2bslimsherri

Hi Doddie, I can't believe they sent you home! I have read bad things about Nancy on this site before(dismissing concern's, not giving fluro fills, etc.). My port is flipped on it's side too. My first fill was with Nancy and it took her 3 tries to get my port but my next fill with her she got it the first time. I had a fill with Daryl (the surgical nurse) since the other fill nurse was off sick. She was great and got it the first time. :thumbup: On Wednesday I had a fill for the first time with the other fill nurse(can't remember her name) and she was awful. Athough I told her I had a flipped port and which direction to approach to hit the front she just kept stabbing me and digging and digging. She kept approaching from the back over and over even though I kept telling her the front of the port was on the other side. I am incredibly bruised and sore. The bruising is as bad as my original surgery. I am now concerned since i will never let her come near me with a needle again. I guess nancy is my only option. If you flew all the way from Vancouver to fix your port and they turned you away, I guess I have no hope of having mine fixed. I wonder if they are getting too big for their own good and can't accomodate proper aftercare for all their bandsters? Any thoughts? Sherri Sorry for the long windednesss.

i have had problem's fitting into the seats in movie theatres, hairdresser chair's, etc. Guess what. I fit. I'm so excited. My weight loss has stalled the last few weeks, but I think the inches are still flying off. I keep noticing my clothes getting looser and looser. it feels really good. My next NSV goal is to not only fit into the hairdresser's chair, but to also be able to close those jacket cover up's they give you. It doesn't protect your clothes if it won't close.

jjsmiles, great suggestions for treats. I like the under 100 calories rule. My personal favorie is the skinny cow chocolate fudge bar. it is large and filling and I believe it runs 80 calories for 1 bar. i feel like I have indulged in a sinful treat. I will look for the safeway healthy Snacks next time I am in the states.

will there be a lunch in march or april? I couldn't make the february lunch but am looking forward to meeting local fellow bandsters.

Best of luck. I hope all goes well and look forward to details. I am hoping to be where you are within the next year or two.:biggrin:

Hi Staindgal, Although the band is an aid you still have to work with it. When you do loose control you cannot do the damage you used to. I find I cannot eat things like cake and donuts since I get stuck. I can still eat ice cream and potatoe chips but even if I get into these things I cannot eat as much as before. I am litterally eating about 1/8 of the amount I previously did. You just hit a point of being full and stop. You learn quickly not to overeat since you will just throw up if you do and it is not fun. the way i looked at it is why do I need to have willpower and starve. I got psycologically healthy and it allowed me to see the band was the best present I could give myself. I now have a took that is making it easy for me to eat healthy and not overindulge. It is a new midset for me. I even got a personal trainer to come to my house 3 times per week. As to those who find the large sums of weight we have to loose overwhelming, just think of it in small increments. Since you are getting great health benefits each time you loose 10% of your weight I loose this 10% difference (a weight watcher term) as my mini goals. it makes it more manageable but at my weight each goal seems far away.

Hi all, I am 46 and was banded on Dec 6, 2007. From the first time I walded through the door of the clinic for my first consult to now I am down 45 pounds. This is the most I have ever lost. The most amazing thing is it is forever. I will never gain it back again. I am not counting calories since i am very restricted and usually cannot eat much so cannot do too much caloric damage. However, i do work out 3 times a week with a trainer. It makes a huge difference. I hope it keeps dropping since I still have so much to go.

Just claim the surgery under medical expenses and make sure you have a copy of your receipt ready to show CRA. If you are a married claim all medical expenses under the spouse that gets the bigger bang for the buck. One person in a family can claim all medical expenses despite the person the expense is for (eg. spouse, children, other dependents). Hope this helps.

I started working out 3 times per week with a personal trainer. He comes to my house and brings all the equipment with him. I no longer have an excuse. Any aerobic exercise I do on top of this (eg. walking, biking, swimming, eliptical, etc.) is just a bonus. He is really working my abs and even those lower abs that give such a big problem. I really see the difference. My weight loss has been good but the inches I have lost are amazing. I lost 2 inches off my abdominal area in just the first month. I live in the Toronto, Canada area and would be happy to pass his contact info to anyone who wants it. Just message or e-mail me. I'm a lucky lady.

Hi Julie, Firstly I want to say you look amazing. You really are a beautiful woman. Your strength and persistance are an inspiration. As I loose and see my skin begin to sag and hang in spite of intense workouts with a trainer, I think of you and your successes. You give us all hope. Give yourself a big hug since you deserve it.

I was not aware that restaurants will allow you to eat off the childrens menu if you show the lapband card. Is this a common priactice? If so is it a practice in the states or in Canada? I was away this weekend and when asking to order off the childrens menu I found it was different for each establishment.

Wouldn't laser hair removal be a permanet way of dealing with the pubic hair growing high up? Just a suggestion.

