Doddie63

Hi: I am from North Vancouver, BC Canada and I have been "lurking" reading this funny link. My DH was born in England and my family is from England. As a result, I have been in England many times visiting and I must say finding large sizes was an experience to say the least. I always thought there were no large people in the UK. Living in BC, it is just a stone throw away to the USA and I have always purchased my clothes down there. Just wanted to say hi. Doddie

Just want to post that I followed instructions and my problems seem to be corrected. the website is remembering me. Hope the email link works. Will soon seem. Doddie

Hi: I have followed the instructions. I have e mailed a few times that I am having difficulty in my e mail. When I get an e mail notification of a response to my post, I click on the link and I am opened to that post, however, when I want to post another answer I receive an automatic answer to log on. I have checked the box "remember me" and it doesn't. What do I have to do to have the website allow me to answer a post that I have entered from the email link? Doddie

For what it is worth, Dr. Joffe was one of the founding members of he clinic but has since left to return to private practice for reasons of his own. What is posted on the website of the College of P & S does not mean those were his reasons for leaving. He is one excellent surgeon but the fact of the matter is Dr. Yau is the one that will be doing your sugery so I would think it is irrelevent why Dr. Joffe left. Dr. Yau trained my fill surgeon and did my surgery. He is one very skilled man. Doddie

Yes your are right. Most pbs are because we take too large a bite and although we think we are chewing it is natural to swallow after about 12 chews. So inadvertantly, a chunk can go down. I was told (belatedly) that one should not eat for 24 hours or more after a fill as the enlarged band could cause the neck of the stomach to become swollen. As for me, I have always been a "quick chewer" and as a result for the first two months, I was pbing everyday. Now, I have gone two weeks without puking as I make myself take small bites and chew and chew and chew. Doddie

Best to call up your doctor's clinic and ask them. We all have different diets set for us by the doctor based on our weight and other criteria. Doddie

Hi Susan Silver: I notice you joined in Feb. Were you banded in Feb.?

Hy: I have "Graves Disease" fancy name for Hyperthyroid. The Graves is the name of the doctor that discovered the disease. I had radioactive iodine that disolved my thyroid (I now have none) and have been put on synthroid. Unfortuately, the specialist must have you gain weight to be sure the synthroid is doing its job. I was horrified when she expected me to go up to 223 lbs. Since then I went not to223 but up to 303 as I became Hypothyroid (which is when you thyroid is not producing). In desperation, I just had the band put on and I am now loosing and the synthroid has stablized. You may know of Graves disease as Mrs. Bush was diagnosed with it when she was first lady. Doddie.

Hi: I am 63 coming up 64 in August and was banded Feb. 01/07 and wished I had done it sooner. I was 303 when I was on pre op had the surbery at 288 and now am at 269. I thought I was the oldest fart (and believe me you do just that) until I talked to a lady 77 years young. Proves nothing is too late. Doddie

Jodieleigh: Come to the Lions Gate Hospital Wednesday June 20th at 7:00 to 8:00 pm in North Vancouver. We are having our first "bandsters" support meeting. You can come and ask all the questions about your excitement, fears, gloomy thoughts, whatever and after the band surgery you can join us monthly every third Wednesday at the Lions Gate Hospital, Conference Room C. Will love to meet your Doddie

Donna D. I don't think you should pay anything either. I will be interested as to what transpire. Doddie

cuba gov't maybe but not the citizens. It is a hot commodity

Hi: Even if we went back to school the bc gov't would soon close us down if we tried to open a private clinic. LOL They are death on private clinics. One tried to open and the gov't shut them down. now they only accept WCB cases and out of province visitors. The three doctors that have been annointed are struggling to meet the demand but the authorities won't give them more hospital or time and/or money to take on more patients. They still are in the dark ages that 1) loose weight by dieting and exercise. The won't acknowledge that does not work as the majority put the weight back on. The yo yo effect cause even more health issues. I won't hold my breath that the authorities will become enlightened. Hopefully they will read in the Vacouver Sun today an article that indicates studies show gastric bypass a success if patients follow up with their surgeons at least once a year. I am sure the band has just as good a success rate if not better. Doddie

Donna D: Great idea. A few years back, on a holiday, I talked to someone who keeps an American Bank account. When he travels if he needs cash he just withdraws from the American Bank that way he isn't troubled by the flucuation of the dollar. Also, as you said American money is accepted anywhere. Strange how some people are down on Americans, but they are quick to accept their money and goods. I have seen some posts on this site that are very rude to Americans while waving the Canadian Flag and I am ashamed. We have jerks in both countries and just because the politicians are jerks is no reason to get down on a people. I have travelled most of the world and all of America and have found the Americans to be very warm wonderful people. Doddie

