Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if anyone has any positive experiences with CIBO? I really need to know as I am running out of options at another clinc (financial options):biggrin:. I would appreciate all input ...especially from those who have been banded there.

Thanks!

Be sure to come into the chatroom at the SWLC Patient support forum. You can usually find a lot of us there around 7 - 10 pm. Maybe we are sometimes a little jaded or cynical here at lapbandtalk but believe me there is reasons for it at times. Anyways overall people are very caring but it can take a while to understand where we are all coming from and there is history but can't explain in one post.

I myself first had weight loss surgery 21 years ago and the surgeon I had at the time turned into a nightmare and my aftercare went down the drain when his license was suspended for 5 years. So I am especially sensitive to wanting people to have excellent aftercare and choosing a clinic that will be there for them long term.

Donna,

I went in there the other day, but no one was there. I guess I hit a slow time? I will try again.

Yes it's a bit hit and miss! Sometimes if you just park your butt in the chatroom someone will see you in their and come on in. Overall it is pretty active several nights a week!

PSTEVENS9,

Thank you for the kind words!! Its nice to know this board is not only for TLBC and SWLC. I just wanted to give you my experience at the clinic. I am glad you got to meet Dr. Misra, she is a wonderful surgon. I wish you the best of luck with your surgery. I know Im only a month out, but if you have any questions feel free to ask! Even though we are from different clinics HAHAHA!!!

Seana,

Well, now you're on your way. I can't wait to get the liquid diet and the surgery over. I wish I was starting tomorrow. But, it will come soon enough, I'm sure.

Good luck with everything and keep us posted.

Donna,

Hopefully, I will talk to you on the SWLC chat room.

My 59 year old mother is dangerously overweight, and I have begun doing research for her re gastric bypass and lap band alternatives. I found this forum in my very first search, and thought I had a GREAT resource.

I sat down last night and read through about 20 pages of comments on different lap band providers and other topics and I have to agree with PStevens9, that there is a very nasty group of posters that dominate all discussions with some serious bias and negativity. This is largely propagated by Fousilly, Doddie63, and Donna (who actually appears to be an employee at one of the clinics!!!....how objective is that person going to be???).

Shame on you people is all I have to say. There are people out here who are completely lost and worried at the front end of this daunting process, and are looking for some real objective advice.

I hope to post some objective feedback on the various players as I contact them. But will definitely not be relying on this board for advice.

Thanks for picking out my name but since I have posted on perhaps 10 threads in the 2 years I have been on this forum and have about 60 posts total, I think perhaps you are quite incorrect. Yes I have very strong opinions but am very entitled to them.

Good luck with your search for information and if you want some positive information on things, you will find plenty by all 3 names you have mentioned. And FYI, Donna is a volunteer that runs a support group, she is far from an employee.

You are full of it!!! I am not paid or employed by ANY lapband clinic! As I post on my signature I am a facilitator for a support group I started for bandsters. A peer support group that my clinic offered (after I told them) to finance the rent for the room. I am a volunteer and get no money and am not an employee. Why don't you check your facts before running off at the mouth!

By training I am a counsellor and majored in criminal justice and minored in addictions and facilitated many groups over the years including one for abusive men. I belong to several weight loss surgery support groups and have and continue to go to lots of lapband functions and a lot of people know me personally as very supportive. So SHAME ON YOU!!!

Sounds like you may be the one with an agenda...Oh and IF I ever do in the future get a paid position with ANY lapband clinic or make money from any weight loss type service I will be the first to disclose it. Now care to disclose what your vested interest is?

Edited March 20, 200818 yr by Donna

Oh and since I love to be so negative apparently. If you have been researching for so long and read so much last night, did you just join today to make this comment? You'd think that you woud have joined instead of just viewing as a guest and ask questions in a far more supportive thread instead of picking out the one that has strong opinions for both sides. I think I would have ignored a thread like this and have made my very first post in a thread that was offering lots of advice and support. But hey that's just me!!!

Have fun.

fstanley: I feel sorry for your mother if your attitude continues in this vein. First if she was ready to loose weight, she would be doing the research herself. Not just because you think she should. Secondly, it is vital that anyone contemplating major weight loss surgery (or any other for that matter) have all the facts not just the ribbons and bows put out by clinics. I personally do not work for a clinic, I am a retired Justice of the Peace and know what occurs if people do not have all the facts. I live 3000 miles from my clinic and I have posted my concerns about their after care. If you had done proper research, you would have seen them.

