canadagirl33

Congrats !!!! You're doing amazing !!! Keep up the good work !!! All the best to you and continued success !!! Patricia

Hi Sabrina !!! I don't have another email addy for Dr Arseneau so you might want to try that again. Ya never know, maybe if he's been away or something and his mail is full it sends them back....I dunno !!! I do have his phone # on this mail I recieved as well... 604-682-2344 ext. 62554 Maybe give that a try as well. A big CONGRATS to mom2two !!! Welcome to the land of the Banded !!! :rolleyes2: Hope everything went well for you and that you're feeling better everyday. Don't forget to get in your liquids (I got dehydrated after 3 days and felt like poop!!!) and walk lots...it helps more than you realize !!! All the best, Patricia

Congrats on your banding. If I were in your shoes I would be Google searching any band surgeon in Alberta and BC and asking them if they know of anyone who does fills that they would recommend. I believe there is a clinic in Edmonton that does banding so that could be a starting point for you. Hopefully you find someone and can arrange a fill before you start getting desperate. This is one of the reasons I always tell anyone I talk to about banding that they need to do their homework before the surgery. A band is nothing except a really expensive plastic ring until you can get fills !!! Good luck and all the best, Patricia

And by the way... With a quick Google search, from what I can tell, the average woman, pre-menapausal, should get about 1200mg a day.

Ok...this looks like one of those trick questions that looks so simple and then when you answer you look like a fool because it wasn't as simple as it seemed !!! Does that make sense??? I'm gonna go out on a limb here and give it a shot... If one serving has 35% of your daily needs and you drink 3 servings a day... 35% x 3 servings = 105% of your daily needs. Is that not right?...Is my brain in super simple mode?? ~Sigh~ Patricia

My husbands parents had recently sold their house and given us a little money. I used some of that, I borrowed some from my parents and I used some savings. Once I put my mind to it I was determined to come up with the cash.... I have heard of people who go all different routes...purchasing the whole thing on credit cards and making payments, going thru medical credit companies, borrowing against homes, selling cars, begging parents.... I paid $16,000 and it was worth every penny... Patricia

From what I understand this is completely dependant on your income etc. I don't know if you do your own tax return or if you have an accountant do it, I take my stuff to an accountant. All I did was give him all my receipts for the surgery, hotel rooms, meals etc and he claimed it as medical expences. Almost every year I break even on my taxes, I don't pay, I don't get a return... By claiming my $16k surgery etc I got about $2300 back. I don't know much more about it...I'm oblivious when it comes to this stuff, that's why I pay him Patricia

Wow !!!! Look at all our soon-to-be Vancouver Bandsters !!! Mom2two...I don't think I met you at the meeting !! There was 1 I missed in the summer because of car troubles so that was probably the meeting you were at. Sorry to have missed you and hopefully you'll join us again soon. Congrats on your surgery day !!! I've never personally met Dr. W but from talking to the ones at group meetings, I'm sure you'll be in very capable hands. I'm looking forward to hearing how things go for you... I didn't do any Protein shakes at all...the clinic I went to doesn't suggest we do them, they feel we can get enough protein, even while on liquids...and because it's such a short duration, there really is no harm if we don't get huge amounts....so I'm of no help on the drinks. I'm so terrible with names its embarassing !!! Sabrina? Are you the one that had been saving up and was thinking about Dr. K in Colorado? (I'm almost positive I have the right you !!!) I'm glad you decided to move forward with this and that you're seeing Dr. Ortiz. I don't think you'll regret your decision at all....neither with banding or the surgeon. You're timing is good as well....you'll be thru most of it and back into the swing of things for the holiday season. Hopefully you'll make it to the next meeting (Nov. 19th - Lions Gate) and we can answer any last minute questions you might have. Remind me at the meeting and I'll give you my phone # if you want, then if you need to talk about anything before you leave you can give me a call. ~Sigh~ All these monikers drive me crazy !!!! Vangirl ....I'm not sure if I know who you are !!! Altho I'm assuming I met you at the last meeting as well. I swear I need to make a list of names and nicknames and all this stuff !!! I'm so darn blonde some days !!! Congrats on your tentative date. If you are in the right frame of mind and work hard I have no doubt you'll make your pre-op weight goal....so go for it !!!! The other meeting that Doddie mentioned is being organized by a lady named Geri. She tried having the first meeting last month and didn't have anyone show up. Getting these meetings off the ground is a lot of work and take a ton of patience and perseverance....I don't know how many months we had our meetings at Lion's Gate with just 3 of us !!! So Geri is going to try again and her meeting will be on Saturday Nov. 15th at 11am. I believe it's at her home which is 3339 W41st Ave, Vancouver. I dont personally know this lady so I can't offer any other comments.... Enough babble from me for tonite....I'm missing the hockey game !!! Again, Congrats to you all and I look forward to seeing you all again soon !!!!! Patricia

