Donna

We'll get you out one of these days Lferland!

:hungry: Here is the info for the October 6th, Bandster luncheon at 12:30 pm in Waterdown, Ontario at The Royal Coachman (1 Main St. N. Waterdown (905)689-5952) All pre-op and post op bandsters and any guests they may want to bring are welcome. Please contact Peter to let him know you are coming so he can adjust the reservations at pgt.phoenix@hwcn.org :clap2: Hope to see you there!

If you go to the Canadian Lapband site and click on polls you will find all the information there and the contact person for the October 6th Waterdown luncheon. The info is also posted I believe on the SWLC messageboard on the bandsters lunches/dinners. I will also try posting the info here later when I get a chance. Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn/06 Revised From VBG/87 251/136/125 goal

Darn it my husband is working that weekend so I will not be able to attend as I have kids but hope you all have a great time! Hope to see some of you at the October 6th luncheon in Waterdown. Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn/06 Revised From VBG/87 251/136/125 goal

I was banded by Dr. Cobourn 16 months ago and for the first several fills I had Dr. Cobourn do most of my fills. Back then he only had one nurse and he was doing less band surgeries. Since then he now has at least 2 - 3 nurses, patient co-ordinator, dietician and another surgeon (Dr. Mumford) working with him and they will be adding an additional surgeon in the near future. As others have said if you specifically request an appointment with Dr. Cobourn you will get one but with the amount of expansion his clinic has had that is what the trained staff is there for. Let's face it a surgeon's time is very expensive and the nurses are skilled in doing the fills and most post-op aftercare. Dr. Cobourn like most band surgeons expertise is in the pre-op consult and most importantly the actual band surgery. Of course he is always available to deal with emergency situations or other complications that infrequently arise. Best Wishes, :ranger: Donna Lapband/06 Revised From VBG/87 251/140/125 goal

Nah Cindy I don't think she's twisted unless she dreamed it was a used condom Dr. C. used! :paranoid Donna :ranger: Banded By Dr. Cobourn/06 Revised From VBG/87 251/140/125 goal

Oh sure as soon as I leave it gets really interesting and more ladies arrive - wish I could of stayed longer! It was fun seeing all of you! Donna Lapband/06 Revised From VBG/87 251/141/125 goal

I would suggest calling Dr. Cobourn's clinic and asking them for feedback regarding this. Donna Banded By Dr. Cobourn/06 Revised From VBG/87 251/142/125 goal

The $16,000 that I spent on my lapband was well worth it. My understanding is that most private band surgeons will not accept OHIP coverage IF it ever is approved because they would have to accept the flat fee OHIP deems appropiate. Surgeons would not be allowed to charge an additional amount so it would not make it worth their while to give up banding privately. It all comes down to supply and demand - as long as people are willing to pay privately for the band the majority of skilled doctors will continue to have private clinics. Again IF OHIP ever starts to fund the lapband there will be a ton of people who will apply for it (including those waiting for RNY or DS) and there will be several years wait for it. Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn/06 Revised From VBG/87 251/142/125 goal

I wouldn't worry too much either. I only lost 4 lbs. while I was on Optifast because I wasn't able to stay on the Optifast for more than 2 days. Of course I already knew that because of past stomach stapling I was being done at the hospital by Dr. Cobourn in case he had to do me open. Thankfully he was able to do me lap and in under 16 mths. I am down from 251 day of surgery to 141 for a loss of 110 lbs. My goal is 125 which I will reach this fall. Best wishes on your surgery! Donna Banded By Dr. Cobourn /06 Revised from VBG/87 251/141/125 goal

Alcohol is fine in moderation but Inamed does not recommend drinking beer because of the carbonation. After spending $16,000 on this band I do not wish to chance any complications. What alot of people don't seem to realize is just because you may be able to drink beer or pop and not feel any discomfort at the time it does not mean it won't cause any problems long term. To me it's just not worth the risk... Donna Banded By Dr. Cobourn /06 Revised From VBG/87 251/141/125 goal

Hi I too had a great time at the luncheon :hungry: yesterday. It was nice seeing those I haven't seen since the annual bandster bash in May and new pre-op and post op bandsters. Was sorry I had to leave early but at least I missed being tempted to have dessert . Looking forward to the next get together! Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 251/143/125 goal

Hi Susan I too became extremely constipated recently and had excruciating pain, chills and felt like hit by a truck. Only thing that helped was a saline solution fleet enemas two nights in a row and making sure I eat more fibre and I take a high quality magnesium supplement that acts as a stool softener. Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/145/125 goal

Hi Michee, Congrats on your date with Dr. Cobourn, he is a wonderful surgeon! Of course you are welcome to come to the luncheon at Kelsey's on July 28th. I believe I posted Laurie's email address who wants people to email her so she knows a rough idea of how many people to reserve for. If you ever want to get together for coffee feel free to contact me, I have been banded for 15 mths. so I will try to answer any questions you have. Otherwise look forward to seeing you at Kelsey's. Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/146/125 goal

