CIBCSlayer

My name is Joel Sopp from Regina, SK. I am 6'3 and 437 lbs with a BMI of 54.6. I am currently on the Board of Directors for the Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group (www.sbssg.ca) and we are a Non-Profit WLS Support Group. We have our Annual General Meeting coming up(Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group, Inc.), which will take place at The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 1800 Prince of Wales Drive in Regina, and we have a speaker coming out. Allison Kapp, the Nutritionist from the new Bariatric Surgery Assessment Clinic in Regina, SK will provide a presentation approximately 20 minutes in length followed by a 10—15 minute question and answer period for members of the SBSSG present at our Annual General Meeting. The presentation will begin at 2:40 pm. Please go to the website and under AGM you can read a letter from the President of the SBSSG for prospective Board Members and/or Committee Chairs, An Information Kit for those interested in applying for a position on the board or a chair position, as well as a recruitment poster, nomination form, membership form and membership benefits. It pays to be a paid member! :thumbup: Feel free to e-mail hildahnke@sasktel.net (Current SBSSG President) or joelsopp@sasktel.net (Current Board Member) if you have questions about the SBSSG, our Membership Drive, or the May 31st, 2008 AGM. They will respond as soon as they can. Take care and hope to see you at the AGM. Joel Sopp

Hello Everyone! Exciting News on the Canadian Prairies in Regina, Saskatchewan! :tongue2: Omni Surgical Centre and the 2 Bariatric Surgeons (Dr. G. Kaban, MD, FRCSC, Fellowship trained in Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery, Dr. S. Pooler, MD, BSc, FRCSC, Fellowship trained in Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery) who are running the Provincially Funded Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Program have partnered together to offer Saskatchewan another Weight Loss Surgery Option: Self Pay LAP-BAND®® Surgery at Omni Surgical Centre. Check out the website and information! joelsopp@sasktel.net

From my understanding, sk27, it will be the least expensive LAP-BAND® option in Canada! That's fantastic!

:tongue2: DECEMBER SUPPORT GROUP MEETING Date: December 5th, 2009 Time: 2:30pm - 4:00pm Event Details: Meet at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre 2180 - 23rd Avenue Room: #5 Regina, SK Phone: (306) 766-5100 Ask the attendant at the desk to your left as you walk in where Room #5 is located. Hope to see you there! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=179493209778&ref=ts

In less than two (2) weeks from today, The Annual General Meeting of the Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group will be held on Saturday May 23rd from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. The formal Meeting will begin at 2:00 pm with Dr. Gordie Kaban, M.D., F.R.C.S.© Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, Endoscopy, General Surgery, giving a 20-30 minute presentation for us. Dr. Kaban has been instrumental in the formation of Saskatchewan's First Bariatric Surgical Assessment Clinic. The AGM will be held in the Boardroom of The Ministry of Health-Acute and Surgical Services Branch on the 3rd Floor of the T.C. Douglas Building, above the Mackenzie Art Gallery - 3475 Albert Street Regina, Saskatchewan If you'd like to participate in the AGM, you can purchase a Membership just before the AGM from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm. You can find more information about Membership at http://www.sbssg.ca/index.php?pr=Membership. Are you interested in becoming a Board Member? There is more information about applying at our website : www.sbssg.ca. Thank you for considering your attendance and support for the need to raise awareness about Obesity in Saskatchewan. Please RSVP to this e-mail address joelsopp@sasktel.net as to whether or not you are attending by this Saturday, May 16th, so we can prepare ourselves for your attendance.

If you are in or near Saskatoon here is some Information: Lorna King RN in Saskatoon. (306) 373-1879 main lornakingrn@hotmail.com website: Surgical Solutions - Saskatoon - Fill Centre Lapband fills $75.00 each fill. A one time initial assessment fee of $75.00 will be charged in addition to the fill cost, to those patients who are not facilitated for surgery by Lorna King, to Dr. Lopez Corvala. Tax receipts are given to all patients. Michelle Wright RN BSN in Saskatoon. Surgeon-trained to perform gastric band fills (306) 934-3746 main fillcentresaskatoon@sasktel.net website: Fill Centre Saskatoon - Gastric Band Aftercare Provider $75/fill (cash, cheque, debit or credit card accepted) But if you are in or near Regina, here is some Information: Linda MacPhee RN in Regina (306) 924-4592 main Lapband fills $100.00 each fill. No assessment fee. No tax receipts issued.

