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

Sooo.. curious? I am likely confirming this too late since I am going in right away but...Many of you have had the lap band for a while. Other than amount of food consumed, are you eventually able to eat almost normally? Anything you absolutley can't eat? Any "don't go there foods"? I know of a few, but was curious what others had to say that have had a lap band for a while...

Thanks

I haven't had the band for very long (just a couple of months), but I am able to eat everything - breads, pasta, popcorn, the works. However, from what I've been told, I might not have enough restriction, so that might be the reasons I can still eat everything. I'm going next week to increase my fill, so this might change.

by keeping a loose fill, I can eat anything providing I chew well. Things I stay away from because they are harder on me are white bread or any type of dough and any food that is white with the exception of baked potato.

I also have trouble with chicken breast.

Please post and let us know how you are doing after your surgery.

Sooo.. curious? I am likely confirming this too late since I am going in right away but...Many of you have had the lap band for a while. Other than amount of food consumed, are you eventually able to eat almost normally? Anything you absolutley can't eat? Any "don't go there foods"? I know of a few, but was curious what others had to say that have had a lap band for a while...

Thanks

With me, even with the fullest restrictions, (I am at the max of fills) I can still eat everything. Of course, I do stay away from most white stuff as that isn't good for you anyways and it could expand in the pouch like white bread, pasta, etc. Nobody should ever eat that stuff anyways.

Certain foods I have to chew really well, and that is my biggest problem as I still eat too fast. But it definitely is the chewing part most people have problems with.

As before I hit a huge plateau I am finally losing again, all it needed is "no sweets" at all, boy this is easier said than done, but I did and lost 3 pounds this week. So I have to keep going as I have 60 more to go.

Thanks Doddie and Uli! Great insight!... I would have not thought about it being around the white starches. Are whole grain and high fibre pastas and breads different?

Hi everyone is different as to tolerance. You must experiment and find your own. Usually eaten slowly, whole grain and high fibre foods are OK, but again depending on your fill and your tolerance, this has got to be your hunting ground. Start off slowly with a tiny bit and see how it works. Don't pack the pouch. Emphasis of course should be on the protein. Get that down first then worry about getting other foods down if there is room.

Thanks Doddie and Uli! Great insight!... I would have not thought about it being around the white starches. Are whole grain and high fibre pastas and breads different?

Congratulations Uli in a successful in denying yourself sweets and getting such a great weight loss. I too am a gulper and know only too well the issues on that topic.

With me, even with the fullest restrictions, (I am at the max of fills) I can still eat everything. Of course, I do stay away from most white stuff as that isn't good for you anyways and it could expand in the pouch like white bread, pasta, etc. Nobody should ever eat that stuff anyways.

Certain foods I have to chew really well, and that is my biggest problem as I still eat too fast. But it definitely is the chewing part most people have problems with.

As before I hit a huge plateau I am finally losing again, all it needed is "no sweets" at all, boy this is easier said than done, but I did and lost 3 pounds this week. So I have to keep going as I have 60 more to go.

Thanks!... I'll take that advice.

Dodi is right, everybody is different. And sometimes I still make the mistake of stuffing the pouch too much which is a very bad thing. The little amounts we are supposed to eat are extremely small - so it takes a long time getting used to, especially from what I have eaten before the band, very different story. I need a reminder almost every day to be content after a few bites, and not stuff it. I am sometimes still looking for that over fullness which is a very bad thing and we should never feel that way. Content is the word as I have always overeaten. I think people don't even know what hunger means, as my dr. explained to me once, the gurgling noise in your stomach is not hunger, drink some water and you will get over it. Yup, right..........

Anyhow, that's my 2 cents.

Cheers.

lol... I can see I have my work cut out for me... just to change my mindset. Do you recognize being full?... or is it too late by the time you feel it? I guess it takes 20 minutes for your brain to register normally, is this still the case? Anyhow, I am thinking that anyway I look at this, it's going to be a huge change.

Thanks for all the input.

