Gaffer

So I know that there was a thread about compression shirt and many guys were giving options. I have tried numerous ones, Under Armor etc, and although they are okay at keeping the flapping defalted gut in place they are just okay. I ordered some of these The Concealer Body Compression T-shirt They blow everything else out of the Water. They are so tight and supportive I love them. My back feels awesome, I can run without clapping and they are not too hot to wear. They breath really well. They were shipped to me in Canada in less than 3 days. Andrew

Doodie, I have never made it a secret to my clients that I was banded in Canada. My wife however was banded my Dr. Ortiz, after I was banded by a Canadian clinic. You make a big deal out of aftercare for Mexican patients, as you should, but one of the priorities when I send clients to Mexico is that they have local access to after care. About 50% of my clients return to Mexico for thier aftercare, despite having local access to after care. I have turned away several clients who I have felt did not have close enough access to after care. I remember a time here Doodie when you were having trouble getting local aftercare. If it were not for Dr. Woodhead taking you on you would be SOL, having to travel back to Toronto for your aftercare so really you were in the same boat after your surgery at a Canadian clinic. I am not going to wade into the Mexico vs. Canada debate here, it has been beaten to death here. I think what we have to look at here is that people are taking control of thier lives and their weight through Lapband, irregardless of where they have it done. We also need to remember that Lapband complications requiring surgery are rare. Aftercare is important, but really for the people that I work with, the clinic is a phone call away, just like those of us in Western Canada who were banded in the Toronto clinics. If anything were to go wrong with ones band they would have to return to their clinic whether it be in Toronto or Mexico so really we are all in the same boat. Thanks, Andrew

this guy should logout of this site so other users dont post under the wrong username

So, I am officially one year post op so I thought that I would put up a post to help me Celebrate. I did not make my goal of losing 150 pounds, but I cannot complain about it. Thank you to all the people here that have helped me along the way and supported me when I was just a scared little newby. You all know who you are so I will not name names as I am sure to forget someone. I can honeslty say that shedding this weight has turned me into the person that I knew I could be. My confidence and my happiness are the highest they have ever been. The only regret that I have is that I was not able to do this 20 years ago. Here are the stats for prosperity: 360lbs -> 225 lbs Body fat % 60% -> 26% suit size -> 62T - 46R Tshirt - 4xl -> M Happiness 45% -> 100% Thank you all, Andrew

I dont know about a top ten, but I will offer what I think to be the most important things. 1. You get out of the band what you put into it. You still have to eat sensibly, and exercise. We all know when we are doing this and when we are not. Do this more often than not and you will get there. 2. Maintain your fills. Not too much, not too little. I think that too many bandsters have their bands too tight. Dont do that becasue it will cause you to look for what I call soft calories. These are things like Soups, mashed potatoes and ice cream which all go through the band easily and hamper your weightloss. Take care of your band by listening to your body. If you are inflamed or had a wicked PB, take it easy with full liquids for a while to allow yourself to get better. Dont try to eat when your stomach is tender just fluids. Listen to your body. 3. Protien before carbs. Remember that protien is what will keep you full in the long run. I always eat my protien before anything else. I also like to have a protien shake for Breakfast as it is an automated meal that keeps me full for a long time. I am not into high protien diets or anything, but I think that when one is trying to lose weight protien will help you keep you lean mass which shedding pounds. 4. Avoid diet drinks. This is one that I struggle with, but I know that when I am not drinking diet pepsi I am losing weight. There have been recent studies that suggested that diet drinks hamper weight loss because they illicit the same insulin repsonse as sugar which stops you from losing weight. Drink Water it is the best thing for you. I am trying to kick my diet pepsi habit for the millionth time, but I know I have to do it to reach my goals. 5. Get your head right. This is the toughest part because there is not a lapband for the brain yet. Stay focused on your goals and why you are doing this. Dont beat yourself up if you have a set back, we are all human and there will be bumps in the road. I had a take no prisoners attitude and I knew that I had to do this for myself and my loved ones. With this, dont let people knock you off your path. There will be people that will try to take you down becasue you took the easy way out (yah right). Screw em' and dont let them get to you. The best revenge is being looking and feeling great. That is all I can think of right now, hopefully it will put you off to a good start. Andrew

