HOW???

Good Afernoon, I have been dealing with being the "fat" kid...or the "Fat" friend my whole life... i have yo yo with my weight and I just want a result that will last!!!! I have been thinking about gastric or lapband surgery for over a year now... I am not sure how to get started though. Can someone please give me the right steps to follow. THANKYOU!!!!!

Hi Krystal! Edmonton has two bariatric surgeons...Dr. Davey and Dr. Birch. Both run the Weight Wise program at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and offer nutritional counseling, RNY and Lap Band surgeries. You will need a referral from your family doctor to the Capital Health Weight Wise Program to get you on the waiting list for your initial assessment. It was about a year from the time of referral for me until my initial assessment. Good luck!

I talked to my Family Dr. Be prepared for a long wait. I am just starting the madatory classes you have to do before you can even see the surgen. It was a 4 mounth wait just to get into the classes. Don't let it dicourage you though, just think you have waited this long, what is alittle longer. Or you could go to Toronto and pay $16,000.00 and get it done in acouple of months.

Hi Pam, Did you finally get your surgery? I have my first two "lectures" in November so that would mean probably no surgery for another year. Did you find that the care was good etc. The thing is I have been to lectures, nutritional counselling, psychologists etc and this whole thing will probably bore me to death. Please give me your thoughts. Thanks a bunch.

My surgery is scheduled for Oct. 9/07, so in just 10 more days! The year went by faster than I thought it would. I have nothing but highly positive things to say about the Weight Wise Program in Edmonton. The staff is just wonderful. Some of the nutritional content is a review, but because of all the mandatory weigh-ins that you have to do, it forces you to STAY on the diet (or they won't approve you for surgery). So because of that, even BEFORE the Lap Band surgery itself, I've lost 35 pounds! So I'm far ahead in my weight loss compared to someone that didn't have to go through all those nutrition appointments with the dieticians. I personally would save the $16,000 and have free surgery...but of course that is a personal decision that you need to make. But for me, it was the right decision. The extra year goes by faster than you'd think and you get a head start on your weight loss too and get fantastic pre- and post-op care. Good luck with whatever decision you make!

Hi Pam, I just was recomended to possibly have the Lap Band proceedure yesterday. Can you tell me how long your wait was from the time you were recomended for the proceedure? I have about 100 lbs to drop so I am looking forward to the experiance. If you can give any pointers at all please drop me a line at [email protected] I am glad all seemed to go well with you.

Hi there. I was one of the ones that went to Toronto and paid to have it done because I was told it would be 3 years before I actually had the surgery. I couldn't wait that long. Who knows where I would have been??? Dead or even heavier??? I didn't want to find out so my husband and I went to the bank and got an overdratft and I haven't looked back. It is also tax refundable on your year end taxes. To me, you can't put a price on your health. It was well worth my money and I am happy I had it done. I have to add too, that it has been very successful for me. I had the lapband put in in Feb and to date I am down 57lbs. Yay for me!!!! It is a personal decision though so do what your heart tells you and best of luck. Dawn