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Hi there, just finished all those details the past month myself. The clinic I use does ECG's on specific days, once you have the order in place, just wait in line like everybody else. I was only a matter of an hour getting the chest x-ray and ECG done the same morning. The blood work is same thing, take a number. All you're paper work should arrive at the weight loss center around three weeks prior to you're surgery. The Optifast came within days of my order, so there's no worry there. Anyway, good luck with you're band, I'm being done this Friday, wish I could have made this decision when I was you're age, I think you're very brave. I've spent my life on the yo-yo, the weight doesn't just bring physical illness, the mental toll is worse. I've been beating myself up for as long as I can remember and although I don't expect to find happiness from losing weight, I know I'll feel better about myself.

Hi all: Leaving tomorrow on the 10 hour drive to Mississauga to be banded. I'm scheduled for noon on Friday, hope all goes well without any hitches. Everyone keeps asking me if I'm excited or nervous, can't say I'm either, just anxious to get it over with now. The leaves are so pretty right now on Lake Superior, the drive should be very scenic. Unfortunately I don't have any support from my husband, so I'm making the trip alone, hope that goes well too. Anyhoo,.............wish me luck!

I'm leaving on Thursday, making the drive to Toronto is about 10 hours for me, two days left. Guess I'll have to wait and see if I meet any of you down there. I must be weird cause I'm in Optifast heaven, last night,.... I added a little pure vanilla extract, Splenda, ice and nutmeg to the vanilla Optifast, OH.......MY.....GOD. I kinda wish I could just stay on this longer! lol

Today marks one week of Optifast down the hatch. I was a little concerned after reading some of the comments here about the taste, but really don't find it too bad. I use strong coffee instead of water with the vanilla, some Splenda and it's close enough to an ice-cap for me. I will be banded next Friday, the 28th, hope if any of you reading, in the same boat will respond.

Good for you, congrats on you're success. I am a bit nervous about how my life will change, not about the weight loss issues, I've lost over 50 pounds three times in my life, the typical yo-yo syndrome. Mostly concerned about learning to chew my food properly, not gulp, restrain on the social drinking. My family seems to have a "love" with food, as I'm sure most here do. I have a sister in law that's one of my best friends, she eats like a champion, but metabolizes well. Who knows, maybe my new habits will rub off on her........lol......doubt it! My nerves were a bit shot this summer and took up smoking, really dumb, so today is my quit day, have a patch on my bat wing that's itchy, chewed one of those gross gum this morning, and feel like I have a horn growing out of my forehead............ahhhh withdrawals. At least I have a couple weeks to have this under control before the glorious Optifast stint. Blood work tomorrow morning, then withdraw $16,000. from my bank account for the surgery......boy I'm thinking.......what the hell am I doing? Just hope its all worth it and look back at this whole experience as the best decision I ever made.

Hi Patricia: I'm still waiting for surgery, won't be until Sept 28th. Hope everything is going well for you and you're happy with you're decision.

Thanks everyone for you're encouragement, I'm calming down some since the initial "big decision" Seems like so far away, I haven't gotten my package in the mail but knew I'd need a ECG and chest x-ray which I've gotten out of the way. Just waiting to find out what exactly the clinic needs as far as blood work, I'm sure that can be done quickly. I'm working on a couple nurses up here to see if I can spark some interest in learning the fill procedures, we'll see. Anyway, thanks again.

Oh, forgot to mention, talked with Dr. C. last night, my date is set for Sept. 28...........wish me luck!

Lol, I'm laughing cause everyone is assuming I'm a regular at the beer store. Actually I drink red wine, favourite is Masi Valpolicella (Italian), that said, I think I'll do just fine.

Well, just wanted to announce that I'm booked for Sept 28th, still have a bit of a wait but am going to enjoy the remainder of the summer, before the Optifast. Sort of feel like an inmate choosing their last meal, lol. I'll probably visit every one of my favourite restaurants just to get it out of my system. Anyway, hope to see lots of encouraging info here to keep me calm and focused waiting for the next 6 weeks.

Hi Brookelaney: thanks for the info and invite. Four hour drive for a coffee is a bit much, maybe a beer! lol Anyway, hope to keep in touch, I booked my op for Sept 28th, so its a done deal. I'll be looking at travel probably around the beginning of Nov., who knows, maybe we can co-ordinate something.

