Michee

Hey Andree It looks like your research is really coming together. This time last year we were thinking about band surgery, now we are booking tummy tucks. This is an exciting, awesome, (expensive) journey!!

Hi Doddie I tried that URL but apparently it doesnt exist! Could it be .ca, .org, .net ?

Not sure about Nova Scotia, but here in Ontario a friend of mine was approved for Gastric bypass, but the wait list was 5 years. She ended up travelling to Rochester New York. OHIP covered the actual surgery because she had a doctors letter stating that she could not wait the 5 years due to co morbidities. The surgery was not free to her, as she paid for her own travel and that of a companion/caregiver, plus hotels and meals for both. She did this several times, some pre-op, of course during the surgery and then post op visits. Also if she has complications the doc recommended that she go back and see him. Including extra time off work, due to travelling to Rochester, it ended up costing her about $6000.00. For sure it was cheaper than the 16k I paid last summer. Good luck with your research and your decision, I am sure you will do whatever is best for you! PS I am extremely happy with my band, despite the debt!

I did not know I had a HH until I woke up from my band surg, and doc told me that he found an HH and repaired it. Apparently it is very common in the obese. Doc said about 50% of lapband surgeries, he ends up doing an HH repair. My recovery was smooth. Surg on Wed, walked the dog on Thurs morning (slow short walk) getting a mani and pedi at the spa by friday. It was kind of fabulous, because I did not want to tell about my band, so I told people I had a HH repair, and I was not lying, it also explains the scars.

My trainer recently had me do my rep really really slowly and really concentrate and isolate the muscle that I am working. It was super hard......in fact I went down to 3 pound weights for some exercises that I was able to do 12 pound weights when I was going at a moderate pace. Wierd huh? who would have thought?

SEX No port does not get in the way during sex, trust me it is the last thing I am thinking about. In terms of the scar, I have a long standing booty friend (I am talking 10 years) I just told him it was from a hiatal hernia repair. This partly true, since the doc did a hiatal hernia repair at the same time. TMI - I recently got a full brazilian wax, needless to say, I dont think the scar (or my hysterectomy scar) were noticed!!

I have only told 2 people about my lapband, and that was because I needed someone to stay with me after the surgery. When would I tell someone I was dating, at about the same time he transitioned from boyfriend to fiance.

I drink 1 or 2% cows milk. I sometimes buy goats milk. I have not tried rice milk, but I have tried almond milk. I am pretty sure that nutritionally they are inferior to cow or goats milk. With all the research about soy and links to thyroid issues, I would not drink soy milk unless I had an allergy to reg milk. I occassionally use soy protien, so I am concerned about using too much soy. Just my opinion. PS. I drink at least one glass of milk daily

I think it is better to get the surgery while you are still under 200 pounds. It is probably less risky if you weigh less, and you are being proactive by taking care of your health before it seriously declines. I wish I would have had the courage to get out of my own denial and have the surgery 10 years ago, when I was around 160 pounds. Instead I waited until I was over 200, and was diagnosed with diabetes and high cholesterol.

I was banded in August and got proper restrict by early February. It was awesome when I reached my sweet spot. I will be getting a complete defill next month, as I am having a TT. I am kinda scared that it will again take 6 months to find the sweet spot.

That is awesome Congratulations !

I bought the bullet last year. I used it a couple of times but it did not like it. It would work intermittentky, and could not crush ice. It was also very noisy. I went to using an old blender the type with the glass jug. It works much better, can crush ice, and I dont have to worry about the whole "plastics" issue. I should have saved my money, and used the blender from the beginning. If you already have a blender, I suggest using it. You can use the money that you would spend on a bullet to buy some new pants in a smaller size !

I heard that too (that lapband is no longer an option). Not sure where I heard it or from whom. Best to call up a lapband clinic and ask the Doctor.

my trainer/breeder does this: As soon as the dog jumps she quickly turns her back and at the same time says "wrong" eventually the instant the dog sits she gives it a little treat. The idea is that the dog starts to figure out that if you sit in front of people they give you attention and perhaps a treat. Alternatively if you jump on them you get no attention, except a stern "wrong" and no possibility of a treat. Good luck

Likely you will still be taking too many pain meds to drive home safely. Technically you will be "under the influence" I was banded on a Wednesday and drove on Saturday.

Like most people on LBT I had lost weight (yoyo) before banding, so I was fully aware of loose flabby skin issue. Since my lapband was self pay, and I had to pay $200.00 (non refundable) for a one hour consult with the surgeon, I am glad that he used the time to talk about lapband and bariatrics, instead of plastics. Recently I consulted with 2 plastics docs, and I am booked for a TT on August 20th. The plastics docs seemed pleased that my port was placed fairly high. They said it would make things easier during TT. I am guessing that it will not be moved.

Funny, walking my crazy energetic dog is more of a workout than one would think!! I recently bought a leash that goes around my waist. (and it fits with the belt on the middle hole) so that I can run with my dog. I took a month off from the gym too, just to make sure everything was healed. Check out mapmyrun.com you can design a good dog walking route from your house or wherever. I started with a 3.5k route post surgery. Good luck. You are gonna do great. PS buy the gasx strips that dissolve in your mouth, they help with the gas pains.

Hello I am 5'2 and a half, and weighed 224 pounds. The doc did a hiatal hernia repair at the same time. I had the procedure done at a clinic rather than a hospital. I arrived at noon, they did the surgery at 1:15 and I left the clinic at 4:00. That was a wednesday. I felt rough the rest of that day, and on Thursday. By friday I was feeling well enough to go to the spa for a mani and pedi. By Saturday I was driving. By Tuesday I was 100% back to normal.

I got the Full Brazilian (no hair, no where) done yesterday. It really hurt and took about 35 minutes. It was fairly invasive, I mean she had her fingers and face (so she could see what she was doing) right in there. However.......unbeatable crazy dirty multi-orgasmic sex this morning. SO it was definetly worth it !

I have only told 2 friends. I was banded last year. Everyone knows I am losing weight, they also see me eat small portions and they know I workout like crazy. Once you have told people, you cant "untell" them. However if you tell no one you can always chose to tell them later.

There is an older thread from a few months back about CIBO in the Canadian section

I can feel the port if I press around and feel for it, i couldnt at first but now that Ive lost over 60 pounds there is less fat covering up the port. Forget curves baby.......lots of us are now running and some are training for marathons and triathalons........I m sure anything Curves has to offer will be a breeze! If i drink too fast it seems to create some kind of air bubble and I feel like burping, I probably have a weird expression on my face when it happens. When I take sips like I am supposed to....no problems. Good luck on this fabulous journey You are going to do fantastically

Are you pre-op? My doc prescribed Optifast for pre-op. He did not want us to add stuff, I just added tons of ice and put it in the blender. Got used to it after a few days. If you can chose your own protien shake you may want to try some other brands. Sometimes adding flavourings to things that taste horrid just makes them worse.

I dont expect everyone to be Mr Right, but I wouldnt mind having some fun with a few Mr Not So Bads in the meantime.

I dont go out to restaurants much, so I tend to order things that I would not make at home. I like sashimi, or maple glazed trout, or liver, or mussels. I avoid chicken in restaurants, especially the kind on top of a salad, because if it is too dry I cannot get it down. I also avoid anything with bread or Pasta because white flour is the evil enemy ! (for me)