Cindy your post is excellent. Dr. Cobourn did my surgery 15 mths. ago and again last January to remove some scar adhesions and he is excellent and very wise. Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/145/125 goal

Hi All, The luncheon is on Saturday, July 28th, at noon, the reservations will probably be under bandsters if not just tell them you are here for a group reserved at noon and should be easy to find it! You can try Mapquest for directions or take the 401 hwy to Mississauga Rd. exit. Go south and it turns into Erin Mills Parkway, don't follow the signs where Mississauga Rd. veers off. On the July luncheon thread I posted the email address of Laurie who you should email so she has an idea of how many seats she needs to reserve. Or feel free to private message me your name, no. attending and I will pass the info on to her. Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/145/125 goal

Hi Puddy, Are you only wanting to get together with other bandsters who were banded in April 2007? I was banded in April 2006, so am I not wanted? Let me know, either way that's okay! Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/145/125 goal

:DHi All There is a lapbander luncheon planned by someone on the Canadian Lapbander site at Kelsey's Restaurant at noon on Saturday, July 28th,/07. The location is 6465 Millcreek Dr. (northwest side of the intersection) at Erin Mills Parkway near the 401/Mississauga Rd./Erin Mills Parkway exit. All bandsters pre-op and post-op are welcome along with up to two of their guests. If you are planning to attend please respond to the poll on the Canadian Lapbander site or email "Laurie" at crafting...at...rogers.com so she can reserve how many seats are needed. Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/145/125 goal

Do you mean where can you find the message posted regarding the luncheon at Kelsey's? If so it is on the Canadian Lapbander's site under messages and was posted yesterday. Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 251/148/125 goal

I just noticed that someone has posted if there is interest in an upcoming bandster luncheon in Mississauga on Saturday, July 28th, at Kelsey's. If anyone is interested please go to the Canadian Lapbander's site and view the message and then vote for it in the poll. Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 251/148/125 goal

I have been to a few luncheons and anybody can arrange them. All you have to do is post that you would like to have one and reserve a restaurant and a time or date. I know on the Canadian Lapbanders site that someone will start a poll to pick a date and find out how many people would like to attend. In the past when I had more time I have had several pre-op and post-op bandsters over to my home for potlucks and they were very successful. Some of us also get together at restaurants for lunch or dinner at times in Brampton, Mississauga or Toronto or for coffee at Timmy's also. While messageboards or great for support I probaly would not be as successful a bandster if I didn't meet people in person who have become my bandster friends. Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 251/148/125 goal

Relax! Everyone is different but you will get there with patience! I have been banded almost 15 months and my last fill was in February. We are all so different - my fills usually don't kick in till about 3 days afterwards. Sometimes my band will tighten for a few days and then other days it feels loose and I am hungry. When that happens I just ride it out and within a couple of days it feels tighter again. Most bandsters find their bands are tightest in the morning until noon. You really can't always figure them out but plan strategies to handle their sometimes fickle nature! Also don't be surprised if you need several fills to reach good restriction. A responsible clinic will give conservative fills because they don't want to run the risk of you becoming overfilled and needing an emergency defill, better safe than sorry! Hang in there you will do fine! Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/148/125 goal

What you need to remember is that the band does not start really working until you have the proper amount of restriction! Everyone is different and for some of us it takes 2, or several fills to get to our "sweet spot". When I was banded over a year ago it took me 4 months and my 4th fill to hit my sweet spot. Until then I could eat almost anything and was hungry but I was determined to diet until I reached restriction and still managed to lose 25 lbs. in that period. Best wishes, Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/148/125 goal

:)Dr. Cobourn did my surgery 14 months ago on April 18th, 2006, and another surgery this past January to remove some scar adhesions (not due to the banding but because of several past operations.) I am down over 100 lbs. and the man is awesome! He has called me when I have requested him to and seen me in the office and emailed me personally when needed. Yes he sends his own emails personally! One of my friends who was banded lives on the BC sunshine coast and he personally emailed her to let her and other patients out there know he was going to be in Victoria on the Sat. morning and available to do fills or just to meet and talk about any concerns. He was there training more nurses and doctors to do aftercare fills and unfortunately she couldn't make it to the island but she was very impressed! Dr. Cobourn is an excellent surgeon! Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 251/148/125 goal

I was banded By Dr. Cobourn a year ago at the Surgical Weight Loss Centre and it is a fantastic place! I have also met patients (some who are now friends) who have been banded by Dr. Mumford who is Dr. Cobourn's partner. I have only heard wonderful things about him too and when one of my friend's was in recovery Dr. Mumford phoned me to give me her update he was easy to talk to. I highly recommend becoming a member on the Surgical Weight Loss Centre's messageboard and chatroom at www.obesitysurgery.ca which is for pre-op and post-op patients of Dr. Cobourn and Mumford. Oh yes I know bandsters who have stayed at all 3 of those hotels and liked them and I have visited 2 patients in their hotel rooms at the Holiday Inn and it seemed older but fine also. Best Wishes, Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/162/125 goal