Paulax

Hey, BC is closer, Dr Wai Leung in Surrey does lapband for 13,000.

I am booked to be banded by Dr. Wai Leung in Surrey BC. I believe there is another surgeon in Richmond, don't know his name. Other than that, I think Ontario. What province do you live?

I for one am glad you posted this. I am pre op, have an overactive imagination and have been wondering about the long term effects of squeezing in the stomach, necrosis etc. I am still wondering about those who have had the band removed, does the stomach go back to 'normal' or is it distorted, or does it even matter. Anyhoo, thanks for posting this.

Great post gadgetlady. I am pre op, so it is nice to hear reactions from the recently banded. BTW, love the name, I love gadgets too. The Band must be the ultimate in gadgets.

What are you eating post op, post liquid diet? Are you eating bread, cereal? My lapband friend is not, or very little. I would just like to know what you eat on an average day. Thanks :hungry:

I just want to see how cute she looks in a bikini. For those of you who say she looked better fat, maybe you are just used to seeing her heavy. I have NEVER heard someone say about a beautiful woman, 'Gee, she would look better with an extra 150lbs.' I think she looks wonderful and much, much healthier.

And I'd like to know what you are eating AFTER the liquid phase. Thrill me...

Pictures, We Wanna See Pictures!!!!!

You are all doing awsome in the eyes of this pre op....

I got butterflies in my tummy FOR you!

OOoo I wanna see. Poor Star, the press won't stop until she is exposed.

Oprah twice said that if she got ANY type of plastic surgery, we'd be the first to know. I believe she lost her weight with the help of her dieticians, counsellors and exercise guys. She also has a personal chef who I am sure makes her delicious healthy meals. She also exercises every day.

I don't think we should be worrying about how much to tell people AT ALL! We don't have to point out our every wart either, I also don't want to divulge every fantasy that crosses my mind. I need time off for surgery. If someone is rude enough to ask further, one could simply say it is personal. I am losing weight because I am really watching my portion size. That is not a lie. Some of us just prefer to keep some things to ourselves. I TRULY admire those of you who are open but we are all as different as our fingerprints.

Don't feel bad, it is none of anybody else's business. It is your personal choice to have this surgery, it is your personal choise who you choose to share it with. BTW, love some of the above responses. Made me laugh.

I think that it is a personal decision. I have a friend who is open and honest with EVERYONE who asks. She is so confident and proud of her accomplishments and she is spreading the word. I am an introvert, I don't plan on telling ANYONE other than my immediate family and very close friends who also have weight problems. Other than that, at the risk of sounding like Star Jones, it is nobody else's business. If I met someone who was struggling with weight, and it would benefit someone from knowing, I'd share my story. I don't plan on telling my children, age 6, 8 and 11. Again unless it would benefit them to know. At these ages it may confuse them or scare them. I don't want to do that. As for explaining my weight loss. I haven't figured out how to respond yet. I will read here to get ideas. I feel it would be honest to say portion control and exercise. BTW, I am pre op, and those are my feelings now. I can see that like, Photonut, I might feel more open to discuss it as time goes on.

Thanks for your honesty. I too love bread and sodas. I can start practising not drinking or eating bread now. I have lowcarbed in the past and as soon as I get that junk out of my system I no longer crave them. Super good that you no longer have to take meds for bp and diabetes. That must be a huge positive. Did you have the band removed vinesqueen? How is your Cushing's disease treated? <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I believe it is all in the brain. I truly and finally felt what it was to be normal for the 3 months I was on Phen Fen, which of course was taken off the market. While on those drugs, I had no compulsions to eat, my body told me when I was hungry. I am in mourning that it proved harmful and was taken off the market. I have no compulsion to drink alcohol, I have no compulsion to gamble or take drugs. My compulsion is to eat. I pray one day the answer to obesity is solved. Certainly lifestyle has a huge part. We are some of the richest people in the world, with regards to food availability and 'soft' lifestyle. I am trying very hard to train my younger children to get lots of exercise and eat properly. So far, so good. I see one of my children with the same compulsion to eat sweets and carbs. So far she is thinish and she is kept busy. I pray, she didn't inherit my compulsions, my brain chemicals, whatever you want to call it or all the above. But I see the behaviours in one of my children and not in my other 2. Such a complex issue.

Found you today. I am scheduled to be banded in July. I live in Canada and will be paying for this procedure. I am a member of a small lap band board and patients of my surgeon. I wanted to find a place with a larger number of bandsters to correspond and drive crazy with my questions. I have a ton of questions, some of them hard ones. Look forward to your correspondence. Paula

Nice name paula... Thanks for the friendly welcome all......

Because in Canader, that is how long it took for the surgeon to book an operating room etc. I think he only does this surgery on Fridays. Even at that, he was hard to find. I am in BC, Canada and the only other place I could find that does lapbands was clear across Canada in Toronto. The wait is hard for sure.