Frankly, I don't know why I am bothered about responding to your ill informed opinion other than I am concerned for your mother.Doddie

Edited March 20, 200818 yr by Doddie63

Stanley,

I have read many of the posts of the three people you mention and other than their concerns over this CIBO Clinic,I have never seen them be negative at all. They are very supportive in fact and I believe they have good reason to have apprehensions about CIBO.

They have everyone's best interest at heart and have learned things along the way that are important things that we need when banded. They are simply warning us to research and make sure we know what we are buying.

I was going to be banded at CIBO even after hearing some of the comments on here but after corresponding with them and not being able to get answers to my questions nor get a person on the phone, I decided to go elsewhere. Even with all the negative comments, I still chose to do a consult but it didn't work out. I am not impressed at all with this clinic and would never recommend them and that is speaking purely from my own experience.

Do your research and take the good with the bad because you will never get 100 percent of the people to agree on anything. Discard anything you don't like but no need to lash out at people that are very supportive all the time.

Jane

I appreciate your response Jane. After Stanley's comment I clicked on my past posts on this site and I too found nothing negative in my posts other than my concerns regarding CIBO. Also I am flattered by being lumped together with fousilly and Doddie, two other bandsters who also call it like they see it and are here to give and receive support.

Take care,

Stanley,

I have been banded 6 years and was around before TLBC, When Dr Cobourn started his clinic there was none of this concern, no one warned patients not to go there. I think what you are missing is the legitimate concern of bandsters based on experiences and what we are hearing in the community and worried that new bandsters may be left in the lurch without a clinic to go to.

Good luck on your search, hope you and your mother in law find a solution. I understand why you may be doing the research for her.

Heather

Hello everyone,

It’s nice to be once again amongst my banded peers. I used to be much more active on the sites, however when I started working in the field, I took myself off to allow patients more comfort in expressing feelings and opinions. I didn’t feel it was fair that I was in a position to read comments of those patients I was taking care of.

However, it has come to my attention that there is some confusion about the Canadian Institute of Bariatric Options - CIBO Clinic - and I thought it would be good that you have the proper information. I am now here both as a patient and as the Director of Patient Services at CIBO.

CIBO Clinic was started by a band patient who had a vision for a clinic that provides a comprehensive post-operative support program with personalized care.

Our surgeon is Dr. Monali Misra who completed her advanced laparoscopic and bariatric fellowship at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. She was later recruited by St. Joseph’s Healthcare and McMaster University in Hamilton to help develop their bariatric program. She is the Assistant Professor,Department of Surgery, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, McMaster University and Assistant Director, Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery (CMAS), St. Joseph’s Healthcare. She is currently involved in a randomized control trial study comparing results of band and bypass patients in the cure of diabetes. Dr. Misra has performed thousands of advanced laparoscopic surgeries including over 200 laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands.

The CIBO program includes the following:

• Free consultation with patient coordinator and with Dr. Misra

• Pre-operative full medical exam and testing by our internist and post-operative follow up for those patients who have co-morbidities and need more care for medication adjustments and such issues.

• Pre-operative assessment by our anesthesiologist

• Pre-operative assessment and meeting with our psychotherapist

• Pre-operative assessment and meeting with our nutritionist

• The surgery and the band - we only use the bands that have gone through HPB & FDA testing and approval

• Post-operative follow-up by our surgeon

• Post-operative one-on-one structured appointments with both our psychotherapist and nutritionist fully included for one year

• Post-operative physiological assessment by our doctor of chiropractic/kinesiologist and one-on-one training sessions with our personal trainer and, if needed, sessions with our physiotherapist. All fully included for one year

• Unlimited scheduled appointments with patient coordinator for weigh-ins, measuring and goal setting

• Unlimited, lifetime band adjustments

• Unlimited access to support group seminars and information workshops put on by CIBO specialists on different topics

The total cost for the above is $18,000. We do have the ability to secure low interest financing for most of our patients. The clinic itself does not provide financing.

I hope this post has succeeded in clarifying any confusion and if anybody has questions, I hope you will feel free to contact me at nshammas@ciboclinic.com.

I thank you for your time and wish you all what we want most as patients; success in weight loss and regaining control of our lives. We’re all in the same boat; let us support one another.

My very best wishes,

Nisrine

Nisrine Shammas

Director of Patient Services

t 416.LAP.BAND ext.222

1.866.511.2426 ext. 222

nshammas@ciboclinic.com