Doddie63

Peaches: I am taking my bootcamp by correspondence because I live in BC. Jill sends me the material then sets up a call schedule to check to see how I am doing. It is working well for me. Contact her and I am sure she will find a way to help you. Doddie

I wish you all the best in your journey. You can only decide what is best for you. I and others offer up negatives to inspire an individual to see all sides. That usually gets the best decision in the end for the individual. I certainly am not against going out of country as long as it meets your needs. I unfortuantely did not have the benefit of someone telling me about after care and for about six months I went thru a lot of emotional distress. Hindsight is wonderful. If I had known about the negatives of after care, my decision may have been different. Again God speed you in your journey. Doddie

sorry did not mean to imply veggies be cut out entirely. My point was many people look as salads as the rapid way to loose weight. It is not as some salads are higher to caloric count than hard protein. With the band as we cannot eat as much, 3 ozs of protein should be eaten first then go into the veggies, etc. Any room left the white stuff. By making protein your main choices you will stay full longer. Supplements can be taken to make up any shortfall in vitamins, calcium etc.

juney: I understand your frustration at not getting after care but at the same time you have to realize that banding is a business. The surgeons make their money on the surgery and the after care is included in the consult fee. Also, doctors do not like taking on patients they have not put the band on due to the warrantee coverage of the band. I had my band in Toronto and even then I found it next to impossible to get after care. I was finally taken on by Dr. Woodhead on a referral from Dr. Yau who knew each other. There are various opinions out there about the pros and cons of going out of country but seriously are you really saving money. If you go to the TLBC for instance you get tremendous support and the fills are free. The SWLC provides support and fills as well. The Mexican Hospitals have no connect with you after the fact unless you fly down to them. Where is the saving?

You are probably right, but why shouldn't people claim thousands and thousands of medical expenses if they are legit. For instance if you have a member of the family that is severely disabled. Just another instance where I think the CRA is unfair to the working stiffs. Doddie

I don't know what the max. is. I think you are entitled to claim all medical expenses and the CRA will reject or support. I wasn't aware there is a maximum medical expense figure? Doddie

veggies and fruits are deadly in that they change to starch and sugar which is quick energy, and protein stokes the muscles slower but longer. Hard protein is the only way to remain full for the required 4 hours with supplements. The other thing is loosing weight is personal. For the first time in my life, I do not equate eating with dieting. By following the nutrion plan set out by the clinic and trying to exercise consistantly I woke up one year later and found I had lost 60 lbs. On a month by month basis it was 4 lbs or less but when I totalled "wow" Happy person am I. So I will continue to plod along using the slogan "the turtle won the race". Doddie

I wrote and asked the TLBC and received back a letter from Dr. Yau stating it was a medically necessary procedure and I had the receipts as well. You can also claim mileage and parking in some instances. What I would suggest, is overkill. Contact your clinic and find out what they have to say. If you submit everything you can think off to document your surgery it is better than being rejected and having to start all over again. Doddie

Rose would suggest you contact the CRA and give them a ball park figur. They might give you a estimate. If not, there are companies that prepare income tax for lower income. They should be able to tell you. Hope this may help. Doddie

Yes Marcar. We will always have a desire to eat (head hunger) and have to manage our food intake. The band is the tool tht forces us to obey the 6 oz rule. If you are eating more than that, then you should enquire as to more fill. If you are eating junk easy to go down food then you may need a defill to allow you to eat the hard protein. I am at 5.5cc and can't eat more than 6 oz. at best, even junk food. So reevaluate what your habits are then go to the clinic and talk to Jill about getting into her boot camp. Have you seen the new TLBC website, it is great, but unfortuantely, many TLBC patients are not using it. Boot camp may be the answer. Contact the TLBC Doddie

Can your parents claim your expenses for the surgery, etc. If you are still living with them, rather than loose out, you maybe able to transfer to their income tax return. Just a thought. Doddie

Are you Canadian or American. If Canadian, I can hardly wait for my return. I wonder what it will be. Doddie

