Gaffer

You dont have any issues?:girl_hug: Just kidding. I thought that it would be nice to have a place to get a male perspective sometimes in a place that is largely female. I guess the ladies could also use it as a place to ask questions as well. Gaf

I am interested to know also. A

Hey Janice, I am from Calgary as well. I know what you are saying. I was refered to 2 clinics in Alberta this summer. From what I was told by them is it was 1.5-2 years before you get a consult, and then possible another 2 years before surgery. Tell your Dr. to also refer you to the Dr.Mitchell clinic in Calgary (I will try to find the contact information). They have also started to do bands in Calgary, but are limited to performing 25 per year. It never hurts to be on 2 lists, and then you dont have to travel to Edmonton for care. Andrew

Janice, I am from Calgary as well, and am booked with Dr. Coburn on Feb 14. So far I have done the phone consult and recieved my pre-op package. In terms of after care on Calgary I will be using Dr. Mitchell for fills etc. In talking to Dr. Coburn, basically what happens is he makes the call as to how much fill etc, and then Dr. Mitchell does the fill. Dr. Coburn told me that he came out & trained Dr. Mitchell in Calgary on how to do the surgery and the fills From my limited experience, I feel that I have made a wise decision to use Dr. Coburn, although I have heard good things about TLBC as well. There are also a coulpe of Dr.'s doing bands on the west coast from what I have seen from some people around here. Really the best resource I have found has been this forum, read as much of it as you can and it will answer so many questions for you. Andrew

Have you recieved your pre-op package yet? All the details are in there. For me, my pre-op is 3 weeks Optifast with 1 serving of suggested vegitables daily, with some berries in the shakes should I wish, and then some liquids which I cant remember off the top of my head. I think that I have to do the 3 weeks as I have a high BMI, around 47. It is kinda funny to see 3 of us that are scheduled for the 14th. It is also nice to see another guy here. All the ladies here are great, but it is noce to have a male perspective on this whole adventure as well. Andrew

I know what you mean. I have limited the number of people I am telling at this point so I dont have to do so much explaning. To have the surgery is a personal decision that I do not have to justify to anyone, & it is not there business. I guess that you & I will be starting the Optifast the same day (assuming you are doing two weeks), as I have to do 3 weeks, where most people only have to do two. I am scheduled to start that on Jan. 24. Gaf

Yah I thought, no pun intended. I was going to use the term bleeding edge which I use all the time, but thought better of it in the surgery context. As for having your surgery a week before me, are you on Feb 7 then? That is what I love about this site. It is so nice to have a resource of people who not only have had the same procedure, but have also had the same Dr. It is also nice to have people who understand. I have only told my wife, parents, wife's parents and my boss who is also considering the procedure and who needs to sign the form for the time off. Gaf

It is a small 3 person triangular shaped tub that will be going on the deck. Really it is a gift for the family, including myself. I figure that I will need some means to reduce stress after my surgery, since before that I would reduce stress by eating which I have been doing for the last 31 years. We have had a good year, and have made several sacrifices to get my new business up and running while working full time and having a new baby. I think we deserve it. Gaf

Oh that is great. I am scheduled with a date with Dr. C on Valentine's day. It is nice to know that I will be getting something that is cutting edge. Gaf

Thanks, I dont think Mrs. Gaffer would like to sit in tepid Water with my gaping abdominal woulds either. As for the tub, it was something that I thought would be a good compromise. We were going to build our dreamhome before the housing market in Calgary went through the roof so we backed out and opted for our current smaller house instead of a giant mortgage. Now hopefully she can stay home after the second child is born. Anyway.... she really wanted the giant jetted tub for the master suite in the new house, but since that is no longer a reality i thought that she would like this. She is pretty excited to say the least. Gaf

From the paperwork that I got from Dr. Coburns office it mentioned that you can add berries to the Optifast, but to use them sparingly as the calories can add up quickly. Bsically, for me, the diet is Optifast 3X per day with one serving of veggies (they have a list of better ones and ones to avoid) and then Water or other low calorie fluids. This is 3 weeks for me. It outlines all this in the package. Other than that there is some lists of stuff you need to take with you, some medicines to avoid, and other instructions. It is all pretty self explanitory, plus when you talk to Rose after you get it she makes sure it is all clearly understood. As for the extracts, I think I know which ones you guys are talking about. They look like little liquor bottles. Maybe I will have to send Mrs. Gaffer as I am a domesticated animal and can no longer fend for myself in the grocery store. Gaf

I am going to have it bronzed as a trophy :biggrin1: Or maybe I will just use it to mix the babies formula. Thanks for the suggestions with the Optifast. These extracts, where can a guy get these? Grocery store? Walmart? Gaf

Yes, a shaker bottle. A $16,000 shaker bottle. Oh well I am sure it will be worth it. As for a blender, I have one that is somewhat old from my blender drink phase in University. Maybe it is time to spring for a magic bullet. What are peoples thought on the bullet? Is is worth it? Gaf

Mine was at home when I got here. As for the 2 week pre-op diet, I actually think that I will have to be on Optifast for 3 weeks pre-op. The told me that they had me scheduled to start it Jan 24. Nothing really exciting in the preop package except for a bunch of Optifast, a shaker bottle and a bunch of paper work. Gaf

I thought I had seen someone here that was scheduled for the Feb. 14 with Dr. Coburn. I am looking forward to it as well. I will be flying out of Calgary though seeing as that is where I live. Have you recieved you pre-op package yet? Mine should be here soon. Gaf

That is great. I am booked with Dr. Coburn for surgery on Feb.14. Gaffer

That is good news for you. Lets hope that they dont have you jumping through too many hoops. A

I saw this link today in some of the research I have done. I thought it may help others. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/cmsID,8222/mode,content/a,cms/ A

That is good news. Can I ask when you were refered to the clininc in Edmonton? Gaffer

Perhaps tell her that there is a greater chance of you dieing from things like heart disease, stroke, cancer or complications with diabetes if you dont have the surgery. Heart disease & stroke are proven to kill millions every year. Gaffer

Sounds like I just invaded the slumber party ladies. Oh well, I am sure I will be able to hold my own. Gaffer

My family Dr. actually brought up the WLS route for me. I know that I would have been aproved as my BMI is about 47, but I dont want to jump through all the hoops before they send me to surgury. I have been jumping through hoops my entire life with my weight and nothing has stuck. I am a new father, and I want to be around to see the milestones in my sons life. This way, I am in control, even if it is going to cost me. Oh well, I guess I will just put off building that garage for another year. Gaffer

In talking to the person at Dr.Mitchell's clinic in Calgary AB health does cover the LapBand procedure when done in Alberta. Assuming you dont die of old age first. I would call Dr. Mitchell's office to see if they could write you a letter to that effect or direct you to someone in AHC that could do the same Gaffer

LadyBugP, I too am on the waiting list for the clinic at the clinic in Edmonton, as as well as the one in Calgary (Dr.Mitchell's). I called about wait times for both of them and was told that it would be about 1.5-2 years before I got a consult from the time of refferal, and then at least another year before surgery. As a result, I have decided to pay for it myself and add those years to my life rather than waiting for a system that views my problem as a lifestyle choice. I have a phone consult with Dr. Coburn next week. Gaffer

I have been in touch with Dr. Coburn's clinic in Toronto, and they mentioned that I could get fills from a Dr. here in Calgary. From what I have read good things about the Toronto clinic. Gaffer