Ang1982

Here-ye, here-ye!!!! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

When I had my consult with my surgeon back in November I asked him why BC medical didn't cover the Lapband procedure but covered the Gastric Bypass. His answer was interesting and I cannot recall everything he told me but what he did tell me made sense. He said that like any elective surgery there is a budget that is allotted and that covering a surgery such as this will end up with only a few a year being able to be done and huge weightlists (currently like Gastric). He also said that this type of surgery would be obviously then paid to him by the govt (or something like that) and that while it's not all about the money that it's not worth their while to take on a surgery that REQUIRES immense amounts of aftercare and that you don't want any joe-blow doing them and not committing to providing the required aftercare. He said it would be more profitable for him to do govt paid gallbladder surgeries and not do any Lapband not to mention he would then not be required to do a lot of post op. He choses to these surgeries and regulate how many he does to provide his patients with the best follow up that he can (he does NOT charge HIS patients for fills at all). I am probably leaving out a lot of what he told me as it was almost a month ago, but when he said it I was like - that makes COMPLETE sense.

I'm sure your mom was not trying to offend you or upset you. Is she a "normal" perhaps she doesn't even realize what sizes Lane Bryant goes to and that you would be out of them soon. I dont think the "normals" know what sizes places like LB work in so maybe she innocently thought that would do you for a while. I'd do what the other ladies were suggesting - it sounds ilke it was quite the generous gift card so you can use bits of it to update your wardrobe now and then perhaps if it is transferable to a place like Victorias Secret, when you drop even more weight you can use it up at a place like that! And congrats on your progress so far I cant wait for that day

Aww, congrats! What a beautiful little baby and a beautiful family!

Yah Ive been thinking about that, just haven't gotten around to making a Doctors appointment with my Dr yet to see what they have to say / get any required referrals. Will probably book one for early into the New Year.

My OCD'ness I have been doing for years - since I was in high school so we are easily looking at around 10 years.. I always thought it was strange I would try to force myself to not do it but I couldn't help it and how bizaare it was. Until this past year when I actually started to do some research on the internet about it - and who would of thought its a full blown disorder.... May I introduce to you... Trichotillomania... aka " "trich" as it is commonly known, is an impulse control disorder characterized by the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes, facial hair, nose hair, pubic hair, eyebrows or other body hair, resulting in noticeable bald Patches." (thank you wikipedia for the brief summary). That's right folks I pull my eyelashes and my eyebrows out. Not to the extent where I am bald of lashes and brows but I definitely get bare spots in both sometimes and it's TERRIBLE. And the worse part is - I CANT STOP. It's so subconscious that I don't even realize I am doing it until it is too late. It makes me ugly and I can't stop. I've not told my doctor yet as I'm sure I'll end up getting referred to a psychiatrist or something of the sort - so far they aren't sure why people do this, and it can't be cured but it can be medicated with OCD medications but do I really want to be medicated? If anyone is curious about what this is - this is an interesting article which is very similar to my "story". Psychology Today: Hair Pulling: A Baffling Disorder

Eek, I hope I dont have to do those! I had my tonsils out in November and for day 3-5 (the most painful days) on top of the regular painkillers they gave me they also gave me some suppository painkillers. Well needless to say I put my big girl panties on, sucked it up and dealt with the pain cuz there was NO WAY I (or the bf) would be stickin it up there.

Ahhh gotcha, thanks everyone!

That's a good idea and one i'll have to remember for the future... Reminds me of a little unrelated story about how absolutely nucking futs some people are. Quite a few years ago when I worked at Penningtons (one of the FEW plus size stores in Canada) a lady came in with no receipt to return a pair of jeans she "supposedly" just bought only a couple of weeks ago because they were "crappily sewn and falling apart", she had no receipt and she wanted her money back. Well let me tell you - these jeans were not "slightly worn 1 week old jeans", they were faded, bagged out looking and the "falling apart" she was refering to was that the thighs had holes worn through (I'm sure all you ladies know how that happens with jeans, pisses me off when it happens to mine personally) and I was like uhh these are not just recently bought and she went OFF on me and demanded the manager... retarded I tell ya. /end mini unrelated thread, no intention of hijacking. Said it before, those jeans are awesome you look great.

I'm currently awaiting my band but i couldn't have said this better myself...

