Doddie63

providing you have left over funds to use. With the economy just another factor to consider.

I have a friend that had the bypass and has now has the lapband because her pouch expanded to the point that it had the same volume capacity of her whole stomach. With the band, not only is it reversible, but if your pouch stretches, in most cases, the removal of fill can allow the pouch to return to a normal capacity. The bypass is considered by the medical profession as the "gold standard" for WLS but in my respectful opinion the lapband is equal to or better. People gain back weight whether they have bypass or band IF they eat high calorie foods. Nothing short of removing the stomach is going to stop a person from gaining weight if they sabatogue themselves. It takes effort to lose and maintain weight, the WLS is the tool that makes it a bit easier. Research carefully before making your choice.

Ditto for me too. I go to a lapband surgeon here and he charges me $80.00 for a visit. He no longer takes other surgeons' patients but I was lucky. Now my clinic has a fill doctor here but I am not interested in leaving my surgeon. Now, I try to help others just starting out by reminding them that having the surgery is just the start. There is the more important aspect of aftercare. Merry Christmas and a very good New Year

Well said Mary. Maybe you and I should start a turtle club because I believe there are others that are slow losers but still loving the control the band gives them.

Yes, get everything in writing. A contract is a must. I didn't and the clinic has been very good and honouring their verbal contract with me, but times are a changing so I would suggest you get everything in a contract such as band replacement warrantee, fills, port relocation or adjustment, etc.

Gosh! Darn! your first paragraph is an exact description of what I went through. And I thought I was the only one. I actually believed that no one else was having long distance problems. Thanks for posting if for no other reason, you made me feel like I am not alone.

Must be all that high energy foot stompin fun you all have there.

If you haven't already done so, be sure you do a thorough research of not only where to have the band but the aftercare as well. Fills are not the only thing you should be aware of. For instance, some posts have shown ER doctors are not aware of the band and will tell you to go back to your surgeon. Or the port has flipped. The Canadain Medical does cover you for emergencies though. Talk to your GP and see what knowledge they have and how they would be able to help including doing fills. I have a list of questions that another bandster composed and would be willing to send it to you if you wish.

Properly adjusted the band puts you on an even playing field. Seeing "1 cup" of food per meal seems awfully small but with the band, it is more than enough. If you notice what "normal" people eat, most do not eat more than a cup of food. The other secret is the eating Protein every three hours. Protein keeps the feeling of fullness longer. That said, you must still eat less calories than what you expend in order to lose weight. We know we all can do that, as we have done it numerous time. When the band really starts to do its job is to sharply remind you that you are full. You ignore the feeling at your peril as you probably will get severe pain and vomit. I have had the band almost two years now and lost a bit of weight, but I love the reminder it gives me that I have had enough. Never in my life , do I know the feeling of being full. Now I do. Nor do i feel guilty if I have an evening out with friends and eat high calorie foods. Life for me is now normal and I love it. Good luck in your decision.

welcome to the group and congratualtions on your upcoming surgery. If you are referring to my statement, I was referring to "Twirl". I printed her post with her name, or are you referring to someone else?

Twirl it sounds to me like you are panicking because you are not sufficiently educated by your clinic as to what to expect. The band is a tool and you must make every effort to learn how to live with it including learning to take small sips or drinks. However, we can't help you, that must be done through your doctor. If you are thinking of having the band out, it sounds to me like you are fighting having to give up your old habits and probably was not ready for the regime the band imposes. You must go back to your doctor and talk to him/her.

Twirl: I am confused! Didn't your doctor/clinic give you prescribed diets to follow. For instance, I was on clear fluids , then fluids, then mushies then real food. Yes, it should get better as time goes on, but I would suggest you call your doctor for further discussions on what to and what not to eat and how to eat. Most of us have been taught to eat not more than 1 cup of food per meal and to have hard protein every three hours when on solids. Take extremely small bites and chew anywhere from 22 to 30 times until the food is watery in your mouth then swallow. It should take you 20 minutes to complete a meal. Everyone is different, but I was told to abstain from any "white" food such as bread, potoatoes, rice, etc. because these foods do not pass thru from the pouch to the stomach very easy. As I said, please return to your clinic and ask for instructions, which they should have given you at the time of discharge.

