Donna

I believe you can join pre-op also just let them know when you register where you are getting done.

I look forward to seeing my fellow patients at the symposium and partying the night before and afterwards!

Hi I have been asked to cross post this new book info. I have read it and found it good especially for new bandsters. Also Peter who posts on Canadian Lapbanders and was banded at TLBC in Toronto is on page 228 with his story and before and after photos. "Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band - Everything You Need to Know Before and After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully" by Robert Sewell, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Linda Rohrbough Da Capo Press, March 1, 2008 ISBN 978-1-60094-002-6 Dr. Sewell is a Dallas, Texas band surgeon who has placed over 300 bands, and is president of the American Society of General Surgeons. Linda is a best-selling North Carolina-based author of computer books, and since being banded by Dr. Sewell in 2004, has lost 136 lbs and 12 dress sizes. (Her website is http://www.PCbios.com.) You can buy this book for $14.06 plus shipping and taxes from: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Weight-Loss-Surgery-Adjustable- Gastric-Robert-Sewell/9781600940026-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+% 2527Robert+Sewell%2527 (Since this link spills over to a second line, you'll need to COPY and PASTE it into your browser's navigation bar. OR, go to http://www.chapters.indigo.ca, and enter "Weight Loss Surgery" in the Search box. This book is the first of 30 that pops up.) Alternately, it sells for the sticker price of $18.50 at Chapters -- my local store in Ancaster had three on the shelf, in the weight- loss/diet section. (I was amazed, since I never saw Jessie's book or any band book on the shelf at any bookstore!) I think that you can also order the book from their website while at the store, have it delivered there, and just pay the $14.06 plus taxes but no shipping.

Yep I'll be attending too and both dinners. I can't wait to see everyone, it sounds awesome!

Peaches glad you are doing well, best wishes for a speedy recovery! Hugs,

Andrew, you have been successful and have every right to start any business or work for anyone you care to. My only issue is that it is only fair you state that you are running a business now when you are referring people to Dr. Ortiz's clinic down in Mexico. I also found that your testimonial on your web site tends to give the impression that you were banded in Mexico when you were actually banded at the SWLC. By the way your before and after pictures are great!(I thought I saw you at Heritage House when I visited another bandster friend from BC but I realize now it must of been another guy from Alberta as you were banded in Feb./07 and the person I saw was done near the end of March.) As a person who first had weight loss surgery 21 years ago and has had a revision to the Lapband two years next month, I certainly have experience with potential issues that can arise down the road making me partial to Canadians being banded in Canada. My personal preference is Dr. Cobourn and the Surgical Weight Loss Centre because I have had terrific support there and a wonderful experience and know many others who have too. That being said I realize we are lucky there are various options where people can go for getting banded including out of country. Wishing you continued success on your lapband journey!

I appreciate your response Jane. After Stanley's comment I clicked on my past posts on this site and I too found nothing negative in my posts other than my concerns regarding CIBO. Also I am flattered by being lumped together with fousilly and Doddie, two other bandsters who also call it like they see it and are here to give and receive support. Take care,

You are full of it!!! I am not paid or employed by ANY lapband clinic! As I post on my signature I am a facilitator for a support group I started for bandsters. A peer support group that my clinic offered (after I told them) to finance the rent for the room. I am a volunteer and get no money and am not an employee. Why don't you check your facts before running off at the mouth! By training I am a counsellor and majored in criminal justice and minored in addictions and facilitated many groups over the years including one for abusive men. I belong to several weight loss surgery support groups and have and continue to go to lots of lapband functions and a lot of people know me personally as very supportive. So SHAME ON YOU!!! Sounds like you may be the one with an agenda...Oh and IF I ever do in the future get a paid position with ANY lapband clinic or make money from any weight loss type service I will be the first to disclose it. Now care to disclose what your vested interest is?

Yes it's a bit hit and miss! Sometimes if you just park your butt in the chatroom someone will see you in their and come on in. Overall it is pretty active several nights a week!

Be sure to come into the chatroom at the SWLC Patient support forum. You can usually find a lot of us there around 7 - 10 pm. Maybe we are sometimes a little jaded or cynical here at lapbandtalk but believe me there is reasons for it at times. Anyways overall people are very caring but it can take a while to understand where we are all coming from and there is history but can't explain in one post. I myself first had weight loss surgery 21 years ago and the surgeon I had at the time turned into a nightmare and my aftercare went down the drain when his license was suspended for 5 years. So I am especially sensitive to wanting people to have excellent aftercare and choosing a clinic that will be there for them long term.