Thank you all for your kind words. I thank all of you who have been so supportive in my journey. You know who you are and I really appreciate you all. Andrew

LOL, once again Donna, thank you for you concern. Although I am pretty open in regards to my life, and am sure that my wife would not appreciate me going into details. Andrew

Let clear this up so. According to this Line 330 - Medical expenses for self, spouse or common-law partner, and your dependent children born in 1990 or later If you claim it on line 330, there is no max if it is for you, your spouse or dependant child born after 1990. Melady, me thinks that you doth be confused with this page for claiming line 331, which is the line that is used for claiming for: your or your spouse or common-law partner's child who was born in 1989 or earlier, or grandchild; or your or your spouse or common-law partner's parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew who was a resident of Canada at any time in the year. There is a $10,000 limit for claiming for line 331 according to the CRA, but no limit if you are claiming it on line 330. If you or your husband is claiming it for yourself use line 330. If all else fails, hire an accountant. They are not that expensive and often pay for themselves with additional deductions found. Andrew

Well it seems the cat is out of the bag. First off, I dont want the fact that I have been setting up this company to help people who are seeking Lapband else where to undo all good will that I have built up here. It does not change the fact that I have lost 140lbs, and am now close to considering myself at goal. It does not change the fact that I have helped people, and have been helped by people here. I came to a point in my life after losing all my weight when I realized that in many cases it was not my weight that was making me unhappy, but also my current career. I felt is was time for a change, and this opportunity presented itself so I took it. If someone can fault me for doing that, then so be it. Yes, I am working with Dr. Ortiz, but you dont know everything that lead up to that, so please dont think that my opinion is totally biased. You dont know the goings on with other clinics and what transpired with them time will tell which other clinics are on board. I agree that people should research clinics. I think that most people who have done thier research will find that Dr. Ortiz's clinic near the top. The reason why I have not made a post to the effect of what I am doing is that I would like to keep my posting here and my business seperate. I know it may be impossible, but I am going to try. Please note what Julie (JAC) is talking about is a conversation that I had with her regarding my gas pains vs, her gas pains. If it will help progress the conversation here I will ask Dr. Ortiz when I am at the clinic tomorrow. Here is what I know of the operations that I have been seen. Please note that this is only what I know of Dr. Ortiz and I cant speak for any other doctor. I have only been present for 3 Lapband surgeries, and I was only awake for 2 of them. The patient is somewhat reclined almost like that are laid back in a Lazy boy. When I asked Dr. Ortiz about gas, he mentioned that he does not use as much gas as some other doctors. I will report more on this tomorrow. Now, you have all read my comments earlier in this post, and they all hold true. I dont think it benefits anyone to pit bandsters against one another just because of where they were banded. I agree that people need to make their own decisions, and they need to research what is right for them. Finally, I think that it is safe to say that gas pain is individual for everyone, just like the lapband is individual for everyone. Some people are fast losers some people are slow losers. Some people get it bad, some people dont we are all individual. With that being said, here is my web site. Medical Edge Weight Loss Group . I figure since I was called out here I should at least be able to show you all what I have been working towards. Andrew

Thanks Leslie, Good to hear from you. I am sure that you will be able to make your goal of losing another 50lbs. Jane, Yes it does sound odd for many people as most are so loyal to their surgeons. I am still very loyal to Dr. Coburn, and I give him much of the credit for giving me my life back, among others (namely my wife, son, and myself for working hard to take it back.) I guess what I am saying is that based on what I know now, which is alot, I would have given Mexico much more thought, to the point that I would have likely gone. You see for me not being close to the clinic is sometimes feels like I may have gone to Mexico anyway. I have to pay for fills, I dont use the services of the clinic apart from the occasional problem and I have not been back there nor do I intend to go back. Based on what I have seen of Mexican clinics I am not to far off, yet an additional $10K+ out of my pocket. I have been to the clinic of Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, and I have seen how things are done there and I must say that I am impressed at how things are run. Not unless you know something that I dont. No, what I meant is that after we have our second, yet to be concieved child, then my wife will be going for a lapband. Andrew

