Gaffer

Correction, that would make me a man-boob. Carry on senoirs. Andrew

I flew from Toronto to Calgary 48 hours after my surgery, and it was only about 4 hours. I slept most of the way and was fine. This was after sitting in the airport for 3 hours as my flight was delayed. Really it is not that bad. Andrew

What I meant is that the clinic I went to has a network of trained fill providers that do the fills for thier patients as close as possible to where they live. They set that up for me. So as an example, my fill Dr. was trained by the clinic so I can get fills in Calgary, but the clinic tells him how much to put in etc. They have fill Dr.s in many major cities, adn train more as the get more patients in a specific area. I dont know if you could get the list, but you may be able to phone the clinic in toronto and find out who does thier fills in GVA or where ever you are in BC. I guess it is up to each Dr. whether they will fill out of country patients, but there was another bandster from BC here that was having difficulty getting a fill for her mexican band. Andrew

I think Yoda is stalking me.:biggrin1: I think it is great that you "Old farts" have your own thread, kinda like a senior citizens home. As a "noob" I dont feel excluded. Andrew

I had mine done by Dr.Coburn in Toronto and I could not be happier with the procedure or the care that I got from them. I don't think that BC has anything to recoupe some of the costs, but I am from AB, so I cant be 100% sure. One thing that I liked about TO was that when you get the band done there you have some assurances that if there were a problem with your band, ie slip, erosion, leak in port, tubing or band they will look after it for you. I have also read the horror stories about people who have problems with thier band and they have no recourse with thier surgeons. Finally, with the TO clinics, you are able to get fills either at thier clinic or through thier network of fill providers. From wht I have seen, both TO clinics have people in many major cities. Not the same case for those who got to Mexico. food for thought. What ever you do make sure that you have your after care lined up ahead of time no matter where you go. Andrew

Just to clarify, my 45lbs does include my pre-op diet weight loss. I was put on a 3 week Optifast diet, which is <1000 calories per day, with high protien to promote ketosis. My surgeon required this as I have a high BMI and they wanted to shrink my liver. Some surgeons don't require a pre-op diet, but I think they are a good idea if for nothing else to break you of those bad habits, and so that you arent going through carb withdrawl right after surgery. I lost about 30lbs in the 3 weeks of my pre-op, and I have lost the other 15lbs since I had the surgery which was a month ago yesterday. I have not had any fills yet, but I think that I will be on target to lose 50lbs before my first fill. I consider myself to be lucky to lose this much weight since Jan. 24. I was very diligent with my pre-op and post-op diets, and now I am working out 4 days a week which helps. There are times where I think I could have done this without the band, but really deep down I know that it would not be a permenant change. I have lost 50-125lbs in multiple attempts only to gain it back plus interest. This is the first time that I am not thinking in the back of my head "how much will I gain back when I fall off the wagon" 1-2 pounds per week is considered the "safe" route for weight loss, and that is an average. As a man, it is pretty likely that your weight loss will be greater when you first start out. I think many Dr.s use the 1-2lbs per week to try and manage the expectations of thier patients. When you think about it if you average 2lbs per week for a year that would be 110lbs per year. Would you be happy to be 110lbs lighter in a year? Andrew

Condolences on your grandmother. In some ways it is a blessing. Try to remember her for the women she was before she became ill. Andrew

That is a little bit suspect if there are numerous people from the same family being banded in short periods of time. There is a part of me that is angry that I had to pay for this myself when there are others out there that are screwing the system. My mom works with a lady who just had her SECOND wls surgery paid for by the government because she did not follow the rules on her VGB, blew out her pouch and is now going for RNY. I am a young otherwise healthy guy, and I cant even get one surgery in a decent amount of time. I think the reason why their might have been some cases of cue jumping last year had to do with the training of the surgeons here in Calgary. I was told by my Dr (Coburn) that he came to town and trained the Dr.s here and when they did that they performed 12 suregeries in less than a week. So, if they were looking for the first people to perform the surgery on, they must have had some selection criteria to get people from the Weight Mgt. Clinic, even though it was not open that long. Never will I regret getting the band, as it has already changes my life for the better in such a short period of time. I am miffed that I had to pay for it when people are getting it for free in my own city. I am not going to let that get the better of me though, and I stil think that people that have paid for the band out of pocket have an advantage over those who got it for free. I have finacial reasons as well to make this work, becasue if I spent $16k+ to get this, I could not live with myself if I had taken the money out of my family finances and failed. Andrew

