JLB

Hi Anne, I haven't scheduled it yet - financing problems! I'm aiming for late August/early Sept. I am currently a full-time student so juggling money and time is one of my pasttimes :girl_hug: One of the issues I have been thinking about lately was who I would ask to accompany me so when I saw your post, it was very timely. I have been debating whether it would be benefical, not to mention comforting, to have a friend or family member with me since it is major surgery. On the other hand, as Neenagh mentioned in an earlier post, I don't want to put out other people who also have very busy lives plus it's an additional expense for airfare, etc. I was wondering if paying for a nurse would be just as comfortable for me - not sure. I checked out their website - looks like a nice place. It sounds like you had a good experience at Heritage House and felt comfortable with the care. Thank you for sharing this information. I have added it to my list of things to reseacrh abit more. Pls feel free to private message me if there is any additional info you want to share about Heritage House or any additional thoughts on going it alone for surgery. Thanks, Janice

Thanks Greene. So how far is Miss. from TO in Km? Are we talking 30k or 130k? I live in Calgary and we have some cities such as Airdrie which is now like a suburb of Calgary becasue over the years the city has grown out to it. Thanks and sorry to be so geographically anal. Janice

Thanks Anne. Excellent option! I wonder if there is one of these near the TLBC clinic? I've never been to Ontario so I'm not sure how close Dr. C's clinic is to TLBC. Can anyone help me with this? :help: Thanks, Janice

Hi Anne, I love my cup of tea most days as well and I'm sure it will be a life saver post-op. I have a questin for you... what is Heritage House? I hope to be banded this year, just need to figure out my finances. One of the delimmas I will have is being able to arrange for someone to accompany me to Ontario. As I understand it, you need to have someone with you in your hotel room or pay for a nurse to stay with you. Your post has peaked my interest. Thanks, Janice

Also, I think with scaring it just depends what type of healer you are. Some people get the bumpy look(forget what it's called) and others heal very well and it would be hard to find their scars. A family member of mine had Thyroid cancer and they open up her neck from ear to ear. A year later, I have to really look closely to see the scar. She wears low cut shirts and no makeup and honestly, you can barely see her scars. She's in remission. Lucky woman - in more ways than one! :huggie: Janice

Hi Lemonlulu, welcome! Take your time and do some research. From what I have learned it is one of the most successful WLS for keeping the lbs off long-term. Yoda is right on the money as usual. The Lapband is only a tool, you still have to do the work ie. eating healthy/exercise. If you have heard of ppl not being successful it's probably because of non-compliance. However, if you are ready and commited to changing your life and becoming healthier, then I believe the Lapband is one of the BEST tools out there. Good luck and happy sleuthing! Janice

Hi everyone, I'm a wannabe bandster and have been lurking around the site for the last little while. I've met some of you in other posts already and am glad to meet the other wannabe's that are lurking. I just want to reiterate what a few others have already said about the support on this forum and the quality of information - it is excellent! Many of my questions have been answered and there is always something new that pops up I never thought of. Thank you to everyone - a great collective knowledge base. :clap2: :first: :) Janice

Ahhhhh... makes sense. I suppose anything liquid would not fill you up as much as solid food. Good point Thanks, Janice

Wootsie73, thanks for the info, great to have another person's perspective on different alternative low carb choices and ideas. I do have one question though you said " post-band - so the breakfast would have to change". Can you elaborate on this, I'm not sure what you meant. Are you eating a different breakfast now, if so, what were you eating then versus post-band for breakfast. I eat eggs (and very occasionally bacon or sausage) almost every morning since I started LCing and love them! Thanks, Janice :biggrin1:

Yep, I was suspicious of Oprah as well. Also, possibly Anna Nicole Smith. Janice

I also suspect that maybe Star Jones has a lapband since she was so insistent that she never had gastric bypass. Just a thought... Janice

I started LCing about 5 years ago. First book I read was Protein Power and have since read all of them. I had the most success with LCing but like most "diets" I've tried, my weight has always crept back up. I still try to watch the types of carbs I eat and choose ones that have a lower impact as I am glucose intolerant (borderline diabetic). I've noticed that a lot of posts from bandsters mention a high protein, low fat, low carb diet. I have been confused by this because many foods that are lower in fat have added sugars to make up for flavour, hence they are usually higher in carb. My experience has been that it is very difficult to low fat and low carb diet at the same time. Can anyone clear this up or provide more clarification for me? I was hoping to continue LCing after being banded but I currently eat butter, full fat dressings, full fat sour cream, whipping cream ( you get the picture - full fat varieties not low fat). :help: Janice

I think it's a great idea but the labels should read: Warning: Although the size says 18 on this label - it's really a size 14. Buyer beware! Janice