I'm not quite sure what you consider "awful"... What I considered awful before my surgery was the fact that I couldn't work a full shift at work (Guest Service Agent at a Lodge) because my feet hurt so badly... Or the fact that I couldn't sleep thru the night because my back and hips ached... Or the fact that every time I met someone new I wondered if they were disgusted by my size... Or the fact that I could only shop in certain stores and pay huge prices for clothes because that was the only place I could find anything that fit... Or that my car seat had to be positioned back as far as it would go and the seatbelt was still annoyingly tight... Shall I go on ??? Or maybe the things that you consider an awful way to live is the fact that some days I can't eat gooey sticky bread... Or the fact that I don't drink when I eat... Or sometimes I sit to a meal and find that the chicken/beef/ pork just isn't going to work for me tonite... Or the fact that for the first time in my life I am at a "normal" weight and have been able to maintain it for a year... My thoughts to you....if you at all think that this surgery might be awful in any way, you're almost certainly not ready to do this. Read this site some more, read any other site you can find regarding banding....or just decide you're not ready and don't read any of it !!! But DO NOT let anything that anyone posts be the deciding factor in having this surgery done. Unless and until YOU are ready to commit 100% you are just setting yourself up to fail.....and sadly, most (but not all!!!) who fail blame the band when in fact they were personally just not ready or able to commit fully. All the best to you !!! Patricia

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you IsaBrown but unfortunately if it were me, I wouldn't get my hopes up that MSP is going to cover this. In fact I just heard an interesting story the other day at lunch.... I had travelled with my mom out of town last week to meet up with my aunt and some old family friends for lunch. As we were sitting chatting afterwards, the conversation turned (rather morbidly!!) to people who had passed away recently. (keeping in mind that these are all ladies in their 70's and 80's that have known each other since their school days and they were talking of people they had all known) Anyhow, the convo turns to the daughter (50'ish) of a women they know that recently passed away....from the difficulties of gastric bypass. Convo turned to banding (after my mom informed them all of my band) and the one lady that knew this family well said that the woman had applied 2 years ago to MSP to be banded and they had flatly refused her but suggested she get on the list for bypass. Her family Dr as well as her diabetic specialist had submitted letters saying she wouldn't survive a bypass and they recommended the band, listing all the reasons they thought it would be safer for her. Still a no-go. After fighting MSP for 16 months she was fast-tracked for a bypass, had it done 8 months ago...and sadly her Dr's were right...her body just couldn't handle all the issues and she passed away 3 weeks ago. I really, really, REALLYYYYY hope that 1 day MSP will see that this is a safe, realistic and viable alternative to bypass surgery, but in the meantime, I would start saving your money if you're serious about banding. All the best....and PLEASE keep us informed on what you hear back from MSP....who knows, maybe you'll be the lucky first person they approve !!!! Patricia

I actually forget :wink_smile: I was banded at NWWLS in Everett, WA and I'm pretty sure it was right around $16,000.....that included all the pre-op consultations with nurse practitioner, surgeon, psych and dietician. Patricia

I've been banded almost 2 years and have ~never~ had a Protein drink (including pre- and immediately post-op).... The clinic I went to, my band surgeon, and my PCP all say that if we eat a healthy, balanced diet there's no need for them. I want to chew and enjoy the calories I put into my body...not drink 'em !!! Patricia

