Yoda

Any luck contacting Kathy, Carol? I haven't heard back either.

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Yeah, I registered too but have been unable to log on. I thought maybe it was because I got the "activation" e-mail (they are suppposed to send you instructions on how to activate your account) but that it was deleted as spam/junk by mistake....either automatically or by our spam program. I e-mailed Kathy yesterday to ask about it....ie. to either have another activation e-mail sent or whatever. If it wasn't her, I asked her to fwd my e-mail to the appropriate person. I haven't heard back yet. Carol and Loriely: if you are also having probs, e-mail Kathy...if they get enough "problem" e-mails maybe they will make the system better or easier to understand? So, long answer to say that I haven't been able to "log in" either!!! I'll let you know what, if anything I hear back.

MANDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are a SMOOOOOOOOOOOKER??????? GASP!!!!!!!!!!!! I never knew that!!!! :paranoid

Hmmmm that is a good question Cloe. Will it ever go away for good? God, I hope so....but I fear not. Like you, my feelings for the food have also decreased a lot...but I most certainly do have them. Yasmina, sometimes I feel like eating a lot (but I can't, because of the band)....but admittedly my cravings don't last as long and I don't get them as much (but I do have to fight them when they rear up). Other times, I don't feel like eating at all (but I force myself to). In some way, food has lost its appeal to me...and then in other ways I find myself obsessing about it more than I ever did!! Go figure. I'm still happy with my band though!

Here is a link to some useful abbreviations. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7959

Yasmina.....follow the Dr's recommendation re. the fill once you tell him about your Egypt dates. But....if it were me and knowing what I know now, I would wait and get my first fill after coming back....it would only be an additional 4 weeks or so of a wait.

WOW!!!! Neenagh's sending Mandi a couple of cars!!!! HOLY CRAP!!! Ummmm....I want a 1965 Mustang!

LOL @ Lila. That's a good one. Mandi....WHAT LILA SAID!!!!

Would I do it again? Absobloodylutely!!!!! As other said...wish I could have done it sooner. And...yup; pretty normal to have the worries/doubts etc during research phase. You're doing the right think asking all the questions.

hehe That ain't no wrench,....unfortunately! I too have that; even with restriction. Everything I've read says the same thing; that it boils down to the fact that the band is "fickle". Even ppl who have reached their sweet spot still have that going on. MY opinion....it is just the body adjusting every so often and so there are minor fluctuations. And, I can even understand (& accept that). It does suck though! Don't worry Wheezy....fill #2 or #3 will get ya there....likely.

How long will you be in Egypt for Yasmina? TLBC gives the first fill 6 weeks (almost to the date) of your surgery day. But....I would not recommend (nor I'm sure neither would they) that you get a fill right before you leave....ie. in case something goes wrong and you have no recourse while away (ie. you are too tight). If you aren't in Egypt for a long time, I would suggest waiting and getting your first fill when you return. Unless you have your surgery in early Jan and then your first fill in early Feb....giving you some time to get used to it before you depart.

....ummmm....and how did the remainder of your weekend go Woody? *winka winka*:rolleyes

I dunno...from my research, $13,000 is a fairly decent price for in Canada....

I agree mandi...I can understand feeling really tight right away (which is why they make you drink before you leave)....and then it "loosening". What I don't think makes sense (I believe my words were "full of crap"!) lol....is that you can get it and feel zippo restriction and then several days later it "kicks in".

Don't despair Wheezy. I know a lot of people say it can take a few days (weeks even?) for a fill to take effect. Personally...(don't kill me people, this is MY opinion!)...I think that is a load of crap!!! LOL. I mean...physiologically speaking...how is that possible? Anyways....that is what some say. But, what I DO Know is that the vast vast majority of people do not hit the proper level of restriction on their first fill ...or even their second. That is just the way it is...and lets face it; that is what this is all about right? Finding the "sweet spot"? It ain't gonna happen right away. We've gotta sneak up on it....which I also believe is a good thing. I hear ya...it sucks when you live far away and have to travel for the fill a few times ....I complain about it and I'm only 2 hrs away. But, bottom line....I'm still happy that we have to do it that way....I do believe it is better in the long run and helps us change our habits etc and helps us get to the sweet spot slowly but gradually we WILL get there. Am I there? I don't think so but I know I will be eventually. Very verbose way of merely saying...yup, you'll need another fill (or more) but that is the name of the game. BTW, Wheezy....I think you are doing great!!

LOL @ Cloe. Yeah, but he could have fun helpin' ya look for it!!!

*smacks Lila upside the head*. Okay....there. Seriously, no problem....don't beat yourself up; live and learn!

Tks everyone....for comments about FIL and about the yahoos!!! Yes, I truly think they are merely oblivious!

Unless you luck in like Neenagh, you are going to pay for a hotel in Toronto, especially if you want to stay at one close to the clinic (which is downtown...so pricier). You may want to stay at one closeby. You can ask Nisrine which ones are close by and she will help you out. There is one only a block and a half away....Mr Yoda stayed there because I had to stay overnight at the clinic (due to sleep apnea, they kept me overnight as a precaution)....so it was very convenient. I believe the gov't rate (same as CAA Rate) was about $100/night. Motels on the outskirts will be cheaper but you will be much further away from the clinic. Another option would be to stay at a hotel close to the airport since I know you'll be flying....it would be about a 30-45 min cab ride to TLBC from airport area (depending on traffic). But they will be pricey around the airport too.....around $100.

Hi Aza... the fear is normal....as for the RNY...that is the MAIN reason I didn't (& never would have) consdiered bypass surgery. It just isn't something I would ever do. I'm not judging, I just knew it wasn't a choice I could make for me. You can't compare the RNY to the band. It is like comparing apples and orange...actually no...not even like that. It is more like comparing an apple to a guinea pig....in other words, there IS no comparison. My advice, (though it may be too late) don't read those types of things....yes...be informed of all possibilities but don't read in detail about people's various complications, for instance. For example, I know LBT has a complications thread....I didn't go into it nor do I plan on going into unless I myself am experiencing a complication and want to research it. It was enough just being informed of what the possible complications were (ie. from my doctor).....I didn't need (or want) to know the details of individual people's troubles with the band.... I hope that helps. But overall,you said it....you may be on the road to really bad health (if not already there).....so this is something that you have to choose to do for you....once you are informed. Personally, it is the best thing I have ever done for me.

It's not all mandatory. ICQ is a chat program (like msn messenger)....if you don't have it, you can just leave it blank. Actually, even if you do have it, you can leave it blank. As for the other stuff, I will have to go look again.

Yasmina, it is good to know and be prepared for. But, it also doesn't happen to everyone.....luck of the draw, I think!! So, don't despair! You might be in the lucky group and not lose any....or so little that you won't notice!

That reminds me of my fave line in the movie "Devil Wears Prada": It goes something like this (paraphrased): "I'm on a new diet... I don't eat until I feel faint...then I eat a cube of cheese" (my husband and I howled at that one). The other one I liked: "I'm only one more stomach flu away from my goal weight". Oh yeah...and Tired Old Man: I think they did send bags of grain....that white "dress" the model is wearing in that photo....I think that was actually made from her bag of grain!!!! Yech! (the dress, and the model).

Like Drs Coburn/Mumford, TLBC has also started a message board (accessible from their website: www.tlbc.ca). They also have a "TLBC Buddy Program". I just registered for the online support forum (msg board) so I haven't been able to use it yet...so am unable to provide a review on user friendliness etc. I'll know more once I have been accepted as a registrant. Any other TLBC pers tried it out at all?