So I have a total newbie question... but how exactly do you measure food per say? Like I can see measuring stuff easily like veggies etc, but how does that work with things like meat?

This was my list that I made and emailed my mom when I told her I was thinking about the surgery (haven't had it yet) except I did it as my "I don't want" list.... I don’t want to …not be able to walk into any store in the mall to be able to buy clothes and have to go to the “plus size” store and pay more money. I don’t want to …feel like I’m out of place in public. I don’t want to …feel squished going to the movies or riding a bus or an airplane. I don’t want to …be that fat person that no one wants to sit beside. I don’t want to …be trying to constantly be struggling with various numbers of diets or regimens for the rest of my life and feel like a complete failure when I have a hard time with them. I don’t want to …be too embarrassed to dance. I don’t want to …not be able to wear a fancy wedding dress should I choose because I don’t want to look like this in a dress like that. I don’t want to …not be able to chase around after my kids some day. I don’t want to …not know what its like to be thinner. I don’t want to …not feel comfortable going to a public beach. I don’t want to …feel uncomfortable in my own clothes. I don’t want to …overhear comments (or have them said directly to me) that aren’t very nice. Compliments are easy to forget it’s the mean comments that you remember for a long time.

Those look great Rain! Nice booty indeed. I can't wait to lose my weight and have the little enjoyment of NSV's like this. And on a side note, its recommended to buy jeans a bit on the tight side to begin with as they will stretch out fairly quickly.

I haven't been banded yet so I haven't lost my weight but that is one of my fears. People tell me I have such a pretty face but I think I'm "okay" not anything spectacular by a long shot, however, I have NEVER been thin so I have no idea what I will look like and it has crossed my mind a few times that I will be thin and ugly. Vain, I know.

Now this is my uneducated brain here but ... isn't it illegal to tape/voice record someone without their knowlege and consent? Or am I crazy?

Huh I hadn't heard of snopes before, I will have to check that out. Another of my email pet peeves on forwards and stuff like that is... okay I don't mind the odd cute or funny forward perhaps some of the adorable animal pictures or funny short jokes, whatever. What does bug the heck out of me is... people who forward emails without deleting EVERYONE'S emails that it was previously sent to in the forward. Firstly, I don't need to see bagillions of random peoples email addresses before I get to see the content of the email and secondly, I don't want a 100 random other people seeing my email address as other people forward the email along without deleting. So people - delete the email addresses from the last sender when you forward and DO THE WORLD A FAVOUR - USE BCC INSTEAD!!!

Okay so my curiousity got the better of me and I emailed his office. I fully expected a member of his staff to answer that email as opposed to him and was delighted to see that he responded directly. I can tell from his email that he was a bit on the defense as he may have thought that I was saying he didn't know anything. So I've since emailed him back with an apology if he misunderstood my intention in the question... What I asked: "in my consult I believe he told me that they do not need to use sutures when doing the Midband. Can you please tell me if I am recalling this correctly? The reason I ask is with futher research and talking to other Lapband patients (not of his) they informed me that their surgeons were rather adament about using sutures to hold the Band in place. I know not doing sutures is a fairly new practice for him. Could you please tell me why again that he does not do these. And are having sutures an option if this is something that I felt strongly about?" His response: "You heard correctly. With the MIDband, according to the manufacturer, and Dr. Frerer, who personally has placed over 5000 bands (1000 Swedish Bands, 1500 Lapbands, the rest MIDbands), anterior plication stitches are NOT necessary. Therefore, I do not place these stitches when I place these bands. They don't seem to do any good, at least not with the design of the MIDband. Dr. Patrick Yau, perhaps the most experienced Canadian bariatric lapband surgeon (Toronto) also places MIDbands, although he is trained in Inamed bands, Swedish bands and MIDbands. There are six adjustable gastric band companies whose products are available for us to place in Canada. If I place a Swedish band (used in Europe and around the world for years, just approved in the USA Sept 28th, will be marketed this January on TV etc), then I will place anterior plication stitches, per the manufacturer's recommendation. I am trained to place lapbands, but I need to be proctored for two cases before I can place these on my own. I have chosen not to pursue this at this time, as I see no advantage of this band over the Swedish band or the MIDband. Remember, virtually all of the USA patients have lapBANDs®. Their products are different than the ones that I use. Not better, not worse, just different . until a few months ago, USA surgeons could ONLY use one product. how could they possibly comment effectively on another band that they have no experience with? Further, most USA surgeons have only done the lapband since 2001, and not the 1990s like the Europeon surgeons. To answer the latter part of your question. I prefer placing the MIDband at present, and if that is the band we go with, then I will NOT place any plication sutures. If we place a Swedish band, then, per the manufacturer's instructions, we will place anterior plication stitches. That is the choice. The price is the same with both of these. I am comfortable placing both of these. I think that the weight loss will be the same with both of these. The MIDband people suggest that there may be less complications with their band, and that it is softer (it feels softer, with no rigid parts) and that their patients report that the band is more comfortable. How can they say this? In France, bands are covered as part of their 'MSP'. Some patients with failed bands from other companies may have had a MIDband placed later, and reported on the differences. I am impressed by how easily it is to place. I was most impressed by the technical skills of Dr. Frerer. If he thought stitching was necessary and useful, he would do it. " There you have it. I am comfortable with his response and with him as a surgeon in general and will continue my persuit of the band in his capable hands. (sorry for the bad formatting, I was just copy pasting from my email)

