clempier

Hi to all, The Lord is good. When you truly give Him different situations, He takes care of all details and even more. I was the first one banded in Bathurst Hospital this past Wednesday June 3rd 2009. Date of my second chance to put my health on the right track. All along the way I could see that God was with me, all the support I got from my family, my coworkers, my friends at church and out of church. Since I got banded I burp a lot which I'm not use to. Is it normal at the beginning and it will subside? I hope so. I also have gas but this I think it's normal. It doesn't hurt but I feel as if it is stiff. How long is it going to be like that and that I won't feel any stiffness? Right now I'm on a liquid diet and on the 17th I'll start what I call the "blender diet". clempier:thumbup:

Hi Nancy, My new life just begun. I'm glad I lost those pounds. I'm not really hungry. Right now I have to take something every 2 hours but sometimes I forget so it's not too bad. The only problem sometime is between my 2 ears when my brain think of chips for example, I have to stop the idea an what it may taste but I think we're going to have to do that for the rest of our life. We really have to choose healthy food and not junk food. Today, it was chocolat. But now I have the lapband to help me not to eat what I'm not suppose to and also I hate to vomit so much that it stops me. It's all worth it!!!! clempier

Hi to all, I got my lapband June 3d. I was the first one to have this type of surgery in Bathurst. It took more time than I expected. I was in the op. room at 8h00 and I was in my room at 11h30. Everything when well. There was 2 other ladies after me, one from LeGoulet near Shippagan and the last one from Fredericton. I had lost close to 20 pounds with the Boost diabectic for 15 days. Right now I have a liquid diet (jus, broth, V-8, Soup (cream), Gatorade, Instant Breakfast, ...) for 11 days now. Then what I call "The blender diet" until July 14th. I feel very well even if it's stiff. I sleep at lot and I'm fine with it. He gave me a month of but I'll go back before school finishes. I don't regret anything. I have 5 little holes on my left side. For the ones who are waiting, as soon as you lose weight, the better is for you. After 15 days on Boost, I don't want any, I got my share of it hi! hi! clempier

Hi Johnny boy, I would think 1 month or 1month 1/2 by the time you meet Dr. Savoie, the nurse and the dietician. Pretty exciting. I'm having my surgery in 6 days. So 6 more days on Boost diabetic. clempier

Hi JoannMarie, Thank you. I got in touch with the nurse who could get a hold of my Dr. I was taking SlimFast but my blood sugar were high so they switch me to Boost Diabetic. Instead of having 3 servings per day, I'm allowed to have 4 servings with Boost and there's less sugar. In 7 days I lost 10 pounds but I was hungry and my Dr. said I wasn't suppose to. Anyways, all that to say that I had Boost for supper and I'm allowed to have one more before going to bed. About the exercice, I should walk and that's it and I'm fined with that. God is good, He is there every step of the way. I'm surprise how peacefull I am and not eating is not as bad as I thought. I'm determine to have that surgery and I'm doing everything they're asking. I didn't cheat at all even I had to go to places where there was plenty of food. clempier

Is there any diabetic on this site? I'm going for my surgery June 3rd so right now I'm on SlimFast Optima. It's day 5 for me. The surgery is new here and I'm the first one to go under the knife if I may say so. I have a question and I would appreciate if someone could help. During that time, can I do exercice and not have hypos? Right now my blood sugars are high and my endo. told me it was normal. My body is trying to adjust to what I'm doing to him...no food, no coffee only SlimFast. He said to be carefull because it's going to drop but don't know when. So I'm scared to do some exercices. If someone went through the same thing, would you please reply and give me an idea what to do?:mad: I'm so excited about that surgery. I'm doing everthing I can to help. I haven't cheated yet and I'm not planning on. God is good. He knows how I am. Right now, my Mom, my sister and someone at school are on SlimFast too because they want to support me. This Monday, at work, other teachers, the principal even the vice-principal (how's a man) are going to have SlimFast for lunch. Some even have the idea of staying on it for a couple of days. My Mom and sister are going to do it all the way. Talking about support, I can't ask for more.:thumbup: clempier

Hi mlm, I know he will perform 3 kinds of surgeries: The lap band, the vertical banded gasroplasty (I think), the diversion biliopancratic (I'm not sure) and the sleeve gastrectomy with diodenal switch. Those surgeries are the ones they show in the book he gave me so I would think he does them all but I''m not sure for the 2 I mention, sorry. When I went to see him the first time he showed me 3 of them but I don't remember the last one. clempier

Hi missy321, If I remember correctly it was at the beginning of October. I then saw him back May 4th and he told me I was on for June 3rd. They told me that he was doing 3 LBS every Wednesday first thing in the morning. He was just doing LBS for now because he wasn't ready for the other surgery yet. The dietician send me all the information about what to eat after the surgery, the first 2 days and then for 2 weeks after for a month and the regular meal. What is going to be. One of my friend and myself want to start a support group for before and after surgery. We're planning french group and english one also. I'm counting the days now. This Tuesday, I'm starting my SlimFast. clempier

