Hi everyone !!

Just a couple of notes of interest that I wanted to pass along....

For those of you that attended the last North Vancouver meeting, you heard about Dr. Arsneau at St. Pauls Hospital doing fills for Vancouver Bandsters. I have just spoken to another lady that has seen him for a fill and he confirmed to her that he will take patients that were banded by any Dr. This means that if you are in the Vancouver area and are looking to have your surgery in Ontario or Mexico or the USA an finding a fill Dr was your big concern, it looks like he might be your guy !!! :thumbdown: I would probably call ahead just to confirm it for myself but I'm pretty cofident in telling you this news !!!

The sencond bit of news is that it looks like there will be another support group starting up for anyone that is interested. The lady starting it is named Geri and the first meeting will be Saturday, Oct. 11th at 11am at 3339 West 41st. It is open to all of those who are already banded as well as anyone looking into it, regardless of where or who your surgeon is. Her email is geri_webre@yahoo.ca for more info.

Quick add-on.....as usual our North Van support group will be on the 3rd Wednesday of Oct. (the 15th) at Lion's Gate Hosp. I'll post again closer to then to give you all a reminder !!!

All the best to everyone !!!

Patricia

Hello everyone, I am new here and have searched high and low to figure out where and when meetings are held. I can go practically anywhere in the Lower Mainland, except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and would really like to meet some fellow bandsters. I have not been banded yet but hope to be real soon and would love to meet some local bandster friends. Thanks in advance for any info you can share. BTW this is a great site! :smile2:

If you scroll back, there is a fellow that holds a support group meeting at a Pizza Place in Richmond. Our group only hold meetings on Wednesday at the Lions Gate Hospital. If I hear of any other group, I will post the name.:wink2:

Hi Doddie63,

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, the group in Richmond is no longer meeting and I can't make it out on Wednesdays. Saw mention of a group possibly meeting in Langley and/or South Surrey. Does anybody have any details? Any other group anywhere else that meets on a different day?

BTW, I have been visiting this site for some time, and appreciate your frequent, upbeat and helpful posts and replies. Thanks again Doddie63!

Hi Doddie63,

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, the group in Richmond is no longer meeting and I can't make it out on Wednesdays. Saw mention of a group possibly meeting in Langley and/or South Surrey. Does anybody have any details? Any other group anywhere else that meets on a different day?

BTW, I have been visiting this site for some time, and appreciate your frequent, upbeat and helpful posts and replies. Thanks again Doddie63!

Your are more than welcome. Until our group was started, I received all my support from the internet. And in many respects still do as my clinic now have great webcam meeting schedules.

There is one other site you can post on and that is the BCWLS site. They are a group that allow bypass as well as band patients. As usual, you have to join, but it is free. The tough part about support, is the clinics only support their own patients. Where were you banded?

In the meantime, if you need support, feel free to e mail me privately. I will give you my personal e mail and possibly, we could meet for coffee. I am 67 and retired and only too willng to help. I was in your position once and I know what it is like.

Thanks Doddie - I am not yet banded, but have my meeting with surgeon, nutritionist and psych evaluation all scheduled for this Tuesday, and if all goes well, hope to be banded in November. Going with NWWLS (Dr. Michaelson).

I just spent 10 minutes trying to figure out how to email you.... this site is VERY big! So, if you could e-mail me at your convenience, I'd be very pleased (no rush). Thanks for your offer to answer questions, etc. Greatly appreciated! My e-mail is mamaj@hotmail.ca

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this forum and wondering if anyone has had there surgery at False Creek surgical Center? I know of Dr.Leung and Woodhead but am curious as to the reviews for this clinic.Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hi: This clinic is realtively new, but we have a few that have had surgery with them. They have a good followup aftercare. Their dietician attends our meetings. Please feel free to come to our meetings and get a variety of opinions on all clinics, Mexico, Slimband, Woodhead, Leung, NWLSC, and soon a new clinic will be opening up put on by Dr. Colbourne. We welcome everyone, pre or post surgery.

Doreen

Hi Doddie,

Thank you for your information,where and when are your meetings?Sounds like a great idea to check them out.

Thanks Shauna

Hi Doddie,

Thank you for your information,where and when are your meetings?Sounds like a great idea to check them out.

Thanks Shauna

Lions Gate Hospital,

15th and St. Georges Main Entrance

North Vancouver

Conference Room A

Every 3rd Wednesday of the month. 6:30 on

Contact canadagir33@hotmail.com. She will put you on the reminder list. this is important because sometimes the conference room number changes

Directions: Main Entrance off 15th, walk to gift shop, turn right and go through double doors, walk down hallway turn right - follow hallway a few doors down and the conf. room is on the left.