Wow, Green. I am really sorry to hear about all that you have been going through. Hopefully you are on the upswing though and things will get resloved for you soon. Take care of yourself. Andrew

Yes this is the case. Rose, I think that you should revisit this with your accountant. You can claim unlimited medical expenses as long as you have the documentation to back it up. Andrew

That sounds awesome. Andrew

This sounds like a really good idea. What sort of things are involved? Andrew

Thanks for the answer. I guess that would be too ood to be true, but alas the government always wins. Andrew

Yes the return will depend on your income baracket. What you may want to look into is seeing if you can use that medical expense for a future tax year when presumably you will be making more money than when you are a student. If that does not work, I know that you can transfer your student tuition amounts to future tax years. What I would reccommend is if you cant defer the medical expense to future years, then dont claim you tuition amount for 2007 and carry them forward to future years. I would also talk to someone about this as you have a rather unique tax situation. I am going to ask my accountant if I can carry forward my health expenses. I will let you know what he says. How are you doing otherwise Janice? Andrew

WOW, that is all I can say. You dont even look like the same person. What's more is that you appear to be much happier. You are an all star. (PS. I didnt notice that your shirt was transparent until you mentioned it, but now it is on the internet so every one knows) Andrew

Pamela, I have no regrets at all, I only wish that I was able to do it 10 years ago. I would go throught the recovery and the surgery 100 times to have the success that I have had. I do think that if I had it to do over again that I would have gone to Mexico, but I very happy with the care that I got from my clinic here in Canada. Hey long time. Ben Affleck has nothing on me, I am taller. Although I have yet to date J-Lo and I think that he might have a little more money than me. Tres, it is good to see you check in her. Hope all is going well for you, and I am sure that you can get through those plataues in no time. Andrew

I know of some very supportive docs here in Calgary. If you doctor fires you as a patient let me know and I will get some numbers for you. I know the clinic that I go to has openings for new patinents as well as another one near me. Andrew

Yah, sign me up to. If you asked who needs a tummy tuck I am sure you would have gotten more responces. Andrew

Her doctor is a fool, and obviously has not looked at the research to date indicating that patient who have the band have just as much success as those who have bypass. I would like to meet this doctor. He is so wrong that your mother ahoudl consider getting a new doctor. If he is so out to luch on this what else is he missing. Andrew

They are all done laproscopically unless there is a problem during the surgery. Then they will either convert to open surgery (very rare) or stop the surgery right there. The LAP in Lap band means Laproscopic, no body does them with open surgery normally. Andrew

I think that we will see that Canada will go the way that they will do less lapband surgeries. I have heard from a couple of reliable sources that they may cancel the Lapband program here in Calgary because the aftercare and follow up care is too costly. Bypass is easier for a health care system as they can just go in section off the gut, and the person loses weight. None of this "I need a fill" business. We all know that medical systems in Canada are not proactive enough, and I think that lapband would fall into that. Andrew

