JoanneB

I sent in the receipt and the surgical report that I got from Rene. And I sent a cover letter stating all my personal information (AHC number, address and such) plus what my starting weight and BMI were and faxed it in. 9-10 weeks later I got my cheque. I did not include a letter from my doctor, from my weight and height it was easy to tell that I fell into the morbibly obese category. They don't need a reason for us choicing to go out of country. They only pay the portion of what it would cost for the doctor doing the surgery and the anthiesologist (bad spelling!! sorry). AHC knows that it is a very long wait for these services. You can call AHC and ask to talk to the person that is in charge of "Out-Of-Country Claims" or on the website there is a place to email a question, and the lady that i was emailing back and forth with answered me in less that 2-3 days. She is the one that told me what to send and where to fax all my information in. She was super helpful!! I would try that route or calling if you still have questions. Hope this helps Joanne

So I will be in Las Vegas in two weeks (14 sleeps!!) for a week holidays, I was wondering if anyone has gone to the Fill Center there? I have contacted them by email, but I am still waiting to hear from them. I have had two fills already, but they have been blind, and the doctor i go to doesn't use the floro. So I thought I might be able to get one done in Vegas and get the floro. Any helpful information or a direct number would be great. Also i am coming from Canada, so hopefully they will still take me. Thanks so much.

Hope this helps. And like I said, I was percistant (sp??) and that moved my claim up. I just emailed her once a month to check the status. Good luck, and try to have some fun. It is a really neat city, sooo different from what you see up here. Plus the weather will be nice!! Enjoy.

Tee Hee....Sorry!! But I was very pushy and emailed her all the time!!

Thanks Ladies, But I am thinking I will just stick with the regular drinks, if I drink at all. I don't want to test my band. So far I have been good, I really don't want to test the limits. I would rather stay under. Oh Well, more money to spend on clothes!!

Thanks Jude, I kinda figured that...oh well...I will just have to make due with the regular drinks...such a shame I know. I am not a big drinker, so it is really not an issue. Just last year, the drinks where sooo good. Maybe the shopping will help instead of the drinking...yay...new clothes!!

I am in Central Alberta, I had surgery on Oct 22. I sent in my paperwork by Nov 10, and my check was mailed to my on friday (Jan 2) according to the very nice lady that works for Alberta Health Care in the Out-Of-Countries department. If you go to their website and submit a question regarding surgery outside of Canada someone will email you back with in days. I am getting just over $1200 back, which is better than nothing. Plus I am going to claim it on taxes this year. She bumped my case along for me. She said it was normally at 12 week process to get the check back. Good luck, let me know who you talk to. The lady that I delt with was soooo awesome. I haven't regretted this desicion one bit.

I was wondering does anyone know if the slurpee drinks you can get on the strip in Las Vegas are carbonated. I remember reading a post at one time saying that slurpees are carbonated, but I can't find it now. I am going on vacation to Vegas at the end of Feb and would like to know if I can indulge in one or two while I am there. I know that I am not suppose to drink alcohol for the empty calories, but I have been very good and not had any drinks since the day I decided to have the surgery back in August. I really don't drink much, but it might be nice to have one while at a club or with a nice supper. I don't drink any carbonated beverages period. So that is okay, just mainly hard liquor and juice (which is what I have always drunk). If anyone knows the answer, I should would appreciate it. Thanks so much,

1. Name:Joanne 2. Location:Red Deer, Alberta (Canada) 3. Age:31 4. Band Date: 10/22/08 5. Married: Nope 6. Children of the human or furry kind: Two dogs, Ginny is 4 and Chewy is 1 7. Hobby(ies):Movies, reading, Vegas!! 8. Work: Office manager for a landscaping company 9. What was the deciding factor(s) on getting banded: I have been heavy all my life and I can lose the weight, it just comes back plus every time. I needed a little help with that part. 10. Interesting factoid: I love Vegas!! I have been (and going again) there 3 times in the last three years!! Whoooo...shopping for when I am skinny!! I can't wait.

I was the first surgery of yesterday, and crew was filming a young teenager from California. She is in Grade 8 and only miss 3 days of work the trooper. The crew was really nice and they interview Dr. Ortiz and her mom after the procedure (Dr Ortiz wore a really nice white linen suit!!). I did manage to catch the show and it is called "the Drs" they figure it will air late next week or early the next week. I spent most of yesterday walking around well my two other partners rested. All i can remember is that to walk and sip lots of water. so that is what I am doing. I can't believe how nice everyone and effieicnt everyone is. it is a well oil machine down here!! But I guess i should get going, looks like they are setting up for the next day surgery, and I have shopping to conquer!!!