Hello, read you're posting this a.m. and contacted the O.H.I.P office a couple minutes ago. They are unaware of anything that is in the decision stages and don't know until approx. one month before the changes are made. Doesn't mean its not happening, just that they cannot confirm this info. I have also thought.......what will the criteria be? How long will the wait be for surgery, apparently bi-pass covered through O.H.I.P is up to five years. Another question I asked was, if the surgery is done prior to coverage, could receipts be submitted for re-imbursment? The answer was.........no. I wish I could report that things are progressing in regards to coverage, but I can't.

brookelaney.........do you have a fill doctor in Sudbury or do you travel to T.O.? I probably won't have my band done till the fall, which means I'll be travelling back and forth then. Who knows, maybe we can share the ride some time. Anyway, nice to hear someone closer than Siberia has done this, lol.

Thanks everyone for you're response. I am in the research stages of all this and was really beginning to think that my lifestyle would change so dramatically that it wasn't the thing for me. I don't consider myself to have a problem or anything, but coming from a place who's biggest "cultural attraction" is the Bushplane Museum, we do tend to party here. Just want to know the water before I dive in.

I know its empty calories, I know too much is a bad choice but just curious, a bon-fire and a beer is part of being Canadian........no? Haven't seen much talk about socializing, most of my friends love to get together and party. I suppose that the restriction of food is going to make a few drinks feel like more. Love to hear you're experiences and views on this subject.

I too live on a border town, Sault Ste. Marie. The centre I was considering is in Traverse City, about 3 hour drive. Only problem, they require a BMI of at least 40 without other health issues, I suppose I'm fortunate not to have these but without 12 months of supervised medical attempts at weight loss, my doc can't write anything that could be helpful to me. She is suggesting that I try Meridia, I'm sure it would work but I know I'd just creep back up again eventually. Third time in my life I've needed to lose over 50lbs, and getting tired of trying. I don't mind the odd road trip, think I'll just head to Mississauga, great excuse to get away! lol

Hello, just read you're posting. I'm in Sault Ste. Marie, about 4 hours drive to North Bay from here. I'm still in the beginning stages of all this but am already thinking about the post-op travel to T.O. It would be nice to have someone to share the drive, I'm sure that fill schedules could be co-ordinated for something like that.

Hello, just joined this forum today. I live in Sault Ste. Marie and don't know anyone who has gone through with this procedure. I have decided to move forward and will be having a phone consultation soon. Wondered if anyone from the Soo, Sudbury or area have been banded or are in the process.

Hello, new to this site today and am only learning to navigate. I am still in the decision stage of having this surgery. I have attended a seminar in Michigan but they require a BMI of 40 if you don't have other health issues. I'm not there yet and don't want to be. I believe I will travel to the Toronto area, which is a 10 hour drive, I know I can have my consultation over the phone, but wonder if the follow up care can be done some place closer. Any help would be appreciated. Thunder Bay is just as far, if not further for me, I'm in Sault Ste. Marie. I have read several positive posts in regards to the two main clinics in the Metro Toronto area, which has put my mind at ease. I am interested in help making this important decision,.......thanks

Hi, am just in the decision stage of chosing which clinic in the Toronto area to deal with. I was happy to read all the positive feed back in regards to the Surgical Weight Loss Centre. I live in Sault Ste. Marie and it will be quite the trip for follow care, 10 hour drive. I am hoping that someone will become available even in the Sudbury area, so my travel won't be so extensive. Traverse City Michigan is fairly close but I think I recall them saying that if it wasn't preformed there, the fill cost was $500. Any info appreciated :help:

Hi There, just found this site today and am only learning to navigate. I'm trying to make my choice on which facility to contact for banding, I don't know anyone who has a band or either of the two facilities that perform the procedure in the Metro area. I live in Sault Ste. Marie, which is a 10 hour drive for me. There are no doctors close by follow up care I noticed that Dr. Yau has a C.D. Rom available for physicians to learn the fill procedure but am not crazy about being a guinnie pig and will probably travel to T.O. for my appointments. Any help will be appreciated. I'm just at the decision stage:confused:

Hi there, I was so happy to read a post from Ontario, I live in Sault Ste. Marie and have just contacted the two clinics in the Metro area. One was downtown Toronto, the other in Mississauga. I'm trying to make up my mind where to have the procedure done, any suggestions?

Hi, just read you're post and was thinking the same thing as you. I just filled out my questionaire, so I'm right at the beginning stage of all this. I think maybe I'm gravitating towards reading the "problem" messages just so I know the whole truth about this procedure, but am scaring myself away. Sometimes I think that any of these problems is better than being fat though, there is the option of reversal, its not permanent.