Doddie63

Hi: The best bet would be to call Dr. W's office and enquire how much it costs, the terms he would accept (all cash, visa part payment, etc) and the aftercare he provides. The overall costs are very important as to the financial end of the contract, but more importantly, the aftercare is a huge factor in making a decision. Also, if he charges a consultation fee, is it credited to the overall amount of the surgery. Also if you have not already done so, contact the other doctor in the area, Dr. Leung's office and of course there is the WLSC in Washington. I guess what I am saying, is to check each doctor out yourself. Good luck and as for me, would I do it again. You darn right I would.

You get what you pay for. When you start your research you find a variety of prices. If you go to Mexico it is cheaper than if you have the band in Canada. However, you must factor in the aftercare. Most websites will state they price and what they cover for aftercare. I was banded at the TLBC and aftercare is free. I have had my port repositioned at no cost and the fills are no cost. They also have good support groups, particularly if you are from the Toronto area. Depending of where you are from will also make a difference in your decision.

Hi: The next meeting is this Wednesday the 15th. Try the e mail address again. I made a typing error. The contact is canadagirl33@hotmail.com Hope to see you there.

Lions Gate Hospital 15th Street Entrance (Main) Conference Room A North Vancouver Go thru the main doors (coffe kiosk to your left as you enter) to the Gift shop straight ahead. Turn right and go thru the double doors down the short corridor. Turn right at the first corridor to Conf. Room A. Sometimes the conference room changes so be sure an register with Canadagirl33@hotmail.com to ensure you are in the loop. Time is 7:00 pm but Canadagirl is usually there about 6:30 pm waiting. The meeting usually breaks up at 8 ish. You can ask all those questions at the meeting as there are different ways such as claiming on your Income Tax if your doctor recommends the surgery (which mine did).

I don't see why not. I certainly would not mind. Why not come and find out. I would imagine most people love babies and would "coo coo" at him/her.

Dr. R.V. Woodhead 206 - 4515 Harvest Drive, Delta, BC V4K 4L1 phone 604 946-5500

Hi: Dr. Woodhead is young and his empathy is wonderful. He is a surgeon first and foremost and does not have a clinic, just his regular office. You become part and parcel of his practice. I just saw him yesterday and we talked that I was having problems with a 5.75 cc fill so he took out a .2 cc. In my opinion, although he did not put my band in, he has been my surgeon from the get go as I was referred to him by Dr. Yau in Toronto. Could I suggest you come to our support meeting on the 3rd Wednesay of each month at the Lions Gate Hospital and ask your questions. There are a variety of people, some went to Mexico, some to the USA, some went to Toronto and others to Dr. Leung or Dr. Woodhead. The meetings are informal and no cost. We just get together have some laughs and tell about our journies. Hope you can come. Dr. Leung is an older doctor nearing retirement and has very little bedside manners. I am told you either like him or don't. I find that I need a gentler person not someone jumping on my case if I have a bad week or two. I can only say what I have read on the net and I just couldn't chose a doctor that brusque. I also think he is training a younger doctor to take over when he retires.

tangotori: You will be very welcome. We are an informal group and everyone gets into the conversation. Sometimes, it can be very boistrous. I for one would love to meet you. Contact canadagirl@hotmail.com and ask to be put on the reminder list mainly because the hospital may change our room # or whatever. You will need to be keep abreast of the meetings.

kbf1. I have never heard of Dr. Wai. Where does he practice. Have you checked the Royal College of Surgeons website. Also, there is a website that rates doctors. I use it and it even lists my family GP. I agree with you about going south. You have to think of the future aftercare and with the currant economic mess, you have to ask yourself if you will be able to afford to go back to a long distant clinic. There are times you need to see the surgeon and a fill nurse just won't do. It costs me approx. 1,000 to fly back to my clinic but at the time there was no one else doing the gastric band privately so I chose a Canadian doctor over a foreign one. At least I am in my own country if something goes wrong our hospitals will take care of me.

Yes, there are times when you need the surgeon to review what is happening to you. Not everyone requires this, but I had to fly back to Toronto because my port flipped. They were unable to fill or defill through my port. Dr. Yau operated and corrected the port. There are other occasions as well such as band erosion (which is rare). If you have the money to fly/drive back to your surgeon no problem, but the currant financial mess may affect your financial standing. Then what do you do? A questiom to ask, if saving a few thousand going south is for you. I am not saying it isn't, just encouraging research into whether the saving is a prudent saving.

Babe there are lots of us around. If you join the BCWLS website you will find not only gastric bypass people in BC but also bandsters (as we call our selves). There is also a good website called Canadianlapbanders.com that is run by the TLBC clinic nurse but everyone is welcome to use it. You can find and receive many answer if you post there. Hope to see you at the meeting. Bring your questions, you will get a lot of viewpoints.

