How would you explain it?

[Guest guest]

Here's a request:

Hi all.

Would someone be kind enough to explain what the bash is?

I went to the website but couldn't find a description of the event.

How would you explain it?

[Guest guest]

Jessie asked about the bash.

I assume that it's a rhetorical question written so other can see the answers

and be informed too.

It's been four years since I formally attended a bandsterbash (splash and bash)

but basically

it's a gathering of people who have had the lapband weight loss surgery or are

curious about it.

Usually starts on a Friday night and ends Sunday afternoon. Typically the venue

is a hotel that has a swimming pool available. There are symposiums conducted by

various lapband surgeons, maybe a psychologist or two to talk about aspects of

the band, various focus groups.

At the last one?I attended four years ago, around lunchtime the staff brought in

a serving cart with 100 pounds of butter (or was it margarine?) piled on it so

people could see what 100 pounds of fat lost looked like in volume. Typically on

Saturday night there is a catered meal served, often enough there are a couple

soup offerings as well as Mexican food. Apparently hotels are accustomed to

really rip people that use their catered services (and won't allow any

competitors in either).

Main thing is a chance to gather with other bandsters and also with some of the

surgeons that do the bands. Dr Kuri of TJ MX was my surgeon, he's usually in

attendence at the Seattle one and often donates things of real value (like a

complete band surgery at the 2003 Seattle Splash and Bash). There are other

surgeons there, I saw DRs Montgomery and of NWWLS at a couple of them, as

well as others from Mexico.

Maybe things have changed since I last formally attended a bash. I was at the

2006 one in

February at a hotel in downtown Tacoma for the Friday check in although I

couldn't attend the entire event as my SO was in the hospital but I was able to

get away for a few hours.

HTH

Larry Murray

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[Guest guest]

The bash is a conference for those who have been banded or are interested in

learning about banding. There are sessions that provide information about

all aspects of banding, from preparation to surgery to post-op to follow-up

plastic surgery. There are a number of WLS doctors present of whom detailed

or general questions can be asked. There are vendors of products related to

WLS showing and selling their wares. The manufacturer of the band used in

the US sends a representative to talk, I think. There is a clothing

exchange where clothing is donated by those who have undergrown their

clothes following banding and are willing to share, to save others the

expense of purchasing clothes that they will only fit for a short time.

There is the opportunity to talk with others who have been banded and to

exercise with them as well if you choose to. There's a dinner with a

fashion show that allows you to show off how much weight you've lost. It's

inspiring and encouraging and informational.

Peggy

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