neefam

and since we have all had obesity issues why would we continue to serve our kids pizza and MacDonalds and coke and chips and all that crap????

I want my band out. Am 6 years post. Quickly lost around 60 lbs after insertion and now back up 35. Live on the west coast and had minimal support out here and never really learned how to eat. Mostly live on sliders so I know it is my fault but don't like meat and PB on a lot of stuff so am just tired of it. Have to pay $100 for fills and defills and that is probably around $1500 or more now. Anyone know if I will have to pay for removal and if there is a SWLC Dr out here now.......Vancouver?

Name.............StartingWeight....Current.....Goal.........To Go neefam 238 189 158 31

can't locate the canadian lapbander yahoo group. do you have the address? thanks

I am shocked by how little you guys eat! I am one year out with a 60+ wt loss and I don't think I was ever that skimpy. And yet I realize that is the recommended dietary amounts. I wonder about health re so little fruit and veg. I know my bowel health is pretty screwed up since sx. I am enjoying following the thread and will take some time to get y head around it. Neef

I am getting nervous. I did badly on my preop optifast and lost zip. I am 2 months from surgery and have lost 22 lbs. 10 of that was in the initial fluid and soft diet phase so is to be expected. The other 12 lbs have been at over 6 weeks. Now I am happy with that but can't help but compare myself to the big losers. I know everyone is different and that I am on schedule but still..... I have had 2 fills and really am surprized to feel not much if any change. I will wait another week or so and go for #3. I don't want to keep thinking about food all the time. I just want to eat when I am hungry and feel satisfied. I am answering all my own questions and know what I have to do so forgive me for venting. Just wondering if others feel the same. Neef

I added instant coffee in the morning and it was good. Then I had vanilla with fruit in the magic bullet and ice of course....liked that to. Pm I had a chocolate microwaved and it was like hot chocolate...good. After a few days I did poorly on the optifast...I was on holidays with my family and bailed badly. Lost zip!!! My doc said it was ok because I didn't have as much weight to lose as some others........that made me feel better. Now I am selling off my optifast to someone in Toronto. Good luck, Neef

You need to reveiw. You are expected to lose 1-2 lb per week...you are above that for one month. Don't be so hard on yourself. Neef

What can we claim? Air fare, hotel, cabs , fills etc? Has anyone tried to claim on their private insurance? Thanks, Neef

I am in the business and work with surgeons every day. I am in no way minimizing their skill but stand by what I say....and as far as I am concerned I live in a free country and am entitled to my opinion. Our hospitals are funded by the government and work pretty darned well. You should check out "Sicko" by Michael Moore. If you were in an emergency situation you would end up in the hospital up the street with a plain old general surgeon who would know what to do and how to do it....in most cases. I suggest some of you lay off the video games too....just a suggestion. Cheers

I take a general multivitamin and cacium for bone health as is recommended for most folks. Also take the prescription pills my Dr orders.

Sooner or later the government will pay for WLS. I think $600 is not bad for a 1/2 hour procedure that is relatively uncomplicated and requires not a great deal of training to master, ususally provided by the manufacturer of the device. Our taxes will continue to pay the hospitals, DRs, nurses etc as it does now and has since 1948, thank goodness. With the increase in obesity in our society it is bound to happen. There will still be people who will pay to go to the front of the line and there will still be private clinics because they make alot of money. The public system will be for those who are in greater need and it will be first come first served. Lapband hasn't been around that long and the word is just starting to get out. People are going to demand it but it will take time. Many of us won't wait and lots of us simply can't afford it. Alberta is setting a precident this year by doing and paying for a 100 cases. Other will follow.....in time.

My surgery is Wednesday morning and I am feeling awful. I was supposed to be on optifast for 2 weeks preop and I failed miserably and lost zip. I know alot of folks who had the band and were never required to go on a preop diet so I am praying that the lapband will still help me and I am not a total failure. Words of wisdom people please? Neef

Is there anyone on the planet who did poorly on optifast? I am beating myself up the last couple of days because I am due for my surgery Wednesday morning and I lost zip on my 2 week optifast stage because I did NOT stick with it. I feel like a huge failure and that I can't possible succeed with a lapband if I can't even get thru 2 weeks of this...and it tasted good too. The hope I cling to is that some folk in the US had surgery without any preop diet, and they were still successful. Any comments or words of comfort? Neef

Hey Tansycoffeelady, Sorry..just found your enquiry. The SWLC has a fill nurse in Vancouver and one startng the end of June in Victoria.....thank goodness. Dr Coburn is visiting several cities out west as of June 23 and setting up other fill folk....so i hear. Neef

7/11/07. How lucky is that? I found out about the band while looking for diets..again....didn't know it existed. I think it was devine intervention and I thank God. I am paying $16,000 (Canadian). I am flying from the west coast to Toronto..in on the 10th , surgery on the 11th and home on the 13th. (Dr Coburn) I figure since I am 58 it is now or never and I am doomed of I don't lose the 80 or so lbs I need to. To heck with the money. Since I received my date I have been totally out of control and stuffing myself. Have gained 5-6 lbs. Today I said enough is enough. I am going on a hi protein low /carb plan until June 27 when I start my 2 week optifast regime.Then it is clear fluids to full fluids to mushies to solids. I gather each Dr. has their own system. Up here we have very little preop prep. Physical by family doc and bloodwork plus EKG. If they find a Hiatus hernia they repair it at the same time. I don't see the Dr. post op unless I want and a nurse in my hometown does the fills. I feel prepared but sort of in awe at the same time. I can't believe I will be "normal", dare I say slim? Good luck fellow Lucky 7's Neef

Hey Betsy Jane, I like the idea of making something like your drink and saving some $$. What is the recipe for your drink please? Neef

While unconscious you breath throught a tube placed in your mouth thru your vocal cords and into your trachea...hence the sore throat and squeaky voice is from some possible swelling in the area. it should pass soon. Hope that helps.