Doddie63

I didn't have to worry about a bra. Got no boobs to speak of. LOL Doddie

I wore loose baggy gym sweats (try shorts in this heat) and tea shirt no bra. More importantly, take gas X and a pillow for the ride home. You will be given a pain killer prescription but I went to my local GP and he gave me a painkiller that suited my other prescriptions and my allergies. Doddie

Great choice great people, excellent doctor. Even though I am having trouble with getting my fills in BC, I would still go back to Dr. Yau. I am sure others would praise their doctors but Dr. Yau was one of the pioneers that brought the band to Canada. Doddie

Hi: Going to far away, can bring complications with the fills after surgery. Many doctors will not take on the after care of another surgeon. Many GPs, don't like to do the fills so unless you are prepared to fly back to wherever you had the surgery check it out carefully. So if you get stuck, you have the the upleasant choice of going to ER where the snarky doctors and nurses tell you that it serves you right for having a band done privately. If you want my outright advice stay in Canda close to home. Speaking from experience. Doddie

You are absolutely correct in deciding to go slow and easy with whom you tell. Everyone is used to us going on diets so that is all they need to know. "I am watching my intake and being successful". You are not required to give any details on how you do it. Doddie

Maybe there are on vacation?

Yes I whole heartedly agree, but my DH has always done his own. Now I think we will be looking at an CA. We are planning to claim my band costs next year so hopefully he will get a CA. I must admit, when you see the statistics about how many errors are made by professionals because of the complexities it makes one wonder about the people who make up the rules. All I know, over the years, he has had no problems with his work so hopefully I can convince him to let others have the headache. Doddie

Whats with telling people? Why do we have the need or compulsion to do this. One simple word when people make nice comments about loosing weight is "Thanks". Bad comments get bad comments back. Sort of like when people say "Good Morning how are you" your don't respond with "well I had a bit of whatever etc". We usually respond "Good Thanks" . The less said the better. If I want to discuss my weight, I do it with my doctor, DH that's it. Anyone else is out of the loop. I have had too many experiences in the past when I opened up and talked. Not good. Doddie

Relax. The weight will come. Right now you must concentrate on following the rules to allow yourself to heal and the stitches around the band to build up scar tissue to anchor it solidly. I can only suggest what I have been doing. I forgot about the scale and concentrated on changing one bad habit. It take 3 weeks to change a bad habit if you are consistant in practicing the good one. Once you feel in control then start on exercise that you like. By then you should have your fill and can start measuing your food. The full feeling is almost the same with everyone. You feel a pressure in your throat like a marble is caught there. If you eat more, the pain begins. You must stop when you feel the "marble". If you don't you probably will have to PB. Hope others will give you some advice but this is the course that I have been taking. Doddie

Maybe your are right. But over a year we ran into an unbending burocracy that quoted the rules over and over again and would not budge. For instance, they clawed back his OAP and when he proved it was their fault, they would not reimburse the money they took. They told him he had lost it forever even though it was their fault. It was only constant visit to the office and forcing the issue we got a manager to tell him how he could get his OAP arrears back. It was the end of that year, my DH had a stroke shortly after he got the zero balance. I have no love for the CRA

So far, I haven't lost enough weight for anyone to notice, however, the ones that know I have the band keep asking me "how do I feel" as if I am about to die. My family GP shows no interest in whether or not I succeed even though when I told him, he told me he would support me. Ha! he doesn't even weigh me. The only support I get is from my husband and the two support groups I go to. Doddie

I just wish and hope, I will ever be small enough to wear a bikini. LOL

Take it cool susansilver. I had my 2nd fill only in June. It took two weeks before I felt restriction. I haven't followed the fill schedule as given by the TLBC because frankly I couldn't afford to fly back to TO, but I have found after the first and 2nd fill, it took about two weeks for me to feel a tighter restriction. We are all different so wait and see. Doddie

You will go through all the emotions known to the human race. Everything from second guessing yourself to fear, to joy, to excitement, anticipation, frustration, on and on and on. I was banded in Feb and even after PBing, I would never give up my band. It has made me "normal". I eat small amouants, know when I am full. I have had periods when no weight has come off but at first I concentrated on learning to eat small bites and chew. Now as of the 1st of July, I am exercising on the treadmill. I couldn't change all my bad habits at once so have been doing one at a time. So hang in there. I would be very surprised if you didn't become a convert like the rest of us. doddie

Yes, we can buy all the booze we like privately, but can't get surgery privately in BC unless approved by a gov't agency such as WCB. Go figure.

Puddy: What exciting news. Would you explain what your feeling of fullness is? It is interesting how we seem to differ. Doddie

We were audited and challenged the IT people that they had made 13 errors in their calculations. After 1 year of proving our claims, and demanding an apology, we got a letter telling us we owed zero. Nothing more. All of the errors were data imput errors by their own staff. So if you did our homework and have all your receipts try not to let their superior "we never make mistakes" attitude get you down.

Right on Donna I didn't see the weight loss. Hey Woodys, congrats.Doddie

Yes I will. Good luck. Doddie

TLBC asked what would be the weight I wanted to reach pre op. I picked a "mid weight" to give me a more realistic goal. When (not if) I reach 180, I will then ask my doctor what would be ideal for me. In the meantime, it gives me someting to shoot at.

Why do we make fun at ourselves? when it hurts so much!

Yasmina: Go in and let Nancy decide that is why the clinic has a fill nurse.

Yamina: Yes she wouldn't be too concerned because she is good at it. However, having the port on its side make it very difficult to fill. Assuming you had Nancy, she is very efficient and a port on the side is not difficult for her. However for others that may not be the case. My doctore out her tried 20 minutes and numerous pokes before he called it quits and sent me back to TO. When I got there, Nancy did the fill in two tries, but the head nurse who tried first couldn't do it. It cost me $1,000.00 just to be told everything is OK. I go to my doctore on July 12 and if he has trouble again, I am going back to TO and make them straighten out the port. I don't know about others living long distances away, but I can't get to TO everytime I need a fill or defill.

PS: Sorry about the typo errors, but for some reason, I can't edit. Doddie

Hi: I agree with the thought your should have mushies for a few days. You are not that far away from sugery and the instructions I got was clear fluids, fluids, mushies and solid food after one month. You have a lot of healing to do with the stiches holding the band and scar tissue has to develop to hold the band. Don't rush the solids, better to eat mushies more often than to PB. If you like eggs, try "poached". I never have a problem with them. Doddie.