Hope to see you soon.

Hi Everyone :laugh:

Sorry I hadn't read any of these posts in weeks, mey computer has been in the shop...gotta love viruses !!!:thumbup:

Anyhow....

As always our monthly meeting is this week, Wednesday, Nov. 17th at Lion's Gate Hospital. I will definitely be there this month as I am planning to spend the night in Vancouver and shop, shop, shop!!!

Shauna...I did not recieve a mail from you (Doddie missed the 'l' in my address:wink2:) so I have sent you a quick private message in hopes that you get the meeting info and can join us. Pre-bandsters can take away a lot of info regarding everyday life with the band...it can be helpful.

mamaj....How did your consult at NWWLS go? I was banded by then as well....tomorrow is my 4 year bandiversary !!! They were amazing to me, I loved all the staff and they were very helpful. I'm looking forward to hearing how things go for you and if you have a surgery date yet.

Hope to see everyone at the meeting on Wednesday !!!

Patricia

Hi Everyone :laugh:

Sorry I hadn't read any of these posts in weeks, mey computer has been in the shop...gotta love viruses !!!:thumbup:

Anyhow....

As always our monthly meeting is this week, Wednesday, Nov. 17th at Lion's Gate Hospital. I will definitely be there this month as I am planning to spend the night in Vancouver and shop, shop, shop!!!

Shauna...I did not recieve a mail from you (Doddie missed the 'l' in my address:wink2:) so I have sent you a quick private message in hopes that you get the meeting info and can join us. Pre-bandsters can take away a lot of info regarding everyday life with the band...it can be helpful.

mamaj....How did your consult at NWWLS go? I was banded by then as well....tomorrow is my 4 year bandiversary !!! They were amazing to me, I loved all the staff and they were very helpful. I'm looking forward to hearing how things go for you and if you have a surgery date yet.

Hope to see everyone at the meeting on Wednesday !!!

Patricia

Hi Patricia,

Great to hear from you and congrats on your four year bandiversary! We will have the same bandiversary dates as everything went well at NWWLS and I am being banded tomorrow morning! Yikes!! :-)

Feeling excited, anxious, eager, nervous.... quite a bit of emotion at the moment, but overall, I am totally ready to go! Wish very much that I could join your group but I am not able to make it to the North Shore on Wednesday evenings :-(

If you hear from or know anyone else who is local and looking for a band-buddy, I would be very pleased if you keep me in mind. I know there is A LOT to learn and that this whole process involves a very long and steep learning curve.

I appreciate all of the support that is out there for newbies like me. Thank you everyone for posting about your experiences and I hope to be able to pay it forwards one day myself.

Regards,

Cindy (mamaj)

My thoughts are with you today Mammaj. I am sure all will go well.

You have made a good suggestion. As some individuals find Wednesday a difficult night, maybe thoughts should be given to changing the night to say Thursday? Just a thought.

My thoughts are with you today Mammaj. I am sure all will go well.

You have made a good suggestion. As some individuals find Wednesday a difficult night, maybe thoughts should be given to changing the night to say Thursday? Just a thought.

Hello again Doddie63,

Thank you for your well-wishes! I need to get through today without stressing too much so I am well prepared for "B-day" (banding) tomorrow!

Thursday evenings are great for me, but obviously, you can't please everyone. I'm sure someone else will have an issue with it, but thanks for trying!

Cindy (mamaj)

no harm in taking a poll. I am not in a position to yay or nay, as I live just up the hill from Lions Gate.

Good luck.

Good luck today Cindy....I will be thinking of you and sending positive, healing vibes your way. Let us know when you're home and how you're managing:smile2:

You are both right...maybe it is time to make a change. I will contact Lion's gate and see what days the conference room is available. If I hear back in time I will let those of you at the meeting know what they say. As an alternative, we could meet someplace else....possibly a restaraunt or something. Start talking about it and let me know what you all prefer. I have to work at 5.30am on Friday mornings so Thursday doesn't work for me, but that said, if it is the preferred day for everyone else I will still organize it but probably not attend regularly.

Anyhow....how about you all posting here, which day of the week and time of day works best and we'll go from there.

Hope to see some of you Wednesday !!!

Patricia

As I said neither yay or nay. However, a number have posted that Wednesday is not convenient. Anytime would be convenient for me as I do not work.

Meeting at restaurants is risky because of reservations, no shows, costs etc. The Richmond group that met at a Pizza place no longer meets.

I would continue to vote on the hospital.