Where Have all the Alberta WLS Members Gone?

Are there no Alberta members or do they just not post?

it's a pretty quiet board isn't it?

Hi, I am from Alberta, but do not usually post here as most of the conversation revolves around the Lap band.  Many Albertans have chosen other surgeries and thus post on Surgery specific boards/forums. I would love to find others in Alberta who have chosen other types of surgeries, VSG specifically....and maybe start some kind of support group.

Hi Lori - I was glad to hear from you.
 
I just find that no one really posts on the Alberta Board at all, about anything!!

Have you had your surgery? And if so where was it done, if you don't mind saying?
 
Mine will be done by Dr. Farries in Red Deer but I am still waiting for a date, I am thinking that it will be gastric bypass unless something in my pre op testing changes the plan.

I'll watch for you as I spens a fair bit of time on many of the Boards, just trying to gain some knowledge about all kinds of surgery.

Hi Joann,

I have not yet had my surgery.  I will be having it in June or July hopefully.  Still getting all of my ducks in a row...so to speak.  I will be doing it as a self-pay, so coming up with the money is taking a bit of work.  I will be traveling to Mexico to have my surgery as no surgeon in Alberta, or Canada offers the surgery as a one step procedure.

I was reading your profile, wasn't clear if you have had your surgery yet?  I have heard fabulous things about Dr. Ferries (sp??)

As I said it would be nice to see more support on this Alberta forum!  Look forward to chatting more with you.

Lori

As I said I haven't had my surgery. I'm hoping to get a date when I go back on Jan 26th.

Dr Farries puts you through a fairly rigorous bunch of tests and you are required to prove that you can eat less without surgery. He wants you to eat one cup of food only, 3 times a day and lose at least 10% of your weight before he will schedule your surgery.

I believe that he is a very good surgeon, he has done surgery on my Mom and my sister both for colon cancer with great results and he does not want failures with the weight loss surgeries he does so he has to be pretty convinced that you are committed.

I feel that those of us that are his patients are lucky , and I am thankful that my sister and I  are both included there.
It is too bad that this health care system of ours does not provide for oher surgeries, especially because the surgeries are so needed, but I wish you well with your quest to get it done elsewhere. You read about lots of people who have had sucesses especially in Mexico.

I know of another gal in Okotoks, actually she is in Arizona now but she had a lap band done in Edmonton before Christmas so I can't wait to see her when she gets back from her winter
holiday.

Anyway good luck snd I hope to hear from you again.

Hi and welcome to all and especially newcomer Lori!

I am from Black Diamond but used to live in Okotoks.  I agree, this board gets pretty quiet sometimes.  I find that since I am at my computer for about 85% of my work day the last thing I feel like opening up is my computer when I get home.  With that being said, however, we all need each other for support and I truly will try harder to be more active on here.  I also am waiting to have surgery and hopefully won't have to wait too much longer to get into the info session in Edmonton.  I am having the lap band procedure and have sure appreciated the folks on this site that have been kind enough to encourage me along the way.  For now while I am waiting I am trying to loose some weight on my own.  Hope to talk to you all again soon!  Best of luck!

Cheers!
Patti

Hi again Patti.

I've been wondering about you, you sounded so down after Christmas, hopefully things are looking up.
Glad to know your still in the battle.

Bye for now.

Joann alias noraj2

Hi Joann,

Good to see you are still smiling and excited!  Yes, I was down a little, but since hearing again from
the clinic on Jan 16, I have been told my letter is in the mail and I should be heading up to Edmonton soon.  Thank goodness!  Hopefully this will be the year that everything comes together.  I haven't heard from our dear friend Eydie but I sure hope that all is well in her court.  Take care! TTFN

Patti

Hi Lori.

I don't understand why you don't go to B.C. for your surgery. It is totally covered by your Alberta health. I just had mine done there in Jan.09. Didn't cost me a dime. Your only cost is somewhere to stay, and there are ways around that, and your cost to get there. It's so much closer than mexico if you have any problems. There are 3 Dr.s in victoria who do the surgery and do it well, and make sure everything is as it should be before letting you go. Their names are Dr. Amoson, his associate, Dr. Tang. they are both out of the same office. The number is 250-646-2218. There is another and his name is Dr. Rusnik, he is the head of surgery in the hospital, has been doing the surgery a long time too. Don't have his number, but I am sure it is in the book. I could always dig it up on some other forums. He is the one with the shortest wait time.

I read you live in Okatoks. I am east of Highriver. Would love to yack sometime if you want to.

Laurie