I think what you are going through is totally normal. I had doubts up to the minute they put the IV in may arm. I lost 30lb through the preop diet and thought "Okay I will just do this for another 12 weeks and I will be fine". In the back of my head I always knew that I could not do it, and that medical intervention in the form of the band was the only way I was going to make a permenant change. If your wife is not supportive make sure she knows that you are doing it for the right reasons, like your health and longevity. I dont think any one who loves you can fault you for those reasons. I can't imagine having a wife who is not supportive as mine has been there for me through the whole thing, but I think it is something that you would have to work out before going through with it. I can honestly say that now that I have the band, and the pounds are coming off, it is nice to know that those pounds are gone for could barring any major problems or foul ups on my behalf. Andrew

Poached eggs. I have loved them since I was a kid. I think they are perfect for me right now. I dont have any problems to date with scrambled eggs, and I have had them about 5-6 times. I will have to try egg salad this weekend. Andrew

It sounds like we are going through the same things as we are all pretty close in our surgery dates. I have found that I am able to eat pretty much anything that I want. I still have to work at keeping my portions around 1 cup. My only saving grace is that I am able to work out like a fiend and do 45 minutes on the eliptical 4 time per week. I am eagerly awaiting my first fill around the 28. Andrew

My cost for surgery was as follows: Surgery = $16,000 Optifast (3 Weeks) = $210 Hotels & meals for my wife = $600.00 Flights to Toronto = $900 Car service & cab rides = $100 Total = $17,810 roughly Getting my life back PRICELESS I also submitted my claim and should be getting $1036 back from AB Health Care, as well as savings on my taxes as the suregery is tax deductable. That all depends on your income obviously, but I hope to get back at least $2500. The criteria as I understand it to get into the program are a BMI of 40+. Comorbididites like sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other medical ailments caused by the extra weight also factor in. I just got my letter from the clinic in Calgary Monday, about 9 months after my Dr. refered me to enter the weight management program. I did not have any comorbidities other than high blood pressure, but my Dr. also fudged my numbers to make my BMI 50, it was really 48. The time from referal to surgery is looking like 4-5 years at this time. This is true of both the clinic in Calgary and Edmonton because I called them when I was refered and that was the time frame they gave me. Also be aware that just because you are accepted into the program, it does not mean that you will be getting a lapband, you may be given the option of another surgery, or none at all based on your success in the weight management program. When it came to me, I looked at the hurdles that were in place if I were to get it done in Alberta and I figured that those 4-5 years I would have to wait would be years that would be cut off the end of my life. Yes the $17K+ is steep, but when I look at what I would be losing interms of my health, ability to participate and be there for my young family it was totally worth it. I want to be able to ride bikes, go swimming, and do all those things that my weight was preventing me from doing. Andrew

It may also be an indication of a hiatal hernia. I had one repaired when I was banded, and the Dr. said it was quite commom for people who are banded to need the repair. Heartburn is a sign of the hernia, but I never had much heartburn. Andrew

I have brewed my own in the past in an effort to get a Hefeweizen. There are only a couple of micro-brews in Canada that make a Heff, which is odd because in the Pacific Northwest where we visit there are at least 4 or 5 that I can remeber being available. You would think in the Canadian prairies where I am from they could make a beer from wheat. Andrew

Well put Cloe. What concerns me is that we are going the way of the States where High Fructose corn Syrup is a new food group. That stuff is the devil, and should be banned quicker than trans-fat becasue I think it is doing way more harm. Andrew

I think that this is the important factor, and weighed against the benefits that this is to be considered a "side effect", just as the side efffects of not having the surgery include stroke, heart attack, diabetes and death. I will take my chances here, but I think that it is good to be aware of. So I am asking you all if you notice me becoming dumber please let me know. :biggrin1: As for the comments from the people on the Globe site, it proves that not only smart people read the Globe & Mail. Andrew

