Kathybad

Ok, I really want mine in the bikini area... but have already had my consultation at TLBC, and didn't meet Dr. Yau. I don't see them again until surgery day. How do I get this request across to him?

How long ago? Are you in Toronto now? I used to live there for about 10 years, until I moved here in 2001 (although this is where I grew up).

Ok, I'll start this by saying I don't know how things with in the States with insurance, might be the same... but in Canada, it doesn't make any sense. OHIP, which is our Provincial Goverment Medical insurance, will cover the cost of Gastric Bypass or the DS surgery if you have a BMI of 40+ or 35+ and co-morbidities. They will even pay to send us the the States to have it done quicker, as the waiting list in Canada for this is about 2+ years. However, they consider the lapband to be "experimental", so they won't cover it. They will pay $35K or more for the other surgeries, that are much more invasive and risky, but not the $16K for the lapband. The government also conducted a study of the various WLS types to determine which was most appropriate. In the end, their study concluded that all three types had good results and should be covered... so why only the most risky and expensive :mad::mad::mad::heh::heh::heh::heh: I guess I'm just bitter that an aquaintance of mine had the gastric bypass surgery completely paid for, and I have to pay for mine. Oh well!

I didn't know about that. They mentioned these, but not the dates. I'm from London, so it would be a bit of a drive. I'll have to see if I can swing it.

Hi Peaches, I'm being banded at TLBC too by Dr. Yau. My date is July 26th. What's yours? I start the yogurt/cottage cheese pre-op diet next week. Did my pre-op tests today.

Chimboree: "Just wondering. What caused you to gain wt? Was it a pregnancy, depression, some other major life event?" I've been overweight all my life. Photos cost money way back then, so the only "baby" picture of me is when I was 2. I was this beautiful, chubby little girt, chowing down on a bag of potato chips... sort of stuck with me. I hate that picture. I've battled with my weight ever since. I remember going to the doctors when I was in grade 4. I weighed in at 101 lbs. My son will be starting grade 4 in Sept. He weighs 70 lbs. Man, I was fat. As an adult, I did the yo-yo, but sort of had things under control once I met my DH. Still overweight, but not too much, and a lot healthier than I had ever been. When I was pregnant, I gained a lot of weight... but lost it all within about 2 months post-preg. But when my son was diagnosed as deaf at 10 months, it started to creep back on, due to stress. Then more medical issues = more weight. Then, 2 years ago, I started a starvation diet, and lost 75 lbs. I felt great, and was keeping it off for a few months, until our new daughter moved in. She was then suffering some medical challenges, and again more for our son. So I quickly packed on 85 lbs. Now I'm at my highest, and I can't go any further. My health hasn't been worse, and I'm scared. My surgery can't come soon enough. I did my pre-op medical stuff today, and got confirmation from the bank on my financing. It's not covered by any insurance plan in Canada, and costs me $16,000. So I'll be paying for this for 4 years... but I think my life is worth it... and so does my DH. Ok, I've been rambling too long. By the way, Chimboree... you are beautiful... loved your photos.

Congrats bfyneNtyme!!! I'm so glad it went well for you. :clap2: Now the losing can begin. Take it easy and God Bless.

Amazing!!! Congratulations Lynette. I was thinking about you all day. So happy it went so well for you.

You think you're old at 36... OMG!!! I'm 41. I got my little girl just before turning 40 and thought to myself... I never expected to be 40 with a 2 year old and a 7 year old... some days I'm very tired :bored Can't wait to lose some weight to keep up with these two. BTW, its my son's birthday tomorrow... he will be 9. :clap2:

My band costs $16,000. So I had to find financing for it. Credit Medical came through with the best rates, so I've gone with them.

My band costs $16,000. So I had to find financing for it. Credit Medical came through with the best rates, so I've gone with them.

I had my consultation at the TLBC on June 14th. I had hoped to meet my surgeon, but he was in surgery so wasn't available. My husband came with me and was great. I was surprised at the strange pre-op diet, but that's ok. I'm nervous, but excited. My date has been booked for July 26th. I could have booked sooner, but I have too much stuff happening in between.

I had my consultation at the TLBC on June 14th. I had hoped to meet my surgeon, but he was in surgery so wasn't available. My husband came with me and was great. I was surprised at the strange pre-op diet, but that's ok. I'm nervous, but excited. My date has been booked for July 26th. I could have booked sooner, but I have too much stuff happening in between.

Where is everyone getting their port placed? I have a choice, and am not sure where I want it. I've heard that the most popular is in front under the breast bone, but for large chested women (like me) it can interfear with the underwire bra. I've also heard that many people have it on their side (left or right??), but my friend who was banded 7 years ago had it here and it has disconnected twice. Then I've recently heard it in the bikini area (below the belly button to the left side not too low). This is where I'm leaning, but don't know. Any thoughts?

Hi Anna, Go to TickerFactory.com to build your ticker counter. Chose weight loss and then select your tape from the many choices. Once you've selected your tape, hit "next" to choose your marker, then hit "next". Once it's complete, highlight the tape and hit "ctrl+c" to copy it. Then in this website, go up to the top and click on "UserCP" and select "User Signature". Click in the signature text area and hit "ctrl+v" to paste the tape. Good Luck :clap2:

Hi Sunny, I live in London, Ontario. That is about 2 hours from Toronto, half way between Toronto and Detroit.