Very simple, you have a wonderful doctor. Some doctors do not consider the CD as training nor do their assocations. My doctor said he would then backtracked. Also, support is not 100% fills. Support is being able to get answers to worries or questions ASAP. As the band is a new experience, I had some concerns in the first year. Now I am a bit more comfortable and we have an established support group things have gotten better. The fact Slimband staff did not consider travel costs and just cancelled the fill appointments is a classic problem I went through. They did a blanket cancellation with no thought to the expenses long distant travellers must pay. All though all the staff are very nice there just seems to be a lack of communications between each other. Hopefully, things will improve as this new group get themselves organized.

Sigh........! Welcome to the long distance client list of unhappiness. I don't know what the problems are with TLBC dealing with long distance patients, but it has been going on since I had my band. They just can't get their head around the fact that just to get to Toronto the bills can amount up to huge amounts or simply they don't care. I really thought with the latest round of new executives things would pick up but I continue to read stories like yours and I give my head a shake. Too bad because I continue to think Dr. Yau is one great surgeon. Sure hope you have good success with your fill but a reminder to take fills slow and easy. Take a read of Peter's posting on the canadianlapbanders about overfilling. Very interesting informatin.

Hi: Congratulations BUT take your first solid foods nice and easy and feel your way along. Don't be afraid, just go slowly. Don't forget, you haven't had solids for some time and even without the band, you would have to reintroduce solids slowly. Good luck and hope to see you next week.

10 lbs a month. WOW! That is over the prescribed 1-2 lbs per week or 8 lbs per month. You are doing really great. If you want slow turtle, take a look at my record. According to Fit day, I am losing .32 lbs per week, but gosh darn it all adds up.

The question to tell or not, gets less and less important as the weight comes off. Your self esteem goes up, your medications go down, your life is brighter as you get into small clothes and all the other NSVs. It is funny when I quick smoking, I found that when I told people they seemed to push smokes my way. When I told people I had the band, they pushed food my way or made snide comments. Now that doesn't happen when I say with confidence no thanks and give no explanation. My small point being made is - why do we feel we need to give any explanation but we do? As someone posted, when people comment on her weight loss she smiles and replies "Thank you".

Dr. Leung or Dr. R. Woodhead Both doctors are out in the Ladnery Delta area Dr. Woodhead 206 - 4515 Harvest Dr., Delta Phone 604 946 6500 Dr. Leung you will have to look in the telephone book unless once of his patients post.

It is true Marivan She now talks to me but if I so much as mention anything to do with the band such as what amount I can or cannot eat when at her hourse, she clams up and pouts the whole time I am there. I walk on hot coals all the time. So be it.....her problem not mine.. I am happy. As for telling, it is nobodies business period. You must base your decisions on what you feel is "the need to know" rule.

Why tell them anything? If you are applying for vacation time, then you are away on vacaton time, period. If the curious ask where you are going, simply say you will be at home. Personally, I made no secret of what I was doing and it gave me nothing but misery. My obese sister didn't speak to me for roughly a year and a few of my friends stopped asking me out to a restaurant meal or said outright I had taken the easy way out. So becareful to whom you give the details out. Sorry to be so bleak.

Karen Congratulations on 100 and I am happy you had a great TG day. Linnylou - meet the turtle. I lose 1/2 lbs per week and have been on a plateau for 3 months. As we get older, we require less food and the weight is harder to come off, but believe me it does come off with careful control of your solid proteins, etc. There are many of us that lose slowly but all it means, it takes us longer to meet our goals. But isn't it wonderful to step on the scales and not show a weight gain or even a slight loss. This I do know, the band prevents me from overeating. Good luck on your journey.

go to LapbandTalk.com main page and scroll down until you fnd the forum LBT Forum Suggestions, Feedback and Questions. Then look for PhotoNut's post. These are excellent instructions that I printed out and use all the time.

Look on the website for Mexican clinics in particular a Dr. Ortiz that everyone that goes there seems to like. Again, check out the after care

congratulations on taking another step towards a better life. I have a list of suggested questions to ask that was posted by another bandster. If you would like me to post them just let me know.

Hi: Here is what your requested http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BC-WLS/files/BC-WLS%20Mod%20Squad%20Files/%22Getting%20Started%22%20Files/