Roller coaster??....couldn't tell you....HATE THEM !!!! :Dancing_biggrin: You won't find me riding one of 'em !!! As for flying...HATE IT too !!! :party: Geez I sound like a wimp !!! :crying: I did realize years ago that if I ever wanted to go anywhere I was gonna have to fly, so I suck it up at least a couple times a year and we holiday. Since banding I've been on a plane 6 or 8 times....ranging from inter-island Hawaiian to a 6 hour cross-country. I've travelled with very little fill, and a really tight fill....have never had any band issue at all. If it makes you nervous, eat light the day you travel and do liquids for a day when you get there....my thought is that you'll notice any changes and can adjust accordingly....but I wouldn't expect any issues. Patricia

WOW !!! Forget about the swelling....you look great !!! I want to thank you for posting these pictures, I've been trying to figure out what I might look like after a TT and your 'before' picture is a lot like the skin/tummy I'm dealing with. Funny actually, we've lost almost the identical amount of weight !!! Congrats and thanks again !!! Patricia

LOL..... no fireworks !! At least not before I ran out the door so that I wouldn't get stuck behind that darned road closure !!! ~Sigh~ It will be so nice when I don't have to worry about it anymore.... As far as Dr. Arseeau....I'm honestly not sure if you need a referal. I recieved a letter from NWWLS 2 weeks ago (snail-mail no less !!!) with all his info on it and all it stressed was that he likes the first contact to be done by email. I think you should just shoot him off a mail and see what happens. richarda@interchange.ubc.ca As far as the meeting....sorry you couldnt make it, but we had a few newbies !!! Was a lot of fun, especially letting them all grope my port !! I'm glad you ladies decided to join us, I really enjoyed meeting you all !!! Anyhow.....it's almost Survivor time !! Yup, I'm an addict !!! Have a great nite everyone. Patricia

Hi everyone I have a couple of questions for those of you who have already had tummy tucks and lower body lifts. I have been researching and looking into possible surgeons for PS and one of my options is to travel to Mexico. However for me this is a pretty long trip.... I live a couple of hours out of Vancouver BC. The things I need to know are how difficult it would be to travel home after surgery. There would be no problem with me staying down there up to a week post-op altho I would prefer to travel home on day 4 or 5. It's a long journey....about a 4 hour flight, then making my way thru the Van airport, and then an almost 3 hour drive home. Keep in mind I wouldn't be travelling alone and if I had to stay in Vancouver for a night rather than flying and driving in the same day, I could. When I had my band surgery I healed really quickly and had very little pain. I travelled hom from WA state (a 6 hour drive) 24 hours after surgery. Sure, it was uncomfortable to sit that long, but with pain meds it was definitely managable. I was driving and shopping on day 3 and pushing my moms wheel chair day 4. So....is the pain managable for decent travel on day 4....or day 7?? Can I sit comfortably enough on a plane for 4 hours?? Anything else I haven't thought about regarding travelling that I should know?? Any and all input is hugely appreciated !!!! Patricia

Happy Thanksgiving everyone !!!! :smile2: I wanted to post now with the meeting reminder in case I don't get another chance between now and Wednesday. I've got family in towm for the long weekend, and as well as that I have to work sunday and monday.....and then work the polling station all day tuesday !!! Don't know how I manage to get involved in all this stuff !!! :thumbup: So....we will be meeting as usual at LionsGate Hospital on Wednesday evening, Oct. 15th at 7pm. As always I will be a little early.... To the couple of new people that have posted recently, please feel free to join us !!! We're an easy-going group of people who like to get together to help each other with problems we may be having and to answer each others questions. All the best to everyone and have a great weekend !!!! Patricia