I think that there is a bigger point that is being overlooked here. No matter where you have your band done, whether it is done in Mexico or Toronto or any other place, unless you are in a city with a Lapband clinic it can be difficult to get care if you dont know where to go. I am in Calgary, so really what difference does it make if I had my band in Mexico or Toronto, the people at the hospital would not know what is going on with me. I know more about it than 95% of the medical professionals in my city. I have had ultrasounds and talked to doctors who are clueless about the lapband. You only have to look at Dr Oz when he was on Oprah and was refering to the lapband with 2 hands. Here he is supposed to be an expert on everything (according to Oprah, dont get me going on that) and he does not even know how big the thing is. He even wrote a chapter in his book about the lapband, yet he does not know how big it is. Doddie, I think that you are raising undue fear in people about the Lap band. Last time I checked we had universal health care in Canada, and if I walked into a hospital in Canada doubled over in pain with a slipped band they would have to take care of me. Now, they may not fix the band, but they are required by law to treat me. They may not rush me into surgery and fix it no matter where I went, but whether I had my band done in Toronto or Mexico, I am going to be in the same situation. The scenario that you are painting for Mexican patients is the same for SWLC or TLBC clinic patients if they are not in Toronto. Every patient that leaves Dr.Ortiz`s clinic has a card and a list of cell phone mumbers for all the doctors and they answer when you call. Who here has the cell phone number for thier Canadian surgeon. When you have a problem in Canada, who do you talk to. For me 9 times out of 10 it is the nurses who then tell me they will talk to the doctor. There is no way that a hosptital can turn me away and say you did this to yourself, it is against the law. If that were ever to hapen in Canada, Tommy Douglas would be spinning in his grave and it would be a sad day for Canadian Medicare. I have been reading some of the posts here lately about people who have, or who are considering going to Mexico and I must say that I am saddened that so many people here have been so negative about it. Who here has even stepped foot in a Mexican clinic, and how can you make those remarks without seeing things for yourself. I HAVE been to a Mexican clinic (Dr.Ortiz's) and was in the OR for 2 surgeries. One was a difficult Lapband placement, and the other was a slip being repaired. I spent 4 days there learning everthing there was to know about the clinic I have seen things first hand, and I have to say that the people that are talking about clinic in Mexico, and after care are fear mongering. My wife wants a Lapband after out second child and I will be sending her to Dr. Ortiz. My mother wants to have her VBG converted to Lapband and she too will be going to Dr.Ortiz. I trust that clinic with the lives of 2 of the most important people to me. I think that the most important thing here is that this is a support forum, and we should be supporting people who want to be banded. We should not be trying to justify our own decisions or our own surgeons by putting down or scarring people for their own decisions. Simply put, most people can not afford the $16-$18,000 plus that is cost to have a band in Canada, and are looking for options. We should be supporting them in their Quest instead of scaring them. Mexico is a viable option for many people, and given what I saw while I was down there I was blown away. I am not saying that I regret the care and service that I got from SWLC, because I dont, and I will always credit Dr. C with giving me my life back. However, there are other options out there, and knowing what I know now I would have likely gone to Mexico. All of us should remember no matter where we are at in our banding lives that for too long we have had people beating us down fo being overweight. I have lost most of my weight, but I will always consider myself overweight. I sympathize with people who are overweight, as it was a cross that I beared all my life. We need to support people who are coming here for solutions, and not be so damn negative. As overweight people we are always looking for hope and a solution in a world that has been too busy beating us down and telling us to just exercise more and eat less. For many people Mexico is the last hope becasue they cant afford to have the procedure at home for twice the cost. Lets all remember that Lapband is a very safe procedure, and that the rates of complications or very, very low. They are something to be aware of, but they are not the norm. I have not been on here as long as many of the Canadian, but I can say that I think the general tone of the Canadian forum has changed over the last year. I think that we all need to rethink what we are doing here. I know that I dont post here as much as I used to, and it is in large part due to the tone that this place has taken. So, I will go put on my flame suit, because I know that this will raise the ire of several people round here, but I dont care. What I do care about is helping people find a light at the end of the long dark tunnel that is obesity. Thank you Andrew

You would still have to wait 5 years before you got it any way. I think that it is a farce that health regions and governments are saying that they are doing all this to help people when in reality it is a drop in the bucket. I think that it does nothing but give obese people a false sense of hope, and gives "regular" people more fodder to tell us to "just stop eating. Andrew