to me which way i wanted it done. i didnt want to wait the 3 months because i was too worried that i would put on more weight which would not be a good thing.

so my susrgery to do both is early next month and i cant wait.

Hi Purplehaze

I have just had my band removed (tues just gone) and now have to wait 3 mths for a sleeve because my surgeon doesn't like to do both at the same time.

I am glad my Dr didn't because it turns out my esophogus was dilated as my band had slipped. The pain hasn't been too bad and I feel better already....I have lost that strangled feeling! His reason for the wait is to allow the scar tissue to settle down and heal to reduce the likelihood of a leak. It makes sense...although truth be told I am a tad impatient and really really wanted it done yesterday!

My lapband surgeon does the removal and sleeve together but he really didn't want to do mine and recommended I get another opinion hence the new surgeon! Very happy that I did....second opinons are always good....just go with what you feel comfortable with. Personally I think I would rather wait the 3 mths and reduce the risk of a leak because quite frankly it scares the living daylights of out me!

The only downside is that with no band or sleeve AND xmas coming up...I am terrified of putting on weight! My clothes dont fit as it is...I gave them all away when i started losing weight with the band....dang it

Hope that all helps! If you want any other info, please let me know.

Cheers Cindy

Thanks Vienna
My GP wants me to get a second opinion re the surgery overall so I have an appointment with another surgeon next week so will put it to him. Just talking to his off sider on the phone they were talking bypass so aaahhhhh, will go with an open mind.

Hi Purple

I tried very hard to convince my surgeon to do exactly this - she at the time said yes - but decided against it at the time of surgery. Apparently the risk factor is much higher, due to leaking etc. I have to say I was dissapointed as per my comments on this website - but you have to respect the surgeons decision and take into account the risk factors involved. I am terrified of putting the weight back on that I have already lost but maybe that is better than a higher risk of a surgical procedure.

Vienna

Hey Purple,

I have my blog, the site addy is on my signuture. I had my band in and out at The Valley, I had my sleeve done at Knox. I found the rooms, and nurses at Knox way better than at the Valley. I think you have not such nurses at every hospital lol. But yeah, I found Knox way more attentive than the Valley, the day I woke up from my band at the Valley, it was 10pm, I hadnt been to the toilet or out of bed, and I waited 30mins after pressing a buzzer, I almost peed myself, got myself out of bed, with my drip, got to the toilet, in tears, pressed the buzzer in the toilet, and waited another 15mins, before getting myself up, and walking down the hallway to find someone for help! It was awful! When I got the band out there, I was told to go in at 7am, and I wasnt operated on until 4pm! I didnt get a room until 3pm.....Angry wasnt the word. But Knox was so much more organised, and if I need any other surgery I would so go to there instead of the Valley lol

Bee

Hello Bee, my surgeon is Richard Guilhome who works with McHenry. He seems to be fairly casual about it all, like getting your tonsils out. mind you with everything I have read here and previous discussions with him I didn't have a lot of questions. The specialist nurse was going to put me in contact with someone from Knox (or the Valley maybe) that has already had the surgery, would be funny (good funny) if that was you. Have you written up your experience somewhere on the site. I would love toknow what it was like for someone at the same hospital, how were the nurses, some were not very nice when I had my band in.
I have been quite envious of the Perth/Kal folk as there are quite a few of them however they also make everyone here feel so welcome.

Hi P,

Sounds like we have the same surgeon! Finally another Melbourne person with a sleeve lol!
I had to wait 2 months to get my sleeve after my band was removed, but I had alot of issues with the band, and they did it that way to avoid swelling. My Doctor is Mr McHenry. Their all great, and really know what their doing at that group. Goodluck with it all!

Bee xx

Hi, just wondering if anyone had their lapband out and the sleeve done in the one operation. Most of what I read seems to indicate that this was done separately however my surgeon will do both together. I'm from Victoria and my surgeon is at Knox. they have done about 60 sleeves between Knox and the Valley.
Thanks P