Hi Ronik, Thanks... I had to adopt to get my little girl... but she is worth being jealouse over!!!

I was wondering where people have their port located and what feels best. I will be banded on July 26th by Dr. Yau. Before then, I'd like to decide if I want it up front under my breast bone, on my side or down in my bikini area. Any thoughts?

Hi Everyone, I don't start my pre-op diet until July 12th. My surgery is July 26th. I have a party to go to on July 11th, so that will be my "last supper". My diet is very different from what I've seen posted so far. It is low fat yogurt and low fat cottage cheese (all I can eat of both), plus one skinless boneless chicken breast (steamed, not fried) per day. That's it. Nothing else. I love yogurt, so that will be fine. But I hate cottage cheese.:faint: Too many bad diet flashbacks. I really wish I could do the Optifast or something similar. Might go down a bit better. Oh well...

Hi Lynette, Good luck... I'll be thinking about you on the 2nd. Will you be in the hospital overnight? :notagree I will have my band done in the doctors clinic and get to go home about 4 hours later. No hospital. I'm not really sure I like that, but that's how they do it here in Canada. :confused: Unless you have a huge health risk (heart problems), they do it in their clinic. Take care!:clap2::clap2: Kathy

Hi LyssaRene, I love you idea... Boris won't allow it. Brilliant. I'm not telling too many people either. Not because I'm not proud of my decision. I believe most people who don't or have never had a weight problem have not clue what we deal with. They simply see us as lazy and weak. That of course is just not true. We are incredibly strong... I'd like to see some of my skinny co-workers carry around an extra 125 lbs every minute of the day... that's strong! Because they don't understand, I would rather they not know, because they would just judge incorrectly.

Quote Sunshine6855 "Just think, when I have my surgery on July 26 your will be a full month with yours. I am a little jealous here... My thoughts are with all of you that have to do a pre-op diet. My surgeon does not require one. Not that I am rubbing it in" Hi Sunny, we have the same banding day. Lucky you... with no pre-op diet. I don't know if I will last on mine, since I hate cottage cheese, and that's one of two things I'm allowed to eat for two weeks. :faint: Take care, Kathy :hungry::hungry:

I love Tinkerbell too!!! When our adopted daughter moved in (she was 2), I painted her bedroom in a Tinkerbell inspired theme... green and purple with light purple pixie dust and a flower & butterfly theme around the crib, door frame and window. She loves the bright colours and its such a happy, fun room to be in.

Thanks Cazulay! You must be an amazing person to work with special kids every day. Our son's teacher is so kind and patient. I know how hard it is to keep up with these kids... so as a mom, thanks for your desire to keep up with them. Kathy

Hi Everyone. This is just my second post... still new at this. I've been reading the posts over the last few days. A little about myself... I am married with 2 kids. I'm very lucky. My husband is wonderful: supportive of my career, a great father, cook, housekeeper etc. We have a special needs son, Jesse, who is hearing impaired, intellectually challenged, has epilepsy, ADHD and OCD (to name a few things). Beyond his labels... he is our pride and joy. We have a little girl, Sarah, who we are in the process of adopting. She has some issues as well due to prematurity. Hopefully she will grow up with no problems, but the jury's out still. She stole our heart the day we met her 1-1/2 years ago. The adoption should be final in September, but she is already ours in our hearts. I've always been overweight, but as all of you probably too... I've been successful losing a lot of weight, just not keeping it off. Last year, I lost 80 lbs in 6 months... just to gain it all back in 5 months once my son was diagnosed with yet another issue. That was the deciding factor for me. I knew I couldn't do it again without the safety net to make sure I don't gain it back. Too much stress in my life to believe I won't stuff myself back to a size 26. So here's my input into some recent discussions... Goals I have: * To not have to put the driver's seat all the way back when I get in the car... my butt is so big that I have to sit way back in order to fit. * To fit in an airplane seat without feeling embarrased that whoever sits beside me is being crowded. * To sit in an airplane seat and be able to put the food tray out to sit flat * To not have my thighs rub together * To go down the stairs without pain in my knees * To run after my kids * To play golf without getting winded * To wear cloths from a "normal" store Ohhhh the list keeps going... not to mention to feel proud of myself !!! One thing I don't have to wait for is the look of passion in my husbands eye... he thinks I'm amazing whatever I look like. Pre-op Diet: I start my diet two weeks before surgery, so it will be July 12th for me. I have to eat low or non-fat yogurt and low fat cottage cheese and one boneless, skinless chicken breast daily. That's it !!!! Lucky me, I can eat as much fat free yogurt and cottage cheese that I want, but nothing else. Too bad I absolutely hate cottage cheese. I'll probably lose 20 lbs just doing the pre-op diet. Post-op Diet: I have to do 4 days of clear fluids, then 10 days of full fluids, then 14 days of pureed or mashed food. What do other people have to follow? That's all I have for now. Take care, Kathlene