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Doddie, Thank you for the offer, right now forgive me if I am annoyed frankly I think Cindy is a plant... three posts all negative and meant to stir the pot please that sounds like a rival clinic to me. I was talking to a friends who isn't banded and she actually gave me the idea... I told her the scenario and she said the best offense is a good defense... so it sounds like this person is a plant trying to stir up ill will towards your clinic and like she might be employed by a rival clinic lets face it banding is big business worth a lot of money and as a clinic if I can steer people away from the busiest clinic with the most patients then they up for grabs for the others clinics to make money off of. Was a 50 years Cindy even banded last year who lives in Sudbury? I don't know only Slimband and she does.... and I am guessing based on her accusations of me that the answer to that is no. I have had a very different journey than most, 7 complication surgeries but overall my journey is relatively easy. I just have the need to refocus my energies on my journey. And I will do that however it works for me.. I have been posting on myslimband since it is a different forum and I wanted to try a different crowd than the Yahoo group with a different perspective than I was reading.. and so I came back here too. For me it works to go back to my basics but I also want to add a few things in there and I am struggling with how to add a love of fitness in there... So for now I think I will keep posting everywhere it suits me and sorry if that annoys the people who aren't happy but it makes me happy and just for kicks everytime I read something negative I think I might just find a positive story about Slimband/TLBC from my present and past and maybe even the future as it happens and post that for contrast.... Slimband has done awesome things... they have done a ton for their patients over the years. But there will always be patients who fail to meet their goals and blame everyone else for the reasons why instead of themselves. And I so understand about venting and getting it off your chest I don't understand focusing on the negative. People will post what they want positive or negative... I am just choosing to focus on the good instead of the bad because I know in my life it is how I get to the best places for me to be. Again Doddie thank you I will continue posting and taking what works for me out of this discussion and the others on the site..

Hi: Dr. Yau is a very reputable surgeon that I recommend highly. The TLBC has good support for people from the Toronto area but their PR needs some work for long distance patients. I am from BC and initially, as I was so far away, I felt alone and stranded with no one to help me. Every tweak felt like an emergency. Now that I have the band for almost two years, I am more relaxed about it. I joined a support group out here started by another bandster. At first there was only 3 of us now we are up to 14 +. Aftercare is so very important. Fills and defills are only a small part of the process. Initially you may need reassurance concerning the band fairly frequently. TLBC has been working hard to improve and their Slimband website is a prime example. You are doing the right thing by checking out the clinic on the web, but you are most likely to get a better perspective by attending a group that is sponsored by the TLBC. By attending the meeting, you will get a variety of opinions. For what it is worth, I would select TLBC or the SWLC which to me has great support groups. Hope this helps.

Lucy, It was meant to show how absurd accusing anyone of working for a clinic is... Just because some one has had good experiences doesn't make them a plant, it means they had good experiences.. just because someone has bad experiences doesn't make them a plant either it means they have had some bad experiences. Over all my experience with Slimband/TLBC/no clinic prior to that has been amazing and this is coming from a girl who has had 7 complications surgeries that required her to fly back to Toronto to have them fixed.... none of the complications were the surgeons fault and I attribute them to a faulty band and weight lost. Sorry but my experience is the opposite of theirs and i don't mind saying it doesn't make me a sales person it makes me a happy bandster. As for where swansong lives i looked at her profile and it was on there... 50, sudbury , 3 posts and you can even read the posts so that is where I got that info. I don't work for the clinic don't need to work for the clinic don't want to work for the clinic my clients are high enough maintenance without having to deal with patients who are super high maintenance pain in the asses myself included in that, god if I had to deal with people like us all day I would shoot myself.. I have sat in the waiting rooms and listened.. and not a hope... being a software consultant is bad enough people are horrid computers are simple, believe me or not...I don't care my pay cheques are signed by someone other than slimband. You are going to go where you are going to go, I just say go where you are comfy and where you like the staff and the surgeons you will have a long relationship with them. You owe it to yourself to be happy with your clinic and the amount of money you spent and if you have 3-4 choices in your local area why not talk to all of them and then make your choice... I am not saying choose one over the other I am not saying lean to one over the other it is obvious where I would go and where I will take my mum when she is ready to be banded. And I don't care if this thread goes on forever I wanted to start something more positive so sue me, something that was shorter again sue me.. as I have stated many times I prefer focusing on the positive but yes sometimes my annoyance gets the better of me like all people and do you honestly think if i worked at the clinic I could post what I have been posting... and they wouldn't fire me, or at least tell me to stop posting...think about it.. I have always been known to speak my mind and I am not going to change that. Read Canadian lapbanders on yahoo groups or read my posts here you can search my name and you will read that it is not all about the clinics neither are my posts on here for the most part until recently. Sorry when I see something I believe in being jumped on I will speak up... and I don't care who likes it. And yes I will continue to post about my positive experiences because guess what I have that right just as people have the right to post about negative experiences... and when I had a negative experience I posted about that.. and dealt with it and got over it and moved on. People have both.. so what... I have never ever said don't post about the negative I have said post it and move on... So good luck Lucy I hope it works out for you, I hope you meet and exceed your goals and I hope that for any one who is banded whether I like them or not or whether they go to my clinic or not it is a free market system may the best clinic win you business and I hope you do your research and ask a ton of questions and most importantly make the right choice for you and that you are comfy with. But since I came here for support I think I will get back to my basics and start working on my support... Heather

