Gaffer

I think that if you are that bent on going to the buffet with your friends that you should suck it up. YOU are the person with the Lapband, and therefore YOU should have to make concessions if you still want to go to a place with all your friends. Business are not obliged to give you a discount because of something you can or cant do. The only solution to this would be to find a restauraunt that weighs you when you come in the door, and then weighs you on the way out and charges you by the weight of the food you ate. I dont know of any place like this. I would be too embarrased to even ask for a discount and show them my lapband card (if I had one). Be empowered in knowing that you can go to the buffet and not eat yourself to death. If it was really worth seeing your friends you would spend the money and go. Stop being so cheap. Andrew

I am in Calgary & had my surgery done on Valentines Day 2007 at the Surical weight loss clinic in Missasauga. The staff and care was excellent. My experience started about this time last year. I called the clinic and had a phone consult with Dr. Coburn. They sent me the paperwork which was pretty minor and then we booked the surgery for about 6 week later. It would have been sooner but xmas was in there. They sent me the information for the pre-op package and my pre-op diet via courier. There was some blood work and questions that my family Dr. had to take care of, but it was pretty routine stuff. I flew to TO on monday, met with Dr.C for the first time in person on Tuesday, Wednesday I had surgery, Thursday I recovered and Friday I was back at home in Calgary thanks to the people at WestJet. At the time my surgery was $16K and I dont regret spending a single cent. If you do decide to go elsewhere make sure that you fills and aftercare is set up BEFORE you commit to the surgery. I know my fill provider, who is $99 and a lot easier to get into see will not touch patients other than Dr. Coburn patients due to the liability issues. The thing you have to weigh out is the amount of aftercare that you are going to get from what ever clinic you go to. Some clinics leave you on you own after a while and some, like the 2 Toronto clinics are with you for life. Also, check your personal message boxes as I will send you my number if you want to talk about it. Andrew

They all say that. A

Great choice and congrat on making the first step. Nov.22 will be here in no time. Andrew

JJ, Please listen to what your surgeon is advising. Andrew

I think the term that my Dr., and Dr. Perron's office used when we were talking was abdominoplasty. What exactly that entials I am not sure at this point. I dont even know if I will need a full blown tummy tuck, I just need to get rid of my deflated gut. I would also like to have him look at my man boobs. I am more self concious of them than my gut. Having been obese all of my life has left my body in rough shape. My butt, inner thighs, gut and man boobs all look like raisins I have always carried 90% of my weight in my gut. Even at 360lbs I was wearing a 44" pant, now I am wearing a 33" I am going to wait patiently and see what happens when I see him in June. By then I should be at goal. Between the weight loss and now my screwed up back hopefully it will not take too much to convince AHC that this is nessecary. Andrew

That is actually cheaper than I thought it would be. I have a consult with Dr. Perron in June to see about having mine done by Alberta Health Care. There is a really long wait on Alberta, and he is one of the only surgeons in Calgary that does them for AHC. Keeping my fingers crossed that I will have it covered. I better get my butt in gear and lose all my weight before I seen him though. Andrew

Which Dr. in Calgary? Was it Dr. Perron by chance, if so I have heard he is one of the best. Andrew

Simple as pie. Look here, Toronto Weight Loss Obesity Surgery Lap Band Bariatric Surgeon Gastric Bypass , call the clinic or send them an email and tell them you are interested in the surgery and they wil get the ball rolling. It starts with a phone consult, and if you are interested they will walk you through the next steps liek some paperwork/questionaires you need to fill out. Andrew

I have talked to my family doc about PS. I am in Canada, so the health care is a little different. I got a referal to see the PS about 2 months ago, and I cant go see him until June 28,2007. From there is could also bee some time before I see an OR. I am not sure what he will see for me, but I am thinking that panniculectomy/abdomino plasty will be in order. As well I want to get my moobs taken care of as they are nasty. My inner thighs and ass are really saggy too, but I dont know if I need to have them fixed. Andrew

The default answer with this is too check with your surgeon. I do remember that the first while of eating it felt a little weird, kinda llie nausea but it seemed to sort itself out. What stage in your post op diet are you at? Andrew

Dill Pickles for the win. I loved the pickles during the pre-op, and I ate them like they were going out of style. Yah they are high in salt, but I was high in fat so it all worked out. Andrew

I know what you mean. About a month ago I bought some Ted Baker Microfiber tanks that I found on clearance. They have bunch of spandex in them so the suck me in pretty good and I do notice a difference in my clothes when I wear them. It does feel weird and sometimes I feel like they are riding up over my belly and I do feel a little constricted. I wear them pretty much all the time, but there are some days like today that I just dont feel like it. I have not worn the shorts as I wear boxer breifs which are pretty tight. I do have some sagging skin on my inner thighs, but I dont think it is enough to warrant surgery. My belly however is going to get amputated once I get a consult with a PS and wait for the health care system (I am in Canada) to get me in. Andrew

My belt does not have notches, it just tightens in the buckle. I can wrap it around me 1.5 times though. I was pulling on it an was thinking this thing is really long. I know what people mean about hanging on to clothes too long though. I had to donate my all my winter jackets this weekend. There was enough room in them for me and my son. Word of warning to you guys though. This weekend I put on one of my wifes fleece jackets and a t-shirt and it fit. She was not too happy. Andrew

That is good. Take your time and you will be fine. Sounds like you are i=on the right track. Have you seen the one with the chicken fries with the cheese injected into the middle . What the hell are the doing to food these days. Obiesity epidemic? What obiesity epidemic?:noidea: Andrew

Looking good buddy. Looks like we have the same goal weight. I was just wondering how tall you were? Andrew