I am a happy bandster of the SWLC but I do believe that Dr Yau at the TLBC will meet with a perspective patient if the patient so requests it. I met Dr. Yau at the last Bandster Bash in May/07, and I have to admit I was blown away by the awesome speech he gave at our round table talk when it was his turn. He was discussing that we shouldn't feel ashamed at having a tool for dealing with our obesity and I was almost tempted to fully come out of the closet after hearing him speak to us. Mind you I stepped half back in the closet within a few hours of that but he is an amazing speaker and I was very impressed. Mind you my surgeon Dr Chris Cobourn at the SWLC is still number 1 in my books! As for the people here being a tight community I suppose that is only natural when they participate regularly supporting each other. I don't post here too often though I know many here from other sites but I too tend to feel the outsider here, but it's just human nature to bond with some. If you would ever like to come to the new support group I have started for SWLC patients in Mississauga please feel free to attend you will be very much welcomed. This is only our 3rd support meeting coming up this Thursday night on the 20th, and there is new members joining each month. Best wishes on your surgery in April with Dr Mumford he is a wonderful surgeon. I had the pleasure of having him phone me when a new friend was here from BC being banded last March and he gave me a full report of how she was doing (with her permission of course.)

Purpose: To offer peer support to preoperative and postoperative lapband clients of the Surgical Weight Loss Centre. We are not qualified to give any medical advice nor wish to and are not part of the clinic. Please contact the clinic directly for any medical concerns you may have. Group Facilitator: Donna A. (Please contact me through private message each month if you plan to attend if at all possible so I can plan accordingly. Also leave me your contact information in case of unlikely meeting change or cancellation, thanks.) I will also announce any cancellation due to bad weather on a post in this section of forum by 5 pm at latest on day of meeting. Place: Mississauga Please private message me for exact address location or go to Toronto Weight Loss Obesity Surgery Lap Band Bariatric Surgeon Gastric Bypass and click on Patient Support Forum and then go to my announcement re: Peer Support Group at the top of the General Lap Band Surgery Discussions Section. Time: 7:30 - 9:30 pm (anyone needing to arrive late or depart early is asked to do so quietly to avoid disrupting group.) There will be a 10 minute break from 8:30 - 8:40 pm. Room is available for members to socialize before group from 7 - 7:30 pm and after group from 9:30 - 10:00pm. Schedule: Every third Thursday of the month Next scheduled meetings: March 20, / 08 April 17, / 08 May 15, / 08 June 19, / 08 July 17, / 08 August 21, / 08 September 18, / 08 October 9, / 08 (second Thursday of the month due to facility scheduling) November 20, / 08 Refreshments: coffee will be available at no cost during group. Members may only bring in bottled Water and light Snacks as per community centre rules. Either a fruit, vegetable or cheese and cracker platter will also be provided at meetings. Group Sponsor: Dr. Cobourn on behalf of the Surgical Weight Loss Centre has graciously offered to sponsor our support group so there is no cost for members to attend. Thank you Surgical Weight Loss Centre! Guest Speakers: Periodically, guest speakers will be provided by the Surgical Weight Loss Centre when requested to discuss relevant topics and provide further information. Speakers will be invited to attend for one hour to speak and answer questions at start of meetings. This peer support group provides a friendly environment in which members are able to participate, share, ask questions, exchange advice and find support on getting the most out of their lapband journey. Benefits of Attending A Lapband Support Group: - To hear from others who face similar challenges to your own - To Celebrate positive changes in each bandster's life - To provide motivation to follow the bandster rules that will help us be successful - To brainstorm solutions to problems - To talk with a group of people who understand your journey like no one else does! Group Guidelines Confidentiality Personal information shared in the group is confidential. However as no group can guarantee confidentiality use discretion in what personal information you share with other members. Begin and End On Time Meetings will begin and end on time. Anyone needing to arrive late or leave early is asked to do so quietly to cause the least disruption to the group. An attendance sheet will be passed around for members to sign in. One Speaker At A Time Groups are most beneficial when all members have the opportunity to share who wish to. Please respect our limited time and give each member a chance to speak. No Side Conversations Members will give supportive attention to person who is speaking and avoid side conversations. Feedback / Advice Members have a right to ask for advice but are under no obligation to accept it. Feedback is to be given in a respectful nonjudgmental manner. Recognize some may just wish an opportunity to vent and be heard. Equality All members are equal no matter where in their lapband journey they are. Thus none of us are experts or have all the answers. Guest Speakers Periodically, guest speakers will be invited to attend for 1 hour at the beginning of meetings to discuss relevant topics and provide further information. Group Facilitator Will be responsible for assuring the room setup and keeping the group on track and adheres to the above guidelines in order to maintain a supportive environment DONNA Banded by Dr Cobourn at Surgical Weight Loss Centre in Mississauga Toronto Weight Loss Obesity Surgery Lap Band Bariatric Surgeon Gastric Bypass