Hi There, Were you banded at TLBC and being hassled by Slimband and being refused care? I am in Toronto and would be interested in joining a support group.

Lucy, I am a TLBC patient and have been for 7 years, it is a good clinic. I have had one negative experience with the clinic since it has been open and it was easily solved.. I sent an email, got a solution and that was that. I would advise you to visit both before you make your decision. I know SWLC patients and they all love their clinic too... I think both clinics will do phone consults to save you an initial trip it is only a phone call and they both will pay for long distance. Before going into any clinic there are some questions I would ask knowing what I know now. 1) fills how long are they covered and if not for life why not? 2) complications who pays and how much and why aren't they covered? 3) post op support what do they offer and how this is very important for new patients to understand and distance patients it becomes even more important. And yes Slimband may have a few vocal patients who aren't happy today but there are a few hundred I know personally who are delighted with the clinic and wouldn't go any where else. Most of all I say go with where you are comfy and if you choose to talk to Slimband ask them about the negative comments and what you have read and see what they say Good luck and make the choice you are comfortable with Heather

Hi there, i live in edmonton alberta. i have my surgery scheduled for the 7th of April at the slimband clinic in Toronto. How did ur surgery go?

Thanks for your responses! Hmmm, the Pacific NW and Vancouver are both much closer to me (I don't really want to go to Toronto). However, although the price you mentioned, morelgirl, sounds quite cheap, I do know that Slimband has a special on, that the Alberta government gives a small rebate, and that I can claim it on my taxes and get a good chunk back. So I guess it would work out to be a similar price. Running_scared, I imagine you researched SWLC and Slimband, then, and decided on the SWLC? What made you go that route? As I said, I'd rather go to Vancouver or somewhere closer, but the Slimband program sounds pretty good to me. I just don't want to pay for it! lol

You can contact Slimband in Toronto to find out how much fills are. Local 416.482.2033 Toll Free 800.298.0684 Tom

I want to get this Slimband removed does anyone have any information please help my email lauren.hayden.Stevens17@gmail.com

I wish I had not gone through with getting my slimband as it was nothing but problems. Are you comfortable sharing how you went after them? Thank you

One of the former directors of Slimband owns CreditMedical Inc. which is the loan company many of us got our $16,000 loans from in order to get banded. I don't think it would hurt to go after him as well since he gave us the loans fraudulently at a high interest rate for a faulty medical device. Report as to what you find out.

His name is Dr. Patrick Yau. You can read about him in the article I posted. The article also quotes, "Credit Medical and Slimband director Michael Scot-Smith is a former developer who was convicted of real estate fraud and sentenced in 1993 to two years in jail. In 2000, he was convicted of obtaining bank loans under false pretenses. He didn't respond to Marketplace's requests for comment." I think Michael Scot-Smith is the person to go after as he's STILL collecting money through Credit Medical loans. He's the one with the money. Please read the article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/gastric-band-surgery-marketplace-1.4479735

I don't think any elective surgeries are being booked right now as so many have been cancelled that they have a BIG backlog when they start up again... Also, no court cases are being held right now either. I have contacted a couple of lawyers and they never got back to me. Also, I was told not to go after Slimband but the maker OF the band as one went bankrupt and the other is still operating.