Believe me, I am not expert on feeling full. That was my problem before the band and the reason I have the band. I have NEVER felt full. Even after a huge turkey dinner before the band, I would continue to eat and graze. Now the only way I can make sure I do not stuff the pouch is to weigh my food each and every meal. Eyeballing does not work for me. The other shortcoming I have is chewing. Do OK for awhile and then bam, I am hungry and I gulp. I did ask my clinic yesterday about which is worse, suffering the pain of the lump in the pouch until it disolves and goes down or helping it come up. I was told to suffer the pain. Vomiting is not a good idea. I am hoping that the pain will enforce upon me the need to chew. The band is a constant learning process.

lol... I can see I have my work cut out for me... just to change my mindset. Do you recognize being full?... or is it too late by the time you feel it? I guess it takes 20 minutes for your brain to register normally, is this still the case? Anyhow, I am thinking that anyway I look at this, it's going to be a huge change.

Thanks for all the input.

Yes, it is a constant learning curve and the band does not do everything for you. But you know when you should stop eating, just put a 1/2 cup container on your dinner table or wherever you eat and never eat more than that as you are full and stuffing the pouch is definitely not a good idea. We are where we are because of our over eating. And we sure do not want to stretch the pouch, bad idea. I myself find vomitting better as then you would not eat after and did not get the food down or the calories. It is not the same vomitting as normal as the food is sitting before the pouch - so it is really not that bad. But it is a lot better to just not eat as much, just 1/2 cup. The pouch should never be overfilled with anything, yes, we all know that but we are also all human.

That was my thoughts exactly, but the fill nurse for SB suggested vomiting could cause the band to slip. I asked if I suffered the pain, would the underchewed food disolve and eventually go down and the reply was yes. So I thought 1) I would chew no matter what so I put a little note infront of me. 2) If I underchew I will suffer he pain and see what happens. Don't know if I like the idea, but a nurse is a nurse.

My endocrinologist has recommended that I consider Lap Band surgery (I weigh 360), and he asked me to check with my extended health carrier if they would cover the cost (nope!). Can anyone give me an idea of how much it would cost me, I live in New West and it sounds like the doctor in Surrey is the closest one but I don't want to go to him for a consultation if this is something I can't afford. I'm new to this site, so hopefully I am posting this right.

My endocrinologist has recommended that I consider Lap Band surgery (I weigh 360), and he asked me to check with my extended health carrier if they would cover the cost (nope!). Can anyone give me an idea of how much it would cost me, I live in New West and it sounds like the doctor in Surrey is the closest one but I don't want to go to him for a consultation if this is something I can't afford. I'm new to this site, so hopefully I am posting this right.

DC: Welcome aboard!

There are 2 surgeons in the GVA who do the surgery: Dr. Leung (Surrey) and Dr. Woodhead. Dr. Leung charges about $12K including 3 fills and $300 consult fee. He is known to be an excellent surgeon and has a very direct (some would say harsh) bedside manner). Dr. W charges $14K including all fills/post op care and $400 consult fee. He is less experienced, but equally good and is quite easy to talk to. I went for a consult with him in Dec. and posted about the experience earlier in the thread.

Some people choose to go Northwest Weight Loss Surgery in Everett WA. They charge US$17,810 and include 13 months of fills and post op care, psych eval, nutrionist.

Some (like me) choose to go to Mexico. I'm going to Dr. Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center (OCC). He charges US$7950 and includes airport pick up/drop off, 3 night hotel stay for you and companion, and nutritionist. He is very experienced and has an excellent rep.

For the out of province options, you have to arrange post op fills locally. The local surgeons do not fill patients they have not operated on. Dr. Arseneau at St. Paul's hospital preforms fills for $150 a pop. Otherwise, there's a place called Northwest Fills Mgmt in Marysville WA (near the outlet stores) who do fill for upto US$250.

Please read through all the posts in this thread, alot of your questions will be answered. Also, try and attend our support group next month at Lions Gate Hospital. It's organized by Canadagirl33 and you'll find info about it elsewhere in this thread.

Good Luck with your decision

Babe

I went for my first fill today, I chose not to have one right away b/c I felt restriction with the band alone. Then over Xmas I felt hungrier and ate more, realizing its time for a fill. After several attempts, we realized my port has flipped. It was not such a great experience getting poked for a half hour or so multiple times but I realize flipped ports are common. I am having revision surgery on Feb 11, in 2 weeks, no extra cost.