Hello from Canada!!!

[CanadianChubbling 0]

Hello everyone, Happy New year!

Well, 2009 has brought my husband and I that much closer to the decision for WLS and it looks like the Lap Band is in the lead for our decision making.

As Canadians, there is of course less of a selection of surgeons and clinics and more resistance from physicians to any surgical procedures. This is separate from the questionable health insurance coverage for such procedures.

I hope to go well-armed to my consultation this month with our physician. So I hope that we can get all the unbiased information we can in the next few weeks.

A bit about me... I have been struggling with my weight since I was a teenager when my mother complained about my extra 10-15 pounds back then. My self-confidence with respect to my body was always depressed and in retrospect, I was probably pretty hot-looking as a young adult. My obsession with dieting and my weight caused a yo-yo-ing with which I am sure many members are familiar.

In the following 25 years, I must have gained and lost the same 20 pounds a hundred times and spent a fortune on books, tools, foods, programs, equipment...

At 40, predictably, my gall bladder developed stones, and I had enough attacks to merit its removal. I am at my highest weight ever and a BMI in the mid 40s.

We can't go on like this... Apart from rude comments from people about our weight, difficulties sleeping, joint pain, and the potential for further health problems as we head into mid-life, we are so tired of carrying around these extra 100 pounds. It isn't vanity that prompted this decision, it's simply a desire for a higher quality of life at a time in our lives when we can truly enjoy a more active lifestyle.

People who are naturally smaller are absolutely unaware of how difficult it is to be morbidly obese. Do they even realize that it takes years to shed the amount of weight we need to lose? The cruelty we experience on a regular basis is disheartening.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2009 and I hope the support we can provide each other and that which we can receive from others going through the process will make our journey less difficult.

Best Wishes to all!

[canadagirl33 0]

Welcome to LBT and Happy Holidays to you as well !!!

Hopefully as you look through this site you will come across the Canadian board in the 'Support' section. There is a ton of useful info there for Canadians that are looking either for a local Dr or thinking about going to Mexico or the US.

You didn't mention where you were located so I cant be more specific at the moment but I'm sure you'll find a ton of info as you read.

The reasons you listed for looking into this surgery are very familiar to me. I started with a BMI of about 42 and didn't have an co-morbidities....but I knew they were on their way !!! I am now 2 years post-op, down about 100 lbs (lost it all the first year and have maintained for a year) and healthier than I have been in YEARS !!! I wouldn't give up my band for anything !!!

Read everything you can about this life-changing decision, ask questions and arm yourself with all the knowledge you can. You'll make the right decision for yourself and your life !!!

Good luck to you and all the best in 2009 !!!

Patricia