Much better said than mine Canadagirl. I sure hope together we have answered the questions to help her make a decision suitable for herself. I wasn't expecting to make the next few months meetings because the eye specialist told me I was legally blind for night driving but thank goodness there was a cancellation and I was moved up. Now can see find so hope to be there this month. I hope our little group continues to grow but am concerned about the new group taking most of our members. Sure hope not.

Hi: I go to Dr. Woodhead for my fills and very much like him. He does not have a clinic so your after care becomes part of his practise. I know some patients who belong to our support group and they feel he is OK. As for Dr. Leung, his patients either like him or dislike him. He is an excellent surgeon. He makes personal comments that can be hurtful. So if you don't like to have demeaning statements made to you by a doctor, then don't go to him. The most important thing you have to consider after picking the surgeon is the aftercare such as fills and defills. Dr. W. is young and Dr. Leung is close to retirement but I think he is training a doctor now. You should consider this aftercare will be required for the rest of your life. I am sending a copy of what questions to ask doctors/clinics prepared by a lady on the web. I think they are excellent. Hope they help. These are just a few of the questions that come to mind that are important in helping to make a decision in deciding which band surgeon and/or clinic to go with: · Is there a fee for consultation? · Are any of your staff at the clinic banded? · What other staff are available to patients such as dieticians, nutritionists, psychologists? o Is there a cost for their services? · Does the clinic have a website and a messageboard and or chatroom available for Lap Band potential patients to access? · What percentage of your bariatric clinic is devoted to lap band patients? · What is your medical education? · What experience in term of years and number of procedures do you have in lap band surgeries? · What experience do you have in performing revisions? · If you are a revision, what tests will you need to have done ahead of time to be sure you can have a lap band? · Do you have any statistics regarding your lap band practice and number of patients who have had slippages, band erosions or other complications? · What type of warranty comes with your lap band surgery? · What type of bands do they use and how do they determine the type and size? · Is there a pre-op diet you need to follow? o If so is there a cost involved? How much? · If I don't follow the pre op diet perfectly am I still allowed to get the surgery? · What tests and paperwork do I need to have done prior to being accepted for banding? o Is there any charge? How much? o What is the time span? · Is the surgery performed in the clinic or at the hospital? · In case of an emergency what is the procedure that is followed? · How soon after surgery can I go home? · What type of accreditation does your clinic have? · How do your operating rooms compare to those in a hospital if surgery is performed at the clinic? · Can you give me references from other patients I may talk to, especially those who are a revision from past weight loss surgery? · How long am I required to be in town before my surgery? · Is there a hotel that is recommended? o If so, is there a preferred rate at this hotel? o Is there a shuttle available from this hotel to clinic and back and how much does this cost? · Are my family members allowed to remain in the waiting room while I am in surgery or are they asked to leave until I am in the recovery room? · How long after I wake up can I go home? · What special medications will I need to purchase before hand? o Gas-x? liquid Calcium? chewable multi Vitamins? .... · How long would you recommend I take off work after surgery? · If I have a hernia do you fix this? o Is there an extra cost associated? · How long do I have to have a caregiver with me after surgery? · Is there someone I can hire to be my caregiver if I come alone? · Do you use latex? · Is there a deposit I have to pay to hold my surgery? o How much? o Is it refundable if I change my mind? · How must my final payment be made -- money order/visa/cheque? o Does it have to be in before my surgery or do I bring it with me on my surgery day? · If I have further questions may I contact you or your clinic with them? Even more important is follow up care: · What type of aftercare program does their clinic have? · What is covered in the cost of your surgery in regards to aftercare? · Is there an after hour phone number in case of an emergency or concern you encounter outside of normal business hours? o Is he/she available on call to answer or return your call? o Who responds to calls? · Do you have support groups available locally and in my area? · Is there a fee for any aftercare services? · How soon after surgery is your first fill usually? · What hours am I able to come in for fills and days? · How often between fills are you eligible for your next one? · How are the fills performed and are they with or without fluoroscopy? · Do you have to pay for your fills or are they covered in your surgery fee? o If they are not covered what is the fee? · If you live far away from the band clinic, do they have anyone local or closer to your home who is trained by the clinic to do your fills? o If so do you pay a fee to them and if so how much? · In case of complications post op, if you had a slippage or worse case scenario band erosion is any further surgery to remove the band covered or would you have to pay? · In case of a defective port or leak is the surgery to replace it covered in the lap band surgery cost? · In case of a defective lap band is it replaced at no cost to you the patient? · If you needed a new band for any reason such as the above or band leak, etc., is it replaced free of charge to you? o If not what type of cost would you be responsible for? · At the clinic does the surgeon do your follow up fills or fill nurses? o If nurses, what training do they have and can you meet them before committing to this surgery? · What criteria do they base your needing a fill or defill? · How long does it take when calling to book a fill does it take to get an appointment? · How much time is the fill nurse allotted to spend with you answering any questions or concerns also? · Are any of your staff at the clinic banded? · What other staff are available to help patients, i.e., dieticians, nutritionists, psychologists? o Is there a cost for their services? · Does the clinic have a website and a messageboard and or chatroom available for Lap Band patients to access? Then the obvious question is would I do it again. Yes, In a minute. The band has saved my life. Doddie

