Doddie63

welcome awella: I am 65, have the band for over a year now and I wouldn't trade it for any reason. I keep a loose fill 5.75ccs in a 10cc band and I can eat anything I wish. I track my daily intake and any type of exercise. My weekly saving of calories average out to 1500 a week, giving me a 2 lb loss per month. Small but it adds up and I like the freedom of not being on a diet. I just can't eat huge amounts anymore. Can't recommend the band highly enough, especially knowing it is reversible if I decide I don't want the healthy lifestyle any more. LOL

Just thought I would post my non scale victory (NSV) for anyone wondering what life is like after the band. I went away on a driving trip for a week. We ate every single day in the restaurant. My band kept me honest every single day and meal. I have a loose fill of 5.75 ccs in a 10 cc band and I was able to eat anything I desired including small amounts of a white bread roll. For the fun, I kept track of everything I ate and the quantities. When I arrived home I weighed myself and lost 1/2 lb. Oh so sweet. Normally I gain weight on driving trips. No matter what I may go thru with the band, I would never be without it.

sblue Good advice from a non bandster. You have to allow your body to heal and to slowly introduce yourself back to the proper foods. Until you are familiar with amounts, you should track and weigh all foods as well as your exercise. I use Fitday.com that is free. Having the band is simply a tool to add to your arsenal to lose weight and is not intended to be a foot race to meeting your goal. The intention is to assist you in changing your eatng habits and choices. It is not an easy road, you have to work at it. I vomited just yesterday because I chose to forget my doctors warning not to eat pasta. Dangerous lesson, but that is how my mind works. It is constantly trying to get me back into old eating patterns. So patients, keep posting when you have questions or simply want to vent your frustrations, someone will help you out. Good luck. Doddie :thumbup:

weirdspot. Hi seems Nancy has given you the best sensible basic advice you can receive. I would add that I can't exercise either. Knees, hips, etc from excessive weight over the years. And I have done all the diets there are known, and was successful, but always put it back on. Now that is where the band comes in. It helps prevent you putting it back on unless you make a concerted effort to sabatogue yourself. Exercise is simply moving. So chasing your grandchild around is very good exercise. Don't believe me, join the FitDay website and track your foods and execise. If you type in any household chore and the time, it will tell you the energy expended. I do not do any formal exercise - just walk and I have lost 2 lbs per month consistantly. Welcome to the club. Doddie :thumbup:

Hi: Just to say the NV support group meets this Wednesday in conf. room A. I won't be there as I am flying to Sask. See you next time.

clg. Sorry, from the last I heard, BC only approves gastric bypass for patients but to go privately, the gastric band is done by both Dr. Woodhead or Dr. Leung. Dr. Leung also does gastric bypass. Not sure about Dr. Woodhead. You definately should get a referral to Dr. Leung and see if you are a candidate for gastric bypass. Also, do a lot of research. One place to start is the BC WLS website. You could join and you will get advice from gastric by pass patients and bandsters. Good luck.

Hope to see you at the N.V support group every 3rd Wed. after you enter the world of bandster land. Good Luck.

Just want to post Dr. R. Woodhead is no longer giving fills to people who are not his patient. Saw him today and asked him to confirm what I had read on an earlier post. He said he would continue supporting patients he now has but will not take on new people. I suppose if a fill is required after long distant surgery, it would be a Calgary Clinic or a clinic in Washington State. Of course, there is your GP to ask as well.

Katie: You can get a lot of support subscribing to this link of Lapbandtalk.com. I live in BC, but some of the best advice i have received has been from bandsters all over the USA and Canada. What you have to remember this is not a weight race. You are using the band as a tool when you have healed properly. The reason fill is not put in the bad right away, is to allow scar tissue to develop around the band to hold it snugly in place. So patience should be your theme. Stay on the liquids, mushies regime until your doctor advises you to start whole foods. Then, eat wisely by practising only eating a cup of measured food. That way, when you get a fill, you will be in the routine. Good luck and keep on posting

Great idea, perhaps the band could be called a zipper as well

In answer to your question, I have had surgery on the abdomen as well, and I had no problem with the insertion of the band. My friend, just recently had a band inserted and she went thru gastric by pass a number of years ago. There should be no problem unless there is something wrong with the stomach such as ulcers.

:thumbup:Bella: Most of us that have posted have gone thru the gauntlet of emotions. All the way from excitement to fear of the unknown. One of the fears I had was not being able to eat my favorite foods ever agan. No worries, I eat them just less. Strange, but as time has gone on, I no long crave fatty foods. My biggest hurdle has been controlling my chewing. So I have kept a loose fill to allow the unchewed chunks to pass thru the band. Right up until you get on the OR table, you will be having thoughts. All I can say is remember why you are doing this and you will wake up wondering what all the fuss was about. Keep posting, love to hear how you are doing.

Thanks, I have been doing that but find there is such an array. About the only thing I have found out is that carbs turn to sugar which is a quick energy while protein is slower acting. Sort of like an engine, stoke with carbs and keep running with protein. My clinic has me emphasizing protein as the bulk of my one cup. To eat protein first then the veggies leaves me guessing as to which ones. Thanks again, I will concentrate on the less starchy veggies.

Dumb question BUT......what is low carb. Seems everything is or contains carb?

Very happy you have solved your problem but concerned about the kidney infection. Hopefully you won't be left with permanent kidney problems. Did Dr. W. find the problem or did you go to your GP?

Not in Vancouver unless you were banded by a clinic that provides support to your GP or provides only for their patients. However, if you go to the www.northwestfills.com site there are two nurses in Seattle that do fills and I understand they are very good. Or you could fly to Calgary and attend a clinic there. By posting for Alberta fill doctors someone will respond. I think Seattle is the best bet though. Hope this information helps.

Bandiva, congratulations on your success. There is hope for me yet, I guess. Had a bad day - was hungry a dinner time and gulped my food. Yep you all know the results. Will I ever learn, sigh!!! Bandiva you are an inspiration that our journey is varied and full of hard work. Again Congratuations.

Sharon Rose if you are looking for fill nurses, check out the Fill Management Northwest site. www.northwestfills.com Phone 425-512-4220 by appointment only.

Innotu congratulations and happy you are progressing well. I e mailed you earlier personally but thought I would congrats you here as well

Congratulatons. Now the journey begins. Be patient is the golden rule. Let your body heal inside and try not to rush .

The meetings are held at the Lions Gate Hospital every third Wednesday in Conference Room A. The main entrance is on 15th. Go thru the double doors toward the gift shop. Turn right and pass thru a double door. Go down the corridor a bit. The Library is on the left. Turn right and we are the first door on the right. Contact Canadagirl33@hotmail.com to be put on her reminder list. She will e mail if there are any changes.

Hi: Have you considere Northwest Fill Management 540 N. West Ave., Arlington, WA 98223 e mail kitty@northwestfills.com I know of no other doctor in the lowermainland that do fills except maybe for their own patients.

Yes. Check the website Northwestfills.com. Two nurses from Seattle do fills for out of state bandsters.

I am looking for a fill nurse in or close to Vancouver British Columbia that is willing to do a fill for any bandster irregardless of which clinic they were operated on. Doddie:help:

Sharon Rose Yes the meetings are still going on and we would love to see you. Doddie