No I understand what you are getting at, in our consult he explained how he did use sutures and now doesnt for "blah blah blah reason" (sorry I completely forget, although I know it had to do with the width of the midband). When I phone to make my other appointment though I will inquire as to the reason again. As you said, could very well be that I misunderstood so we shall find out

I don't think I was misunderstanding as I'm almost positive that he said that the recovery time would be slightly better due to the fact that they don't have to suture. I have to phone his office to book my appt with the anaesthesiologist (sp) so I will inquire about it then. If he does indeed not suture anymore should I request that he does?

Hmmm now you all have me wondering about the fact that my surgeon now won't be suturing with the Midband. Do I need to be concerned? When he explained it at the time it made sense but of course that was a while ago and now I don't remember.

My surgeon told me in my consult that with use of the Midband stiching is not required due to the extra width of it, etc. Perhaps that is where some confusions will lie.

Hey all! First of all let me say that I luv these forums and all of you. It is so great to be able to participate and learn from people who have had the surgery and people who, like me, are waiting to get it done. This forum has been the best place for me to learn and find out about it firsthand which is way different then reading an article or a study. Now, on to "what is wrong with me?".... Did anyone else have this before they had their surgery... I have already made the decision to have WLS, I've had my consult with my surgeon that I will be going with, I've got my financing lined up and actually made up my mind a few months ago about getting this done. I will not be able to get it done until into early next year some time due to work schedule. Sooo... I know that my eating habits will have to change (I'm a total junk food addict) yet I am having the hardest time changing them right now. Knowing that I am going into this and will have to change doesn't seem to stop me from eating a chocolate bar or piece of cake or having Burger King right now. And as I put it in my mouth I'm like "what the heck are you doin? You don't need this" yet I still eat it. I don't cook the best meals at home either because I HAAAAATE cooking, it is the bane of my existance. Does this get better? Am I completely crazy? :help: Angela

Congrats! What a great NSV! I remember after my best friend had Gastric Bypass surgery when she was down quite a bit of weight and we were out to get her some new clothes (she had some "hand-me-down's" from a cousin who had gastric a while before her that she was using in the interim) and this was one of our first shopping trips. As we were in the various stores she'd find something she liked and grab a size then I would take it away from her and replace it with the same thing but at least 2 sizes smaller. She was ADAMENT that they would NOT fit. And along the way to the change room I would pick up the occasional thing and she would tell me "it's not gonna fit!" - I would tell her - "shut up and try the damn clothes on".... Low and behold they fit and of course they looked great. She couldn't believe it. It took her a couple of years to be able to look at an item of clothing and know it would fit without thinking it was too small, she still occasionally has the odd moment where she relapses back. Grats to you, I can't wait until I have my first NSV like that

Rain, Glad to hear you are home and doing okay and that your DH was there to take care of you. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Angela

Thanks Paula Unfortunately, I do not think I will be able to join as I will be having my surgery with Dr.Woodhead. Funny now when I look back at my original post and questions and worry about referrals. I didn't even get a referral, I just phoned up Dr.Woodheads office and said, "hey I want a band, how do I get a consult" lol, they sent me a questionnaire and Bob's your uncle I got an appointment. Who'da thunk it. Lol.