Paulax

Bandiva, that must be hard. On the Canadian board, Gaffer, talked about the TLBC having a list of Canadian professionals who do fills, but we are sure at a loss in BC aren't we? Frustrating..... Good luck. You could phone the only doctors in Vancouver doing the procedures. (D Wai Leung in Surrey (my guy, but I don't think he will do fills on patients other than his own, but doesn't hurt to ask) Or Dr Woodhead in Ladner Good luck with your search. here is the thread... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/vancouverite-considering-lap-t31417.html

The thing I miss about WW is the weekly meetings and accountability to someone other than myself. Some lucky wls patients have before and/or after meetings, that would would be the ultimate. But I miss it sometimes too. I really SHOULD write down everything I eat, I too have a problem with the 'junk' that I keep around the house for the 'kids'. I guess when I plateau, like now, I will just go get a top up fill.

Good for you mommy! I am so jealous of the weightloss centers in Ontario. I am sure Vancouver will have one eventually, there is so little for us to chose from. And no fill doctors if we decide to go to Ontario or Mexico. Again, I am THRILLED with Dr. Leung, but he seems to be the only choice right now.

No, there IS no help for patients in BC. I think one can get a bypass on medical, but the waiting list is years. I am on another board with patients of Dr Leung and someone posted that Dr Woodhead is TRYING to get his lap band procedures going, but that the Peace Arch Hospital was not giving him any OR time. Check this information. I am not sure if it is true, but if it is true that only leaves Dr Leung at the Surrey Memorial. And I have to post that Dr Leung is near retirement. Word is he has someone training to take his place. I did have to get a referral from my GP, not sure why. Good luck to every single one of you and keep us up on your progress. This has been a blessing in my life. And BTW, Surrey Memorial is AWESOME! I was VERY impressed by the care I got there. Hey, Gaffer, what province do you live and who does your fills? Just curious!

...and had a tummy tuck? I am one of the unfortunate few who keloids, scars badly, so I am wondering what the scars can be like....thanks in advance.

OK, I am convinced. Puddin, you look awesome and I can't believe the difference in your inner thighs due to the lower body lift. OK I am embarrassed to ask, but I'd like to ask you if we can see you from behind. I'd love to see where the scars fall on your bottom. Thanks for sharing your journey my dear, you REALLY are a poster girl for lap band and cosmetic surgery.

Fortunately, I told her already that I am dealing wtih the food myself. Well, yesterday's floor exercises put strain on my muscles. I am grossing myself out about where my port is sewn and how that might flip or get torn off the muscle.....I am so bad. Tell my brain to shut up. I did tell her that I wanted to favour my upper tummy muscles, but please abuse me in any other way. Hey, if anyone wants accountability in the exercise regime, HIRE A PERSONAL TRAINER. This is offered through my gym, I am sure it is much cheaper than if I had hired a pt through the yellow pages. So for now I am happy. I will do my 12 sessions and then go alone, if I want to step it up again, I can hire her again....but so far, so good..

I swear I have a leak, or that I loosed up quickly. I only lost 10 pounds since my last fill, before my band loosened up. Makes me mad. I will work hard on getting through the next 5 weeks, a trip to Disney with my dh and kids in the middle there, and then go for another fill. Last time he took out less than he had put in the time before, so either osmosis or leak.....the next fill will be interesting. I hope it isnt' a leak....

right on. I heard years ago that the best surgeons often have the worst bed-side manners... But if you do go local, DO look into the guy in Ladner also. Dr Leung's secretary, Evelyn is really good for general information. You could call her right now and she'd be able to tell you how long a waiting list you'd be looking at. Good luck my dear. Sad how few options we Western Canadians have at the moment. Gaffer, I never heard that there was a list of BC doctors who would do fills. THAT is interesting and opens up a whole other option for BC Bandsters. Thanks for that. I'd love to see a list of BC professionals who will do fills.

Ya, addend. I just reread your post. Ya, I agree, how much would you REALLY be saving by going to Mexico, especially if you have to pay for your fills, IF you can even find someone. I am not trying to sway you either way, there are a lot of people happy with their Mexico trip, but I did read one post of an woman who needed a new band, erosion and she had to pay all over again for a redo. So I sure feel safer with a local guy. Also, we can deduct the cost of our surgery, I will find out soon, as tax season approaches how much of that I will get back. Could be up to 3 grand, so if I subtract the 1200 and the 2-3000 or whatever it is. It could end up looking pretty ok. WELL WORTH IT IN MY MIND. Dr Leung has his quirks, he is ESL, he isn't the most supportive emotionally, but I can handle him. He is a cut to the chase kind of guy. don't know of anyone who had the guy in Ladner. Can't remember his name. I am also on a group of Leung's patients you have to be added to this closed board, but you can ask a lot of questions there. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbandits/?yguid=193628067 Good luck. I was SO where you are 8 months ago....

That is where it gets sticky for us BCers. I am pretty confident also with the care in Mexico, but you need to find soemone to do your fills before you decide. I'm pretty sure Dr. Leung will not do fills with other patients. But phone Leungs office and the guy in White Rock. Perhaps you will get lucky. You will probably get a sooner date if you go to Mexico, I think it took me about 6 months from getting a referral from my gp to the actual surgery. But I am sure pleased with my experience.

