WHEN her weight reached above 20 stone, an Almondbury woman was scared she was slowly killing herself.

And after being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, Sue Bellwood decided enough was enough.

She drew out over £7,500 from her pension and invested in a gastric band to help control her overeating.

Having had the surgery nearly three and a half years, ago, Sue lost an amazing seven stone and went from a size 28 to a size 16.

But her joy has been short-lived, as she discovered the costly band has broken and it will cost her nearly £3k to have it fixed.

An x-ray showed a gap in the band, which is allowing food through and a lose tube has been causing her severe heart pain.

Sue said: “I had been really struggling to lose the weight and was very desperate.

“I decided a gastric band was my only option and had a 14 mil lap band fitted by The Hospital Group.

“They told me it would last around 10 years but sadly it has stopped working at three and a half years.

“I am grateful for the weight loss as I was very desperate but I didn’t know the investment would only go so far.

“After having a coffee and a slice of toast one morning I had an intense pain in my chest.

“The pain was totally unlike the usual band pain so I never gave a thought to that and was scared I was having a heart attack.

“My partner took me to HRI but after star treatment I left feeling fit as a fiddle.

“It wasn’t until two weeks later than I realised I was able to eat more than normal and food went down easily.

“Eventually I realised my band was broken.”

After alerting the Hospital Group, she was told that the surgery was only guaranteed for six months and they could offer her a repair at a minimum of £2,000 and an x-ray for £250.

After calling her GP, Sue was given an X-ray and her tube was found to be free in her chest and a small gap in her band was discovered.

She continued: “I am absolutely terrified that this tube which is now disconnected, may end up doing some damage within my chest.

“It seems they tell you wonderful success stories but they never mention the failures and they are making large amounts of money from vulnerable, desperate people.

“I want to raise some awareness about this and make sure it doesn’t happen to anybody else, I feel I was taken advantage of for being desperate.

The mum-of-one has joined Slimming World to stop her from becoming “morbidly obese.”

She may have to wait up to two years to have it repaired on the NHS.

The Examiner contacted The Hospital Group several times but it declined to comment.