New member from Montreal.

[Carvalho 0]

Hi Everyone,

Well like the title says... i'm a new member to the site and to the Lap Band world. I'm a 33 y/o male located in Montreal, Canada (go habs go!) who needs to lose a decent amount of weight.

Four months ago I finally took an appointment to meet one of 3 doctors who do the op in Montreal. Cancelled twice because I was unsure about this and finally grabbed the bull by the horns and went to my first groupe meeting Tuesday morning. I've been reading up on the Lap Band for about 3 to 4months (on and off) and found this site Tuesday night.

Some of the things the Doc said kinda worried me... I guess changing 20 y/o habits isnt an easy thing to do and sure does create extra pressure and fear for some reason?!?!? So like i said, met the doc, and I signed up for the operation and my first "real" appointment is in July 23rd.

My wife doesnt really want me doing this... she thinks its a drastic measure and with hard work and self motivation I could achieve this on my own. But being "heavy" for the last 24 years of my life and having tried diets and going to the gym 3x a week tell me different...

So now i'm confused, worried, scared and uncertain of what I need to do.

Reading some of your stories as made me think "Damn it, i'm doing this!" then other stories get me thinking "should I do this???".

Thanks for reading and for all the great tips on the site!

Edited May 1, 2008 by Carvalho

[mica 0]

DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was banded Jan 25, 08 in Tijuana, Mexico, I'm from Saskatchewan. So far am down 35 lbs!!!! The surgery went well, no complications whatsoever. The hardest part was the trip home (many plane changes and delays!) My only regret is that I could have done this 25 years ago! Good on you for doing your research and prepping yourself. For me, the band is the tool that I have always needed to control the amount that I eat as well as controlling the appetite itself.

Good luck in your decision. Keep us posted.

[Carvalho 0]

Hey Mica,

Thanks for the info... Mind if I ask why you went over the border to get the op? Was it really that much cheaper down there? Over here i've been quoted $5000 and my insurance might cover it up to 80%.

But theres something that worries me to be honest... The Doc said i can ONLY eat about a cup and a half of food at each meal, but I can't drink during my meal and for 2 hours after i'm done AND what ever I eat must be done within 10minutes... He said if it takes longer than that to eat my system won't really know when its full so I might go over my portions and always feel hungry. Is that what your doing ?

And congrats on your loss... 35lbs is totally kick ass!!

Joey

Edited May 2, 2008 by Carvalho

[mica 0]

HI,

Where are you getting it for $5,000.??? All my research showed was Toronto for around $21,000.??? Maybe 5 grand will be your share after insurance pays theirs? I would check if I were you. I have never heard of it that cheap, even in Mexico. If it is, let everyone know cuz that is very inexpensive.

As far as the diet, that is basically what is prescribed. You will know not to eat too much cuz your body will tell you, either with pain or regurgitation or "pb'ing"(productive burping). If you consistently ignore these signs you will stretch your pouch and defeat the purpose of the band. A cup and a half is alot, most people are told to eat only 2-4 ounces at a time. Carefull of the high calorie liquids, cuz you can drink alot of this without feeling full.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

Continue to read this website, there is alot of info you can glean from others' experiences.

[kathystrick 3]

Only you can know what's right for you and your body. Is your wife or has she ever been overweight? If not, she has no way of understanding how for some people, diet and exercise really aren't enough. Doctors say it should be, so why isn't it for you? That is a very hard concept to grasp for people who have never fought it. If she is and is not ready to make the change herself, she may just be afraid that if you have the surgery and start changing you will expect the same from her. Fear of the unknown is very natural for both of you. That's what is so great about this site. It is full of information! Good luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.

[mommmyof4 0]

hey Habs fan,

welcome to the world of lap bands. i am from edmonton, i have my surgery scheduled in TO for june 3 but for 16k. i have never heard of it less that 7500 - make sure you have the price nailed down before you proceed. i am assuming if you are having it done is SK that your insurance is covering it. there is a program here in AB but 4-5 years to get into the program and that doesn't necessarily mean surgery after all of that. it is called Weight Wise and it is a whole "program" meaning it's for all aspects of weight management. some people do get the band or bypass or rey but not everyone. the program includes dieticians, psychiatrists, psychologist, etc. the whole shitteree! i had my first appt there and was told i was too healthy i.e. i didn't have any of the co-morbidities associated with being overweight. so i am goeing east! does your wife have all the info you have about the procedure, results, complications, etc.? i am fortunate in that my husband is supportive if i do it, and supportive if i don't. i agree with what kathystrick said - people who have never battled the bulge don't get it when you tell them you tried, or the weight is not coming off, or i feel like i'm starving when i'm on a diet....they really just don't get it. my sister who has been a size 3 her whole life is like that. she told me she didn't agree with my decision but that she would still support me. she does however manage to get the odd negative comment in here and there. the bottomline is - you do have to be ready, you need to feel confident in your decision in order to make others understand. i am definitely at the low end of the bmi that is eligible for surgery, and that has made it difficult for people to grasp as well. but i KNOW that i cannot lose 90 lbs on weight watchers/bernstein/jennycraig/atkins...and keep it off. never mind keeping it off, i would never be able to lose that much. so i am being pro-active, i did my research, i'm not waiting for co-mobordities, i am going to chase my kids around, i am not going to be the "fat" soccer mom, i am going to feel attractive....i could go on and on. i'm doing it because i'm ready.