:thumbup: The Annual General Meeting of the Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group will be held on Saturday May 23rd @ 1:00 pm in Regina, Saskatchewan. It will be held in the Boardroom of The Ministry of Health-Acute and Surgical Services Branch on the 3rd Floor of the T.C. Douglas Building, above the Mackenzie Art Gallery. The formal meeting will start at 2 pm. We have a few surprises planned to occur before the AGM to be announced in the next few days on Facebook, so join our Support Group Page here --> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33295884776 and stay on top of things! Also, check out www.sbssg.ca for more information. I look forward to seeing you there.

Looking to meet people interested in WLS and sharing stories/struggles... Joel Sopp

I never realized how far north Creighton is in Saskatachewan. If you ever come to Regina, let us know. By us, I mean the Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group (SBSSG). By the way, Janet, I am actual the President of the SBSSG. Our website is www.sbssg.ca and we are looking to create Support Groups all over the Province. Perhaps you'll consider attending one of our Support Group Meetings. We are currently running one monthly meeting in Regina, but soon hope to be expanding. I hope your recovery goes well. Feel free ot e-mail me anytime. joelsopp@sasktel.net Cheers, Joel

How was your experience and costs to go to Winnipeg?

NEED HELP DEALING WITH OBESITY? ? ? NOVEMBER SUPPORT GROUP MEETING Date: Saturday November 15th, 2008 Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm Room: Ask the Front Desk Event Details: Meet at Regina Holiday Inn at 1800 Prince of Wales Drive. Speaker: A Panel of Post-Op's answering your questions! This Month's focus is on Weighing the Risks. Please let all your friends or support people to know to attend. Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group www.sbssg.ca

"The Bariatric Surgical Assessment Clinic has been established as a 15-month pilot project starting March 10th, 2008 to assist the Health Region in understanding what resources will be required for full implementation. During the pilot phase, the clinic will support up to 125 patients. Since the announcement of the clinic in February 2008, there has been significant interest from the public and, as a result, Regina Qu'appelle Health Region has now reached the maximum number of people it can support during the pilot phase". I know this will frustrate many people, but please understand they did this pilot to understand what they need to do a permanent program. That's a great thing! We all need to be patient and I believe things will come. I have a meeting with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health on the 29th, and I expect it to be very fruitful.

NEED HELP ? ? ? OCTOBER SUPPORT GROUP MEETING Date: October 4th, 2008 Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm Room: Ask the Front Desk Event Details: Meet at Regina Holiday Inn at 1800 Prince of Wales Drive. Speaker: TBA This Month's focus is on The Psychological Effects of Obesity. What affects us? Please let all your friends or support people to know to attend. Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group [/url]

Hey all, We're back! :thumbup: SBSSG Private Aquasize Classes are on again at the Dr. Paul Schwann Centre Dr. Paul Schwann Applied Health & Research Centre | General Information | Contact Us at the University of Regina in the SouthEast corner of the Campus! A place where no one is going to stare at you while you exercise... Confirmation came in today from Tracy (Our Certified Aquasize Trainer and WLS Patient herself), and we are set to start this Wednesday September 10th, 2008 from 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM. However, our Communication Director Hilary Dahnke will be there a half hour early to register you at 8:00 PM. Non-Members pay $7.50/Drop-In and SBSSG Members pay $6.50/Drop-In. Or you can buy a 10 Week Pass for Non-Members and pay $65.00 or become a paid SBSSG Member (http://www.sbssg.ca/index.php?pr=Membership) and pay only $55.00. So grab your swimsuit and a good attitude and let's hit the pool for some great private low-impact exercise. **Please Note: This Private Pool Time is for paying SBSSG Members and Non-Members or their Support Person. Please do not invite other individuals before checking with the Trainer.**

Hello All... We have a Support Group Meeting coming up in Regina for the Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group. It's on September 6th at The Holiday Inn (1800 Prince of Wales Drive) from 1 pm - 3 pm. Ask Front Desk for the Room. The Guest Speaker will be announced. Come and enjoy the company of others who've been where you are. All can attend. I hope you Saskatchewanites can make it.

