Gaffer

Don't forget to submit you claim to AB health care. You should get about $1000 back. It is not much but it is enough to a new Flames jersey once you lose the weight :biggrin1: Andrew

Either way you have made a wise decision. That consult fee is taken off the price of your surgery so really if you went with Dr.C the consult was free anyway. I personally did 3 weeks of Optifast recently, and I found it to be pretty easy after the initial couple of days, and your body went into ketosis. Once you get throught he intial crappy part stay away from the carbs as they will put you out of ketosis and you will have to go through the misery again. Try to keep your mind off the fact that you will be able to eat almost everything in moderation once you are banded. I have found that I really dont want to eat those things anyways. After paying the price of the surgery I feel that I dont want to screw this up by falling into my own eating habits. Andrew

Yes you are able to deduct it in your tax return as a medical expense. I also plan on deducting things like my flights to get there and my hotel stay while I was there, but I will double check with my accountant. All you need is a copy of the receipts for your records should the CRA want to see them. I also think that you are able to carry those expenses forward to be used in a future year if you dont want to claim them in the year that the were incurred. I will have to do some careful palnning to get the maximum tax benefit from this. Andrew

Wendy's chilli is a life saver. I find it funny now that my meals at Wendy's cost $1.39 (small chilli in Canada) opposed to the $8-$9 I used to spend. I became somewhat of a chilli connoisseur on my mushies stage. Andrew

I just finished mushies. Some of my favs are apple sauce, yogurt, baked Beans that have been blended slightly in the magic bullet, and thicker Soups. Andrew

That is a real childish way for this Dr. to look at fills. It sounds like he has enough business to not worry about people going to Mexico. Why not do your fill, charge you for the fill & take the money for it. Andrew

It is unfortunate, and really I think that they could save the systew much more money through preventions like the lapband, but that is not what health care is about in Canada. It frustrates me that within my own health insurance I can claim stop smoking programs, and I would be able to get help if I was anorexic but they will not cover programs aimed at helping people lose weight. This despite the fact that obesity will soon beat out smoking as a leading cause of death. I do consider myself lucky that I am able to get some back from Alberta Heath, about 1000.00, but that is a drop in the bucket for the $16K plus that this cost me. Dont forget that it is also tax deducatble so that helps also. Knowing what I know now, it is worth the money, and if I did not have the means I would beg, borrow and steal to get it. Andrew

I think that this is really misleading. I dont think it was WLS that was the route of these peoples probelms, but rather a preexisting mental problem that they failed to get help with. This just perpetuates the myth that WLS is bad. It is not a cure all, but you never see media saying "WLS Saved My Life" when that has been the case for many. Thumbs down to Oprah. Andrew

Canadian health insurance tends to be a lot different from American, as we have univeral heath care here, and the surgery is not covered by many Provinces, and tough to get it if your province does cover it. To Scornelius, I am going to try and submit some of my claim to my health insurance (AB Blue Cross), but I am not too hopeful. Both my wife & I have health spending accounts so I might me able to get some money out of them there for my Optifast and maybe consults or fills. For me though, I think it would be only about $700.00 tops. I guess there is no harm in trying, but I am doubtful that you benefits will cover it. Andrew

I am from Canada & had the Large AP band placed on Feb 14. 2007. This the band that my surgeon uses exclusively now, since Nov.2006 He did not have too much info for me beyond what has been stated above, but they are in use in Canada as well. Andrew

I have also told people that my Dr. has me on a really strict diet right now. That seems to work also. It is not a lie either, I am sure my band Dr. would not like me to be eating cake, even though I could really go for a peice of cake right now. Andrew

Apprently Dr. Orr has not looked to hard. Too bad for you, but not suprising considering Canadian health care systems that focus on treatment of problems rather than prevention. Andrew

All the best for a speedy recovery. Andrew

Right on Dave. The time between now and April 2 will seem like a blur it goes by so fast. Andrew

The best advice I can give is to relax and remember all the positive reasons why you are doing this. I was having a bit of a panic moment before I was walked in to the OR. I just talked to my wife, focused on my breathing and told myself that I was going to be alright. I really believe that the state of mind you enter your surgery in has alot to do with the state you will be in while you are in recovery. Anything you can do to stay calm will benefit you on the other end. Remember that you are not the first to go through the surgery and that you will be fine. I also reminded myself that this surgery is far less risky than heart attacks, strokes, and what ever other medical problems my weight will give me in the future. It is natural to be scared, and for many of us our comfort that we have in food cannot be relied upon at this time. Andrew

