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Cloe - I'm 'starting' to move on Sunday! I leave that day, anyway.

I've been banded about 3 months, and haven't yet.

Hey "Phone"! You should probably start by asking these questions in the General forum http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17 (then click on the New Thread button, type in a 'subject' and ask away!) Unless you ARE from Canada, and that's why you posted in the Canada area. Check out the general area either way though, you'll find all those questions answered there, or in the other areas like 'LapBand support'. But yes, I'm happy with the band so far. Lots of people get the band with as much to lose as you have. The scars... I don't think they're bad, but I'm never going to be seen in a bikini, so I could care less. the amount of fills you have varies for everyone. Some people can ride out having NO fill for a long time, and some people need 10, to get to a good spot. Good luck!

K@t, sorry, I hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread, now that you took down your original post! NJGirl: that's the 'copper' one that you have then? Josette, the one you're talking about is called Mirena. It has hormones... so maybe if trying to go hormone-free (for sex drive purposes) the 'old' one would be better? I wonder if they generally do IUDs for people who've not had kids yet. In lots of the stuff I've read about IUDs, they always say "best for someone who's had at least 1 child." I think I saw that that is because maybe people who've given birth have a stronger cervix to 'hold it in', and less risk of it slipping out? I dunno, but I think I'm going to consider it and maybe ask next time I have my fun pap smear. I thought it was scary, til this thread got me thinking about it again, and actually looking it up. I thought it was BIG, and that they put it in with the "T" arms extended (for some stupid reason)... but from what I read, it sounds like it's about the size of a quarter. So, thanks guys, for opening me up to the possibility! Mandi

I would call the Royal Alex hospital, ask for the number for the Bariatric Clinic (or Program), and that should put you in touch with someone who can tell you if they can do fills for 'other' patients. If you do, post back and let us know what they say! Mandi

In Alberta, other than Dr. Mitchell in Calgary? They do banding in Edmonton... Dr's Davey and Birch, BUT I don't know if they do fills on patients that aren't their own.

I'm surprised no one's answered you. I thought there were people who have had a fill with him here. I went to Calgary for my first and only fill, but it was while Dr. Cobourn was there, so he did it. Dr. Mitchell and all the others that Dr. Cobourn was training were there watching it. Dr. Mitchell has done them before, so he wasn't 'learning' exactly. I spoke to a girl once who had kind of an ordeal getting her fill with Dr. Mitchell... he tried like 10 times, and still couldn't find the port. So they gave up and she was sent to the hospital to get it done there (with flouro, I believe). He still made her pay the $100 for it though, even though he didn't do it. That being said, I know that *I* would still give him a try, and I likely would have already, but I'm in the process of moving to NB, so I don't have the time or money to make another trip to Calgary right now. There are 3 other Dr's now, I believe that *can* do fills, but from the sounds of it, Dr. Mitchell is the most experienced, so he would be the best bet. Hope that helps. Mandi

I say yes. But that's me, and my crazy Canadian ways.

Emails or posts that are either one huge sentence, or tons of sentences, but all in one paragraph. It's SO hard to read... I usually end up skimming and then giving up.

Princess, I think it was the vibrating panties connected to your alarm clock... is what she meant! hee hee Are you on any kind of birth control? Just curious if there's anything NOT inhibiting your sex drive. mandi

Hey K@t, I'm 25 also, and I TOTALLY feel your pain. I feel the same way. I'd like to go off the pill as well, but I wouldn't feel safe enough with just a condom, and Depo did the same thing to me, but worse. The IUD freaks me out, so I just don't know what else to do. :hug: Mandi

Yes... the trip through Ontario will be the longest, I think! My plan is to go from here, pass right through Manitoba, and stop at Kenora, the Kenora to Kapuskasing, Kapukasing to Montreal, then Montreal to Miramichi, NB. That's 'the plan'... it'll probably vary depending on how long I "really" can drive for. I think I'd have no problem doing a 11-12 hour drive, but, LOL.. we'll see! I'll have to make sure I bring my camera along for my Excellent Adventure! Hopefully I'll be smart and take pics along the way to remember it! Cloe, I'm not as talented as I may sound! lol But I like to think so I do miss him. It's hard to be apart for so long. Yoda, it'll serve me right for picking a dumb name like that! It used to be 'argonsoleil' ! That was even worse! And how cool that your met your hubby online too... it's amazing how normal it is now. Back in the 'old days', it was embarassing to tell people you were meeting someone 'from online' ! I didn't make it to the chat. :cool: Sorry... totally slipped my mind. I shall try again next week!