Thanks for the question. Yes, we are a Non-Profit organization and we do have options for Paid Advertising on our Website. It's under construction right now, but if you send me an e-mail, I can send you our Advertising Package. Joel

SEPTEMBER SUPPORT GROUP MEETING Date: September 6th, 2008 Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm Room: Ask the Front Desk Event Details: Meet at Regina Holiday Inn at 1800 Prince of Wales Drive. Speaker: Speaker : Dr. Richard Hatfield of "One Body, One Life" (www.drhatfieldcentres.com) has confirmed he is speaking at the Support Group Meeting. He offers a non-surgical option for sustained and consistent weight loss. Please let all your friends or support people to know to attend. www.sbssg.ca

Hello All... We have a Support Group Meeting coming up in Regina for the Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group. It's on August 9th at The Holiday Inn (1800 Prince of Wales Drive) from 1 pm - 3 pm in the Hector Room. RN Lorna King will be the Guest Speaker. Come and hear her speak about Lap-Band Surgery and Aftercare. All can attend. I hope you Saskatchewanites can make it. :eek:

We have a Support Group Meeting coming up in Regina for the Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group on July 19th at The Holiday Inn (1800 Prince of Wales Drive) from 1 pm - 3 pm in the Hector Room. All can attend. I hope you Saskatchewan lurkers will make it. :smile2: Joel

My name is Joel Sopp from Regina, SK. I am 6'1 and 437 lbs with a BMI of 57.5. I am currently the President of the Board of Directors for the Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group (www.sbssg.ca) and we are a Non-Profit WLS Support Group.

My name is Joel Sopp from Regina, SK. I am 6'1 and 437 lbs with a BMI of 57.5. I am currently the President of the Board of Directors for the Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group (www.sbssg.ca) and we are a Non-Profit WLS Support Group.

Thank you for the response, Plain, but as I interpret in your post above, I think you're still being a wee bit judgemental. Bypass or other WLS do not allow people to eat whatever they want and still lose weight. They don't kick back and let rely 100% on their WLS do all the work to "fix" them. As mentioned before, it's a daily struggle for everyone with Obesity issues. I agree every WLS require dedication, commitment, and focus on both mental, and physical challenges. But roadbocks or challenges are put in our way so not to stop us, but to force ourselves to become stronger and overcome them, and when we can't we should be able to look to our peers for help us overcome those challenges...

Hey all, My name's Joel Sopp and I live in Regina, Saskatchewan. I'm looking to connect with other people in Saskatchewan who are looking to beat or eradicate Obesity and find a healthier and longer life. Whether you've chosen LapBand, Roux-en-Y, or DS, or whether you are pre-op, post-op, or no-op, I'd like to meet you on here. I look forward to your posts.

Plain, I'm greatly offended that you would say that only you have to put "work and effort into their weightloss" and so that you don't have a "free ride" as you call it. There is no "free ride" when it comes to Obesity; it's a daily struggle to pull yourself out of bed and face the world, whether you are pre-op, post-op, or no-op If you want to help girliesmom find out information, here's one study to show her: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 5-year results of a prospective randomized trial , you will see that the conclusion was that the results of the study have shown that Roux-en-Y results in better weight loss and a reduced number of failures compared with Gastric Banding, despite the significantly longer operative time and life-threatening complications. And right away, the next study says : Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band versus laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass :Ends justify the means? , you will find the conclusion to say they believe that Gastric Banding should be considered the initial approach since it is safer than Roux-en-Y and is very effective at achieving weight loss. Conflicting information everywhere... Which is the best option? It's the one that gives you piece of mind, girliesmom, whether it's a BPDS, a LapBand, or Roux-en-Y... to each his or her own. Never, ever, is any solution for Obesity been a "free ride" to those dealing with and living with the effects of Obesity.

Saskatchewan Bariatric Surgery Support Group Monthly Meeting Date: July 19, 2008 Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm Event Details: Meet at Regina Holiday Inn at 1800 Prince of Wales Avenue Room: Hector Room Speaker: Phyllis Bend, Coordinator of the Cardiac Rehabilitation and Chronic Disease Prevention Program www.sbssg.ca