Doddie63

Hi fluffy: thanks you can be my sister bandster. I would like that very much. My brother is in hospital on the final stages of cancer so I have total empathy for what you went through. I know your sister would want you to be healthy and not go thru what she did. My sister is the last of my family. All have gone now so it hurts. I sent her an Easter Card with a message, hopefully, she will respond. Alex: I know how you are hurting at the eldest's reaction to your banding. Is there any way to get thru to her and find out why she is so hostile? May be she needs some counselling? Doddie

Hi: I contacted the fill nurse recommendeb by Dr. C and was refused flatly. She asked where I got her name so I told her the internet and there was no mention of having to be a Dr. C. patient. She replied "well there is". Doddie

Hi Susan: I could not agree more with you. That is the hardest part and I haven't learned it yet. Putting the knife and fork down while I chew is a habit I have to consciously think about. Good tip for the newbies. Doddie

Hi: Don't you wish. We are very lucky the fills are provided free at the clinic, cause if I had to fly back to To. and then pay the fill I couldn't do it. They are a busines to make money and I think it is only a matter of time before they start charging fees. Makes sense. However, paying for fills here (if you can find anyone) is a lot cheaper than flying to TO. My only WISH is that the TLBC would compile a list of fill nurses for Canada like Dr. Cobourne does. Hunting around asking is very difficult. Doddie

Hi Sorry forgot about the costs - Most in Canada around $16,000 plus any travel costs you may encounter. There is some income tax relief if you go private. If you wait for your medical insurance to pay you could wait years. Doddie

Hi Leslie Lee. Look no furher than your province of Alberta. Dr. Cobourn (sp?) in Toronto has trained a number of doctors from Alberta. If you watch your post, you will soon hear from bandsters from your area. There are only 3 doctors that band in BC and there is lengthy waits. I personally went to Toronto LBC (tlbc.ca) and recommend them very highly. Also, go to the Canadianlapbanders website. This site is very popular with bandsters who have been banded in Canada. There are over 900 members. You have to join (free) by answering questions you are interested or have been banded. You also are lucky to have doctors that do the fills as well wherein BC there are none unless you were banded by one of the BC doctors. Doddie

Hi: I was so thrilled at my decision to have a band, I told my sister. And her reaction shocked me. She cut off all contact with me, won't answer her e mail or her telephone. Told me I was taking the easy way out which we all know isn't the easiest but the last resort. So I say to all that you think carefully who you tell, for it may come back and bite you. Doddie

Hi: Like all of the posts, I am just two months after banding and I can eat anything. I get my first fill April 24th. However, I do have restriction if I take too large a bite and swallow without chew chew chewing the food. The pain and sliming is awlful and lasts about 15 minutes unless one pukes. I have learned to chew each bite at least 20 times and meat 35 times or more also to take small bites. So all of you waiting for your first fill, read the posts as to the symptons of feeling full or you will for sure have the PBs. Doddie

Hi: Unless you have more information on Dr. Tin, I would not be in a hurry to sign up. Suggest you call the College of Surgeons and Physicians and check if he is qualified. Saving a $1,000. would be meaningless if you had a botched up job or worse lost your life. Doddie

Hi delphine: Forgive you for what? welcome to bandster land. Loss of 51 lbs is great news. Know how you feel. Being out in Vanc. BC it is hard to tap into bandster from here. We don't have the support meetings that bandsters have in Toronto so I get my support from the web. Doddie

HI: Better consultation by telephone for outsiders. I recognize I was partially to blame. I did some research on the doctors what was a band, but I really didn't know the questions to ask when I telephoned to see about a banding date. I was asked "what questions to you have to ask of me". How would I know, all I know is I needed help and the band was the most plausible way to go. It would have been nice for someone to have said, OK this is what it will be like and this is what you can expect. I never heard of sliming until I read it on the post. Doddie

Hi: To each his own, but to me the TLBC is the best clinic around. I researched Montreal, Mexico, States and putting all the pieces together, I came up with the TLBC. As for the previous comments about "knockoffs" I believe the use of the word implies "cheap immitations" where the bands in Canada are all approved and meet certain needs. Just like there are medications that are similar, genetic ones are just as good as the originals but "knockoffs" can be inferior. Such is the case of a BC lady who used internet drugs and just recently died from their use. Doddie

Jack: Wot's happen. Am I reading the figures right? You are up. Anything we can do to help????? or are you just having a bad hair day. doddie

Welcome aboard Mr. Yoda. Get your own computer or laptop. They are like cars, everyone wants it at the same time. Doddie

Thanks Atrotoes and Mandi your pictures are great. Someday for me sigh.........! Doddie

Hi Argon: Thought you would like to know (probably too late) but Vancouver is advertising for entry level 800 new technicians for the computer world. Probably because there is no place to live unless you are a very high income earner. Us pensioners are starting to feel the pinch of high real estate. Think you made the right decision on heading east. Lovely place to live we visited the east coast a few years back and loved every minute. How are you making out in your new apartment. Doddie

Chester-girl. You may have read my post where I told my sister and the extreme reaction I got. The only advice I can give you is "if they ask be up front and tell them". If they don't ask, carry on as if life is normal. If people see you are loosing weight they will just think you are on another diet which you are. Why do they have to know you have the wonderful band as a tool. Doddie

Welcome to the PBs as I have been told. I have had two episodes of what you described and I hope I never experience it again. I have been chew, chew and chewing everything to smitherines. I haven't had a fill yet and am looking forward to it but in the meantime, I tell myself I am practising changing my eating habits for the big moment. Never want to feel that PB again. Doddie

Hi: It must have been a shock to be diagnosed with diabetes after you lost a lot of weight, but thin and overweight people have diabetes. As your doc. said you are probably predisposed to come down with it. I have Diabetes Type II have had for a number of years. If you want to keep the meds down the best way is exercise and diet. The more exerecise you have the easier it is to control your diabetes. Thirty minutes a day is the best. Doddie

Alex and Dave as I said to Dave best wishes to you both and in my mind, you are both doing the right thing. When you post diet gets to you a bit, just think of all the good things to come.Doddie

Yodda: You made my day. I love you. I was told that if I dared to drink a caffeine diet pepsi, I would burst my band. The anology was "shake up a pop and watch it explode". I have been terrified but I do miss my diet pepsi. I thought if I opened one and left it to sit for awhile, maybe I would be OK but was to afraid to even try that. Now I will try it in moderation of course. Thankyou. PS: I accept the comment about the back problem. I can believe that as Dr. Joffe is an extremely overworked surgeon.

Try ordering an appetizer only with one small glass of wine. As the rest of the group will be ordering meals, you shouldn't be looked upon critically by the staff.

Hi: I found a list of adjustment doctors put out by Dr. Cobourn's office. For Vancouver it is Romona Ramov, 1080 Howe St., #505, Vancouver V6Z2T1 e mail paulschol@hotmail.com. I have e mailed and am waiting for a reply. Does anyone use this person????

Hi Andrew: I telephone Blue Cross and they told me and resounding "NO". If you are successful let me know. I will be in your cheering section. Doddie

Susansilver don't worry about it. If you don't have a blender the magic bullet will work fine. It may not do everything, but it is only for a few weeks until you are back on solids. As for the blender idea, I think it is terrific and I am going to try it. Doddie