Hi: Donna D is correct. I am from North Vancouver. I did all my research and the three surgeons in BC are extremely busy and the wait list was long. I researched the two Doctors at TLBC. They are the pioneers who brought the band to Canada and the press on them was very good. The press suggested the local GP could do the fills after viewing a DVD. My GP said he would. So off I went and had the surgery. When the GP reneged, that is when I discovered that there are no fill clinics in BC and most GPs will not do the fill for any one of three reasons 1) not trained 2) exercise and diet the only way to go 3) no time. The TLBC did recommend a surgeon in Delta and he has agreed to take me on as a favor to Dr. Yau who trained him but make sure you have after care guaranteed or you will find yourself flying to Calgary or Toronto. I am assured by TLBC that they are in the process of setting up fill clinics across the country but it takes time. Doddie PS: I would still pick the TLBC as my clinic.

Hi: Donna D is right. My port is on its side and the needle has to go in at a pretty steep angle. The doc out here in Vancouver took 20 minutes of trying and I looked like a black and blue pin cushion and couldn't do it so I flew back to Nancy who did it in two tries. Now I have to go back to my doc with instructions. Reeeeeeeeealy looking forward to that. I think if I can convince by DH, I will be going back to dear Nancy. Doddie

Hi: I am from North Vancouver BC and Dr. Leung is a very good surgeon and the reason I did not choose him was because his wait list was far into the future, plus I was told he was considering retiring. Secondly, I liked the TLBC because the two doctors are known as bringing the lapband to Canada and press on them was very positive. All doctors in BC have huge waiting lists and getting operating time in a BC hospital was dicey. TLBC would do surgery within a month. Unfortunately, I did not really check out the aftercare of fills. The press clips said the GP could do the fill with a DVD as instructions. My GP said he would do them but reneged after I had surgery. That is when I found out that most GP are reluctant to say the least and there are no sponsored TLBC fill nurses in BC. TLBC made arrangements for me to go to a surgeon in Delta but other than that, nothing. I just returned from Toronto and Dr. Yau told me they are setting up clinics throughtout Canada but it takes time. Doddie

Where are you planning to go Donna D.

My retort to rude people that ask "can you eat that" is "sure have you a problem with that". Why should we get used to these comments, I never will and if they are going to be rude to me I will be rude back. Doddie

rachel. From the sounds of it, you had food particles stuck in the neck of your stomach. That is the part separating the pouch from the rest of the stomach to which the band encirles. When you had all the fill out the stuck food moved down to the stomach. Stay on liquids for as long as you can just like you did when you where in the first few days of your recovery from the operation. You probably are badly enflamed. Until the soreness subsides, stay on liquids. Definately try to get an exray to see what the band is doing if you can. Whe you find yourself getting hungry, sip a warm broth until you feel satisfied. Keep those hands and mind busy by walking, going on the internet, whatever. You go girl. You can do it. Doddie

Hi Gaffer: LOL. Since the surgery, I have been back to TO three times at around $1,000 a trip and I have paid the Delta Doctor $400 for the first interview (he couldn't find the port so sent me back to TO for a "flipped port" which wasn't) and now I will be paying $75.00 a visit if he will have me back. If not, I will have to fly to Calgary to a clinic the TLBC recommended if the Delta doc won't have me because of the difficult port. Know what? I may be stupid and I may be frustrated with the fill situation, but I woud do it again in a minute. I have lost slowly but steadily since Feb and I am elated and not gaining for the first time in three years. Sorry you are having a bad patch but hang in there I am sure you know it is worth it. Doddie

Hi: Will someone please tell me why every freakin person who does not have a weight problem think "we are taking the easy way out". How do they know the band is the "easy way". And for that matter what is wrong with taking "the easy way" if one can loose weight and keep it off. Isn't the object of the exercise to loose weight and regains ones health. Doddie

Hi Leslielee: I have read posts, where scrambled eggs can be a bit stringy and could cause problems. Have you considered a poached egg? Doddie

Hi leslielee. You are correct. Tanning is a wonderful medical tool and properly supervised can help a lot of people in your similar situation. I think it is the commercial tanning that is the dangerous practice. None supervises and that is when the danger comes in. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of regulations. Doddie

Hi: Perhaps, you are not chewing your food properly. Take a bite the size of a pea and chew it 30 times. Don't swallow until you have made the 30. After 20 minutes stop eating, (use a timer) whether or not you have finished your food. Under no circumstances do you drink water until at least 20 minutes after your meal. 1 hour is better. Make it your goal to not puke. If you make one day, try for two. I am now up to 2 weeks without puking. Also, how much fill do you have in your band. Have 1/2 of it removed. When you are no longer inflamed and have your eating under control then go for another fill. Doddie