Gaffer

So it sounds like you are in for the Lapband then? Andrew

Do they do lapband or are they strictly a bypass program? Andrew

First off, like others have mentioed, please follow your pre-op diet. It is not a diet, it is about preparing yourself for surgery, and life after surgery. If you stick to the diet, you should be in ketosis and that helps with the cravings and hunger. If you cheat, you wont be in ketosis & be miserable for the duration of the pre-op. If you are having trouble with the pre-op, you better try to get things sorted out because cheating on you post op can have even more serious consequences. I know the pre-op can be hard, but remember that it is for your safety. One thing that helped bet me through my 3 weeks pre-op was dill pickles. Look for some that have as few calories & carbs as possible and munch on those. The crispyness made me feel like they are real food and the salt helped with the flavour. Andrew

I will look up the number & send it to you. I have it at work, but I am not going back until Monday. Andrew

You can get it for $16K in Canada even in BC with better aftercare than what they are offering, or $9950USD in Colorado with about the same level of after care. $18K seems pretty pricey to me, I think that you could get a better deal. Andrew

Quote: Originally Posted by Cindy_D Andrew I love butterflies - do you sell them on-line? Cindy You can view them online & then send me an email. I dont have a store on there but I can take credit cards via email & phone. Quote: Originally Posted by sherrylynn would love to view your work gaffer I would love you to view my work too. It seems that Shaw has screwed up my web space as they are moving it to a new account, so it will be down for a couple of days. I am in the process of loading it up to a new server. When it is back up, the web page is livingcolours.ca here is a link.Welcome to livingcolours.ca I'll offer free shipping to LBT members, which is usually pretty expensive as they have to be packed pretty welll. Andrew

Haha So whitty, Green. Andrew

LIke I have time to knit these days. I am so busy building butterflies and holding down a full time job, while wrangling my 18 month old that I barely have time to sleep. I'll tell you what, you can buy one at the art & craft shows that I will be selling at for the next 4 weeks. If anyone is interested, here is the schedule: Nov. 9,10,11 - Millarville Christmas Nov. 16,17,18 - Spruce Meadows Christmas Nov. 23,24,25 - Spruce Meadows Christmas Nov. 29,30, Dec. 1, 2 - Our Best to You - Round Up Center If your at the shows, look for the guy with all the butterflies & bugs. Thats me. Andrew

I have never heard of them either. If you are out that way, why not looking to Dr. Coburn in Missasauga. There are many happy bandsters from there and TLBC in Toronto on these boards. Andrew

I would not think of taking weight loss pills at this point. Talk to your surgeon about it, not some lady on the forum. I am not too sure what your surgeon will say about it. Really, you are only a week or so away from your fill. Stick to your prescribed after care. Dont worry so much about losing wieght at this point, once you get the proper restriction you will be on your way. Andrew

If you dont have your first fill then you are in what is sometimes refered to a "bandster hell". Right now, like Doddie mentioned, is the time to focus on getting healed properly, and trying to be as good as possible on your post op diet. Dont worry, once you are on the path to proper restriction, you will feel much better. The you will have to work on the head hunger issue that we all deal with. Andrew

You are in a tough spot right now, as it sounds like you dont have proper restriction, which is not uncommon after just your first fill. A couple of things for you. First, get you next fill as soon as you can so that you can work on getting proper restriciton. That is half the battle. Next, try and find something to replace the urge to nibble, whether it is working out or knitting, or chatting with people, Anything to keep you occupied so that you are not thinking about eating. For me the biggest thing I attribute to my success is exercise in adittion to the band. Try to start getting out for some walks, or join a gym. Lastly, dont be so hard on yourself. As an overweight people we tend to beat ourselves up. Remember that the band is a process and that it will take time to get the weight off. Andrew

Yes, I am Dr.Coburn patient so I see Dr. Botha, and there is Dr. Mitchell who will take all patients irregardless of surgeon. Send me a PM if you need the numbers. Was Dr. Coburn your surgeon, or are you still looking into the procedure. Andrew

First off, dont beat yourself up. We all go through things that can take us off the path to our goals. Look at it this way, if you were not banded, how much would you have gained back. I would be willing to bet it would have been more than 8#s. Pick yourself up, and dust yourself off and if nothing else go get your fill. Andrew

Totally agreed. The money spent on my accountant, who is pretty reasonable is made back in aditional deductions he finds for me. Plus the ability to talk to him about tax planning in invaluable. Accountants are not that expensive. My guy does my business taxes, and personal taxes for both my wife & I for about $325 each year. I think I should almost pay him more because he saves me at least triple that each year. Andrew