Well, it is the morning of the 22, I am in the lobby waiting for my mom to have some breakfast, and the shuttle should be here in 20 minutes. My only complaint so far...the hotel only has feather pillows and I am allergic!! So my first purchase in Mexico...a pillow!! Tee hee...i guess if that is the worst thing...I will take it. The hotel and staff are great. And the staff at OCC was so nice yesterday. I lost 18 pounds by my scale (16 by Dr. Miranda's) So I did really well...Lap-Band world here i came!!! See you all on the other side!!

I have to make it fun!! Otherwise I will get too nervous. I am glad you are not starving. I still get the hunger pains, and I found I have to eat the meal at lunch with a shake for breakfast and supper. Otherwise I really freak out.

Hi Joy, Those caplets really help! I have been taking them too. I will see you next week! My surgery is the 22nd. Only 5 sleeps left

Thanks Jann. I have been taking those fizzy vit c, and the cold FX, that usually works for me too. But anything else I can do to shake (at least till after the procedure). I will have to get some echansaia (bad spelling!!).

Thanks Heidi, I am not full on sick, just got that tickle in the back of my throat that feels like I could get sick. I am trying to be positive, taking vitamins and anything else that will ward it off until I get back home. Any suggestions on anything to take??

Does anyone know if they will still preform surgery if you are sick?? It seems everyone at my office has a cold and i was taking extra vitamins and stuff to not get it, but I woke up with a sore throat today which is always what happens when I get sick. My surgery is next wednesday!! Any suggestions on taking anything to beat this cold out of me?? I really don't want to have to postpone the surgery. I think it is just a cold...but not sure. Any help would be great!! Thanks.

Thanks Jann!!! That is nice and simple and easy to remember. I will have to print them out and put up all over my house and work!!

I am Canadian, and our dollar is lower than your dollar and dropping right now because the bank and bail out plan. So as our dollar drops, i have to pay more. Which is really crappy because two weeks ago, i should have paid and only would have paid an extra $200-$300. That $1000 sure did burn into my savings!! Oh well...this is my health and there really shouldn't be a price on it...but it sure came close today!!!

WOW!! you look amazing!!! An inspiration for all us soon-to-be-newbies!!

Well....I did it, I went to the bank today to get my draft to pay for the surgery and faxed it down!!! One side I am soo happy to be doing this, and starting this new journery....but the exchange rate just about gave me a heartattack!!!!! I called Tuesday, and it was only going to cost me $600.00 for American funds (which is higher than in September when I was going to originally send it). Yesterday I went down to the bank because I had to wait for payday (which is acutally today, but i did payroll early!!), and they told me it was $900.00, and I did not have that much!!! Yikes!! But today....it costed me and extra $1586.00!!! OMG!!!!! I thought i was going to have a heart attack!!! I know this is a good thing, and I did plan for the exchange rate....but HOLY CRAP!!! I am pretty sure the girl at the bank didn't know what to make of me!! I should have listened to my little voice in my head and did the check in September, when it was only going to cost me $200.00!!!! I guess it serves me right for not listening to my little voice...she is always so reasonable!! But...it's done...and I am ready to go!! The pre-op diet is going okay, I started early so I could enjoy a little bit of Thanksgiving this weekend. Thanks for listening to me rant!! See you on the other side

Hi Sue, You are not the only one. I started my pre-op yesterday too, and had a minor freak out. I think I am just having a hard time before, because I know I could go out and binge eat right now, and there won't be any consequences. Where as after there is an immidate reaction. I think I am having a hard time too. But we have to look at the bigger picture...a year down the road, we can go and shop where ever we like, and all the extra energy to do stuff. That is what I am looking forward too. Being able to run and play with my niece and nephew and not get winded after 30 minutes. Everyone here on the forum are super nice, and willing to listen to us newbies...as they have been thru it and survived...so we will too!! Deep breaths...and away we go on our new advendture! That is what a friend told me yesterday! Feel free to email me if you want to chat...we can compare our hard times and work thru it together! Joanne

I am arriving on the 21st, with surgery for the 22 and home on the 24th. So hopefully I will see you girls around. I started the 12 day diet today, we have our Thanksgiving coming up this weekend, and I won't go over board, I do want some turkey! I can't believe it is only two weeks away! Where did September go!!

I was just wondering if anyone else had trouble with Paypal?? I got an email from the clinic yesterday stating that they hadn't recieved my deposit for my surgery which is in ONE month. I made the payment thru paypal on my credit card MORE than a month ago. I still have my email confirmation (thank God!!) from Paypal and I forwarded that to the clinic. But has anyone else had problems with it? I have used paypal before and not had any problems before.

Welcome!! I am the week before you on the 22nd. I am sure there are more people going to be there, so far I have only come across 1 person on this board that will be down there while I am. But I guess people don't always use this board! Which is crazy, because everyone on here is soooo nice and sooo full of information. I am very happy with my decision, I hope you will be too!!

You are too funny!! That was great for a laugh, and informative!! I will see what I can do about smuggling the tequila in my band!! tee hee. I will have to make sure to avoid that little girl, and make sure I practice frogger before I go.