Client Stories

When I decided surgery was the answer to my weight issues, it never occurred to me that I would need support after the operation. I was so focused & determined to have the surgery I forgot to ask all the “long term” questions. It wasn’t until about 2 weeks post surgery that I actuallly began to think about what I had been through and how the surgery would affect my whole life. I felt lonely too!

I started having monthly 1:1 sessions with my dietician, Hala, these soon proved to be invaluable. This gave me the opportunity to really focus on my goals, to measure my success and develop my own skills in managing my life style.
Hala, introduced me to the support group and I havent looked back...! The monthly support groups are such fun and so informative and helpful. I enjoy the guest speakers and look forward to each month when the team have dreamt up other new ways of inspiring us!

Earlier this year I became ill and my GP couldn’t work out what the problem was, my gastric band became the “red herring” as none of the local practioners knew enough about it, I became scared. I turned to Hala, she was there to reassure me and put me in touch with my surgeon and other professionals. She arranged appointments, sorted out excellent rates and was always on the end of the phone.
It was very quickly recognised that my band was in perfect working order and that it must be another medical isssue! The Gps had jumped to the wrong conclusions and I was later diagnosed with heart problems. This experience showed me that there just isn’t the understanding of weight loss surgery in the general arena and that the need for specalist care is essential.

'When I began this journey I really didn’t realise that my success would be about the aftercare, the knowlegde and support of the team at The Harley Nutrition Clinic will get anyone through the exciting but sometimes difficult journey after surgery'

Having my Gastric Band was the right decision for me, but having a support network and experts on tap has to be one of the best decisions and investments I have ever made. Meeting new friends and sharing hope and optimism with like minded people has simply changed my life.

My Name is Niki Clarke and I had a lap band fitted in April 2004. Although the band help me lose nearly 8 stone and to keep it off, it gave me problems from the start.

Gastric banding surgery

At the time of my operation four years ago 9.9.05 there were not that many surgeons carrying out this kind of surgery and I had to travel all the way to Birmingham for my operation. The consequences of travelling so far meant that I had no professional support network around me and when things started going wrong - I was alone without recourse. So I tried to draw on my own limited resources which led me (incorrectly) to the conclusion that if things were going wrong it was obviously due to something I was doing and therefore the worse things got and the iller I became, the more I was convinced that I was doing everything wrong, it was all my fault and I was failing! Then earlier this year after I had become so ill I could barely swallow my own saliva, my G.P referred me to a specialist - based near home.

He assured me that my best option was to convert my original gastric band to a gastric bypass. He also assured me that he and his team would offer me full medical and nutritional support for a whole year post op.

''Most significantly he put me in touch with the support group. A group that meets once a month and is specially geared towards obese patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. The impact the existance this group has had on my life is staggering. I no longer feel that I am alone and whenever I struggle or feel that I am going wrong somewhere I soon realise that there is a whole group of people out there that have shared the exact same experiences and are willing to offer guidance and tips on how best to cope.''

Many times I suffer side affects like vomiting or trapped wind etc and automaticaly feel it must be my fault somehow - only to find out what I'm experiencing is quite normal and to be expected and that everyone else has had the same experience. That knowledge is invaluable because it helps prevent me from sliding down a slippery slope, becoming depressed and making bad food choices. That is reason enough to be grateful to the existance of such an informative and inspiring support group - Thank you!

That's just a few of the people who have benefitted from LOSS .... but watch this space to hear more stories of peoples successes along the way!