From my Experience surgery at Clique de la Sauvegarde was 5*****
****Communication and Follow up – Excellent****
To say just a
couple of words would not be fair on the amount of communication and
From my Experience surgery at Clique de la Sauvegarde was 5*****
****Communication and Follow up – Excellent****
To say just a
couple of words would not be fair on the amount of communication and help I have had from Clinique de la Sauvegarde and I would like to
take this opportunity to thank all of the staff involved in my surgery especially Frédérique Perlier and Isabelle Lecointre.
Hello
Everyone,
After too many diets and too many pounds gained, I decided to explore Weight Loss Surgery (WLS). I spent a number of weeks
researching the internet and thought that WLS was going to be the only chance of me successfully losing weight and keeping it off.
Originally from the UK and working in France for a year I thought this would mean me returning to the UK, then I read about Dr Frering
and Clique de la Sauvegarde based here in Lyon, I plucked up the courage and arranged an appointment.
First contact.
Frédérique
contacted me initially from Capio Group and gave me information about the surgical team, the procedures and the costs. The information
was concise and easy to understand ( there was 3 price options depending on whether you wanted travel and accommodation arranged). The
next step was to contact Frédérique and arrange an appointment.
Initial Appointment.
I went for my initial consultation in
January with Dr Frering (if you are based in the UK, I believe you can do this appointment via telephone and medical questionnaire) and
he explained everything to me, from the types of surgery, my medical background, what type of eater I was and we decided on a Gastric
Band, although he did say that could have also had a bypass, but considering everything we agreed lap band surgery.
The initial
consultation is the time to ask questions and Dr Frering put my mind at rest concerning lots of things –fills (he recommends to have
the minimum amount of fills possible), flying (if you have the right amount of fluid in your band flying should not be problem), babies
(over 600 of his patients have gone on the have children), weight gain (a band is for life – if you eat too much you will gain
weight), is the surgery cosmetic (he was adamant that in my case the surgery is a necessity, he even showed me report that demonstrated
that if people had tried and failed numerous diets and stayed over weight for numerous years - the only option is surgery), he also
discussed the surgery with my partner and explained to him what to expect.
He then told me to go away and think about it for a couple
of months, I was shocked – WHY??? He said what is 6-8 weeks when I am making decision that will affect the rest of my life? He said
there is no hurry.
Dr Frerings manner is very direct, confident and you know that no matter what question you throw at him he will
have heard before. He speaks English very well, but it can be a little confusing in reception area, I speak a little French so was able
to make myself understood and a couple of receptionists speak a little English, but everyone was very friendly and the lack of language
skills on both sides was the cause for laughter.
NOTE: If you don’t speak French be patient because no matter how well the person
speaks English, they would prefer to speak French and are speaking English to help you.
Arranging Surgery – March/ April
After the
initial appointment I took a couple of weeks to consider my options and ask a couple more questions. Clinique de la Sauvegarde have been
really helpful, arranging all of my appointments, responding to all of my queries and sending supportive emails along the way (all in
English). I have had email correspondence with the nutritionist, the head nurse, the surgeon and the anaesthetists, who have all
promptly responded to all of my queries, in a clear and concise manner. I really think I couldn’t be in safer hands and I booked my
surgery date for May.
Pre-tests - May,
Isabelle, the head nurse arranged to meet me at reception and take me to all of my
appointments, she made sure I gave over my correct details and did not get lost. Not all staff speak English and they didn’t want me
feeling lost or confused (this was a amazing personal touch). The nurses called Dr Frering several times to check the outcome of my
results and to make sure everything was covered.
ABDOMINAL ULTRASOUND – this was to check the position and condition of my internal
organs. The good news is I don’t need a Pre-op diet.
MEETING WITH ANAESTHETIST – general discuss on previous conditions, any
previous operations and experience with anaesthetic. The anaesthetist although shocked that I could not speak French quickly changed to
speaking English although there were a couple of words I could not understand, so we draw a picture or acted with our hands.
TOUR OF
OPERATING WARDS - The ward nurse took me through the steps of the surgery and showed me where I would be recovering.
BLOODS - The final
stop of the day was for full blood work, about 7 vials. I was then given a bottle of water, a mini muffin; some iodine to shower in
before my surgery.
Final discussion on what to expect next week and I was on my way home.
Endoscopy – May (day before
surgery)
The day before my surgery I went to Clique de la Sauvegarde for an endoscopy under general anaesthetic, the anaesthetist
called the night before to remind me not to eat anything for 8 hours prior to surgery and to take necessary precautions. The procedure
didn’t take very long. I arrived at reception and Isabelle collected me and took me to the outpatient’s ward, where I filled in a
couple of questionnaires and prepared to go down to theatre. The endoscopy only took 15 minutes followed by an hour’s recovery. The
nurse in the ward reassured me in English that everything went well and before I knew it I was back in the ward preparing to go home and
have my last supper.
Lap Band Surgery .
I was asked to arrive at the Clinique at 8am, I had to go to the same place as yesterday so
knew my way. When I arrived on the ward the nurses were expecting me and I was asked a couple of final questions, given some medication
to ‘settle my nerves’, prepped for surgery and asked to get ready. As soon as I was dressed in my ‘sexy’ surgical gown I was
taken down to the surgical waiting area. There was a short wait (which obviously felt like an eternity) for the anaesthetist to collect
me and then I was taken into the theatre (a big clean room, with music playing), Dr Frering said a quick hello, a nice nurse told me she
would look after me and the next thing I know I am waking up in the recovery room.
After the surgery I spent a couple of hours
recovering, firstly in the recovery room and then in the ward with a friend. The nurses checked on me every 20 minutes and the head
nurse popped in to see me to check I was ok. Dr Frering came around the wards mid afternoon and said that as soon as the anaesthetist
had been round I could go home. I had a glass of water and carton of apple juice and waited. At 5pm I was told I needed to go to see the
nutritionist and collect a prescription and then I could leave.
The nutritionist went through what to expect in the following months
and gave me his card in case I had any questions, Dr Frering has left me a couple of prescriptions and I made arrangement for my first
fill (July) and nutritionist appointment (Aug). I then went home.
Post Surgery
When I got home I sent my partner to go and get my
medication and we were shocked at how quickly it had all happened. In the following days I received a telephone called from Isabelle
checking I was recovering and an email from Frédérique making sure I didn’t have any questions. I didn’t have any questions but I
know if I did Clinique de la Sauvegarde would answer them ASAP.
I am now 4 weeks post op, well on my way to a full recovery and looking
forward to my first fill. I hope this review will be helpful to someone thinking about WLS and I highly recommend you consider Capio
Group, France, Clinique de la Sauvegarde in Lyon.
| Reviewer: |
| Username: | katie |
| Age: | 25-34 |
| Location: | UK |
| Gender: | female |
| Operation or treatment: | lap band surgery |
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