Doddie63

Sent you a private e mail with her last name. Jill (at TLBC) works part time or at least she was when I met her last Feb. She is very busy now with 12 long distance patients she is helping with nutrion and support. I don't think the CIBO Jill is ours as I just spoke to our Jill Tues.

Try drinking a bit of warm water just before you breakfast. That usually relaxes the stomach muscles. It is usually the way for most bandster. The other thing is are your bites too large and are you chewing them to "mush" before swallowing. Too large a bite and the natural swallowing takes place before he food is broken down. If you are feeling pain by all means contact the clinic and go down 1/2 cc for awhile until you get your eating down. I have been trying to retrain myself to chew properly so have kept my fill level at 5 ccs in a Midband and am not in a hurry to have it tighter. After all, I have the rest of my life, don't you.

I love this site. My link is the Canada link. What I would love to see is for you to make your own "ticker" section. I find going to another webpage and trying to transfer it to my profile and signature really awkward. Unless of course maybe Ticker factory has a patent.

TLBC only has the one doctor at this time, but I am sure they are activley looking for one. I agree with the comments above that I would steer people to either the TLBC or the SWLC basedon my knowledge. As I have no knowledge of the new clinic, I will reserve my opinion. Their doctor at the moment is a physician from Sask. but I don't know of her background.

excellent article. Should be reqired reading for all bandsters. I really don't know why we find ourselves in the position of "explaining" about the band. Sometimes I think it is the person asking the question that doesn't want an obese person to succeed. In reality, they just are interested in what the band is and their questions are insensitive but I don't think they set out to be mean. I answer these people with "yes, I have the tool to help me loose weight but more importantly, it is going to help me keep it off. I find taking off weight easy it is the keeping off that is the problem. The band will do that for me". Works for me.

competition grows in the laproscopic band world. CIBO has now opened in Toronto with a TLBC ex employee Doddie

The site looks professional. Will have to see how it holds up to scrutiny. Doddie

Nisrine! interesting. What is the name of the clinic Doddie

Glad to hear things are working out OK for the both of you. I am feeling very rejunevated this morning. Jill called from the TLBC and we discussed a further fill and nutrition. She told me she has 12 out of province patients now. It is such a wonderful support offered by the Clinic. I feel so alone as I cope with learning to live with the band. To find the right balance, etc and Jill calling once a month takes all that away. I write this in case someone is reading this link and is not aware of TLBC attempts to keep in touch with out of province patients. Doddie

Hi: I was born and raisedin SK but now live in BC. Before deciding on Mexico, ask yourself this question. What will I do for my after care? Fills (in my view) are more important than the actual surgery. Where will you get filled and defilled? Some Canadian Clinics will not take patients that have gone outside of the country and only treat their own patients. Also, with the border difficulties where will you get emergency treatment if the band slips and it needs replacing. Travel Health Insurance in the future. Can you afford to pay up front hospital coverage. Some insurance co. only reimburse and don't forget their clause "any pre existing condition". they won't pay if they can avoid it. So my point to all is "consider staying in Canada" even if it costs a bit more. You get the free support after. I went to the TLBC in Toronto (Dr Yau introduced the band to Canada) and I get free support including replacing the band if it leaks or slips. The support offered by the clinic such as a dietician is free. A Bandster above said they went to Dr. Cobourne excellent, I went to Dr. Yau excellent and there are a number of clinics in Alberta. Hope I have given you some food for thought. Doddie

Good to hear your news Peaches. I sure hope it turns out OK. When do you go back to have the saline tested? Doddie

Ah, Green. I feel for you. Yes that is one of the complications we are aware of when we make the decision but all hope we won't be one of the statistics. I sure hope the band has not slipped and you don't require surgery but if it is necessary then I guess you have very little choice. Do you have any idea how the band may have slipped. Your experience may help the rest of us. Doddie.

