Doddie63

Hi: We have a support group that meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Lions Gate Hospital and there is a group that meets in Surrey. If you have any questions or would simply like some support contact me. I have had my band 4 years now and am retired so on the net fairly often. I am sorry, but I don't belong to facebook nor twitter. I don't like their security but if you wish to contact me, e mail me privately on this site and I will give you my personal e mail address. Doddie

Yes I do know of a few. contact privately and I will give the names. Doddie

Hi: I am curious as to what you decided. I really can not understand why the band has to come out? If nothing is getting by, and the band has not slipped, they why can't they just take out fill? Before you allow "a lap band doctor" take it out, first check out his qualifications for calling himself a lapband doctor. I would also telephone the mexican clinic and tell them what this "lap band doctor" has advised and see what their answer is. Generally, I think I would find the money to fly back to mexico before I would allow my band to be taken out. Just my thoughts. Good luck

First off, check out the company that is in Bellingham. they do fluros for a fee instead of flying to Mexico. A slipped band, apparently is very painful and some bands can be corrected by taking all the fluid out waiting a time until the stomach is not so inflamed before putting fill back in . If you are drinking water, you should be ok. Just have nutrious soups until you can get help. If you are not drinking, then get yourself to emergency immediately. ER cannot refuse you help although their solution may be to take the band out. I don't know where you live, but there is a Dr. Woodhead in Delta that does bands and a Dr. Amson in Victoria and a Dr. Leung in Vancouver. Contact their offices and see if they will help you with advice. I can't quarantee you won't get the same answer. In the end, you may indeed have to fly back to Mexico. There is a topic on this site that cators to Mexico patients. Scroll through and see if you can find them. Also, we have a support group that is scheduled for every third wednesday of the month. Come out as we do have patients that had the band in Mexico.

You really should be contacting your doctor and clinic for their advice on your questions. We can only relate to our experiences. Vomiting to me is vomiting. It is sever muscle contractions. Yes vomiting at this early stage can cause slippage of the band because the scar tissue has not yet developed around the band. Vomiting in later stages is frowned upon because you can have slippage (which can be repaired) and band errosion which cannot be. The band must be removed. That said, I understand that it would take a lot of vomiting to cause erosion. My clinic introduced me back to solid foods very slowly over a long period of time. I am not sure what you mean by eating "normal". You will need to chew your food extremely fine (depending on your fill) and eat "hard protein". You will always be able to sabatogue yourself with liquid calories but the band if used a a too properly will allow you to eat most everything, just smaller amounts. As I said, you have two things to do, contact your clinic for advice and start working on your fears. Start a journey log with pictures, start a food log and exercise log. Try to attend a support group in person, better than the web. By keeping track you will soon find your strengths and weaknesses. Don't worry it will get better.

Newbie. You have just had major surgery to place the band and to fix a hernia. That is really two surgeries in one. The doctor gave you pain killers for a reason. He/she knew you would be in pain. In order to place the band, gas is used to blow up the cavity and some organs will be disturbed. By steri strips, I assume you mean the bandages. If you are having a reaction, call your emergency medical hospital or hotline and ask them for instructions. You don't want the sutures to become inflamed because of a reaction to a bandage. As for your mental feelings, because you are in pain, right now it probably doesn't appear like you made the right decision. Don't worry about anything but getting through the pain. Take Gas X or whatever your doctor gave you. Get up and walk then sleep, get up and walk again. Most people do have pain and the ones that don't are the lucky ones. Before you know it, you will be telling other newbies how to get through the first few days ordeal. If you are really in distress with pain, go to the emergency and your doctor will be called. Better to be safe than sorry especially concerning the blisters.

Kerry, I wish you a great journey - luck has nothing to do with it. You made the best decision for you and now you embark on a journey with ups and downs and twists and turns but always success. The surgery for the most part is the easiest, after that, follow the instructions of your clinic to the letter. Don't worry about the panic attacks that you will never eat "normal" again. Because frankly you will be eating normal. Your choices will be more healthy and quantities less, but if you look around what people that do not have a weight problem do you will see they eat slowly (you will be), they eat small quanties (you will be), they eat frequently (you will be) food is not their focus (this also will happen to you). So relax wake up to a great beginning.

I would start with Ontario. they have the most encouraging wl system. Check the most reputable clinics as their surgeons do both private and public.

Great journey is about to begin. Take unflattering pictures of your self now, then as years go by, you can see the changes that you make in your photo journal. I love going back to see the differences. Look forward to seeing you on the chat lines.

