Doddie63

Hi: Post what you are thinking on the BCWLS group website. There are a group of individuals that are in fact fighting the BC Government to support all obesity surgery. They have (I believe) had an interview by the Health Minister but I have lost touch and not sure where they are in the negotiations.

Relax Karinlin. One day isn't going to break the bank, besides turkey and veggies are a great diet food and the band will prevent you from over indulging. Make good choices and enjoy yourself. If the odd choice is not so good the world isn't coming to an end. Having a family around you is the bonus. Congratulations on your goal of 100 lbs.

Absolutely right on Jane, so...........why didn't they do it?

Congratulations Vangirl and welcome to the start of a journey that will give you a better, healthier life. I am so sorry for your pain and hope you don't have to experience it too long.

Jane, I hear you and agree somewhat with what you are saying but I disagree on the comment "none of my business". Sorry but in fact it is. I paid for aftercare and I should have been advised that Jill had left and been introduced to the new person. I was not instead it was kept quiet. I have had nothing but problems communicating with the staff since day one. Jill and the head nurse were the only ones that responded in a timely manner with solutions. I also will say that on Jill's first day while waiting for the Manager took the time to go over my menu and explain to me what I could do better. It also was Jill who set up the remote boot camp. No one else made any attempt. I also recommended the clinic to a friend. Unfortunately she too has had nothing but problems with the staff not communicating. I also add that after 40 years of business and hiring over 200 people, I think I can claim I have the experience to know a good employee when I see one. Again I hear what you are saying that a business is not required to give explanations, but most successful business will introduce the new employee by way of news releases. Silence only creates a cover up scenario. Oh, I did communicate with Jill (thanks to someone sending me her e mail address). All the clinic had to say was Jill had moved on and this "person" is replacing her. Nothing more need being said.

It depends on your weight and whether or not your doctor determines the liver should be reduced making surgery easier. I found making my own shakes the best. If you have a good blender there are a lot of receipes. Also, there a drink called 'glucerna' that is a protein drink made for diabetics that too is great. And Katru...what is next is up to you. Take your time and heal first getting yourself on some exercise routine. Don't rush your fills. I found that I got my restriction some two or three weeks after a fill. As I fail to chew properly I keep a loose fill of 5.5. I tried 5.75 and was vomiting so frequently I went back to 5.5. So be patient and get to live with your band. You probably have some restriction now but as you are eating mushies, it is sliding straight thru from the pouch to the stomach. When you start hard protein and if you don't chew, I quarantee you will feel it. Hope to see you at the support meeting.

I agree with you, WestJet is very accommodating. If asked, they will leave the next seat empty and only filling it as a last resort. I asked numerous time and only once did I have someone next to me because the plane was full. It stands to reason they would consider the comfort of the passenger that has to sit next to us as well as our comfort, just as we are acutely aware of the difficulties. The court case would not have been necessary, if Air Canada and others had taken the same apporach.

Thanks, my doctor picked the 180 mark. I really feel he felt I would never reach it, but I got news for him. You are really doing well. As you said, come hell or high water we will make our goals. We will always fight the weight, but with the band, it is a hard stopper to bring us back on line. Something we never had before. Someday the medical profession will realize that obesity is not always caused by overeating. Most of us do twice the exercise of a regular weigh person yet the weight barely moves. Well at least the Canadian Supreme Court has recognized weight for what it is a handicap. Wishing you well on your journe.

you certainly will be fit because you have such a great goal. As for my comments, don't apologize, I just go off on a tangent when I think of how many times I have been discrimated against. My most remembred was a dolt of a man looking up at me as I boarded and said "everybody off, plane overload". Although I am on my way to a smaller me, I haven't lost my passion of thinking of others that are struggling because they don't have the money for a band, or whatever reason. Anyway, I know you will reach your goal.

Marivan: I sure hope they live up to their committment. I have never abused the fills due to the long distance I am from the clinic. But I would like to have coverage if my band needs replacing or removed. I shudder for the individuals that only get 3 years coverage. Who covers the cost of a band replacement? Do they have to pay the $16 K again? I already had my port adjusted free and there is very little information out about when and if a replacement is required in ones lifetime. I am 65, so it is not too important, but what if you are in the 20 or 30's. When lifetime was guranteed, I never thought of the future but now if I were to do this again, I would insist on a contract for life that would replace the band free. As for Jill, with her qualifications she will be a breeze in for any position she likes. She also has/had her own business as she is not only a nutritionist but also a trained chef. I wish her well and "slimaband" has screwed up big time by loosing her. Any business world I was in before retirement made every effort to entice good employees to remain on staff.

