HD Gloria

Thanks.

Can anybody tell me how to remove myself from getting this group's mail? Thanks and good luck all.

I'm sorry you find my observations unfair but I've only seen what I've seen. I would be very interested to see your newspaper - I don't know what publication you're speaking of but it could definitely change my opinion if the statistics come from an unbiased source. I don't understand why you wouldn't want my story told to potential recipients of the band. There are many folks here talking about their great experiences so I don't think my experience is going to out weigh that - just a potential situation. I would have been glad to know of someone's experience at Bluewater before I became involved with them. Don't know if it would have changed my mind but it would have been more information to weigh. Good luck everyone.

Hi Alla - all four of the doctors who identified the problem I had were bariatric surgeons unfortunately the owner of the clinic was not. All the information indicated that the band was properly installed and looked correct when removed. It would appear that the band was the problem. J&J provided a replacement but the clinic still wanted several thousand dollars to remove and replace it. My position was that the clinic had the responsibility to me and if they needed further money from J&J because of the faulty equipment that was between them. I don't have issues with any of the doctors I've seen. My dissatisfaction is totally with the management of the Bluewater Clinic. Also I have to say that I haven't seen a significant amount of success for people that I have met. I find this discouraging.

For ;me the band never offered any restriction and then once it did it was too tight and couldn't be adjusted. As I said, my band never did work properly.

Hi Anne - so glad you asked. I also chose Sarnia since it was more convenient to London than Toronto. My band never did work properly, I has 3 surgeries, 4 of the clinic's doctors said it didn't work right ever and still the clinic would not stand behind me. I ended up having the equipment removed at Strathroy General after 3 years of pain and problems. It's difficult to do a survey but I only know of 2 people who have had success out of the dozens I have met. gives you something to think about. Gloria

Hi Heather - I was banded 4 years ago and finally managed to have the troublesome equipment removed last year. Good luck! Gloria Hello! My name is Heather and I was banded on April 5th. I'm looking to connect with others in the London area who have been banded. I was banded in Toronto and travel there for fills etc. Looking for key contacts to buddy with on this journey! Heather

Hope the new band is working out better by now. I have financial questions - did they charge again to put the second band in? Any fees? I'm looking at a 2nd one and they want another $3500 after I've already paid $15000! Gloria

Miz - hope all went well with your removal. Did you have the sleeve done? If so, how's it going? Gloria

hey Moom - I'm curious to know if you got many responses. I got band in March 2008. Never did work, no tightness, no fullness. They tried defills to check band and there wasn't the fluid they said they had put in. After a year my doctor did a surgery with me awake to look at the port area and see if there was a leak - no leak. He said I needed a surgery to remove the bank (it had a problem) and replace (if I wanted). then that doctor became unavailable and I saw about five others at the clinic. No answers, problem continues, no weight loss. Eventually I couldn't eat anything healthy - salad, lean meat, etc - I could eat ice cream, chocolate, crackers, etc., so no weight loss. In March suddently extreme restriction - haven't had any fills for 1-1/2 years - lots of throwing up. Finally admitted and put on IV since so dehydrated - ban removed. I'm trying to decided if I should have another inserted since I haven't lost any weight just two years and three surgeries. The clinic wants another $3500 on top of the $15000 I've already paid. I've talked to a few people suggesting the sleeve. I don't want a surgery that is going to remove part of my stomach. 2 years ago the band was the latest and greatest thing, now it's not? Hope things are going better for you. Gloria

Hi - I wondered if you got any responses to your note. I had ban surgery March 2008. The band never worked - I never got a feeling of fullness; when they tried defills, there was never the amount in that they had told me they filled; eventually I couldn't eat or drink anything. I had the band removed March this year and it didn't have any fluid in it - but I couldn't eat or drink, was on IV. I am considering whether or not to have the surgery again but the clinic wants another $3500 - I've already paid $15000. I hear they're pushing the sleeve a lot now but the big sell of the band was no adjustment to your body - as in cutting away part of your stomach. I'd really like to hear comments from others. Since it's been six months since you posted your message, I hope things have gone better for you since. Gloria

Hi Hope - my band didn't work and was removed. I want to know what it feels like when it's working? what it does? what's different? Anything you can tell me would be helpful. I'm trying to decide whether to redo. The clinic wants another $3500 now after I've already paid $15000 and had three surgeries. Thanks, Gloria

Hi Heather - I'm not a Slimband patient - had my surgery in Sarnia two years ago. But I'm interested in people's experiences and challenges. I had the surgery in March 2008 and had problems right from the beginning. The band never did work properly and it took two years before they finally removed it - as I was so dehydrated I was put on IV. I don't know whether to consider it again. the clinic wants another $3500 after I already paid $15000. I also want to know how the band feels when it's working - what's the full feeling like, same as without? - what else about the band make sit work? what else do you feel? what else happens? Thanks to anyone with comments. Gloria

