Hi Everyone! Have a question to pose to you...

I live in a small city (about 700,000) and have been approached by a local news station that a close friend works for that they would like to do an ongoing story on me being banded. It is a new procedure for my Canadian city with only about 40 others having been done and many do not know that the option exists - especially that you can do it without travelling to other provinces and countries.

I have no problem explaining the process and having myself filmed however I had been planning on keeping the procedure quiet to family and co-workers.

Should I help out others by sharing my story or maintain my privacy as initially planned in regards to the lap-band. The station is willing to hold the footage for a few months until I am ready for it to be aired which helps but, it is still going to be putting me out there for all to see.

I would love everyones comments on the topic as they would like to film the surgery and I am having it done on Tuesday (18th) so I don't have much time to think it over.

Cheers!

congratulations on you upcoming surgery!

telling people is a very personal decision, so I can totally understand your hesitation in getting filmed. i have also planned on not telling anybody about my surgery except my parents and a close friend.

that said, as a future bander living in Vancouver, i would love more exposure about the surgery. there's not enough in canada. it frustrates me to no end that gastric bypass is covered by BC's medical plan, but not lapband. i don't know how it is in MB, but i think any positive exposure in Canada might help influence provincial governments to change this.

so... selfishly, i would encourage you to allow filming. however, i'd take the station up on holding the footage for a few months. you might find that after you get used to having the band, and you start seeing the results, it will be easier to share.

good luck

Thanks for the positive comments Babe! And, like BC, Manitoba does not cover any of the costs of the surgery and neither does private health insurance. This is one of the real reasons I would like to fight to have it approved. I am fortunate enough to be able to cover the costs but I know many more like me who are not so lucky.

Cheers!