Donna

I like Dame J's reply to pick something on the menu that you are allowed and if you do have to say something more I go with the least deceptive response like nursing an upset tummy. Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/162/125 goal

I strongly recommend Canadians get banded in Canada or only in the United States if they are very near the border and that is the closest lapband surgeon. If you have any type of complications or when you need the regular fills most doctors in Canada will not touch you because you are not their patient and due to liability issues. Frankly also why should they desire to when you deliberately chose to go to Mexico. Lapband weight loss surgery by the very nature of it necessitates strong aftercare and support and should be a high priority. Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/162/125 goal

Hi I too feel that this type of surgery and being surgery it is absolutely necessary for your husband to know. There is always the potential for complications that could necessitate a serious or emergency situation. Best Wishes, Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/162/125 goal

I am one year post op and can't remember when I started taking pills whole again it was so long ago! But I certainly did once I was several weeks out. I do find now that I sometimes have a harder time when I take all 3 of my blood pressure medication first thing in the morning when I am at my tightest. I keep thinking I will start taking all but the Water pill at night but then I never do it! Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 251/164/125 goal

Just thought I would post these really delicious Protein bars and if anyone else has favourites they recommend please tell us them. I use Protein Bars as a Meal Replacement several times a week if I am on the run or somewhere there is no good food choices to pick from. I only like them if they are really tasty and it satisfies my chocolate craving because they are solid they also keep me feeling full for a long time. My favourite so far is an energy bar called "six star body fuel" that has 15 g of protein. I love the double chocolate chip flavoured one that has a real brownie cake taste. It tastes best when you unwrap it and microwave on high for 10 seconds. It costs about $1.67 at the Real Superstores and at 45 grams it has only 170 calories. My next fave Protein Bar is "PowerBar triple threat", the Chocolate Caramel fusion flavour. It has 225 calories and 10 g of protein and is 53 grams. It sells for about $1.99 each at the Real Superstore. Donna VBG/87 Revised By Dr. Cobourn to Lapband/06 251/164/125 goal

Sorry to hear of your loss, but we are here to support you. Take care, Donna

It was nice meeting you too MacDaddy and the TeddyBears (sounds like the name of a rock band from the sixties!) Your warm wishes are appreciated and by the look of your ticker tape you are doing awesome! Donna Banded By Dr. Cobourn 251/165/125 goal

Yes Debbie I remember meeting you! I think you and Brian and I were the only bandsters there. I will be attending this Saturday also and I hope I will see you there! Donna Banded By Dr. Cobourn ONE YEAR BANDIVERSARY YESTERDAY:clap2:

Good guesses people! Alexandra seems to be the winner with the closest answer :clap2: with it partially having to do with mucous that is present in the stomach lining! But in all I have read in books written by leading lapband surgeons there is just no concrete answer and is just one of life's little mysteries! Seems to be many factors that can impact restriction for varying reasons. Donna Banded By Dr. Cobourn ONE YEAR BANDIVERSARY YESTERDAY!

Hi Debbie, yes I plan on attending the Bandster Bash, especially as I live only 10 min. away from the conference. It will be my first time and I look forward to meeting all the people (even those I don't necessarily agree with!) I will look for you there too, I will be the one who is overweight. Ohh...I guess that will describe most of us! heehee By the way where do you live? Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn ONE YEAR YESTERDAY!! 251/166/125 goal

Thanks for your support Rosi, Loriely and Gina! It's a privilege to be one year banded and I feel so grateful. Donna Banded By Dr. Cobourn ONE YEAR TODAY!!

Thanks Becca and LesliLee for your kind words! Donna Banded By Dr. Cobourn ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!!:clap2: 251/167/125 goal

Hi, know no ones for sure why fills can sometimes take several days to feel the full impact of restriction. Most of my fills have taken up to 2 -3 days to give me the full amount of restriction I will attain. Sometimes it can take up to several days to reach it's full effect. That is why clinics like patients to wait a minimum of 2 weeks between fills. My last fill kept tightening for up to 3 weeks before it stabilized! At other times out of the blue I feel like my restriction loosens up for a day or two but then spontaneously tightens up again. Sometimes you can drive yourself crazy trying to figure it all out especially when you are newly banded but as long as it keeps working I just go with the flow. Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!!!! :clap2: 251/167/125 goal

Awww...thanks for the well wishes "blush"! I first had weight loss surgery 20 yrs. ago when I was 9 yrs.old!! (heehee) Okay I was 26 yrs. old! At the time I weighed 260 lbs and after having my stomach stapled (VBG) I was able to lose 147 lbs. within a year and a half or so. I was able to maintain my weight pretty much at 113 lbs. for several years but the problem with the VBG was the staples start to separate and the stomach begins to stretch out again "sigh". Last year I weighed 251 lbs. and was afraid I would not live to see my then 9 yr. old daughter grow up. I was depressed and my body was breaking down. My family doctor happened to mention a pamphlet Dr. Chris Cobourn of www.obesitysurgery.ca had sent him and I took it home to read. The cost of surgery seemed prohibitive but after several weeks I told my husband let's at least go and see him. We went for a consult and I brought my medical records showing my past weight loss surgery. I was sooo afraid that Dr. Cobourn would look at the paperwork, see that I had lost 147 lbs. only to gain it almost all back and say you are a failure! But instead he was very supportive and told me that I hadn't failed, the VBG had and that is why it was no longer performed the way it was when I had it. Anyways we ran the tests, he was able to operate and band me and I have nothing but good things to say about Dr. Cobourn and the clinic! It wasn't a miracle cure but it has allowed me the tool to once again take control in managing this food addiction that I will always have to deal with. At times it was frustrating because it took me personally 4 fills and 4 months to reach my sweet spot and restriction. But Dr. Cobourn was always encouraging and motivating me saying we will get you to restriction and that I just had to be patient! He was my biggest cheerleader! Well he was right!! The day of surgery I weighed 251 lbs. on April 18th, 2006, and as of today I weigh 167 lbs and plan to reach 125 lbs. by the end of October at the latest. I continue to receive support from the clinic and Dr. Cobourn when I need fills or have concerns or need advice. When I needed further surgery in January of this year due to scar adhesions (the result of numerous abdominal surgeries over the years) Dr. Cobourn was there to operate again and rectify this problem for me also! I am especially grateful to only live 8 miles away from the clinic and I can't wait to go tomorrow and thank Dr. Cobourn again for helping me to feel my life is worth living again!! Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn on April 18th, 2006 251/167/125 goal