Maggiec, TLBC told me that I would need to have blood tests, an EKG and an xray - all done through my own doctor in my city of residence. As for telling people - funny you should mention this. I was just thinking this afternoon about this very thing. I have not told anyone except a good friend of mine who lives in another province and doesn't have any communication with my local friends or any family members. I figured she was a good person to ask for feedback. I have various reasons for not telling everyone in my life as I'm sure most others do. I don't want to cause unnecessary worry and also some of my family are not very supportive, so I'm choosing to keep it to myself and not be (annoyed) by others who may be uninformed. I was also thinking of starting a new thread to see what people think about Celebs or other famous people that may have had this surgery done but kept it secret. So many of them are slim and have to be for their profession. Hmmmm..... :guess Janice

Argon, you are too funny! Even though us newbies are persistent with our endless questions (Ok somtimes paraniod questions) you always answer honestly but with a fresh sense of humor - keeps things in perspective! :girl_hug: Thanks, Janice

Well, today was my doctor appt. I asked my doc to send in the referral for a consultation with the doctor's in Edmonton. I was kind of surprised that my doc didn't know anything about the surgery and as a result I found myself educating her. She said she had one other patient recently asking about surgery but hadn't really checked into it. Oh well... at least she thought it sounded like a good idea for me as a tool to help control portions. I expect the wait will be at least 1.5 yrs for a consult and possibly longer for surgery. I hope some money falls from heaven in the near future so I can go to Toronto to a private clinic. I haven't given up hope. I'm a true believer that if it is meant to be - it will be. Janice

Hi Maggiec, I'm a newbie too and was really confused by all the abbreviations used in the posts. I found a great sticky post in the Lapband FAQs and References Forum which gives a list of all the abbreviations and what they mean - might be helpful for you, it sure helped me! Anyway, when I spoke to Dr. Cs clinic they told me that you have to go on Optifast for several weeks before surgery (duration differs for each person depending on your weight, liver fat, etc.), each case is $35 for 12 (don't quote me but I think that's what it was). Argon: Your info is always right on the mark - at least that's the way I see it! :biggrin1: But you said something that has put me back to paranioa land. :faint: "Didn't knick my liver" Huh? Is this another risk - what does it mean to the unfortunate who has their liver knicked? See - your wisdom has me forever coming up with more questions

I'd pay more for it too. I must say, I got abit paraniod when I read the posts about missing the port and possibly putting a hole in the tube. I hadn't even considered this until I read it. However, I'm sure it's one of those far and few in between complications - hopefully! Thanks for the info Argon! Janice

Hi all, I have what is probably a silly question but since we're talking about PBing and such, I'll go ahead and ask it. Yoda, you mentioned that "People with the lapband do not vomit in the regular sense....they can't anymore....nothing actually comes up from the stomach itself and therefore there is none of that wicked bile etc..... " but what if you simply have the flu, wouldn't you be heaving with the best of them? Also, what if you have dry heaves, do you think this would affect the band and possibly cause it to slip? Further, back in May 2006 I suddenly got Vertigo. I've never had it before and it literally hit me out of the blue. I couldn't stand up, my world was spinning and everything was upside down, hence - I did alot of throwing up. After the band, what happens if you have the vomit reflex? I understand PBing is something completely different (from not chewing properly, etc and food simply just comes back up more slike spitting it back out as I understand). I know, I know... probably silly questions but it is something that has crossed my mind. Anyone have any thoughts? Janice

Hi Argon, Yes, I understand Dr. Mitchell does fills for Dr. C. at a cost $ 125 per but I don't know of anyone else in Calgary. Hi Andrew, I think the Fuoro is a great way to go too but what I've found out so far is that it's pretty difficult to get it done this way because you need a referral to a Radiologist at a hospital which a doc doesn't necassarily want to give unless there's a really good reason to do so. If anyone knows any different, please chime in, especially if you know a way to get fluoro fills in Calgary. Sorry Andrew, don't know anything about the Blue Cross thing but you could give it a go. All they can say is no. Thanks a bunch, Janice :biggrin1:

Hi Maggie, I can't answer your insurance question but as for the fees, I believe both Ontario clinics charge $16K. I know some of the complications or side effects I've read about can be scary but so are health complication due to obesity. Good for you for making an informed choice on whta's best for you. Let us know how everything goes. Janice

Time2Live: Figures, I knew it sounded too good to be true.

Thanks Louise, good points to consider. Also, TLCB told me that they are training nurses in Calgary in early 2007 to do fills and said the cost would probably be included in the total $16K fee or if not, then a very minimal charge. Janice:)

Hi Yoda, well... learn something new everyday! This fluro method sounds great for fills. Just out of curiousity I called Dr. Mitchell's office here in Calgary and he doesn't do it. He will assess you and if he feels you need it he will then refer you to the hospital and the radiologist will do it. The Receptionist also told me that if it's done in the hospital it is covered by Alberta Health Care but not sure if this is true or not. Thought this might be interesting for those bandsters in Calgary, if they are interested in investigating further. Have a great day! Janice :biggrin1:

Thanks Dame. I assume you've seen these plans on his website so I'll cruise over there and take a look.