Probably from the surgery, you became dehydrated. Just keep sipping on the water. Sometimes if you sip on some tea or other clear fluid it might help. Also, the chicken broth is usually salty, if that is the case, dilute it and drink more of it. You can also suck on ice that too will help. If you post on the CanadianLapbanders, someone will give you ideas that I am not aware of. Doddie

Anne Elliott How are you doing today? Are the fluids a bit better to get down? Doddie

Hi Iwood: I have marked your Jan. 17 date on my calender I will be thinking of you. Keep in touch.

Oh forgot. The CanadianLapBanders.com is run by Nancy of the TLBC. You may want to join that as most TLBC patients subscribe along with Dr. Cobourne(sp?) patients. Doddie

No Anne Elliott: You are on Clear liquids for a few days. You hopefully were given a chart to follow. Clear fluid, for a few days then full fluids then soft mushies, then taking your time and experiementing with full food. I can't stress enough that you err on the side of caution to allow your band to heal. Even if you feel like eating, please don't break Dr. Yau's instructions. If you have any doubt whatsoever, call the head nurse on the 1-800 number and ask you questions. They are very good at responding. These questions are asked many times over but they treat you like they have never been asked before. Keep in touch. Doddie

No problem Canadagirl. I so want these support meetings to succeed as they are very important. Everyone needs human contact. The e mail is great, doctor visits are great, but to actually talk to someone going thru the same experiences can't be explained. Hope everyone makes it. Doddie

You have told it much better than me although our message was the same. All you have to tell you boss is you have a "medical procedure and need time off" However to lie is not good as all lies are eventually discovered. Better to stay silent and give only the information the law requires. Doddie

Anne Elliott: thinking about you as you are today recovering from your surgery. Well come to bandland. The wonderful world of a normal life. Doddie

BC BANDSTERS: NEXT MEETING AT THE LIONS GATE HOSPITAL. The meeting room has been changed due to the expansion construction. The meeting on January 16th and February 20th will now be in the 5th floor boardroom. To get there take an elevator (by the 13th street entrance) up to the 5th floor. Turn right off the elevator. The meeting room is straight ahead with the door to the left. Hope to see you all there Doddie

NEXT MEETING AT THE LIONS GATE HOSITAL. THE MEETING ROOM HAS CHANGED. Here is the note emailed to me from CanadaGirl Due to the expansion of the hospital, we have had tomove a couple of your meetings to another room. Please advise your group the meetings on January 16th and February 20th will now be in the 5th floor boardroom. To get there take an elevator (by the 13th street entrance) up the the 5th floor. Turn right off the elevator. The meeting room is straight ahead with the door just to the left. Canada girl is posting on other sites but as I didn't see it on this one I am copying her directions. Hope to see you all Doddie,.

Telling or not tell that is the question most of us face. Whatever reason we choose, it is the right one. However just like telling one person your secret, it is no longer a secret, the same holds true to lying. Eventually you will be caught. Then your boss may think you are untrustworthy as if you would like for this reason what about what you do in his business place. I was a cashier at one time and came in short at the end of the day. I was mortified and said I would make it up. My boss said if you would put money in for being short, what would you do if you were over? So he accepted the loss and I always balanced after that. So if my advice means anything, tell the truth or keep silent. Doddie

It makes no difference if you have 200 lbs to loose or 50 lbs, the calories all count the same. It is true a larger body expends more calories per hour of exercise but not that much. So the only way to loose is to make sure that the calories taken in are less than the calories being used. Many people that are exercise gurus suffer joint issues that will affect them for the rest of their lives. They take on a fitness regime that not many could follow even if they wanted to. And yes they loose the weight but at what cost. So Donna D. what your pet dogs for the cardio, cut back on the intake and the weight will come off. Don't be impatient, you have the rest of your life. doddie.

Hi Donna On another site I told you I am loosing very slowly. Just to point out that there is a gentleman (TLBC patient) who had the band put on and never exercises. He is now at goal after loosing (I think) over 100 lbs. He has a spinal issue (can't spell the medical term) so he went into small meals with skim milk custard and jello between meals. So you can loose weight without exercising. Exercising is great for the well being, but not totally necessary in loosing weight. If you dislike exercise there is no way in "h..l" that you will do it consistantly so I would suggest you look at other ways. Hope this helps. Doddie.