PLEASE HELP

hi.. i am just beginning my journey to a new me... i live outside calgary alberta and have heard doctors in calgary do it now....have my first appt on oct 10 for first consultation... look at me fly.. i am 55 have no family support.. so am flying this process alone.. but if you wish to keep in touch with my journey i will find out info re other provinces... take care myrna

Also there is a duodenal switch message board on here and they are a super-friendly & informative bunch. Good luck!

Hey Dena - I had a laparoscopic RNY Gastric Bypass done on Apr 18/06 with Dr. Birch and Dr. Davey in Edmonton. I know people that have had surgery with Dr. Farries in Red Deer and also Dr. Nohr in Medicine Hat. I'd just like to say that at this point I have no regrets - I've been loosing weight steadily and am now under 200 lbs for the first time since 1999 and probably lower than I've been since my 20's. I just turned 44 and wish that I had done this alot earlier but it took years for me to even find out about the doctors and then once I got referred it took a couple of years to see them. So if you've decided that this is something you really want to find out about I would have my doctor get referrals into each doctor to cover all your bases. FYI Dr. Birch and Dr. Davey do the Laparoscopic RNY and the laparoscopic Band procedures. They only do open surgery if absolutely necessary. Dr. Farries still does the RNY open Dr. Nohr does the RNY open as well. I had my surgery on Tuesday and was home on Friday - this is the usual hospital stay for a lap RNY. I was on soft foods for two weeks then started regular foods after that. I'm down 59 lbs since surgery and 94.50 lbs from my highest weight. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me. There are also a couple of on-line support groups that I know of http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/edmontonBSG http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG-Westcan hope these links work for you. Carolyn

hi carolyn, i say ur message while i was researching bariatric surgerys, sorry if the spelling is off i work nights and am tired. any ways my question is i have researched and my doctor is referring me to edmonton too, i was woundering how long the wait was to see dr.davey and dr. birch from first referral from gp. also did you have to aplly for free coverage? i am from saskatchewan, i know there is coverage, still researching that. if you have some inside info that would be great . email me at [email protected] thanks julie

Hi Carolyn, I have been interested in doing this surgery (lapband) for quite a few years now but have not been able to do it because 1) I am not at the stipulated BMI rating that is necessary for the government to even consider you for surgery and 2) I did not have the money to pay for it out of my own pocket. My question to you is, can I arrange to have the surgery if I am only 71 pounds overweight (this is a lot of weight for me)? I have been fat all my life and have tried numerous methods/diets only to lose weight and then regain. My husband and I will be selling or home (and purchasing another) this June/July and I am thinking of using a part of the equity to pay for the surgery. I will be 37 years on June 2 and would see this as an extremely special and precious gift to myself. Also, I have 3 children and can hardly keep up. I am just so tired of battling this problem. Any help you can offer would be so welcome. Thanks. Michelle Jackson

Just went to your page and saw that you had a VBG done years ago. There is a lady in the Edmonton support group that had a revision done within the past 6-8 mths with Dr. Davey - she had a VBG but he did a revision to a RNY - the revision I think was done open. Maybe try the Edmonton site and question this to the group - I'm sure she'll reply. Carolyn

hi iam 29 and finshing up with weight wise edmonton the plan is to get surgey in july i hope i plan for the sleeve just bcame a member want info on suupport groups ect also does any one konow the doctor who prefroms the surgery at the royal alex thanxs for the help