congratulations bandiva. You have reached your goal of weight now you have reached your goal to finish things and that includes maintainence. By running and proving to yourself you can finish things, your maintenance program should be a breeze.

Providing the port has not flipped, it is not a big issue to have a fill. Your choice of course but it is not difficult putting in the fill, the trick is to have the knowledge of how much to put in. As for the new support group, I will not be attending but will stick with the Lion's Gate group.

Can anyone give me the name of stores in the Seattle/Everett area that specializes in winter coats for plus sizes 4X or 5X? Thanks

Hi Carolyn: Ask away. What type of support do you need. Questions for what is happening now or may occur in the future. I am 65 and our problems may be similar.

Hi: What is your rush? If you follow the protocol of 3 oz hard protein every 3 waking hours plus exercise, you will lose weight. The usual is 1-2 lbs per week, but I only loose 2 lbs per month. It all adds up. My point is you got the band to help you live a normal lifestyle without dieting. My weighing the food and eating "hard" protein such as fish, chicken, beef etc. you not only should not be hungry but should also learn to know by eyeing the food if you have too much. We all take off weight differently, but denying yourself and going back on the 'dieting kick' doesn't compute until you h ave at least tried what your doctor has said you should do. I suspect you were given a schedule of what to eat when. After all that is said, my simple point is learn to eat healthy by smaller portions and better healthy choices and exercise. Good luck in your jouney

Hi: I go to Dr. W.for fills but had my band in Toronto. However, I like Dr. W very much. I also know a few of his patients that come to our support group and they say nice things about him. Once you have the surgery, you become his patient in the normal scheme of things. He doesn't have a clinic per sa. Most bandster have a lot of questions in the first year so attendance at our support group would be of great help or you could start your own. Just having someone in the same situation is a great help. You can claim your surgery on your Income Tax but BC Gov't doesn't give medical coverage on obesity surgery such as the band. Qualifying usually means you must have a BMI of 30 or over. Some doctors still insist 40 BMI is their benchmark. Other than that it is between you and your doctor. Pitfalls are not following the rules of eating and the severe consequences that can occur. Like any major proceedures there are pitfalls and the one most seem to have is vomiting because of not chewing the food or having too much fill. Vomiting occasionally is not considered very serious but on a daily basis you can get stomach erosion, band slippage. I have a great deal of difficulty remembering to chew my food and at the moment have been going thru a bad patch of vomiting. When this happens, I take a Protein drink for a few days to let the stomach settle down then go back on solids very slowly and in small amounts. Any material you wish me to send to you, just e mail me and I will send what I have. Good luck

mom2 very exciting news. If you can't make the meetings, and need support just e mail me. Dr. W. does the surgery, and has you back to see him but he doesn't really have a supporting clinic. So if you need literature on what to eat and how much, I can scan what I have and send to you. Going it alone for the first while can be scarey as you don't know what to expect. Take care and congratulations on both the twins and your upcoming surgery.

Can anyone in the Seattle/Everett area give me the name of stores that specializes in plus sized as large as 4X or 5X. I am looking for a winter coat for my sister and live in British Columbia but can travel to the USA.

What happened to the origanal post thread about a fish recipe? Guess I am posting for the sake of posting but could not help seeing the irony. LOL

Whoopee! Saw you at the meeting last night and really happy for you. If there is anything at all I can help you with just call. When do you go on the pre op diet? What type of pre op diet are you being put on? Did Dr. W. explain what you are trying to accomplish with the pre op? Any question if I can't answer, I am sure someone else will read the post and chime in.

Hi: For anyone interested the support group will have its meeting at the Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver on the 17th of September at 7:00 - 8 ish. Conference Room A. There will be someone there at 6:30 pm if you arrive early. The main entrance is off 15th. Walk towards the gift shop turn right and go thru two double doors. Take the first corridor down the hall to the right to Conf. Rm A.