Hey, from Calgary!

Just copying this from by blog:

I am 55 years old and live in Calgary, Alberta, divorced, 3 grown up sons living at home (24,27,30).  Okay, with that out of the way... I've always been somewhat of a chubb but not super obese.  My highest weight was 240 around 15 years ago.  Since then with the help of diet pills I've lost and gained 50 pounds or so.  I had a lapband placed by Dr. Huacuz in Mexico in May 2008.  At time of surgery I weighed 220.  I lost 40 pounds prettty quickly but then just stopped losing.  I had a hard time with restriction - either too loose or too tight so just gave up.

A year ago I started working full time at a dry cleaners drop-store and most of my day is spent sitting on my butt reading OH on my laptop -and eating from boredom.  I have gradually gained back up to 195 lbs.  I have had numerous problems with reflux at night, choking etc., esophogeal spasms (to painful to think about), so my fill doctor agreed that the lapband was not working for me and he removed it on June 26/09.  And I feel great!

I am scheduled to get a VSG with Dr. Aceves on July 27th and am very excited.  I know my weight loss will probably be slower than if I hadn't had lapband but that's okay, I'm in no rush. 

I have not told my older children about my lapband and I don't plan to tell them about the VSG.  They would not be happy about it.  My youngest has been very supportive since the divorce so I confided in him and he has supported me all the way without blabbing to anyone else.  He knows I'm planning the VSG but not sure if I will tell him when the time comes though he will probably guess when I go to "visit my sister".
 
Just wanted to say hi to you all from a long-time lurker and very occassional poster.

Kim

I live in Calgary and had a gastric bypass in 2002 in Med Hat by Dr.Knor , did loose 165 lbs but had to get my stoma streetched 2x`s becasue of scar tissue. I have slowly gained back 80lbs and can eat larger amounts. I have become diabetic again and so I am looking to have a revision. Do you know of any doctor in Alberta that would do a revision and have it covered by Alberta Health Care. Any information would be great.
Lorna

Hi Lorna, good to meet ya!  Sorry, I don't know of any doctors in Alberta but try starting a new thread and I'm sure someone can help you.  Have you talked to your original doctor and are you thinking of getting a VSG?  I didn't meet the weight criteria for surgery under AHC thus my second trip to Mexico.  Good luck to you.

Dr. Karmli at  Edmonton's Weight Wise clinic has a revision clinic. He sees patients once a month for the revision clinic.

Talk to your family doc.