MacDaddy you are too funny!! I really think you should consider a new career as a stand up comic/ talk show host! Ummm...just be careful where you do those butt clenches, would hate to see you charged with distasteful behaviour in public!! Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn, Celebrating my ONE YEAR BANDIVERSARY TOMORROW:clap2: 251/167/125 goal

Hi Leslee, Are you coming by yourself or will you have someone with you? I live about 8 miles away from Dr. Cobourn's clinic and have visited people at Heritage House and also at the Holiday Inn who have come from out of province. They both seem pretty good and while I haven't been in the Novotel I pass it all the time and it certainly is handy being across from the largest shopping mall in Mississauga and looks like a fairly fancy Hotel. Best Wishes, Donna

Hi Maggie I concur with what Heather had to say, if you really are worried I would also call the clinic and ask for Dr. Cobourn to return your call today if possible. Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn April 18/06

I had Dr. Cobourn and was banded one year ago as of April 18th. I have had outstanding service by him and the whole team at the Surgical Weight Loss Clinic. I also have friends who are clients of Dr. Yau at the Toronto Lap Band Centre and they are also pleased with their service. Let's remember that we are discussing doctors and clinics reputations here and need to be respectful of the impact of what we say on them and their prospective and present patients. Most of us are biased towards the doctors we have chosen and I believe both clinics offer excellent service! There is room enough for both clinics and others also. Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn April 18th/06 251/168/125 goal

Thanks Heather and Dame J for your well wishes...you can never have too much support I'm sure you'd both agree. Donna Banded By Dr. Cobourn April 18th/06:notagree

My goal for February is to be in the 170's! Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn April 18th /06

Priscilla thanks but as my husband will attest patience is not one of my many virtues!! :Banane57: Yasmina congrats on being newly banded...hold on your in for one heck of a ride!!:Banane20: Argon wow you are doing phenomenal:clap2: you must be almost a skinny minnie now...continued success! Donna

Oh and you two are doing amazing too!!:clap2: Donna

Hi Astrotoes and Irishmist, thanks both for your warm welcome. I am not real computer savvy and am finding it hard understanding how these threads work. I wanted to reply to each of you individually but I don't know how or what I click on to have it show on this thread ...so bare with me.:rolleyes As I tell the ladies in Dr. C.'s chatroom (I usually go on it at times between 7 - 11 pm) it took me 4!! months and till my 4th fill in August/06 to feel good restriction. Before that I was only losing weight (mostly) from dieting:omg: . I knew the darn band was in me and certainly knew it when i didn't chew food enough!! But I was FRUSTRATED that most of the other newbies I was meeting at his office were obtaining restriction it seemed quicker. With the previous surgery (VBG) 20 yrs earlier it is much more drastic and invasive surgery. But I hung in always read the band boards to educate myself about everything you could ever want to know about bands (and some things I didn't!!) and Dr. Cobourn was always so upbeat and positive at my fills.:clap2: Then on August 10th with a fill total now of 7.2cc in the larger VG band :biggrin1: it was like a miracle. No wait I lie...it took two days after that when the fill just kicked in and all of a sudden I wasn't obsessing about food like usual and was able to feel satisfied with much smaller food portions. That feeling of hitting my sweet spot lasted till Nov. 6, when a few days earlier I started feeling hungrier again and my weight plateaued for a couple weeks. Off I was for another fix!! (fill!) And with 2 more tweaks since then I'm continuing slow and steady weight loss every week. Donna

Hi everyone just joined this Band site today. I am also a member on Dr. Cobourn's Message Board, Canadian Lapbanders and a few more including Obesityhelp.com . I live in Brampton, Ontario and was banded last April 18th 2006, by the great Dr. Cobourn:clap2:. (Gotta love him!) Day of surgery I weighed 251 lbs and today weigh 182.4 lbs. My goal is 125 and I WILL REACH IT!! Previously I had VBG wls (stomach stapling) back in 1987 when I was 26. It was successful for a few yrs. going from 260 day of surgery down to 113 lbs. But over time the staples separate and the stomach stretches back out (that's why it's no longer mostly done and has been improved to a RNY.) By last year I was back to being in the 250's and feeling like jumbo failure.:think That is why I am so thrilled I feel I am being given a second chance and am determined to succeed and continue to when I am at goal for the rest of my life!! Thanks for listening and look forward to following your journey's. Donna