Weight Wise Politics for patients who opted to have surgery out of province

E. MEXICO
on 1/11/09 2:07 am - Canada

On January 8, 2009 at 9:41 AM Pacific Time, cindy_s wrote:

Fiona,my name is Cindy, I had RNY with Dr. Davey in April of 07. This WLS was a revision for me, Dr. D did the original VBG on me 14 yrs ago. This surgery came apart and I slowly regained all weight lost. I was a so called lightweight to start. Started at 242lbs and am now 168lbs. I also just had a panni done 2 days ago, part of an extra perk that goes along with having the surgery done in Alberta. I belong to the weight wise support group at the Royal Alex, we meet once a month and no you don't have to be an Alberta patient. Our next meeting is in Feb on the 9th at 5:30pm in the conference room on the main floor of the building where the dieticians have there offices. I would suggest you come, we are a wealth of knowledge and can give you the support that you need. Our meetings are quite informal, intros and talking about personal experiences. Belonging to our support group is the first lady in alberta to have the VSG.
Most of our experiences vary, most are RNY some lap band. We also have people who moved to our province that had there WLS elsewhere. If you had known about our group before you may have decided to wait your time out and have your surgery done in Alberta. Many of us (myself included) know this system inside out and know first hand what you will face if you go outside. Also, there are many benefits to waiting and having it done here, besides the support, after about 18months if weight is stable or still losing you can have a tummy tuck - paid for by AHC. Just what I had done 2 days ago.
You should come to our support group mtg and get feeling better about yourself and what you have done - no matter where you had the surgery. As lacrose mom posted to you we also have an online support group that you can register and join, the address is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/EdmontonBSG
Good luck to you, the worst is over, your problems are some of those that many of us have experienced, just learning how to deal with them is the solution.

Cindy

Cindy

"there are many benefits to waiting and having it done here, besides the support, after about 18months if weight is stable or still losing you can have a tummy tuck - paid for by AHC."

are you saying that the only way AHC will pay for a tummy tuck is IF you lose your weight because of WLS and that the surgery has to be preformed in AB???

thanks Ellen

fionaaah
on 1/12/09 3:34 am - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

RNY on 09/30/08

Thank you so much, CIndy. Your message made me cry (not that it is very hard to do that these days) and made me feel much less alone and attacked.

I will do my best to come to the support group meeting, I am so glad that is an option for me.

Thanks again,
Fiona

LindaB2009
on 6/2/09 12:54 pm - Milton, Canada

VSG on 10/29/09

Hi Fiona,

I just joined this WLC this weekend and I just read your message. This is terrible and just scared the hell out of me. I live in Ontario but, I am trying to get the surgery done with Dr. Christou in Montreal, QC. The waiting list is ridiculous here in Ontario. Also, I absolutely agree about this being a medical system that is paid for by our tax dollars and everyone deserves to be treated equally, better yet, it is your RIGHT! You didn't go out of the country you went to a diferent province. Just because you chose to pay for the procedure privately, doesn't mean you should be treated differently. Shame on anyone who tries to justify the disgusting treatment you have received. It sounds like you might be onto a good support group, I hope it gets better for you. Now you have given me something to look into.
Thanks for the insight,
Linda

fionaaah
on 6/5/09 7:48 am - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

RNY on 09/30/08

Hi Linda...

I wrote about my experience with Dr. Christou and his team. Just do a search on my name and it should pull it up in case you are interested in reading about it.

Thanks for your post.

fionaaah
on 3/4/09 5:45 pm - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

RNY on 09/30/08

Hi Cindy - do you know when the next meeting is for the support group? I attended the last one and found it very helpful...

I have searched on the boards but can't seem to find the date...

Thanks!!

cindy_s
on 1/11/09 2:23 pm - Canada

Ellen, in a nutshell - yes. I could dance around the topic all you want but after being in this program and in the support group for as many years as I have, there is not a more clear way to say this - if you have WLS with Dr. Davey or Birch then after a total weight loss of a certain % and successful maintenance for a period of time - you can be granted a panni by either of these guys paid for by AHC. They have there own wording to call it a requirement after the WLS journey from beginning to end - I know many who have had it done (myself included) and many who have tried to have it done after having the surgery elsewhere - no luck.

Cindy

laurie-white
on 6/14/09 5:28 pm - port alberni, Canada

Hi everyone. I live south of Calgary, near to Highriver. I had my surgery Jan 26,09. in Victoria B.C..I started my wls journey in B.C., then moved here while I was still on the waiting list.There are several Dr.s there who accept out of province patients. It is still covered by your provincial medical. No cost to the patient except your lodging. If money is an issue there are places like Ronald McDonald house that will help as long as they have some spare room. They understand how hard it is to go out of province and manage to pay for everything.

As for surgery costs, your provincial govt pays 1200 towards your surgery, but the rest is coverd under federal government. The wait for the surgery is between 8 months and 3 years, depending on who your surgeon is. My wait was 2 years 4 months.The surgeons there are excellent at what they do. I have heard some bad storries about some of the Alberta surgeons.

As for plastics, I will still be covered for all the plstics I will need. Have already confirmed the fact with alberta health. They know I had my surgery in B.C. and they have no issues with it.

Laurie

Weight Wise Politics for patients who opted to have surgery out of province

Our Mission

Follow us

Links

Select Photos

Weight Wise Politics for patients who opted to have surgery out of province