I dont know that there are anymore or less on the transcanada through the mountains, although that is a likely place to be in a fatal accident. There are plenty in Calgary along our major roadways, and they seem to be more common of rural highways. I dont know why there are more here, but it is common to see them whereever you go. So many of them look like piles of garbage as the snow melts they get all covered in dirt. There was a case in Lethbridge when I lived there a high school kid was killed crossing a major road. A bunch of students started camping in the median of this road, I guess as a tribute. It got to the point that the police had to remove them from the median, and of course all these people got pissed about it. Come on people, you cant camp in the median of a road in the middle of a city. Greif does really odd things to people. Andrew

These roadside shrines are becomming more & more common here as well (Alberta, Canada). I think on of the primary reasons why they are becoming popular is the guidelines that many cemetaries have for grave markers, and what you are allowed or not allowed to to around them. I worked in cemetary in high school, and we constantly dealing with people doing things to loved ones grave stones which caused problems for the other "occupants". Things like planting flowers on the grave next to them or wanting to put in more elaborate landscaping that extended beyond their plot. These roadside shrines are not subject to anything and people can pile all sorts of crap there at will. I think they are a hazard, and should be taken down after a couple of weeks. Andrew

That is 40lbs including my 3 weeks pre-op diet, so it is 40lbs from Jan. 24. Still a pretty good loss in my books. My weight loss has slowed from then to about 2lbs per week which I feel pretty good about considering I dont have a fill yet. I was nervous right up to the time the put me to sleep. As I was standing there in my smurf outfit I was thinking what am I doing. Dont think of yourself as a failure, but as a success for realizing that the conventional "diet" system is not working for you. You are taking real steps toward success which many people are not prepared to admit they need. People who get the band should be proud that they have admitted they need help with this have gotten real help, not just another diet or magic pill. Andrew

Oddly, I dont consider the lapbandto be that drastic, especially considering the things that I have done in the past in failed attempts to lose weight. I do consider it to be a last solution. It is a totally different feeling to know that when those pounds are gone, they are gone for good (barring any complications or major foul ups on my behalf). Andrew

I know what you mean. I was banded a week after you and am a couple of days into mushies. I have to measure it. I know I could eat more than I am at a time, but I have to keep reminding myself that it is practice for what is to come. I also have to agree with the protien thing. I am normally hitting about 80 grams per day, in about 1000 total calories. I really notice the hunger kick in when I am short on protien. Hang in there, it wont be long before a fill. Andrew

Although I am pretty new, and have not had a fill yet, I can truly say that I have not regerets. Like so many have said before, why did I not do it sooner. After all, I am where I was at a year ago after I just lost 40 pounds. That would be ground that I would not have made up again had I done it sooner. Andrew

I think it is very normal for people to second guess themselves throughout the whole process. After all, I dont really like the idea of holes being poked into me on a voluntary basis. I have a very young son, and the day that we left him behind to make the trip I was a wreck. I kept thinking what if I never see him again & leave my wife a single parent (totally irrational). I had to keep reminding myself that this was for the longterm good, and that I will likely live longer as a result of the procedure. You will no doubt second guess yourself, but dont second guess yourself out of your future and your longterm health. When all else failed, I relied on the stats. They are in our favour when we have our in surgery. The complication rate from the surgery is very low, especially when compared to the alternative. With my high BP my lifestyle I was at far greater risk to die of heart disease, stroke, or certain types of cancer. I am a scientist so I take faith in the the odds and proof that lies in front of me. I have no regrets even though I am only 17 days post op and would go through all the pain again to know that I will be here longer for my family. Come here for support. We have all been through it, and we are all at various stages in our journeys. Andrew

I am glad someone wlse asked this. I am in the same boat, and it is starting to become uncomfortable. Andrew

I am from Alberta, but was banded by Dr. Coburn in Missasauga. I personally thought the experince with Dr. Coburn was great. I did not really look into other clinics since I had an immediate confidence with Dr. Coburn. Also, now they are in their new clinic which is way nicer than thier old one apparently. I have heard great things about the TLBC as well. It is just a matter of personal preferance. Look in the Canadian section on this site. There are several people in there that have been banded by the Ontario Dr.s. You will likely get several answers there. Andrew

Right on Chris. My port is still a bit tender 2 weeks post op, but not too bad. Walking will help work that gas out, and Gas-X can help. I also found that the heating pad on my shoulders really helped with the discomfort. Andrew