Cost 12,500. last year anyway. Fills - free Can be deducted on income tax and I got a 1,200 return as I did not stay overnight... Good luck with your search, let us know what you decide. I am happy with my care. I have stated before that Dr Leung hasn't the best bedside manners, but he is good at what he does, surgery. There is talk of him retiring, but he will have someone take over his practise I am sure.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lap-band-british-t19719.html?t=19719&highlight=leung

Formerly Vancouverite, now Okanagan resident here. I had my surgery done in Surrey, Dr Leung. There is also a surgeon in White Rock. If you do a search here you will find a thread with both their addresses and phone numbers. I also wrote a few threads, I will search for you, about my guy Dr Leung. I am glad I went locally as I can get my fills done locally and my surgeon is closer if I have any difficulties. I am however jealous of the care the people get from Toronto. We just don't have that kind of place in Vancouver YET! I am sure it is coming, but not soon enough for me. I was also 280, bmi about 40, now 60 pounds less and feeling fantastic. Good luck with your search. I will see what I can dig up for you. Paula

Renebean, my New Balance shoes just came and I love them, I ONLY use them in the gym. I had to order them online as I am a dainty size 11 with a wide foot, and was a bit worried about not trying them on first, but they are a dream. Lapbandit, I didn't share with her yet. I don't think I will need to. I do watch the excersizes that deal with the upper tummy, where my port is. I am loving it. Can HARDLY believe it as I was a depressed couch potato. Connie, Workout Express sounds awesome. I purposfully didn't join Curves because I wanted eliptical and treadmills and just didn't feel as though it was worth the money. I love my gym, sounds like yours, and classes are included too. Deckedout, my July sister, if we had a program like that here, I'd have joined. That sounds awesome. I did a walking training for the Vancouver Sun Run in 1997:D The training was really great, loved the support. There IS a hiking club, so if I ever need more incentive, I might join that. Good luck all you! Let me finish with a message from a t-shirt on a guy walking RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME on my way into my gym. It said: Effort isn't Effort until it hurts a little.

Tight. I love it tight, I love it when I am tight enough that I have to drink my Slim Fast shake slowly, I like it when I have to eat my tuna salad, one small bite at at time and give it some time to go down before i take another bite. I like it tight enough that bread just will not do. I do NOT like to pb. But yep, I do like it tight. And for me I loosen up pretty quickly after a fill, within a few weeks I am much looser, but I think my surgeon likes to take it slow. Interesting thread. I have noticed in other threads that we are all so different and like out bands at different levels of tightness.

My surgeon also asked me to come in for a fill 6 weeks after my surgery, but then he really didn't encourage me to come in until I really felt as though I needed it. Heck, I'd LIKE to go every 2 weeks. I like a tight fill. Funny, how different surgeons are. I make an appointment when and if I am stalled or can see that I am able to consume too much at one sitting. good luck with your fills.

My weight loss has stopped again, but I lose fast, 10 pounds in 2 weeks and then I think my body takes another few weeks to lose inches. So I joined the gym to step things up a bit. My fill has definately loosened up, but still keeps my intake below 1 cup, so must just stick with healthy foods. So that is my update for March 8th. How are my buddies doing? I can't believe we are in our 8th month of being banded. I am so glad I did it......life just gets better and lighter every day.

Oh me, me, me... totally gymaphobic, a little depressive and a bit agorophobic. Read my thread. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/ok-am-here-t30577.html I was SO you. I have been putting this off for YEARS. Thinking, thinking, dreading, dragging my feet, procrastinating, finding excuses. Not only am I the weight I am, I am also 6 feet tall so pretty hard to ignore, so I feel like a giant, when I really want to be invisible. It was an Oprah show with Bob Green, that convinced me that if I am not willing to do the work, then I am not ready to lose the weight. I didn't want to believe this because all I have ever wanted my whole life was to lose the weight. So taking that on, I thought and thought and finally chose a gym that I felt comfortable with. A brand new women's only gym and I think I love it there. I thought of joining Curves and really that is an excellent and comfortable place, I just wanted more options than Curves offered. So I go the extra drive to work out and I am so glad I did. I HAVE the time, I have the band helping me with my food choices and now I have a place to go with a personal trainer. I really want to encourage you to go and say to hell with your insecurities. There will always be someone thinner than you, there will always be someone else heavier than you. I take my iPod and just get into my own little world. Good luck making your decision. Do it, you won't regret it. and hugs because I KNOW how hard this is....

I happy to report that I am not dragging my feet and hanging my head like I did the first day I joined. I finally felt the promised endorphins this morning. I am working with a personal trainer and so far so good. As much as I wanted to hate her, she is encouraging and very sweet. So next week, I have 3 appointments with her, in between I will walk my neighbourhood which is what I used to do for exercise, and continue. I joined a brand new women's only gym. I love the atmosphere, it is comfortable, private, bright and clean. I hesitate to say, I think I love it there. I am a 43 year old mom, who gave up my everything for my beautiful family. I made the right decision, but now it is a little time for me. I forgot about me for a few too many years there. So I am back and I am exercising. My goal is to break the 200 mark by this summer, so I have about 18 pounds to lose.....should be easily acheivable. Now back to my tuna salad...:clap2: Would love to hear about your exercise regime, we can laugh and cry together.

OK, here comes a negative Nelly. I am a big believer in drinking water, but come on...never in the history of the WORLD has anyone ever maintained a water consumption of those proportions.:huytsao Not hunter gatherers, not farmers, not factory workers, not teachers, I am a teacher and just could not leave my classroom that often, not pirates. :guess That said, I believe do keep ourselves dehydrated and we the people who are trying to get more exercise and lose weight need to keep our consumption up to 8 or more if we can.... So cheers with my water bottle....

Thanks Fleur, I am going to ask my surgeon about that. I have never heard of that previously and for people who have maxed out their fill, I feel it is a brilliant answer.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll be watching.

As a mother of 3, I agree with this post. I did just that, when I had my surgery. My wonderful husband took our 3 kids on a camping trip to the lake with his family. I stayed home for rest. If you can get out of this at all, do it for your health. They WILL survive and have fun without you.

HA that is a good one. It will be awhile before I weight what my DL says....:phanvan