Hello all: Update about my Endoscopy procedure last two day ago: Melissa was right! My procedure was absolute went well and really quick. No pain during this procedure. However Dr. Hong did noticed i had inflammatory and infection cause the slimband. The Doctor did saw me puke after i took slip of water after the procedure. Best news is the surgical removal is next Monday! ( SO QUICK I KNOW!)

Hi, I live in Ontario, Niagara Region, where are you located? I'm being banded on June 28 in Toronto (Slimband). I am so ready!! Especially after this two week pre-op... Going to Orlando this weekend so that will get my mind of this diet, and the surgery. Itsn't it strange how so many of us are excited about this surgery and starting their new lives with the BAND! Good luck with your consult tomorrow. Keep in touch.

I'm not aware of a new clinic... did you ever contact Slimband and find out what the rate were?

I'm just in the pre-surgery stage-hoping to be banded at Slimband by Dr Yau in Nov! :thumbup: Any advice for a newcomer?

Doddie, No problems... as I said to Mary different strokes for different folks... I loved yahoo for ages.. I understood it when I first came on LBT I hated it!!! Now I get it.. and it is ok... Slimband was easy for me I am an IT geek so it made more sense... just to my geeky mind. I am sure like LBT it gets easier with time. Heather

Ok so now we have a Slimband fill and defill booking line at TLBC/Slimband? I called this morning to get an appointment for today or Monday morning for a fill and now you get transfered to a voicemail that I have to leave a message and someone will call me back to book an appointment? This place is just getting worse and worse! I find it so cold and unfriendly when I go there, I haven't heard anything good about their new "Supercharge programs" or whatever they are called. And the fact that I can't simply call and book an appt for a fill or defill is just another factor that is making things frustrating and disppointing! I need to really find Jill and get some positive reinforment! I feeling very off track right now!

EMEP, The new website is modeled very similarly to this one... it seems to be a trend with posting boards that they are all going to a similar format to this one. As I posted to Doddie, if you look at how they are built they are built almost the same... this one you don't count the forum entry screen to access whatever forum you want for most people... so it seems like myslimband has more entries. But if you find Lapbandtalk easy you should find myslimband pretty easy to navigate too. I am not sure what you mean by more privileges? I have had good experiences with Slimband since before it was TLBC even but I have said that. I have been at goal for over 5 years now so I am not in for fills often but the staff members I have had to deal with for fills are awesome to me anyway (that is about once a year) and when my port was moved in Oct the staff was really good not just to me but in keeping my mom informed and making sure she had something to eat since she was waiting for me longer than we though and she has diabetes. So I will say my experience is limited since I am not filling and defilling all the time, but what experiences I have had have been good for the majority and I don't have more privileges than anyone else. Good luck on your journey, and I hope it is going well for you Heather

As requested starting a new thread... feel free to post here the good the great, the not so great, problems, complications compliments etc. Again this thread is primarily for Slimband patients so if you are reading and not a Slimband clinic patient please do not get upset when we talk about our surgeon and clinic as our best choice and the best choice we see possible. Heather

Slimband can't remove your posts no one can do that except the lapbandtalk moderators and I would guess that is a paid position with strict rules. You can edit your own posts... but someone can complain and have a post removed. Since you mentioned someone's full name and associated them with a business it could be considered libel (I always mix up slander and libel one is written and one is spoken) This is an american site so I would imagine they are even more afraid of lawsuits. This is a commercial site that makes a lot of money and they have to protect themselves.

i posted to Jodi on the slimband site here you go jodi@slimband.com

Hi Heather - I'm not a Slimband patient - had my surgery in Sarnia two years ago. But I'm interested in people's experiences and challenges. I had the surgery in March 2008 and had problems right from the beginning. The band never did work properly and it took two years before they finally removed it - as I was so dehydrated I was put on IV. I don't know whether to consider it again. the clinic wants another $3500 after I already paid $15000. I also want to know how the band feels when it's working - what's the full feeling like, same as without? - what else about the band make sit work? what else do you feel? what else happens? Thanks to anyone with comments. Gloria

Thanks I will check it out. It could be a great thing to have when and if Slimband starts their long distance program you suggested.