Hi Heather - I'm in London (Ontario right?) I was banded 2 yrs ago in Sarnia. Problems ever since and I've just had a it removed in March. I'd like to talk to more people before I decide if I will have it done again. Gloria

Hi - I had an unusual situation and wonder if it's arisen with anyone else. I had my band inserted Apr.2008. I had it removed two weeks ago. After the first few fills, they did a de-fill a couple of times just to see where I was at. (I had a 10cc Johnson & Johnson band) Both times the amount was less then they had told me they put in (which I had kept track of). Leak? - you'd think, although no ever mentioned that might be the problem. Next thing you know it's too tight - within 6 mon. after insertion. Now they can't extract anything. My doctor wanted to remove it and hopefully replace at the same time if necessary. In the meantime he stopped practicing in ON. The clinic didn't want to help me - not if it was going to cost them anything. More than a year after my doctor suggested surgery - and by now I've had 4 doctors from the clinic say it wasn't working and I need surgery - I had it removed in emergency at the hospital - this would be your tax dollars at work fellow Canadians. During the final week I could only get down a sip of water every now and then, often not. For the surgery they started rehydrating me - I weighed 10 lbs. more the day after the surgery - that wasn't what I was looking for! The doc who did removal said it was in right place, hadn't slipped or moved - no problems there. He also said it was empty - no fluid/saline. What I'm wondering is how can that be? Why so much restriction/total restriction and nothing in the band? Anyone have or hear of anything simular? Thanks all. :frown:

I had my surgery two years ago. It's never worked properly. After a few fills, there was never the amount in it that they said and I never got to the 'sweet spot' or even felt full. After about 9 months of no success the band became really tight (without any fills) then they couldn't get anything out of it. It was arranged that I'd have it removed in emerg. three times but I got bumped. I've seen four different doctors through the clinic I used and all have said the band isn't working properly and I need surgery to see what the problem is. Just in the last short while I've started to have periods where I can't get anything down - not even water - and when I try I get a lot of bile and throwing up. It's worse than the slim. Now the clinic wants $3,500 to take it out. The current doctor thinks I'll be too swollen to put a new band in and will be able to have a resurgery after another six weeks or so. Haven't heard the final price on that yet - they're still discussing but it's definitely not included in the previous $15,000 and now and $3,500. The second last totally closed off was horrible - I was throwing up continually for about fifteen hours and then still couldn't even sip water. I'm about ready to try emergency again since I don't think I can take this much longer. My metabolism is soooo screwed up I haven't had any more than about 1200 calories total in the last three days and I'm still not losing weight. I just want the clinic I started with to take care of me and as a responsible business cover these costs. Anyone experience anything like this one? HELP!!!

I'd like to know how you know it is working right! I've been almost two years since my surgery and I've never had a full feeling - does anyone? The only feeling I get is 'stuck'. Through the clinic I used there have been 4 different doctors see me and say that the band is not working right and I should have surgery to see what the problem is and if it needs to be replaced. The owner of the clinic (doesn't do bariatric - does plastic surgery) now wants $3,500 to allow me to have this redone. I paid $15,000 first time and it has never worked right. If I don't get some satisfaction from them, I'll be putting their name out for everyone to see. Comments anyone?

Sounds like I am in the same position as most of you. It's been nearly two years and I haven't lost anything post liquid diet. Very often just 2 or 3 bites and my chest hurts so much I have to throw up. Can't eat out with people and always have cold food. The reason I haven't lost weight is because junk seems to be the only thing that goes down and I have to eat something. Salads - maybe two bites; sandwich 2 bits max., popcorn - probably 2 cups. What's up? Any thoughts?

I don't see anything from Susan. Am I missing/overlooking it?

Congratulations! I wonder how unique your situation is as I have never heard anyone else say that it took away their cravings and hunger. Hope you have more success.

I do, I do. Not so much when I'm standing but extremely noticeable when lying down. I suppose when I'm lying down I should be asleep or fully occupied anyway, right?

I'm surprised by your last comment - I can't eat salads at all. Gawd I miss them. I'd really like to be able to eat a healthy small meal. My surgery was over 1-1/2 YEARS ago and I have lost nothing. I'm told just eat better. Well if it's all about eating better then why have the surgery?

Hunger hasn't been my problem because I'm still eating. I'm not eating well - so I admire your ability to eat less - but I'm eating. I'm pissed off because if I had known the answer was eat less and eat better - what would have been the point of the surgery?

I assumed the same thing as you, found the same information - but now - 1-1/2 years after my surgery, the advise is 'eat better'. DUH! then why have the surgery!

I had my surgery 1-1/2 YEARS ago and have not lost anything. I'm still working with the doctors to try to get things operational - going for an upper GI x-ray on Friday. Seems the advise is "eat properly". If I had been successfully eating properly, why would I had spent all this money and gone to all this trouble with the surgery!