Ottawa support group

Hi,

Actually a few of us are getting together this Thursday, the 20th around 6 - 6:15 PM at the Second Cup in Bells corners.

All are welcome to join us so please pass the word around.

As for the weekend get togethers... does anybody want to set a date for the next one? How does a Sunday morning sound this time? Just putting it out there! :-)

I haven't seen anyone else saying they can make it Thursday evening
but just in case here's the info.

Bells Corners Second Cup 6PM on Thursday March 20th

It looks like there may be just two of us so far but it'd be great if
anyone else was able.

Pass the word on to anyone who might be interested!

Anyone interested in a weekend gathering soon?

Hi everyone, I hope you're all out enjoying this (slightly) warmer weather this week. I've started walking outside now that the roads are no longer skating rinks.

I met a big goal today: I've lost 50 pounds.

I've been banded for 8 months so I'm a fairly slow loser but at least the weight is coming off. I only really started losing weight 4 months after I was banded (after my 4th fill).

In the beginning I was really discouraged by the slow weight loss but even at 1 pound per week, it does add up! So for all my fellow slow losers, don't give up!!!

Congratulations on hitting a goal! No matter the rate of loss it has to feel good.

Way to go!

Good Morning!

Well I just heard back from Dr. Bishop's office to let me know that AGAIN, Dr. Yau has not replied to Dr. Bishop's requests for a meeting.

The receptionist said Dr. Bishop is trying as he knows there are a bunch of us in Ottawa who would like to get filled locally.

I say we 'band' together and we all contact Dr. Yau DIRECTLY. Basically let's pepper the clinic with requests that Dr. Yau contact Dr. Bishop.

Even if you plan on ALWAYS going back to the clinic for fills, defills, what have you. Please help us who want to have someone who (from all reports) knows how to do fills and is a great weight loss support beyond that as well.

I've been somewhere else in locally for a defill. It was not a pleasant experience and I have the MARK to prove it!

email: info@tlbc.ca and address it to Dr. Yau
Call: 800.409.8151 and leave messages asking to speak to Dr. Yau himself

Let's get the support we need for those emergency defills or whatever!

Dr. Bishop wants to be sure he is approved by Dr. Yau, let's get him approved!

(Can you hear the rally call tone of my voice? ;-)

I'm just curious, has the TLBC 'approved' any outside Dr's to do fills on their patients before? (ie: are there any Dr's they send patients to, or do they just give the DVD and you're on your own to get your GP to do it for you?)

Nancy, the fill nurse at TLBC has told me repeatedly that we can go to other doctors for fills. That it is TOTALLY fine.

At the same time, if I were hearing it second hand through a group I'd still want to hear it from my fill nurse/clinic/band surgeon anyway.

I'm just saying... ;-) Be safe for yourself always.

What I was just wondering is if yes, they're ok with you going to see other people for fills, but don't want to be involved with training or recommending those people? What is it that this Dr. Bishop is waiting for before he'll do fills? Just wants to know that its ok for him to do your fills? Is he the Dr. doing fills for SWLC?

(I'm just being nosey, obviously... haha I'm no where near Ottawa and not from the TLBC either :) )

Dr. Bishop is doing fills for other bandsters, SWLC included.

I don't know what Dr. Bishop is waiting for specifically. To me it sounds good that he is so careful though. I don't know what the delay is from Dr. Yau either. I only know what Nancy at TLBC has told me, that we can get fills elsewhere and that she doesn't know anything about Dr. Bishop. And that the receptionist at Dr. Bishop's office says he's waiting to hear back from Dr. Yau.

Dr. Bishop does my fills. Last time I was in, I asked him if he was willing to do fills for patients of clinics other than SWLC. He said he is definitely willing, but wants to ensure that he has established a relationship with the clinic and that they will be available to him for support and consultation. With SWLC patients (at least for me), he faxes all the fill/de-fill requests to them, they provide the suggested amount of the fill, he and I discuss it and make a final decision, and he faxes them back the amount we actually put in/took out. That way, SWLC has a record of everything that is going on with my band, so if I need care from them, they will have the right information. The band is not Dr. Bishop's specialty, so I think he wants to make sure that he has the support of the clinic in order to be able to provide the best possible care.

Having his support has had a huge impact on the success of the band for me. If I had to go to Toronto or even Montreal for fills/de-fills, well, it just wouldn't happen. And he provides far more than the simple fills. He discusses your progress and really tries to get to the bottom of any roadblocks you might have. Since he runs a weight management clinic, he has a wealth of information and ideas to try to break plateaus, etc.

I can't say enough good things about this doctor.

Hiya, just wanted to drop into this board so I could keep in the loop of what's going on, I currently live in Seattle but actually am from just over the Quebec border (and their page is mostly in french) anyway I am planning to move home in the next year or so and since Ottawa is about 1hr from my front door figured you guys would be good ones to chat with.

Anyone interested in planning time for a gathering in the next bit?

So far there is a plan to get together for coffee this Thursday at 6:30pm, probably at the second cup in Bells Corners but I'll confirm in a day or so.

Does anyone want to plan for a weekend breakfast gathering too? It's been ages since we had that large group together.

Hi, I have been doing the research on the various surgical options and stumbled onto your forum. I have checked out the two clinics in Toronto. Is there anybody in Ottawa doing the surgery? Does anyone have a preference between SWLC and TLBC? Are there other options nearby worth exploring?

Greetings,

This Thursday July 10th a small group of us are meeting at the Second Cup in Bells Corners in Ottawa at 6:30pm.

Anyone is welcome to come by whether you have the band or are curious about the band.

Also, please feel free to join our local Yahoo Group for updates on get togethers in the Ottawa area: OttawaBandsters : Ottawa Bandsters Unite!

Thanks!