Okay, I was planning this for my 6 month post op anniversary, but I forgot & went on holidays instead. Stats are in my ticker so you can see them. Clothing sizes I went from a 4XL from the Big & Tall shop to a XL, even a large in some cases. I figure I still have about 40lbs to go. On with the slide show. Before: This is much of the reason why I did this. This is the happiest day of my life. Current (about 253lbs): Thanks to all of you here for your support & inspiration. Andrew

Bandiva, I had the smae trouble. I was over filled & inflamed my stomach & esophagus. I had a defill to almost the point of my first fill. I am taking a couple of months to recoupe. I had the reflux too, and that really sucks. I did not get any really good sleep during it. Just take it easy and you should be fine. I guess there is a silver lining with the access to the new Dr. It's okay Leslie, we dont think you are some kinda drug pusher. :heh:

Just go to any Popeye's store in Calgary, they will have it. There is on on the corner of 32nd ave & 19st, or there is one on Mcloed trail near the Henniger Toyota. I am sure there are others too if you look in the phone book. I just order from thir online store, but sometimes it is on sale there. Andrew

Thanks, It was not you post that scared me, but rather the tech that did my scan when she mentioned the possibility of cancer. I have never been scared of death, but when my son was born, I realised that I do have alot to live for, and that I want to be around for as long as possible. I guess that is what started me in the lap-band journey. I just got back from the Dr. and it turns out that everything is fine. At some point I did have some compression fractures to my spine, but they are an old injury. I am puzzled as to how it might have happened, but relieved to hear that it is not getting any worse. I am going to start seeing some physiologists to work on strengthening my back muscles. As well, I need to start taking a Calcium & Vitamin D supplement. As for the osteoporsis, I am in the clear on that one. Apparently my bone density is -1.1 which is fine, -2.5 is considered osteoporosis. Thanks again, Andrew

Dont worry about the scale. I know I was heavier after surgery. I think it is just you body swelling and holding fluids. Keep taking you pain meds too. For me it was all about pain management. Andrew

Wow, that is a pretty intense post. Sorry if my reply seems breif, but with the C word in there it really hit home. The tech did mention the possibility of cancer, and I have not told anyone, including my wife. For the last week I have chosen not to think about it, but it all just kinda hit me at once. I am really hoping that this is just the result of just some injury that I did not know I had or occured the last time I lost a bunch out weight. I used to work out endlessly, 2 time a day with heavy cardio and weight lifting and i could have occured then. I am pretty young to have osteoporosis, but I know that there are treatments for that, so hopefully if that is what it is, I can be taken care of. Thank you for sharing that with me, and I really hope that you are getting better. I will let you know what is going on when I find out from the Dr. Although I am not a religious person, I will keep you in my thoughts. Andrew

I saw my family Dr. at my 6 month bandiversary, around mid-July. At the time I had a wicked heat rash from working on my fence outside in the 30*C heat while wearing nylon shorts. I also mentioned that my back was sore which started the whole back thing. He took a look at everything and said that he had had some patients that had the procedure & that he would refer me to the platic surgeon. The problem is most PS are in private practise so there are only a couple who do them for AHC so the wait is going to be long. I got a call from the PS office end of August for my appointment in June 2008 :omg: for a consult. From there I dont know how long it will be before I see the inside of an OR. I wanted to get going on it early since I could be 40 by the time I get one paid for publically, and I am not going to pay for one privately. I guess the upside of the screwed up back is that it may move me through the system a little faster. Guess I will have to wait & see. My weight loss has stalled while I am not going tot he gym and I am not at the ideal level of restriction, but I think I will just hang out at 250ish for while and catch my breath. I should be at goal by the time I see the PS in June. I do have to get back on my horse though. I have been a bad boy, eating too much of the wrong things. I am really stressed out right now so that is not helping. Things will be better once I am done all my Christmas shows in early December. Andrew

Yes it is kinda a bummer. I go tot the Dr. tommorow to see what they found in the bone scan & bone densitometer. The tech doing my densitometer did say that my bone density was low for a guy of my size & age when she compared my spine with my hip. I also threw her for a loop because my port showed up on the scan and was sticking off the side of my spine. She could not figure out what was going on so I told her what it was. I am eager to find out what is going on. I think the fractures might be a result of the way that I carried my weight for all those years and it took a toll on my spine. I have always been very active and it could have been caused by working out and my gut pulling on my back. I dont want to clutter up Leslie's post with my woes, so I will create a new post about it after I hear back from the Dr. This whole things started as I was complaining about my back to my Dr. and he sent me for an x-ray that can back abnormal. On the up side, it should make me a lock for my abdominoplasty although I cant see the plastic surgeon unitl June 8, 2008. Andrew

Originally Posted by lizzie_07 lol I'm waiting for Dr. Yau's office to call me back. I asked if they could tell me of some doctor's doing fills for their other patients in Halifax. I'll try your technique though if I have to. I also posted a message on a yahoo group for ontario lap band patients in hopes that I'll find out the names of some doctors in Halifax that do fills. It's hard to find people in Halifax with the lap band, surprisingly. I'm starting to think maybe just flying to Toronto where the experts are would be best, although much more expensive. Also, my brother lives in downtown Toronto so I guess I could look at it as extra time with him. Elizabeth That is one of the drawback of being an out of town patient with Dr. Yau. Access to fills can be more difficult and from what I have seen, those people who do fills for Dr.Coburn's patient aren't always willing o do fills for other Dr.s. I think it is a little presumptuous to think that people's family Dr.s will do the fills for them. My family Dr. is way too busy to do them, and although he is more than qualified he has told me there is not way that he would want to do that, even if I were to pay him. I would definatly get the fill situation figured out before you are banded. You dont want to be left with having to travel way hell and gone to get a fill, or god forbid an emergency defill. Andrew