sorry for such a long post, i'm feeling pretty passionate about my decision right now! i know it's too late this year but, go oil!

[Carvalho 0]

Girls,

Thank you for the morale booster!! And your all right... someone who's never had the xtra pounds can't and won't ever understand what we are going through. Whats scary is something I read about a year ago. We who are obiese have a 97% chance of failling at this losing weight game. Most will lose and gain it back within the next 5years... The odds are stacked againts us. And before learning about the lapband all I knew heard about was the gastric bypass and that wasnt an option.

To answer Kathy's question, my wife was always pretty small but gained maybe 25 to 35 pounds these last 3-5 years. New position at work and thats making her a little less active. And thats pretty much the same problem I had. I was always a "big" guy but ever since I became an "in house" rep and no longer on the road I gained a shit load of pounds. I always thought I was at a 275-300lbs until the doc got me on the scale and that seriously freaked me out... I was so ashamed... of myself and of telling my wife. Put it this way, I'm now over the 365 point and its killing me.

My mind is pretty much made up. But the one thing thats killing me about this, and this is the only thing that REALLY bothers is... is the no drinking while eating and nothing for the following 2 hours. You see, I NEED something to drink while I eat, or at least right after i'm done.

[tarrn13 1]

carvalho, you only have to not drink after eating for 30min not 2hrs, if it was that long then you would hardly have time to drink anything throughout the day. One of my little tricks is sometimes I have a popsicle after eating so it kind of feels like a drink, also on rare OCC I would have a glass of wine while out with friends and such, the not drinking while eating was the hardest to get used to but now 5 weeks post op it is ok. I have to ask you though, where are you getting the surgery for 5000? My research was 16-21000 in Canada, 25 in the USA and 8000 in Mexico ( guess which one I chose) even with having to pay my own fills, there is alot of fills that can be done for 8000, also since I was a self pay there was no hoops to jump through, no psych consults or medically supervised diets etc...

[Carvalho 0]

ok... you guys are starting to freak me out with the price thing... lol

When I first heard about the "band" was through my co-worker. His mom got it and I remember him saying she paid $5500. And when I asked the doc what the cost was, i'm sure he knew I meant the TOTAL cost of the op (inc. band), and he said $5000.00. But now your making me 2nd guess if what I heard or asked was clear...

Forget I said anything about the 5g'z for now... i'll get in touch with him on Monday and get back to you guys.

Joe

[tapshoes 2]

Bon jour et bienvenue.

We are ALL anxious to know about the costs and insurance coverage - too late for me though I went to TO and am on the way to a thinner happier healthier me.

Drinking after a meal - most docs say from 30 - 60 minutes after.

Have to be finished in 10 minutes??? Something really out of line there - believe me chewing some things until their mush feels like it takes 10 minutes! Again, I think most people here talk about being given a 30-45 minute meal period.

Double triple quadruple check your info.

Good luck

[Carvalho 0]

Merci Tapshoes!

Well i havent had time to call... we have been swamped at the office this week. We lost our IT girl and since I'm the "next" one who knows our systems better then she does I was drafted into her position >:/

I'll try giving him a call tomorrow or monday... as for the the eating time that is what he said. 10 minutes... i might even have some more info in the car that might shed some light on this. I'll check that out tomorrow also.

But yeah, i;ve been trying this week to not drink while eating and it feels like the hardest thing i've ever done... just this is making me 2nd guess the op :thumbup: scary... lol

more info to come.

[buzz_sapien 0]

Hi Carvalho - GO HABS GO! I am a 38 year old Montrealer living in the Quebec City region who is in your exact shoes...surgeon shopping right now.

As an Italian boy, I am terrified of what this will do to my loving relationship with Pasta.< /p>

I am leaning towards Miller in Drummondville, but being married to a doctor makes it tough to choose. She recommends picking the best surroundings rather than the surgeon - what kind of care is available if things go wrong...what kind of anesthesiologists will be handling the surgery...

Good look and I look forward to following your progress!