Doddie63

Mid June - is anyone reaching their goal set for the month?

robgoblin. Hate to upset your idea about our money, but Canadian money is just as easy to counterfeit as American. Before the new twenty was out, the low life had already found out how to bypass the security. Ask anyone working in law enforcement. Doddie

hang in there and try to follow the guidelines from one stage to the other. You need to heal and your journey will have few complications if you start off on the right foot. I found spending time on the computer took my mind off my hunger plus exercising will reduce hunger pangs. I dislike exercises so I spent more time on the computer (l0l) Plus someone told me not to worry quantity just quality. I drank/ate the required amounts but more frequently.

Hi: On our news out here a few weeks ago, the story was on tanning sprays where a brand had been recalled because it was dangerous and certain big chain stores were still selling it. The warning came that spray on tanning can be just as dangerous as tanning salons. Doddie

The fill is a fair restriction, I think 4cc s will be my limit. I just find that with the clinic staff they assume too much. There should be a policy that they repeat instructions re fasting, etc each and every time a patient is in their clinic. That would prevent any misunderstandings. Just handing out a peice of paper and assuming all patients received the paper and no verbal followup can produce misunderstandings and resentments. I have tried to be patient by telling myself I should ask, but then I come back with how can I ask if I don't know what to ask. Oh well, I am over the worst - have the band, have the first fill, have the second fill so now I think I know all the rules. Still again, these are little frustrations, I would still do everything all over gain without a second thought. Doddie

<p>Don't take a chance. pack it in your luggage to use in the hotel if you want. Rules are rules but how they are interpreted depend on the guy with the wand. I had one officious jerk who checked me three times with the wand, made a hand search over me (if he had touched my boobs or other area I would have slugged him). I had no metal on me but because I picked up my purse before he nodded OK to do so he played "GOD". I agree with security and travel a lot but every once in awhile, you meet someone who is a jerk. So no don't take your magic wand as carryone. Doddie</p>

What I love about them are fat, skinny or banded, they all have empathy for the overweight. They see us for ouselves and where else can you find that thinking in this world. Doddie

As usual, I am the lone woman out. I couldn't return to TLBC as scheduled by them as I couldn't afford it until six weeks later. I then flew out and had the fill. I did not attend an seminar nor did I get an instruction sheet. As a result on my first fill I had a good breakfast and was unable to take more than 2 ccs. On the second fill, I flew out to TLBC to fix (what I thought) was a flipped port as told by the doc out here. I was given a 1 cc fill and told the port had not flipped just off on an angle. I was not told not to eat anything for 24 hours. I assume the nurse thought I already knew this from the first fill. When I went back the next day just to see about another cc I was told not for two more weeks. I can't seem to win, can I guys. Sad sack if how I feel. Doddie

Welcome back to BC and hope you enjoy yourself.

I had one days rest then flew home the next day with my DH. I had absolutely no problems. No pain, no gas. Almost as if I never had an operation. I have huge hips (270 lbs now) and I find the seats very narrow and I also have the hugest of arms. Almost as large as my legs and they spill over into the next seat so I do my best not to have someone sit beside me. I fully intend to fly back to TO one a year as recommended by the clinic to have them check my band but for fills, I will continue to go to the Delta doctor if he will have me. Doddie

Hi; I flew back April 24th for my first fill as I couldn't come up with the $1,000 before then. I have just come back yesterday from a fill of 1 cc. Actually went thinking I had a flipped port but I don't. I use West Jet and book my own seat precisely 24 hours before flight time. I look for someone who has booked a single seat by the window and I book the aisle. I stand a very good chance the middle seat will not be filled. If it is, the stewardess usually moves the individual to another free seat as I am very large. As you will be travelling by Air Canada on standby, you probably will get a centre seat. If you are large, I don't envy you. There is a Dr. Woodhead here in Delta that takes TLBC patients, but because he has had difficulty with the new procedure of ports not being anchored, I have been told he has stopped taking patients but I would get Dr. Yau or his staff to contact Dr. Wooodhead, he may take you on. Also, TLBC has a doctor in Calgary that does their patients as well and you can get his name and phone number from the fill nurse. It would be even cheaper to fly to Calagary. I have been interviewed by Dr. Woodhead and will be making an appointment to see him tomorrow. If you want to chat, send me an e mail and I will give you my private primary e mail address. Doreen

Rub it in already. If you only knew the anquish of looking for a fill nurse close to home!!! Know what? I would do again in a flash AND I would pick the TLBC over any surgeon here. Only reason I would want BC is because they do fills but if the TLBC is true to their word, they will soon have a fill nurse here. Doddie

