Does anyone have any chocolate Optifast they would be willing to sell me? Since I already did my 2 week optifast and had my surgery cancelled... I would like to do at least 1 week before my surgery - if not the full two...

Please let me know..

I could pick up at the meeting this month too...

Thanks! 

Just dropped by from the Ontario Board...and the over 50 Board where I normally do my posting.....

I did 2 years research prior to my surgery.  Would have liked DS but they were only doing it 'open surgery" at the time so leaving a big scar with chances of lots of post-op complications suchas incisional hernias, and you had to go out of country as not offered in Canada ( I live in Ottawa). I wanted lap surgery and di not want a big open scar. No bariatric surgery was offered by OHIP in Ottawa at the time, and everyone was sent down to Utica then. 

I opted for self-pay, chose Dr. Christou because of his reputation,although he only did RnY and banding at the time,   as he was only 2 hours away in Montreal so much closer than Utica in NY State, and he  had a private practice as well as being chief of Bariatric surgery  at the Royal Vic (where I had my initial apt with him).  Could have had my surgery 4 weeks after my initial visit, but chose a more convenient date as I was working.  Had my RnY surgery in Feb 2008, paid $18500 total at the time (although he has upped his price by about 1000 now and also does VSG),

Had a textbook recovery, I followed my eating rules and progression to the letter, had no foamies or vomiting or any problems, not even dumping...so much so that sometimes I wondered whether I really had surgery or was instead maybe some sort of "control" with a few hole*****hed into me ( I had laparoscopic surgery!)...At over 4 years out, haven't reached goal yet ( because of age and a few hiccups along the way during my peak weightloss period), and have no problems although have become iron deficient and have to take iron supplements in addition to a daily vitamin, B12, Vit D and Calcium Citrate....although I was surgically menopaused 16 years ago with a radical hysterectomy, I now need to take daily iron suplements. ( the conventional thinking  so far has been only menstruating women need to take iron supplements, but more and more of us need iron the farther we get out from surgery)..

I notice Dr, Christou on his Weightlosssurgery.ca site now mentions about 10% of post RnY patients become iron deficient ( that was not there when I had my surgery in 2008...his whole private practice website has improved over the years with more information provided)...At the time his site had little post surfgery information, and he relied on a commercial conventional weightloss agency to provide psychological and nutritionist information pre-surgery....Frankly the dimwit nutritionist who gave me advice gave the wrong advice: she told me to get to 1200 calories as quickly as possible, so I did and at 3 months out of surgery reached her recommended level of calorie intake, and of course many months, almost a year after, Christou's website was improved and said to stay on 800 calories as long s possible ( up to at least 8 months post surgery)...so she screwed up my best weightloss months because I followed her advice!  I lost very slowly all along which is a reason why I never got to goal  as lost as slowly as on a conventional diet!!!.. Had RnY surgery in my early 60's which also slows down weightloss because of your slower metabolism, and I take Synthroid, a hypothyroid medication (hypothyroidism slows weightloss), plus lack of mobility meaning I can really only do water workouts, so can"t execise as much as younger patients....Still, I am much better off than before my gastric bypass!!!! No regrets!!!

Would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Christou to anyone who can afford him...Although you are pretty much cut loose after surgery and immediate recovery followup, so better be sure you have a support network including  psychologist and eating disorder specialist lined up for when the weightloss slows and stops..., because you have surgery on your body, not your head and you need to change the way your head hunger, stress in life, and after  the honeymoon period is over, when life makes you fall back into bad habits. that is when you need help to fight this  for the rest of your life....Eating healthy has to become a new way of life for you!.

Consider the surgery a "re-start button" for about 2 years during which you get to lose weight no matter what...When weightloss stops as it will inevitably, whether you have reached goal weight or not,  you need self discipline so as not to regain. 

Good Luck to all who choose WL surgery...it was the best thing I did for myself even though I had to remortgage my house to pay for it, and continue working past normal retirement age to pay off the mortgage!


(Edited to include info on hypothyroidism)

So they called today to reschedule. JULY 17th! I'll believe it when it's the 17th and I am counting backwards, but I am still excited none the less! :) 

Wow this very bad. But don t be discouraged try to stay positive i know itz sucks though. Take care of you.

 I unfortunately haven't heard anything yet from the scheduling office.    I did call Martine early this year and she said that I probably won't be called until later on this year OR MAYBE early next year.     I was initially told 18 months with Dr. Ronald Denis.   ..... that has come and gone.   :-(         

I have a very high BMI as well so am not sure if I am eligible to have surgery at Rockland.      Each week I think to myself - I'll get the call, I'll get the call....      althought it hasn't come, I'll keep my head up high.    

Am hoping that Rockland opens up again for surgeries as that would aleviate the wait time.     

Have you heard anything?  

Kellie