Hi, Last Friday, I got a call from Dr.Savoie's office telling me that he wanted to see me this Monday coming up. I thought since he wanted to see me at the diabetic clinic he wanted to see me with my endo, the nurse and the dietatician and ask me questions. The only place in New-Brunswick, Canada to have a lap band surgery was in Moncton but now we can have it in Bathurst. We were expecting him starting his surgeries in September because he hadn't receive all the medical equipment. So, when I went there, that's what I had in my mind. What was my surprise when they told me he was starting is LB surgery on June 3rd. They told me out of 6 patients he was seeing that morning he would choose 3. They all know me very well there because I'm a diabetic and I'm a regular there. Anyway, when I got out of my appointment, I knew he had chose me so I'm going to have my surgery on June 3rd. Thank you Lord seems not enough for the greatfulness I have in my heart right now. I'm all excited and I know in my heart that God was there and for me being one of the 3 first patients to have the surgery was God answer to my prayer. I am sure now that is God's will for me to have that surgery. I would appreciate prayers for my 2 weeks "Slim Fast period" and for my surgery on June 3rd. Thank you for being there for me in prayers. clempier

Hi Nancy and all the other ones who are waiting, GREAT NEWS!!!!! Dr. Savoie is starting his lapband surgery on June 3rd. I went to see him today and he schedule me for that date. We're going to be 3 patients going under the knife. I saw him in October so if you saw him in November and you're going for a lapband surgery, they're going to call you soon. The nurses at the Diabetes Clinic told me he was strating that date and all the other Wednesday. In the morning, he does the lapband and then in the afternoon he does his other surgeries. If you're waiting for the other surgeries, they are not ready yet and the way they were talking, it's going to be a while before he does the other bariatric surgeries. So it's going to be pretty soon. FINALLY!!! I'm all excited. clempier

Hi to all, Dr. Savoie's secretary called me and she told me he wants to see me this Monday coming up. I'm going to see him at the Diabetic Clinic at the Hospital. He wants me to bring a list of all my meds., my glucometer and a list of what I ate from yesterday (Friday afternoon ) up to Monday morning. I have an appointment with him in the morning. I'm all excited about it. In a way I'm saying to myself, good it's finally moving but part of me says if he changed his mind . . . you know. On part of me want to see the positive side and the side who doesn't want to be hurt just in case he changes his mind comes. You probably know the feeling. Anyways, I just wanted to give you a little hope that it's finally moving. I'll keep you posted . . . next Monday. clempier

Hi LizCNoel, Unfortunately, all the people I talked to who works in the medical surrounding told me it wouldn't be before September. I don't know why his secretary doesn't tell the truth when someone calls there. About the new unit, I don't know. I wish I could tell you more. I also wish we could have some some kind of meeting so we could talk to dieticien, a psychologist, a plastic surgeon or other people who would be able to answer any questions we might have. Any gastric bypass is a long process and it's really hard to cope with every aspect of it. Even being together and sharing what we go through is really important. I'm glad at least we have this site. Hope to hear from you soon. clempier

Hi Itquam4, Thank you for your prayers. I've been trying to lose weight since I'd gone to see the surgeon but it's not easy at all. Right now I'm doing the yo-yo, gain 5 pounds, lose 5 pounds for the last months. I know my life style has to change and I already started. During the week, I walk half an hour every morning before I start to work. I'm a teacher so I go to the gym and I walk there and then I go back to the teacher's lounge and have coffee with my co-workers. I even started to walk a bit after school. If it's nice outdoors and I don't have the car, I walk home instead of asking another teacher for a lift. My big downfall is after supper until I go to bed. Some evenings are better than others but I wish I could just stick to have a bit of Protein with some carb. I'm diabetic so I have to have a snack but as you can imagine, I go over board and sometimes I REALLY GO OVERBOARD and I know it. I'm like an alcoolic, when I start, I can't stop or when I try not to eat at all, that's the only thing I have in my mind. I appreciate all the prayers I can receive. Thank you, clempier

Hi argon, I lived in Montreal for 8 years. The old Quebec is beautiful. If you don't mind, how do you find it since your surgery? Did you have to go to plastic surgery? If so, how much did it cost you or have you known someone who had to? It's unfortunate that we have to pay for the plastic surgery, I mean after losing so much weight, of course we have lose skin or you're one of the lucky one that your skin is really elastic and went back to it's place. clempier

Hi argon, Have you've been banded yet? clempier

Hi to everyone, I'm still waiting for my surgery and the waiting can be hard. Here's the problem, We have a new doctor who can do the gastric bypasses but the problem is that the hospital is not ready for the surgeries. They are still waiting for medical equipment and I heard that because of government cutting everywhere in Canada because of the ressetion, that's what is stopping them. I've been waiting since last September and I've been told they would not be able to start before next autum. I try to stay positive and tell myself if it's the case, it's because God wants me to be more ready for the surgery and it gives me time to change old habits and all but. I would like some encouragement and also prayers that the government can give enough money so they can have all the equipment. Right now, they are paying the Dr. who can do those surgeries but he can do them. The best time for me would be the end of June or during summer because I'm a teacher so it would be the perfect time for me. Thank you for any advice or prayers. clempier:blush:

Hi Macaulie4, Thank you for the info. Let say, April was the earliest I had heard but the probability was very slim. So if he can start at the end of June I'd be happy because the actual time I had heard was in September so if he starts in June, it's fine with me. Better June than September for me at least. I'm a teacher so the end of June and the beggining of July would be perfect for me. In September, it's the beggining of the school year and it's absolutely not a good time but if it's so I won't say no. I'll figure out a way. Maybe he doesn't have that many patients who's waiting. I hope for you.