Seana no need to stick your tongue out unless you wish to catch flies! :biggrin2: My only issue with Dr. Misra is that she has done very few lapband surgeries. Yes she has done laprascopical surgeries but I am talking about lapband surgeries. It is only natural for new lapband clinics to be scrutinized due to the level of care needed by lapbanders to be successful. Glad you are happy with your level of aftercare so far and hope you continue to be down the road for your sake. As my clinic only charges $16,000 and has a proven track record and excellent aftercare I would expect a brand new clinic charging $2,000 more to expect extra scrutiny.

Donna (looking around sideways and up and down :biggrin:) I see alot of feathers flying around! Yep Jane the cynic in me was thinking the same thing...

I am not here to dispute which clinic is best either, most of us are partial to where we were banded. BUT as a veteran of two weight loss surgeries including one 21 years ago I think it is very important to go with a clinic with a proven track record especially as we are talking very big bucks and a band that entails a lot of aftercare to succeed.

Okay let me see I had a revision to Lapband from VBG two years next month. I am down from day of surgery 251 lbs. to 119 lbs. which is below goal by 6 lbs. Certainly feel I am a success story!

Actually CIBO's price is the highest that I know of at $18500. Plus I believe Dr Misra their surgeon only has hospital privileges in Hamilton so if you have an emergency do you have to drive all the way from Toronto to Hamilton? Also both SWLC and TLBC have done well over 1000 lapband surgeries and stellar reputations, why chance an unknown especially when aftercare is so darn important in order to be successful. How many lapband surgeries has Dr. Misra actually performed in this study?

Best wishes Green for a full recovery, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Who was your actual band surgeon and how many lapbands have they done? When I look at CIBO's website Dr. Misra is shown as having done laparascopic surgeries but they do not state she has done lapband surgeries specifically which I think is important.

Kat you had a plan and that is what all out of country patients need to have, your doctor was responsible acting.

It seems to me that the Mexican clinics that are banding you and taking your money should be setting you up with aftercare back in your area. It's really not up to Canadian clinics to do the work for them. What I want to know is what is the warranty at the Mexican clinics? Do they supply lifetime warranty on replacements or any problems like SWLC and TLBC? I have been banded 2 years next month and also had weight loss surgery 21 years ago and as a veteran I would never chance being done at a foreign clinic. It is just too far away if there are complications and believe me there can be. Yes emergency rooms have to see you but I know lots of out of country wls patients from bandsters, Dsers and Gastric bypass and nobody ever wants to touch them when they go to the hospitals. I paid $16,000 for my revision and as a stay at home mom it was a lot of money but worth every damn penny.

You really can't blame doctors here for not wanting to service patients who have surgery with another clinic. This is a business pure and simple. Also the doctors have malpractice insurance that has strict rules so of course it is not cut and dry. If for example the Mexican doctors are wanting Canadian patients let them provide the aftercare support as they are making the bucks.

Yeah but the competition keeps them on their toes and good for us!

Hi Doddie, Glad Jill is able to help you alot, I met her at the Bandster Bash and she was nice enough to lend me and my friend money to buy a drink each till we could go back to our room and pay her back. What a sweety! SWLC has a dietician for several months now named Billie Jean and people find her very helpful also.

Both clinics are great and SWLC definitely has latest technology and three lapband surgeons. Also both clinics offer lifetime on replacements and problems for the bands. I am comfortable with paying a small fee for fills after 5 years as now that I am at goal it is rare you need a fill. I have been banded for 22 months and my surgeon and clinic have been fantastic. Best to check both clinics out and go with what feels best in my opinion.