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Testimonials: Angelina's Story

Here's my story from 'before' to 'now'...

Before Banding:

I was one of those "fat" people that had myself convinced, and tried convincing others, that I really didn’t eat that much to be a fat as I was. It wasn’t until my band was placed that I really and truly realised how much I was in fact eating! Typical day of food would be...

10am: Wake up sluggish and hit snooze about 6 times before dragging myself out of the bed.

11am: Stop off at a garage for a foot long breakfast roll extra mayo and ketchup with hash browns coffee and large coke - and pick up a few packs of crisps and some chocolate to snack on in work before lunch.

1pm: Pub dinner - whichever pub served the biggest portions! Pint of coke to wash down.

3pm: I go on a coffee run to McDonalds for the boys at work - cant leave without having a big Mac and fries!

6pm: Home to my mothers - eat whatever she has in her fridge!

11pm: I would cook a big dinner of meat potatoes veg and lace it all in some creamy sauce - another 2 or 3 pints of coke.

12am: Roll off the sofa and go to bed. I was never a good sleeper so would often wake up a few times and think it would be a great time for a bag of crisps!

I had just started to get a bit weight conscious as I was a size 34 in clothes - this was the biggest size available in Ireland so I started to panic. I never worried about my weight before as I really thought I was gorgeous! Everyone used to comment on how pretty my face was, I think I just blocked it out. I was very lucky in the sense that I was never bullied in school, never got called names in the street, never had a problem getting boyfriends, and had really nice clothes... until I started to realise that I might need a size 36 soon and where would I go?

I tried every diet, but as soon as I started to loose a few pounds I felt I deserved a treat - but soon forgot to stop treating! Back to square one with an additional few pounds to boot! I have absolutely NO willpower.

I was considering Gastric Bypass - got all the information and was ready to book myself for it. My aunt in Italy had this operation done in its very early stages, she had a horrific time with it - nearly died a few times and nearly 15 years later is very slim but suffers EVERY day, I won't even tell you about how she suffers as its too gross!

Needless to say my father and mother were not happy about my decision and tried to stop me but I was headstrong and was not prepared to listen. One day my dad came to me with a woman’s magazine with Sharon's story. I read it was really impressed with the procedure, the results looked great, Dad was happy for me to try this too - so I contacted Sharon and you were soooooooo helpful in giving me all the information I needed. A joint decision was made and I was off to Lyon with Mum and sister Zoë for my surgery!

The whole experience was excellent - they are so professional in this clinic. Dr. Frering put me at ease, showed me the band and answered any questions my mum had. I remember I had a bit of a cold at the time and he was not sure if he would perform the surgery in a few days time because of the anaesthetic. The anaesthetist prescribed me some drugs and they cleared my cold so I was all set for my operation again!

First part of the operation, they had to put a camera down my throat, I made a request that I would not wake up with the tube in my throat. Woke up - no tube - all was well only for I peed myself and had some sort of a nappy on! - How embarrassing!!!!

The big day: I was nervous - I was hungry from fasting! I was lying on the operation table bit of light banter going on, felt a burning sensation on the anaesthetic passing up the veins in my arm, I was told to count to ten, think I got to three and I was out!

I think I was only 12 minutes on the table - Dr. Frering even found something in my stomach and fixed it! - Very nice man altogether!

Woke up in my room after operation, my mum was there with flowers and a beautiful necklace for me God bless her! I was very groggy but on a scale of 1 to 10 - 10 being the most painful - I was probably only feeling a 4. ~The worst part of that day was that I was so thirsty and they wouldn’t let me have any water for AGES! I slept most of that day.

Next day I felt more like my old self, I didn’t take any painkillers that day - I was so proud of myself and I thought it was working already as I wasn’t hungry at all! - just as well because I think they only gave us some slightly coloured warm water and told us it was soup!

I can't remember if I was discharged that day or the next - but back in the hotel Mum and my Sister wrapped me up in bed and went off shopping for the day! - I got some more pressies out of it so I was happy enough! I was a bit tender but not in any real pain at all - I was so shocked, I expected to be wailing in agony!

Flew home the next day, my mum made me travel in a wheelchair because it meant we would get on and off the plane before everyone else! I enjoyed it!

I settled into my new eating routine very quickly, I ate little jars of baby food for about a week! then I moved onto mashed potato and gravy. I could never eat in the morning sometimes even a cup of tea wouldn’t go down easy. After about a month I was doing great, a lot of it was trial and error to see what foods agreed with me. Meat and bread were real no no's for me. And I missed Coke and other fizzy drinks.

I remember the first time I tried chocolate! I took one square ate it went down great - but I didn’t want any more! - I just couldn’t believe what was happening to me, only a few weeks ago one large bar of chocolate wouldn’t be enough I'd have 2 or even 3 with crisps! - I felt great!

2 years on:

I don’t know how to tell you how much my life is changed. I have a personal trainer 3 times a week to help tone me up - I have a saggy belly and legs. I've been to Spain 4 times this summer - holidays were not an option for me before because of the dreaded swim suit but I'm making up for all the lost holidays I never had! - I don’t have to ask for the extender seat belt on the plane anymore! I horse ride, play water sports, there’s so much I cant even think now! The absolute best feeling for me is to be able to go into nearly any shop and pick up the clothes I like to wear, its not a case of just taking what fits me anymore - and I have knee length boots - I used to dream about those!

I'm still a long way off, but I think I've done great, when I think that I've only had my band placed never filled. People always ask me what’s my goal weight. I tell them "My goal is to be able to have a shower and not have to lift up my belly to clean under it! When I get there I'll stop!"

My health has greatly improved - I can't believe how far I can walk and I can't believe I enjoy walking! I sleep all through the night now, no more midnight snacks! Blood pressure was high before my weight loss now its perfect as are my blood sugars. I do have off days of being tired but I connect them to the days when I didn’t keep my vitamins down or forgot to take them.

All in all it was a great experience, the result may not be as quick as the gastric bypass - but its a hell of a lot safer and healthier - as I say it took 28 years of eating to put on my weight so what 3 years to get it all off?