Hi, In order to have the surgery without to have to pay you have to have something like diabetes, sleep apnea. A sickness that if you had the surgery, the sickness would go away or a big improvement. You have to have refferal from your family Dr.. When you go see the surgeon for the first time (I went to see Dr. Savoie), he explains the 3 different surgeries he does and look at the medical reason why these kind of surgeries would improve your health and your life. If he gives you the OK, he is going to put you on the list. You won't have to pay. It takes approx. an hour to do ther surgery. You stay one night and go back home the next day. That is for the lapband surgery, the simple surgery of the 3. The second one (the sleeves), probably more time at the hospital and the third one, you stay a week. The third one is the hardest one. The best one to inform you is the surgeon. Good luck and if you are with Dr. Savoie, the last I've heard is that he won't start his surgeries before September. They are waiting for more medical supplies to be able to do the surgeries. clempier:sleep:

Dear oreokitty, I'm so glad you mention that you are/were diabetic, I am too. I'm still waiting for my surgery. It's new at the hospital not fare from my place and they're not ready yet. Part of me is anxious to have the surgery and the other part is wondering if I'm doing the right thing and the unknown is always scary. If you don't mind me asking, are you still diabetic? If so, are you still on medication? If not, how long did it take you after the surgery to be a non-diabetic, like no more meds? That's one of the main reason why I want this surgery, if I can get rid of insulin at least. I'm so sick and tired to give myself insulin. The hardiest part for me right now is the portions I eat and in the evening. I don't know how I'm going to react after the surgery. I keep praying God to help me but I'm having a hard time not to eat in the evening.

Hi Numbrgirl, Congrate for your 20th Wedding Anniversary. I see you lost quite a bit and for that too I say WoW!! I'm sure it's not always easy. I'm still waiting for my date. At the Hospital, they are not quite ready yet to perform gastric surgeries. We have a new surgeon who can do them. There was only one hospital doing those kind of surgeries in NB but now they're going to be able to do it here. I've been waiting for 6 months now. I say to myself, God is giving me more time to be ready went I'll have my surgery.

Hi Rakiki, We're all in the same boat. Last time I called at Dr. Savoie's office, his secretary told me he was suppose to start his surgeries in a day or two. I was curious, so I called the surgery department and they told me they hadn't receive any files from Dr. Savoie yet. I also heard the hospital wasn't a 100% ready for those kind of surgeries yet. It seems it won't be for now at least not before April and even then. Sorry, I wish I could have better news. For me two but if I can suggest 2 books I read that really helped me to know more about the before and after lapband surgery and dealing with the emotionnal part are those 2 books. The Emotionnal First + Aid Kit, A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery by Cynthia L. Alexander, PsyD and Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding, Achieving Permanent Weight Loss With Minimally Invasive Surgery by Jessie H. Ahronni, Ph.D, A.R.N.P. (really good book). I got them at Amazon.ca but you're close to Chapters so maybe you can get them there if not, they probably get them for you. Clempier, Beresford NB

Hi JoannMarie, I got my book "The Emotional First + Aid Kit" and I read up to p. 41. I'm so glad you gave me that refference, that's exactly what I need right now. It gives really good advice before the surgery. I already learned things. I also got "The South Beach Diet" book. I read it a bit but the other one is what I need right now. I'm expecting a date in February. They should have received all the medical equipment required now. Because it's new at the Hospital, they didn't have all them the last I've heard. I'm going to see my friend Mary who works at this Hospital tomorrow at church and I'll ask her if she heard anything about that. Here, they don't have any psychologist to help and I think it's a big part of the preparation for that kind of surgery because it's a life changing story. I was wondering for the ones who already got the surgery how they manage with the cravings. In the book, she says you're going to have them and you have to change your mind like doing something else. I was wondering if someone would share what they do when it happens? God bless you. clempier

Hi Inuit, Congratulation, I'm so happy for you. Dr. Savoie, in Bathurst, is suppose to start his surgery in February. I know they were still waiting for medical equipment but that's what his secretary said. When you have your date it must feel like looking at a light at the end of a tunnel. That little light is the hope of a bran new life who's starting for you. It's your second chance in life. clempier

Hi JoannMarie, Thank you so much for all those information your giving and where to fine them. I'm waiting for the first 2 books your reffering to and I'm planning to by the 3rd one also. Here, we don't have all the things you go though before the surgery, like going to see a psy. to know if we're ready for that surgery. I think personnaly, it's a really important thing and I'm sure that the book by Cynthia L. Alexander is going to help me a great deal. I think God is really using you to help other bansters or in the process to be. Keep listening to God. clempier