Hi: Dr. Joffe and Dr. Yau pioneered the band in Canada. Dr. Joffee has now left the clinic. He banded many idividuals who I am sure would give testimonials as to his work. If you are recently banded by Dr. Yau you know how good he is. Have you seen the nutrionist yet. She is very knowledgeable. Doddie

Hi: I am from north vancouver and was banded at the TLBC. Unfortunately, if your mom doesn't want to wait she will have to go out of Province. However, tell her there are fill issues if she goes out of province. The TLBC is working on setting up a network of fill doctors/nurses as well as some GPs will do a fill but most are reluctant even with the DVD given out by TLBC. Also, there is a support group of banders starting up and will be every 3rd Wednesday at the Lions Gate Hospital between 6:30 and 8:30. The first one is this Wednesday and if your mother wants to attend to get information I am sure she would be made welcome. Doddie

Yoda: If you read my old posts you would have seen I did my have my GP lined up. He reneged. But, the clinic also has a responsibility to inform the client that fills are a difficult problem for people outside Ontario. The DVD suggests local gps can easily do the fill. Maybeso, but most will not do the proceedure. That was never pointed out to me and in my view should have been.

Hi Argon: I have had so much difficulty in locating a fill nurse/doctore in N. Van. I was so elated when the TLBC found a doc. in Delta that would take me. I paid $400.00 for the visit only to find out 25 minutes of trying to do the fill, the doc (who is a surgeon trained by Dr. Yau) told me the port had flipped. He has since stopped taking patients of other surgeons because of his experience with me. I am still hoping, that he will keep me on if Dr. Yau anchors the port. If not, I will fly to TO and stick with whom I know. I am so tired of being rejected time and time again so will wait to see if the TLBC comes thru with a fill nurse in BC. I understand they are working on it. Doddie

Your upbeat message is exactly how I feel. In spite of the flipped port, the lack of fill nurses, the costs of travelling back and forth, I would not hesitate to have the band. The positives hugely outweigh the negatives. Doddie

Hi: I have contacted the sales rep that accepted my registering of my Fr.Midband and she said she will contact the manufacturer and get back to me. I will also ask the doc as I will be in TO to see him. Doddie

Sieni did you find a fill nurse in Saskatoon? My doc reneged when he saw how difficult the fill for me would be . The port flipped so back to TO tomorrow to have it corrected. As for fills, back to square one for me. Guess I will have to fly to TO for the fills and any defills go to ER here in North Vanc. At least in Sask. you can get to Alta fairly easily. Doddie

Hi Yoda. They have never called me unless I called them. The telecommunication support group just had its first one and their website is never used. The other one is run by one of their staff and is very much into the Toronto support. Although people further away do join in, you can ask anyone from Sask., Alberta, BC how they feel. Most feel very much alone in finding fill nurses, etc. I did have a call from one doctor after I commented on the website I never had a true consult. I won't go into old details. As I posted earlier, some of the lack of communication was my fault in not researching thoroughly. Havng said that, I still would pick the TLBC as my first choice. I take the position they are very busy dealing with new patients and that if I have a problem, I can call them. Once advised they do everything for me they can. As for personal e mails from a doctor, I really don't know who is writing it anyway, could be a staff member.

Hi Leslie Lee Yes your comments do give me pause for thought. Just being told that there may or may not be a pouch stetching issue without any scientific proof (particularly when doctors can't agree) does not lead me to blindly stop what I feel is not hurting me. I don't for one minute think the gas stays in the pouch indefinately, nor if the drink is sipped slowly does it stretch the pouch as all liquid goes down into the regular stomach. Gas from other things such as certain vegetables finds its way out of the body so in my mind it is too simplistic to say the pouch will stretch or explode. Just my thoughts. Doddie

Hi Donna: Redo your ticker. This happened to me and the easiest solution is to delete your ticker and redo. My Q: How many are drinking diet pop? I have the Fr. Midband and what I do is pour a glass and let it sit until the fiz has disappeared. I sip it slowly. By letting it sit, even though the fiz is gone, I get the psychological lift of having "my diet pop". With me, if I am forbidden to have anything, I immeditely want it so I have to play games with my brain. Doddie

Dr. C. appears to have a good network of support whereas the TLBC lets the patients take charge of the support groups. Excellent for TO patients but anyone further away is left out in the cold. Excellent support is given by the TLBC if you call about a particular problem, but for the most part one is left to their own devices. Doddie

I am feeling like a freak. I have a Fr. Midband and have had restricton since day one. I now have 2 ccs and feel "full" after 1 1/2 cups of food. If i eat too quickly I barf. I am told 1 cc more should do the trick for me. Does anyone else have restrictions from the outset???? Doddie

Keep posting Andre. Will watch you progress in your journey with interest and support if you need it Doddie