Doddie63

Hi: I guess it is all in the perception. I don't find it bitching but just being able to state outright things that upset us. I am here to support anyone and everyone. Not just the peaches and roses type of comments but the upsets, sickness, etc. For instance, complaining about aftercare is vital. How many times have we seen on TV an individual that could not get a resolution from a company but once the person went to the media, amazing how solutions are found. So, Happy New Year everyone, continue your journey but vent any time you like. Better that than turn to food (like the good old days).

You have a tremendous load on your shoulders right now and seem to be handling it well. Don't worry about the support group, someone will step in and keep it lively. Hope your band doesn't give you any difficulty with all the stress and I also hope your journey is uneventful. Best wishes.

Hip Hip Hooray! Peaches. Happy New Year to you and continued success. I just did a year review of my weight loss and my 1/4 to 1/2 lb added up to 25 lbs for the year. Hooray for the turtles.

I am amazed that Spanishlady would be so upset at someone posting their concerns, anquish, frustrations, whatever. Spanishlady, it appears to me that you want to stifle anyone that has a negative comment (in your opinion). To me they are not negative comments but a person posting her experiences so others may learn or give her support. The last comment I have to say Spanish Lady. If you don't like the the tone of the post, don't respond. You move on to another site. We will continue to give our support no matter what the problem may be.

We do our own IT and we submitted itemized receipts for everything, a letter from my surgeon I required obesity surgery. The travel expenses were questioned because one has to show why the surgery could not have been done closer to home. They asked from a letter from my GP which I got. So far I haven't heard back but I think they accepted the travel claims. It appears from posts that the medical expense is not questioned, just the travel costs. They want you to justify why you couldn't use a surgeon in your local area.

All the best to you too jorja. Your comments above are so appropriate. I don't understand why people blame the messenger. It seems that if an obese person complains they are called negative and instead should be bright and bubbly with compliments such as "oh, thank you for being so nasty and failing to live up to your promises. I am so delighted". However, let a person who is not obese complain and people fall all over themselves trying to help. It happens in all areas of society. An obese person is always thought of as jolly or looked upon in a negative manner. When we step out of that character we are immediately smashed down. I seriously believe we are the last group where discrimination is allowed. That is my rant for the day. Happy New Year everyone.

congratulations. What a great start to the new year:thumbup:

Hi: Yes there is a lady in Vancouver on 41st that is trying to start her own support group. Contact canadagirl33@hotmail.com . She started our group and does have the address. She also posted the phone number on this link but you would need to do a search to find it. Also, there are a number of bandsters near you. Perhaps if you adverstised you could start your own group.

welcome to bandster land. I am from N.Van. Who did youwish to get in touch with?

right on marivan. I have been on this site for all most two years now and I have yet to see a "silly question" in my mind. I have read the same questions from differentS people starting out and it is very easy to say "go to this or that link", but I don't think that is what the poster wants. I think most of us post a questions because we want reassurance we are not alone. I have been criticized for stressing aftercare and yes sometimes attacked but when I read posts where the bandster is desparate, then I feel I have to reach out. My ideas may not be the best but at least I am trying. Hopefully I am able to help a little bit. I certainly know I have been helped when I posted questins.

:thumbup: well said.

Merry Christmas everyone and wishes for a very healthy, happy New Year.

Congratulations on your personal success and may your journey be uneventful with no complications.

I think you are swallowing air. After chewing your food, or drinking fluid, try to exhale at the time you swallow. It takes some getting use to, but it does stop the burps. Also, some bandsters consider burping a sign the pouch is full.

Thank you for your support. Merry Christmas

Thanks, lisa. I will continue to post and hopefully I will be of help to the individual in some small way. Free speech still exists in my mind and although the written word sometimes gets interpretted in the wrong way, as long as the intentions are good that is all that that matters. As I go through my journey of nearing two years, some of my past experiences may be of help with someone just starting out. Seems to me the first year is when bandsters have the most questions. And yes, I truly hope the new CEO brings some stability and improves communication in putting forward the clinics goals. They are a good clinic, but they seem to have lost their way. Merry Christmas and a great New Year to everyone.

Good for you jorja. Merry Christmas and may the new Year bring you the success with your journey. Let us know how your journey goes.

Well written, but perception is everything. When someone starts a post "who promised...." it reminded me immediately of someone standing with their hands on their hip and bullying someone to be quiet. I believe that dealing with the company is the best best, but if someone has done everything they can think of, posting for other solutions is a good idea. Also, venting helps the next time to keep ones emotions in check when contacting the company again. Also, the emotional support is imperitive because of the emotional eating that could play a part in all of this.

Please don't apologize for looking for support. Jane was totally out of line in her first message. She attacked you and your motives then comes back later to clarify what she meant. Which in my mind was not too much different to the first attack. When persistant attempts to communicate with a company fail, they you must go to the very top. The have a new CEO now. Long distant patients have difficulty dealing with Slimband because it appears there is no clear cut policy about what their aftercare is for us. The thing you have going for you is that "someone" promised you a fill doctor "before" you had the surgery and now refuse to give that service. Talk to another slimband person and they give you a totally different version of the policy. Try one more time by telephone and requesting to speak to the CEO. Have your questins ready and no satisfaction, then the other remedies could be tried. Please keep posting for support because we all know that stress such as you are going thru causes emotional eating. Ignore the negative posts and take solace from the encouraging posts. :biggrin:

I am so sorry the TLBC has come to this. There is the chance they may pay for your flight(s) back to Toronto for fills if you can show you were misled. The other thing you could do is advise them a complaint will be filed with the better business bureau. Hiring a lawyer can get to be pretty expensive but sometimes a letter from a solicitor to the company may give the clinic the incentive to make some sort of compensation. That is all I can suggest but I think you already know these suggestions. Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

carbonated drinks are not recommended by my clinic but some people drink them some do not. I do not. Various reasons are given. One given to me was "think of a bottle of pop, shake it and watch it explode". Although I don't really believe that happens, it was visual enough that I haven't touched a pop since. LOL

I live at the top of Lonsdale and was snowed in. There was no way I could make it either. The hills on both side of us are too steep. I don't know how many made the meeting.

whatever you decide will be the best answer for you and the fact there is so much information out there when you do make the decision you will feel without a doubt you made the right one. Good luck in your journey and keep posting your concerns or victories.

inuit: You must decide for yourself. Most bandsters are sold on their band because that was their choice. I suggest you go to a "gastric bypass" support meeting and listen. Then go to a "gastric band" support meeting and listen. For me the terrible things that happen to a gastric bypass patient scared the devil out of me so I went band. I attended a gastric bypass support meeting and one young girl was hospitalized and was near death when the doctors realized that all the estrogen stored in the fat was being released into her system. Apparently, estrogen is stored in fat. She was losing fat so quickly, that the body could not absorb fast enough. She lived to tell her story, but that story and others turned me away. At least with the band it is reversible but there are also sides affects. Good luck in your decision

Well said Carol although I can't agree with your last comment. People embarking on their journey should know some of the issues people face that are not so rosy. This gives them a good balance of knowledge. Things can go wrong, but the beauty of the band is that most or all can be corrected not like bypass. So....forge on, go into this with excitement and happiness that there will be an end to your obesity. And shame on those who have their 'warnings' and make this a scary venture for you. Good Luck. Carol