You drink beer as part of your job. You are my hero. I have been looking for that job for many years, but so far I have had to pay to drink the beer, not the other way around. Really though, we all find ways to adapt to situations, and if you have to spit out the beer (blasphemy, I know), or not have any, just tell people if they notice that your Dr. gave you heck and you need to watch your diet. This has already gotten me off the hook so many times and I have been banded less than a month. Andrew

I prefer the ON one to the NxCare in terms of taste, plus at that price it is pretty cheap. I am not too picky in terms of tatse if I need it sweeter I have some stevia that I can add. The taste on these is such a personal thing, but I did use the ON Classic for a number of years. I also found SND Canada http://www.sndcanada.com has the ON Gold Standard on sale for $39.99 for the 5lbs which is pretty good price. The Gold has lactase and some other enzymes added for better absorbtion and to help those who have difficulty digesting lactose. I am not too concerned with the whole protien technology as I am not a muscle head, I just want a quick easy solution for the mornings that helps me boost my protien intake. Andrew

If you want to stay close to home there are some Dr.s in Washignton and i think Idaho that are doing it, but I dont know who they are. Denver also has a Dr.Kirchebaum that many people here have used and he is pretty cheap ~$9500USD. Funny thing, I got home last night in the mail, and I recieved my letter from the weight management clinic at the UofC which is the first step to becoming banded in Alberta. I was told to make an appointment for thier supervised weight management program. I think I will skip it. Andrew

Looks like we have alot in common, I too am a 32yo male who started out at 360 and now weight about 315. I had the surgery lst month, and so far I can say it is the 3rd best things I have done in my life (sorry wife and son have to be 1&2) I love red meat and beer too, but these are things that I am prepared to let go of if it means that I am in better health. Really when I compare it to what I will be gaining, it does not seem like that much to give up. I am planning on reintroducing lean cuts of red meat in time. Now I wont have to feel guilty about eating filet mignon, since I will be full after a couple of bites. I am not sure what I will do about beer, I love it and crave it now that I am banded. I will have to see how it goes, and maybe I will be able to enjoy the occasional one. I also like red wine, so I guess I will have to become a wine snob it I cant be a beer snob. Already I have found that I dont want to eat those things that had gotten me to 360lb. Also the nice things about the band is that you dont have to give up most things, you will just choose to eat them in moderation. Andrew

I know when I booked with Dr. C, I had to wait about 8 weeks, and they might be booking even longer now because they are getting busier. Andrew

That suck. I dont have anything, but you may aslo be able to buy a pre-paid phone package from Staples or a place like that and then activate the phone under your current plan. Otherwise, ebay may have some phones. Good Luck, Andrew

I am from Calgary, but had my band done by Dr. Coburn in Toronto. From what I have seen there are no Calgary Bandsters here who were banded in Calgary by Dr.Mitchell/Dr.Descouteux here. All the bands that are being done in Calgary being paid for by Alberta Health Care, and we dont have the option of paying the Calgary Docs to do ours. The Calgary Clinic is limited to doing 25 bands per year, and this is the first year that they are being done. My Dr. was the one that trained the Calgary Docs, and he told me that they did 12/25 bands for 2006 when he was here to train them. If you want to have your band done in Calgary you must meet certain criteria for BMI & co-morbitities, be refered by you family Dr., be accepted by the clinic, go through a 6 month supervised weight managment program and be prepared to wait 1.5 years to get a consult and another 2.5 before surgery. Getting a band in Alberta is really tough right now. I personally was not willing to wait that long, so had to do a self pay in Toronto. There is no option for self pay in Alberta at this time. Hope this helps, Andrew

Just to muddy the Water. I have been using NxCare IsoXP whey Isolate http://www.supplementscanada.com/popeyes/product256.html It is okay, but I find it to be a bit too sweet for when I am drinking it first things in the morning. When I am done that one I will be going back to Optimum Nutrition Classic Whey - chocolate. It is what I used when I was all buff in my university days, and it is really cheap right now $26.99 for 5lbs here http://www.supplementscanada.com/ The are located in Canada so you wont get nailed for shipping & duty. They also have brick & mortar stores under the name Popeye's supplements. Andrew

That is really quick. I think that is a better way to go since you have less time to get worked up, plus if you can tie it in with business in TO that is a bonus. Andrew