Yeah, that's true. When you know, start a new thread and call it something like "I'm moving to ____, what do I need to know!?" I'll be watching for it :cool: ( i edited my last post to tell you what "my" current temperature is) Mandi

Haha.. we drive on the same side of the road, so I'm sure driving will be pretty much the same! It REALLY depends on where you're going to be living. If you're any where 'interior', I'd say a safe bet would be 20 (and hotter) Celcius in the summer (average) and -15C in the winter. That would be 68 F and 5 F for you. That's a ballpark estimate. It can and does get WAY hotter in the summer, and way colder in the winter. It all depends on where you are going to be living. (right now, where I am, which is practically right in the middle of Canada, it's raining, and about 10C. (50F) It's supposed to stop and be about 24C for the weekend, which is 75F for you) I'm sure opening an account here isn't a problem if you're not a citizen. I don't know if those banks exist here, and if they do, it's likely not everywhere... maybe Vancouver or Toronto. There is an AOL Canada, but you'll have way better choices elsewhere! Pretty much every phone company and cable company has internet service available. Let us know when you find out where you'll be going, and I can tell you more about the weather!

I love stupid questions! Question away :cool: !

Excedrin also contains asprin, and asprin and ibuprofen are NSAIDS, and NSAIDS are a no-no with the band.

I think you're IN the right place! (but of course, the best bet would be to ask your Dr.) Go to the general 'area' and start posting away with the questions! You'll get more help there than in the intros Welcome! Mandi

One thing I was SUPPOSED to bring with me to the clinic was a pillow for my stomach on the ride home. Forgot it at the hotel though! I was on Optifast before surgery, so I brought my magic bullet along to make shakes at the hotel. I brought my camera, but of course didn't take pictures! I always wanna kick myself for not doing that! I didn't really bring anything special that helped me out.. but I'd recommend for the flight home (depending on how long it is) to make sure you bring a big bottle of Water with you, and make sure you get a comfy seat! I got really hungry on the flight back, and ordered a cup of noodles, and tried to sip just the juice out of it. It was really gross. So if you think that might happen to you, bring along something you can 'eat'... whether its some kind of Protein drink (premixed or ready to mix) or maybe some kind of broth to add to hot water. Good luck! I was planning/packing/buying stuff the day I got my date!

Hey Cloe... I missed this earlier. I'm sorry it happened to you! Since you're essentially supposed to be on pureed right now, I think you should maybe do that instead of trying to chew things yourself. Marie said I could 'self puree' in my mouth, and that's what I did without any problems like you're having... but maybe to be safe, you really should puree things. But yeah... do liquids for a few days again, then try again. I'm sure you'll be fine. Mandi

MoOrLess, feel free to peek in on us, and learn of our fascinating Canadian ways! LOL, just kidding, it's all good. Just don't tell us to go down to Walgreens for some Isopure, and it'll be alright Mandi

Sunshine! If I had some money, I would sooo get you to hook my up with a chihuahua puppy! They're soooooo cute! Anyways, onto me. I'm 25, and currently living in a small town in Saskatchewan. I've been with my boyfriend (whom I met online) for 3 years. He moved to NB about 5 months ago, for a job. I've got a 99% for sure job there later this summer, so I will be joining him in NB. I'll be leaving June 18th (thats the plan anyways), and driving there, all by myself. It'll be at least a 4 day drive. So I'm kinda scared... but excited. I went to school for 3D animation, got a job a few months after graduating working on a 2D/Flash hybrid, direct-to-video thingy... then did some freelance for a studio in Vancouver, then did some work on a stop-motion kids series they're making in S'toon, and now going to work on a kids Tv Flash series in NB. This is probably all animation jibberish that means nothin' to ya, but I felt the need to share. I have no kids, and don't know if I want any! No time soon anyways. I was banded Mar 29 of this year, and am at a 31lb loss so far (postponing the 30lbs Party, sorry ). It seems to going slow, (I'm sure nothing would be fast enough for me though) but I'm enjoying myself, whatever I'm doing anyways, so if it gets too annoying, I know what must be done! Mandi

Yeah, I'd say 'ignore' post subjects that mention Canada... I think that's what were were going for, starting to put Canada in the thread name. So, if we don't specify that it's a Canada specific thread (in the thread name), then we shouldn't care or make a big deal if someone, say, answers throwing out weird brand names that we've never heard of and/or can't get here. I totally get how people don't realize that they're in a Canadian area, when they just read posts that are listed in 'newest'... I've started to make sure when I'm about to post, if I've been clicking on 'newest' as well, that I'm not in the Alabama 'area' or anything. If I have a 'general' question, that's not country specific, I usually post it in the 'main' area of the board so everyone gets a chance to help me out Anyways, so yeah, I'd say that if the subject contains "Canada", it's safe to assume it's Canada specific, and not to even bother with it. I hope I'm not sounding like a b!tch either! I totally don't mean to be... but I think it may sound like it! :hug:

You guys... I don't think she's allowed to add ANYTHING. It's supposed to be a yogurt and cottage cheese diet, that's all. No jam, no dressings, no veggies. The Mrs. Dash is a good idea though.

I did the cabbage soup diet a few times last year... this looks almost exactly like it. I was sooo excited for banana and milk day when it came! I ate like 9 bananas and 3L of milk... I lost 14 lbs the first week, and almost that much the other times. It's a good kick-start.

Is there very much selection of Fat-free yogurts? Maybe you should hit some grocery stores you don't normally go to and see if they have something different that what you've got.