Glen remember the band is a tool, nothing more nothing less, you can sabatogue it too if you try. However, the band can keep you honest as you learn to eat and make choices that are the best. As for being nervous, try not to be. Dr. Yau is one of the best. I flew from BC to toronto and back within two days. Just take loose fitting clothing, gas X and you should be fine. Without the band, you know you have failed the in past but with the band you more than likely will not. I have had the band 4 years and although I have had my ups and down (recently gained) my overall loss for the year was 7 lbs. I have never in my life lost weight 3 years in a row. I am a slow looser because my choices are not so good at times, but the band can not be faulted. If you post on your clinics website, you find find they have terrific web cam chats and support. Good luck

you could also post on canadalapbanders Canadianlapbanders.com A number of eastern bandsters subscribe to this site run by a nurse who is banded. I am from BC but thought I would answer your enquiry so you know there are eastern chat sites. Good luck.

Hi: I suggest telephoning the clinic and enquirying about the wait list, how much they charge, who the doctors are, what experience they have, what type of aftercare do the quarrantee, and many other questions you should have prepared before going in. Picking the clinic with the best doctor, the best aftercare is very important. The average cost is around $16,000.00 but there are lower charges as well by individual sugeons, but they don't necesarily have good aftercare. Good luck

Hi: If you scroll through this site, you will find NB bandsters. Even old one you can post in and someone will respond. Where did you have the band done. My clinic SB has a website that is excellent. We have chatrooms as well, and I also think SWLC also has one. Don't worry about Christmas you can eat, just not very much. Merry Christmas

It will be if you follow their program and contact them when in need. Also, sign up with their website they and other clients are a great source of help

Your last sentence prompts me comment. Even with gastric bypass, people have put the weight back on, and the band is no different. The band is a tool. You must make it work for you but you can also sabatogue it. You will no longer be dieting, but you will be making healthy choices. For me, the band keeps me honest when I have my down periods. As my diets rarely lasted longer than 6 weeks (one or two for a year), then I would start eating poorly and the weight came back on. I have had the band for 3 1/2 years now and lost but over the summer, I gained five pounds back. The weight crept back up but not so quick that I couldnot turn around my habits. Love the band for that simple reason. So I recommend the band and always will, put there is a caveat, it is not infallible. If you choose to make poor choices, the band can't help you. I wish you well in the start and end of your journey.

You probably have too much fill. Monday go and get a slight defill. This just happened to me, I had .5cc put in so the Dr. took .25 out. I am fine now. If you are too tight, you take the chance of acid reflux and/or vomiting causing problems.

Why did your doctor feel you had to have a defill? Did you feel the soreness all the time? I was wondering if I am eating just too much or if I am too tight. Sure would like to know how long you went before deciding on a defill?

Hi Everyone. 3 1/2 years into having the band and lately havng some soreness around the sternum since I had a fill bringing me to 6.25 ccs. Usually occurs after eating or hiccup. Has anyone any suggestions, is this a normal occurance.

As I said neither yay or nay. However, a number have posted that Wednesday is not convenient. Anytime would be convenient for me as I do not work. Meeting at restaurants is risky because of reservations, no shows, costs etc. The Richmond group that met at a Pizza place no longer meets. I would continue to vote on the hospital.

no harm in taking a poll. I am not in a position to yay or nay, as I live just up the hill from Lions Gate. Good luck.

My thoughts are with you today Mammaj. I am sure all will go well. You have made a good suggestion. As some individuals find Wednesday a difficult night, maybe thoughts should be given to changing the night to say Thursday? Just a thought.

Lions Gate Hospital, 15th and St. Georges Main Entrance North Vancouver Conference Room A Every 3rd Wednesday of the month. 6:30 on Contact canadagir33@hotmail.com. She will put you on the reminder list. this is important because sometimes the conference room number changes Directions: Main Entrance off 15th, walk to gift shop, turn right and go through double doors, walk down hallway turn right - follow hallway a few doors down and the conf. room is on the left. Hope to see you soon.

Hi: This clinic is realtively new, but we have a few that have had surgery with them. They have a good followup aftercare. Their dietician attends our meetings. Please feel free to come to our meetings and get a variety of opinions on all clinics, Mexico, Slimband, Woodhead, Leung, NWLSC, and soon a new clinic will be opening up put on by Dr. Colbourne. We welcome everyone, pre or post surgery. Doreen

Your are more than welcome. Until our group was started, I received all my support from the internet. And in many respects still do as my clinic now have great webcam meeting schedules. There is one other site you can post on and that is the BCWLS site. They are a group that allow bypass as well as band patients. As usual, you have to join, but it is free. The tough part about support, is the clinics only support their own patients. Where were you banded? In the meantime, if you need support, feel free to e mail me privately. I will give you my personal e mail and possibly, we could meet for coffee. I am 67 and retired and only too willng to help. I was in your position once and I know what it is like.

If you scroll back, there is a fellow that holds a support group meeting at a Pizza Place in Richmond. Our group only hold meetings on Wednesday at the Lions Gate Hospital. If I hear of any other group, I will post the name.:wink2: