Considering Lap Band

If anyone could offer any insight into the following concerns I have regarding the lap band procedure, it would be GREATLY appreciated. 1. While my BMI has been around 35 for most of my life, it is currently only 30 as I've been taking a medication that makes me sick to my stomach. For that reason, I've decided to go off the medication. However, will some or most or all potential surgeons refuse to perform the lap band surgery on me since I'm not currently considered obese? 2. Is the procedure covered under Alberta Health Care? If so, for all patients or only those whose obesity related illnesses are apparent? 3. Is there a long waiting list in Alberta? Should I consider visiting the obesity clinics in Ontario, where surgery can apparently be scheduled a month after your consultation. THANKS SO MUCH! GOD BLESS!

I don't know about qualifying at 30. I went to Mexico for my surgery (Duodenal Switch) since I had to self pay and it's much cheaper there. There is a yahoo group that will probably be able to help you: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ossg-westcan/ Good luck!

Hi my name is Sabrina and you said that you got yours done in Mexico. I am thinking of going to mexico to get my done but dont know which one is better, I am also looking for someplace where I dont need a passport that cost under $13,000 do you know anything if so let me know. Thanks

Hey Erika Alberta Health Care will pay for your surgery in Alberta. My total waiting period was about 2.5 years. You never said how old you are. I am 42. Get a consult soon, then look at other options (and/or provinces etc.). I think the wait in Edmonton is a bit shorter. I had open WLS April 4, 2006 and I have been in the hospital 5 times. I have another appointment in one month. I totally support you in getting WLS but I have regretted it. I have only lost 35 pounds then put on 4 of them, which translates to 10 percent of my body weight. I could have done that with a sensible diet. I wasn't able to even eat for 5 days. I would suck on an ice cube and vomit it back up. Please consider all options plus the money you will spend or lose from time off. Apersonal trainer is a good option to put your money on. Good luck withh whatever you choose to do. Just don't be discouraged - and please keep happy.

Hi Erica - the only place in Canada you can get the lap band surgery and have it covered by health care is at Dr. Davey/Birch's clinic at the Royal Alex in Edmonton. They perform the surgery laparoscopically unless there are complications and they have to do open. The one lady that posted and said she'd been in the hospital 5 times didn't have the lap band she had an RNY and I'm not sure which doctor. I had the RNY done laparscopically by Dr. Davey/Birch in April and I've been great. No problems to speak of. In regards to getting approved they do have guidelines typically if BMI is 35 - 50 with no co-morbities then you are referred to the weight wise clinic - you may be referred for surgery or you may get help through diet, etc. Before the weight wise clinic started I think it was > 40 you went to surgery clinic and >35 with co-morbities you went to surgery clinic. But they are wanting to do my lap band surgeries so it wouldn't hurt to try. The wait is long though - I would say be prepared for 2 years. So if you can afford to pay on your own maybe Ontario or some of the provinces where you have to pay are better with the wait times but also be aware that you will have to go back for fills with the lap band or else you would have to find someone in Alberta that will do it for you. Hope this helps some - I will say that Dr. Davey/Birch have a great reputation. I waited a long time but am now out and so far so good - happy. Carolyn

Hi Carolyn: My name is Sherri, and I read your info here, I have not had the surgery as of yet I am just in the process of getting the refferral and was told it was minimum 1year wait, just to get the consult.... I wish that I could get in sooner but yet at the same time, I don't because in 1998 I was living in BC and had heard of stomach stapling, and rushed into it, without thinking I do not believe that I was prepared for what was to come and the doctors were not agreeable with the dieticians so I was getting conflicting advice, and had a lot of complications such as infection, in total spent 3 months in the hospital, yes I felt great when I lost weight, but after 1 year, and a total of 85 lbs lost -- I started adding coca - cola in to my diet, along with iced tea, and before long that wasn't good enough because the sugar I was ingesting ( that I wasn't supposed to have ) was making me hungry so I started eating fast food and bigger quantities then needed, and now it is 2006 8 yrs since I had it done and I am back to my starting weight and am even gaining more now! In no way am I trying to discourage you because I believe that hearing negative brings negative, but now you know why I am re applying to have more surgery, when I heard of the lap band surgery I was soooo interested, and especially since I found the site and info for the Royal Alex, and the fact that it is covered by AHC, is great unfortunately the wait is soooo long! But that may be good so that I could get better prepared and have to atttend councilling & dieticians before getting it concidered! You had your surgery in April how much weight have you lost? And what is an RNY? Which one is better in your opinion? write back ok... Sherri

Hi Sherry - I had my surgery with Dr. Birch and Dr. Davey in the Royal Alex in Edmonton on Apr 18/06 and am down 59 lbs from surgery day and 94.5 from my highest weight. 'm below 200 lbs now and probably the lowest I've been since my 20's. I actually fit in a size 14 pants at Penningtons last night down from a 28 and a size 20 shirt down from a 26. Not bad huh!!!! I had the RNY (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) done laparoscopically. I had surgery on Tue and was home on Fri. I had 6 small incisions on my tummy where the instruments were inserted. I'll tell you what I've learned from my research and the docs. The lap band procedure is strictly a restrictive tool. The band is placed around the top portion of the stomach and this restricts the amount of food that you are able to eat at one time. This is not a malabsorption tool and the stomach is not cut at all. Therefore it is less surgically invasive. You do however have to get "fills" done to adjust the band size so that the restriction is kept at the proper amount. The "fills" are done via injection into a port that is placed under the skin. The RNY is more surgically invasive. The stomach is actually stapled and cut to make a small pouch of approx 30 cc size - the remainder of the stomach is totally seperated from the pouch. Then the intestine is cut approx 100 cm below the stomach and the lower end is brought up to connect to the new pouch and the upper end is connected further down in the intestine. Therefore the RNY is both a restrictive and a malabsorptive tool. It is the first 100 cm of intestine (that is bypassed) where most of the calories - sugar and fat of our meals are absorbed. Therefore with it being bypassed you don't absorb as many calories. If you do eat sugar or fat many people react with what is called "dumping syndrome" where they can get physically ill with such symptoms as sweats, nausea, diarreah, etc. I know that this sounds awful but because I'm a person that enjoyed sweet things and fatty foods (fast food) I decided to go for the RNY so that if I went back to my old eating habits I would hopefully have "dumping" and this would be a negative reinforcement for me not to want these foods again. People with the lap band procedure don't experience dumping from what I've read so in actuality if they wanted to they could sit and eat ice cream all day long cause it would digest easily and they wouldn't get sick from the sugar or fat. So I made my decision based on knowing my eating habits and my likes and dislikes. I think you should do the same - know your eating habits and what your pitfalls will be. I am pretty good with my diet - eat my protein first but I do on occassion have something that maybe I shouldn't (we're all human). I've experienced dumping a little but nothing terribly bad. Something else I will tell you that my surgeon told me is that patients that have the RNY will lose the weight much faster in the beginning. The lap band patients are slower but usually a steady pace. Around the 3 yr mark there is little difference in the two when it comes to total weight loss. I think the hardest thing I find right now is eating out - I love fast food but I'm scared to eat out. I've done alot of it the past few weeks and have learned to experiment. No more burgers but I can usually find some beef on a bun or chicken skewers somewhere, shrimp is great and even tacos are ok - I usually just eat the bottom portion with the beef. I even was bad and had some fries and gravy and capital x this week - but not a whole plate just a few - boy they tasted so good..... So life will go on - I just have to make healthy choices for my food and can have the odd snack in the meantime. I've found sugar free chocolates to help the sweet tooth and all is good. I'm curious what kind of stomach stapling you had done. There is a gal in our group that had a VBG procedure years ago and regained her weight and Dr. Davey did a revision on her last Dec or Jan I think - she had the RNY done but it was done open because it was a revision. She is doing really well with the RNY. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask. Carolyn

Hi Carolyn

, My name is Margaret, I have an appt booked with Dr. Daveys in May2013. Im just impatient, I cant wait to find out how things are done. How long from first visit til surgery etc. Also did AHC pay for the RNY procedure? I think that one would be best. Im just a bit nervous Im a diabetic, asthmatic, COPD, HBP, HIgh cholesteral. Have arthrities, & allergies Plus about 180 lbs I  need to lose. Dr. says I may lose all the diseases or at least have slight cases of them.  Any input would be comforting to know. or anyone else has would be good to hear. Thanks Margaret 

 

Dr Davey is a wonderful doctor  he done my  vsg  and i am thankful he was the Dr who i was assigned too ,  i was suppost to have a rny but   with  things happened he was good enough to at least do my sleeve ,    such a kind caring Doctor  i cant say enough about him aside from    he has a short list it was only a month after i seen him i was   having my surgery   you will be in great hands with  him 

hi i am a gastric bypass patient that reagined my weight too did u go for the banding what happened. DAwn