Hi Marivan. I wasn't thinking of you because you indicated you are comfortable with the seats. I mentioned this for others who are not aware of the judgment and yes, I believe the airlines will do everything possible to avoid following what is set out but, at least we have a bit of recognition in Canada that obesity is not "just our fault" but many factors are involved. Besides, my position is no matter who is at fault, the immediate needs are what is important. If one has to get home for an emergency for instance, they have to get there somehow and can't be expected to lose 100+ lbs overnight. The transportation companies have to make allowances for that now which is great.

Vangirl. Please try to keep an open mind as to your weight loss. In all probability your body is trying to compensate for the weight loss by retaining water. I think some call it starvation mode. For what it is worth, I am a scale nut. I found that by weighing myself everyday and charting my weight of ups and downs, I learned what was happening. If I ate high calorie foods and showed some gain I know I have to settle down and eat hard protein as prescribed by my clinic and stay off the "goodies". If I showed a gain and I knew I was doing everything right, then it was a water gain. Eventually, I have come to know my cycle and don't panic or get discouraged. Others never want to step on a scale or diet. You will have to determine what is the best for you. All I am trying to say, is work on learning your body rather than give in to being upset at every gain. I wish you the best in your journey and if you keep posting there is always someone who has been through what you are experiencing and be able to help.

You have to join then you can pick and choose the topics you are interested in. e mails are then sent when something or someone shows an interest. The trick is to figure out how to get back to the site. It is not an easy site to navigate. I find myself cursing as I try to find a previous topic.

good for you, love to see it. Have you heard the news about obesity being classified as a handicap by the Supreme Cour of Canada. Will be interested to see how the airlines wiggle out of this one.

please post any news you get for the rest of us.

congratulations on your NSV and what a wonderful attitude. As I travel a lot, I know that you will also be more comfortable in the plane seat. Well done and let us know what you decide on for an outfit for the event.

Until the clinic (now slimband, I think) starts giving some explanations as to what is happening in that organization, I truly cannot give my reference to anyone thinking of banding. I gave a reference to a lady in Vancouver and she has had nothing but difficulty which put me in a pretty embarrasing position. Dr. Yau in my opinion is still the surgeon I would recommend, but it appears the supporting management are letting him down.

Hi: Never apologize for having fun. I find playing computer games makes my time go so much faster and I never think of the refrigerator or snacks. When watching TV food is all I think about. I find the stats interesting that the "gaming world" are now starting to realize that women make up over 50% of gamers. Hey, if I can have fun while loosing weight, what do I care if someone thinks I am having a second childhood. :laugh:

Extremely difficult to navigate. If you find the right area you are interested in the information is good. I find it very difficult to delete or edit post which one should be able to do.

Thank you for this post. My heart sank when I read that Jill has left as she was a tremendous help to me on my start of a journey that is still going on. I have lost 77 lbs and continue at a slow pace, but it was Jill that telephoned me monthly to give me support and sent me literature on the boot camp so I could do it by correspondence. I have suspected for some time there is tension in the TLBC camp and I wonder about its future.

Dr. Ortiz in Mexico, I have read is excellent, so are the surgeons in Canada such as Dr. Woodhead, Dr. Yau, etc. As the above posters have stated really, really do your homework on surgeons and aftercare. Not now but in the future. Can you afford to fly or drive to your destination not only for fills but for surgery correcting port location, slipped band, band erosion, etc. and simply consultations on concerns about the band. When you are satisfied you have checked everything out, then you can make an informed decision. I will add, I would not trade the band in for anything. When I start to slip back into old habits, the band brings me up short. Good luck

Hi: Just call them and have an appointment made to see Dr. Yau. Living in BC, I never made an appointment with Dr. Yau and saw him just before going in for the surgery. However, I think you are very wise to see him. What other surgery do we go through that we don't get to meet and discuss our surgery with the surgeon. I would suggest you write out your questions to ask

myslimband.com

I wonder if doctors making the recommendation for gastric bypass (the golden rule of weight loss surgery,so they say) would still recommend bypass if they saw the statistics for both the gastric bypass and the lapband. I think they would find not only is the band reversible, but the success rate is equal to or better with a lot less side effects. Time they updated their knowledge base

Phone the clinic and see if there is an emergency number in the recorded message. Also, as long as you are getting down fluids can you not wait until Monday to see the fill nurse? If you are not getting down fluids perhaps you should go to emergency and they will call Dr. Yau. Sorry you are not feeling well hope you improve soon.