I am another stranger who has gotten to "know" you via your eloquent posts. Here I am worrying about someone I have never met.....thoughts are with you and hope you are O.K. Let us know. Sherri

I too love sushi. I find it depends on the day whether I can eat it or not. I also find late in the day (evening) I can eat more than earlier in the day. Shashimi is the easiest to handle and sushi in often just fine. If I am having trouble with the rice i just take the fish off and eat it. The maki rolls are often a problem since you must be able to chew your food well as not get stuck on the rice. Nori does not lend to mushing up when you chew it. I have only had 2 fills and often wonder if I will still be able to eat it when I am more constricted (sweet spot). What I am learning and trying to remember is eat really slowly, take small bites and chew, chew, chew. Believe me, it is not fun if you don't.

Hi HarleyNana I think you are an inspiration and at 46 you show me there is still hope. I am still a newbie to the band (I am your bandiversary buddy) and bandsters like yourself are truly what keeps me inspired. You look fantastic.:thumbup: Your body is better than mine was at 17. Yay for you. sherri

Hi all, I was banded on December 6, 2007 and had my first fill on January 7th. No problems. I had my second fill on January 25th and was fine at first. I did 24 hours of liquids and was able to eat fine on Saturday. I had sushi for lunch and went out for a really nice fish dinner that evening. Although I filled up really quickly (amazing!) I was able to eat and everything went down as long as I ate slowly and chewed well. By Sunday I was feeling really tight but was able to keep food down. On Monday I was really tight, ate and got stuck. I PB'd and it came up. I was really sore after that (throat) and have had trouble eating since. Yesterday and today I have been throwing up pretty much all solids (I even tried a glass of wine to relax me). Is this normal? Do you think I am just swollen from the fill and am taking a long time to heal or do you think I did something when I PB'd earlier in the week. I am terrified to have a slip. Please help & sorry for the long windedness.

I have thyroid disease. My endocrinologist O.K.'d me missinging my meds the one day of the surgery but I needed to be back on the next day. I had to crush it in water (not suggested) for the first while until I was on solids.

Please give details of how you managed to fight and win this battle. Maybe we can win the same war in Ontario and other provinces.

Having struggled with weight issues since I started to gain weight at age 8 I wish I had the option of gastric banding in my teens. My families solution was to send me to weight watchers at age 11 (I had 20 lbs to loose). this began a lifelong cycle of yo-yo dieting. having gone through 2 years of therapy (my family didn't believe in this) and now getting a band I am truly comfortable in my skin for the first time. Growing up as an overweight teen and then being fat in my 20's, 30's etc. was a challenge. I know now I have not achieved what I could have since I never felt worthwhile because I was fat. It made me think something was wrong with me and I deserved less than others. Even my children have suffered since mom was always too fat for this and that. I feel like the band is the tool I needed to begin living my life to the fullest. Now weight is not in my way and I am learning every day to love myself a little more. maybe 12 is a little young but 15 or 16 surely isn't. I don't feel the same about bypass, but the band is not that risky.

Hi HarleyNana, I just noticed we have the same bandiversary, just a few years apart. I was recently banded in 2007. I'm excited since I have read many of your posts and you are the first person i have seen with my date. Sherri

Hi all, Prior to having my band I did not tell anyone I was having surgery. I did not even tell my siblings or parents. Only my husband and 2 kids knew. I needed to tell my carpool since she has helped me with switching and taking care of my younger son until the older one got home from school to babysit. (I think I love her) and one other friend who I know will never tell anyone (my support system). I told those who needed to know I was having surgery that I had a hiatus hernia repaired and was embarrased to tell anyone (the reason for my secrecy). The hernia surgery turned out to be true since I had a hiatus hernia repaired. The weight loss is pretty slow and gradual and can be explained with diet and exercise. I guess they will all be shocked that I am finally succeeding. I am so glad I didn't blab. I don't think I could stand having every mouthful watched and commented on. However,I know it would have provided great gossip (I think most people would have seen it as that and not a life saving procedure). I know I can guide those seeking help in loosing towards the band without necessarily telling them about mine.

Doddie thank you for the morning chuckle. You always have such a cute and entertaining way of expressing yourself and an upbeat look at life.

Oh Peaches. I am so sorry you are having these complicaitons. I lurked for a couple of months before I felt comfortable enough to post and as a result I kind of feel like I have gotten to know regular posters like yourself. If you are indeed leaking do you need a new band or just a new port? Keep us posted and my thoughts and prayers will be with you. I am glad they are taking care of you.

I usually use a drug called Anaprox (a miracle drug for me) during my TOM. It is an anti-inflamitory & helps me carry on as usual. It also slightly slows down the flow so you don't get so worn out & anemic. The problem is it's a big pill and I am not sure how I can take it. Any advice.

Hi all, I was recently banded at the TLBC on Dec 6, 2007. I am surprised at bandsters who met with the surgeon before they made their decision. I was told Dr. Yau did not meet with patients before surgery and only after insisting on having some of my medical related questions answered did I get a telephone meeting with him. Although the staff is great I found they just poo poo'd my questions and concerns (eg. slipage and erosion, and surgical complications requiring conversion to open surgery) and told me it never happended to their patients. When I spoke with Dr. Yau he had reviewed my chart and did answer any questions I had. I was not unhappy with my decision and I am convinced Dr. Yau is an excellent surgeon and would not hesitate to recommend him. Did other patients banded by Dr. Yau actually meet with him in person first?