Hi Dr. Schulman As I read about TT's I see mention now and again about 'mini-tucks'. Can you tell me what these are and how they differ from a full TT?? As well...I spoke to a lady locally that had a TT a few years ago and she commented on the muscle repair that was involved and then made a comment that since I have never had a pregnancy my muscle damage would be minimal. I hadn't thought about it at all and now I'm confused about how extensive my TT will have to be and if I will have any muscle repair done. Can you explain this to me?? Also, the Dr I am considering works out of a clinic in Vancouver and not a hospital altho he does have operating privilages at Van. General (the private clinic setting is new here in BC because of our provincial health care and if I wait to have the surgery in hospital I could literally wait ~years~) So because the surgeries are done as a day surgery for the most part (the facility can keep us overnight if necessary) they don't do LBL's and it would have to be done as 2 surgeries....a TT and then months later a back/butt/hip/thigh type lift. If I were planning on having all of this done would it actually be better to have it done somewhere as 1 major surgery or split it up? My concern is 2 surgeries, 2 recoveries... any thoughts? Thanks in advance !!! Patricia 11/16/06 306/202/175ish 5'11"

Ok....so after reading all of the posts I've come to the conclusion that the smartest thing to do would be to suck it up, save up another couple thousand bucks and have it done locally. I'm just so darned impatient !!!:eek: I could do it NOW in Mexico...but it's gonna take me at least a few months to save more cash !!! ~~Sigh~~ So I need to thank you all for answering my questions...it's very much appreciated !!! I envy those of you that have gone before me...and can sympathize with those of you waiting with me. 1 day it will be our turn.... Again, thanks to all !!! Patricia

Hi Ex Lass I also made a pro vs. con list when I was debating this surgery. To me it's a smart thing to do...if a person isn't satisfied that the pro's outweigh the con's then there is really no point in doing it. You have to want it !!!...and then after you have the band you have to work it !!! As for your question....I've had my band almost 2 years, I've lost and maintained a 100+lb weight loss and have more energy now than I EVER have. I was an obese child, teenager and adult...and now, for the first time in my life, I'm the one that doesn't want to quit when the day is over !!! So my vote would be that the energy level definitely increases. That said, I would also like to comment on some of your other 'cons'... Risk of procedure...there is a risk, this is surgery. Choose your surgeon well, don't be afraid to ask how many of these procedures he's done, ask how many complications he's had, how many times he had to go from a lapro surgery to an open surgery. Ask all the questions you can until you feel that you've done the best you can to make yourself safe. And then just close your eyes and let him do his job There is absolutely no reason you won't be able to eat our with friends and family. I go out fairly regularly.... Sure, at first while you're on a limited diet (during healing) it might be difficult, but I have yet to go into a restaurant and not be able to find something that agrees with my band. I can even sit at a table with people who don't know I've had surgery and eat my meal without them even noticing I'm eating less :eek: As far as vomiting...you are not going to vomit any more frequently just because you have a band. I'm sure you've read all about people 'vomiting' or 'pbing'... Well, at the risk of offending someone, and I'm sure I probably will, pb'ing is about 95% self induced. As long as you don't keep your band too tight and you pay attention to how and what you eat, you don't need to vomit. I personally went more than a full year after banding without sliming or pbing.....you can too. Getting enough calories and nutrition is a non-issue....read the boards, you'll see that most exercise to some degree and you won't see many saying they don't have the strength for it. In the end, the choice is yours and only you can know if banding is right for you... Good luck in your decision making !!!! Patricia