Too bad about the education credits. You may want to look into getting an accountant to refile for you again and see if you can get those credits back. They come in really handy down the road if you start to make more money. What did they call the suregery when you submitted it. I am in a fight with Blue Cross (BC) right now. Basically, I have about $1200 in health spending credits. BC tells me that the CRA determines what is eligible for me to use my helath spending credits for. If it is tax dedeucatable, then it should be eligible for my health spending account. We are going around on this one. I am hoping to get back an additional $1200 for my surgery. That would make it pretty cheap. Andrew

<p><p><p> I think that the best gift that you can give your daughters is more years on your life. That is a gift worth no amount of money that they will cherish when the time comes. Do you really know what I am talking about? Andrew

I am not aware of any patients here on LBT who have had bands with Dr.Coburn who haev had slips or erosion. Take a look in the Canadian section of this forum, there are MANY happy Dr.C patients. I was done on Valentine's day 2007, and could not have been more happy with the procedure, the staff and Dr.C. I credit him with saving my life. Feel free to ask me about any concerns. Andrew

To add more mystery, I am not sure. Really, dont get too worked up about it though. What I will share is my new, most favorite think in the world. The lettuce burger. Before I was banded, I LOVED burgers. I could eat them 3 or more meals a day for the rest of my life. Anyway, after my surgery, I could not eat the bun so I would just eat the patty, but that was not really doing it for me. The other night we were having burgers and I was having a patty when I was getting some lettuce for my wife to have with hers. Eureka!!! why not wrap my burger in the lettuce leaf. It was the best "burger" I had since I was banded because you get that burger "feeling" and you can add you condiments and toppings. Now I am certain I am not the first to think of this, but I think this is the best thing since sliced bread, or burger buns. Andrew

I will, but until then I will be the man of mystery. Andrew

I found soups like the Gardenney ones were good. I would usually add a bit of water to think them down a little. I still eat the brocolli cheese one a couple times a week. They are pretty good for you too. The brocolli one has about 70 calories per serving (1/2 cup). Protien shakes are good too, I always have one for breakfast. Andrew

That is what it is all about. Many, if not all of use who are banded have had that feeling. I have been overweight since the I was a child, I do not remember a time when I was a "normal" weight. For me, with the Lapband I am no longer looking over my shoulder to see what event is going to knock me off the wagon. Dont think of it so much as a diet, but rather a whole new way to lose the weight that you need to lose You can do it for yourself too. No matter who you decide to go with, whether it be Mexico, Dr.K, Dr. Coburn or TLBC in Toronto I dont think you will regret it. Andrew

Thanks for the lift. I have been in a bit of a holding pattern latley, but I have found the drive that I need to finish what I have started. I have had some interesting things happen in the last couple of weeks. I am not sure that I can eloborate on them right now though. I have some other exciting news about me being the poster boy for lap band. Stay tuned. I hired a personal trainer, so look out. I am hoping to get to 210 by Christmas and get ripped, minus my wrinkled raisin belly. Also, regarding Mexico, I think it is a viable option. Am I saying that I regret using Dr.C, NEVER. The man gave me my life back and for that I will always hold him on a pedestal. What I am saying though is that financially it is very tempting and from the evidence on this board there are plenty of happy people that have had bands in Mexico. Dr. K in Denver is also very tempting too based on price and there are also plenty of happy bandsters who have used him as well. What I dont know about, and maybe others can fill me in, is there any sort of "warantee" with those Dr.s. What happens if you need a port replaced or moved or if you have a slip that needs to be fixed surgically? I dont know this and would like to find out. Andrew

There is no need to fight over me. Although there is alot less of me now, there is still plenty to go around. :biggrin1: Andrew

Your right, it is hard to read one's tone on the internet, but the tone of your post came off like you were whining about this casino. Why bring it up then if you are not upset with the buffet? It does not make much sense then for you to ask people to contact them about getting something done. Maybe upset is not the right word, but you were obviously motivated to get them to change it. Do your friends know that you were banded? I have found that people dont care how much or little I or anyone else eats. If they dont know you are banded there are several outs to use such as: - I am on a diet - I had a big lunch - I am not feeling well - I have a large tapeworm living in my stomach that does not allow room for food it is so large. (this will also help explain the weight loss) I dont think you will emabarass your friends by how little you eat. Did you think you were embarrasing them when you went to the buffet before if you ate too much. There is not bandsters code of ethics. Many of us are just striving to be treated normally for the first time in our lives, and not be defined by our weight and food issues. I think that by asking for discounts on food it continues to keep us defined by food & weight issues. I dont want the tone of my post to come off like I am attacking you because that is not the intent. I just think that bandsters are doing a disservice to themselves and other bandster when they are asking for discounts. Some things are more important than saving some money at a buffet. Andrew