Hi: When people tell me "i have lost 60 lbs (or whatever) the old fashioned way" I give a big weary sigh and say, "been there done that so many times I have lost count. See me in a few years and tell me you have kept it off". Now I have the band that helps me never to feel hungry again so I know with this tool I won't put it back on. The person looks at me and sadly agrees. The statistic prove weight loss is alway put back on and more so.Although I lost my sister when telling her, I still tell anyone that asks. I am so proud of the band and what it is doing for my life, I just want to share it. Most so called judgmental people are simply jealous and are talking about something they know nothing about. So keep it quiet if that is your wish, it is a personal choice and nobody faults you for doing it. I just hope I am helping someone get out of this horrible rut of gain and lose. I wish that on nobody. Doddie

SHORTGAL; Your postings are sooooooooooo right on. I sure hope a lot of people struggling read your messages. We are impatient, no doubt about it. When snacking, I wonder how many look at what they are doing at the time. Are they alone, sitting in front of a TV? Are the choices poor choices. For instance is the snack something you like as a soother that goes down smoothly or is it one you have to chew, chew, chew. Doddie

Can't argue with that, but it seems the Canucks and Oilers are a wee bit from those days. I wonder if anyone on these teams has the band. LOL Doddie

Welcome to bandland Donna. Glad all went well. doddie

:thumbup:Well said Ceradad. To each his own choice is my motto, but I love it when people speak out that obesity can be erradicated if the tools to help the obese are put out in the public eye. I tell anyone that asks about my weight loss. Yes I look them in the eye and tell them that there was something missing in the equation to my dieting and exercising. That was keeping it off. With the band that controls my hunger and the amount I can eat at any one time I am successfully meeting my goals. I am not ashamed of what I am doing. I was horribly ashamed of my huge weight as people looked at me with either disgust or pity. My self esteem was low, now I am proud. I want others in particular medical people to see that there is a way. I recently read a survey, that 1 out of 5 doctors can't look past the weight of the patient as a result many health issues are overlooked. So if my speaking out helps I am happy. Doddie

look under medical expenses. But for an oldster who is not wise in the way of the internet, I telephoned them. Took me a long time pushing buttons and hold please but eventually I got thru to someone who knew something about medical expenses. I love a live voice over eletronic surfing when it comes to money. Doddie

mommy: You can claim your surgery and expenses on your Canadian Income Tax. You need to keep a meticulous record and get a letter from your clinic that the obesity surgery was a requirement for better health. I called the CRA and they confirmed I could claim. Doddie

Go Vancouver Canucks Go

Denise: think of the pouch like a funnel. If you take water and pour it into a funnel the water flows easily into the stomach. Then take some small chunks of food and watch. The food will get stuck in the neck of the funnel. Thus like your pouch, it holding the well chewed food until it slips thru to the stomach but if there are any chunks, the food will not go thru as the food will stick in the small opening between the pouch and the stomach. So that is why we are told to chew, chew, chew until the food is mushie. Hope this helps Doddie

Maybe you can apply to the Sask Gov't for a refund. Doddie

Hi Rose: I wasn't invited into your conversation but I just wanted to say you are one beautiful lady and the fact you held you weight steady thru all your stresses shows how well you and the band are working together. Remember when you didn't have the band and you were understress. Need I say you would turn to food, this time you didn't. Your resolve is strong, now you just have to get moving again. Try my favorite saying (borrowed from AA) "Just for today I will exercise a very short time" and do it. The next day "just for today I will exercise 5 minutes more". I hope this little saying helps you it certainly is my favorite. Doddie

Thanks peaches. By posting the negatives, the prospective bandster can see pros and cons. Everyone likes to post the pros and there are untold stories out on the web about how great the band is and boy do I subscribe to that. BUT, I ran into difficulties because at the time there was very little posting about fills and the difficulties that can be encountered. My other point that seemed to get lost in the fray was you can be perfectly healthy travelling in a foreign country and have a serious incident of health concerning the band. Unless properly covered with insurance, the individual would have to pay up front. My points are well set out now it is up to the individual to read all posts and decide. Thanks for your private email. Doddie.

Ang my last word on this. I direct you and everyone else to the Graduate Bandster written by Jahroni who is considered a very knowledgable person entitled "you may end up an orphan" In it she explains why doctors won't take on other doctors and the complete maintance issue. Very interesting reading. Doddie