Hi Babe :tt2: Welcome to the forum and congrats on making a decision to take back control of your life. I know all too well how difficult it can be to admit defeat and look into surgery as an alternative to a lifetime of yo-yo dieting....been there, done that !!! As far as I know, you are correct in the fact that there are 2 surgeons in Vancouver. Like Doddie said, Dr. Woodhead is younger and newer to this surgery, however his training in the field is excellent and I have spoken to lots of his patients who think he is wonderful. I get the impression that Dr. Leung is very cut and dry and seriously lacking in bedside manner but an excellent surgeon. He has been doing it for years and if you're looking for someone that won't coddle you and will give it to you straight, that's him. There are other alternatives to being banded in Vancouver.... Doddie herself went to Toronto and I personally went to Washington state. We have a fellow in our North Van support group who recently had his surgery done in Mexico and is very happy with how his surgery went. The single most important thing with having a lapband (apart from the surgery itself, of course) is the aftercare regarding fills. When Doddie had her surgery almost 2 years ago, there were next to no options for her and she actually flew back to Toronto for her fill. I travel down to Bellingham for mine. However, there is now a Dr. working out of St. Pauls hospital that will do fills regardless of where you had your surgery, so this opens up more options for people when choosing surgeons. Keep in mind of course, Dr. Arseneau charges for fill visits.....whereas most surgeons provide free fills, some for life, others for the first year. I'm not sure where in Vancouver you live, but you are certainly welcome to join us at our support group next week in North Vancouver. It will be on Wednesday, Oct. 15th at Lions Gate hospital, conference room A at 7pm. We have people joining us that range from looking into banding (like you) to a couple of years post-op (like Doddie and myself). It is a casual atmosphere and we generally have lots of laughs. Alternatively, there is a new group starting (see the first post in this thread for location and time). I do not personally know the lady organizing it or how many people that might be attending, but you might want to look into it. All the best to you and if you have any questions feel free to post again here or email me at canadagirl33@hotmail.com Patricia

So I live in Canada, just outside of Vancouver and will be in Maui for probably 3 weeks in January. If there are any of you on Maui (Kihei area, altho I'll have a car and be able to travel) and would like to meet up for lunch or an afternoon of mall walking, or outside for a walk...or whatever...let me know !!! I'll most certainly have a few days when I have a few hours to kill and I would love to met any fellow bandsters. I'll check back for replies here, or feel free to email me at canadagirl33@hotmail.com All the best, Patricia 11/16/06 NWWLS 306/202/175

I want to thank you all for your input...it's greatly appreciated !!!! :tt2: I guess I thought that with the almost $2k that I would save by having the surgery in Mexico I could make a return trip a few months later if there was anything needed like belly button or dog ear repair... I do know that it is almost guarenteed that I would have drains, but I figured that there was a possibility that my GP could handle them and remove stitches when the time came. A little naive I guess :thumbup: and when I stop and think it is obviously better for a surgeon that deals with them every day to look after them. Anouther question... After reading some of your comments, how often did you all see your surgeons after the surgery? I'm a minimum 3 hour drive (1 way) from the surgeon in Vancouver so it is really an all day trip to go down there for an appointment. As well...all of you mentioned swelling, but none of you mentioned compression garments...did you all wear them?....and for how long? I thought that there was really no option and we HAD to wear them for up to 6 weeks?....Did they not really help with the swelling? Sorry for all the questions !!! Thanks again !!! Patricia

Asking about prices here doesn't really work because there are so many variables.... I live in Vancouver, BC so I got online and found some local plastic surgeons, they all have websites with contact info so I picked 5 or 6 and emailed them. I told them that I had lost a significant amount of weight and was looking at a tummy tuck....could they please supply me with prices, time frames etc. Of the ones I contacted the prices ranged from $6200 -$8600. I've looked at a couple of surgeons in WA state (was banded there) as well as in Mexico....from everywhere I checked the prices go from $4300-$9700.....quite a spread. I will be self-pay as I was for banding....and my TT savings account is finally to the point where I can seriously start looking into it !!!! YAYYYYY!!!! Patricia

The first person I spoke to about Dr. Arseneau was at our last support meeting. It had only taken her a few days to get in to see him, he did a mini physical/check-up with her and then did her fill. She was very pleased with him and commented that he was very nice, listened to any of her concerns and offered sound advice. I recieved an email a few days ago from another woman that attends our support group. She got his name etc at the last meeting and made her appt based on that. She didn't get into specifics about how long the appt took or exactly what happened during it but commented that she really liked him and he was great. I personally will probably make an appt with him for my next fill, if only to meet him, talk to him and be able to form my own opinion to pass along. I can completely understand your thoughts on going back to Mexico for your first fill and post-op appt with your surgeon, I would probably be thinking the same thing. But then I think that it might not be such a bad thing afterwards to see him, if for no other reason than so that he knows you and has you on file in case you have anything come up that you need immediate attention for. All the best and let me know if you plan your trip to Mexico....not a bad place to be headed since it looks like our weather is taking a turn for the worse !!!! Patriciat