Have a date and still not sure which surgery

Hi there,

I got my date (June 17)..and for the longest time I was certain it would be the lapband.  Now...I'm not sure.  I've heard some good things about bypass and seen some good results too!  I guess my main thinking is that I'm worried I'll fail at the band.  Bypass has shown to be more reliable with weight loss.  I know there' s more risks...but there's risks with the band too.

Any advise from people who've had bypass?  Help!!

Hi, I haven't had my WLS yet, but I'm doing the VSG.  I also was considering the lapband and was concerned about having success with it, when I came across the sleeve.  I like it because it doesn't have the maintience issues of the band and its permanent.  It also doesn't have the malabsorbtions issues of RNY.  The sleeve can also be done as a two part procedure, first VSG then DS if needed.  Check out the Vertical Sleeve Gastectomy forum, everyone is happy and there are virtually no issues with complications.  Everyone is helpful Whatever you choose, believe in yourself and you will have success!

 

Thanks for the reply Kim. Who are you seeing?  I see Dr. Farries in Red Deer, I've hear rumors that he'll be doing the sleeve in the fall.

I'm heading to Mexico, probably Dr Alvarez.  I don't have the patience to wait for the Alberta process.  I went to the Calgary clinic about 3yrs ago and they did  a good job of making me believe that the lapband would be a huge waste of time, that it could be easily bypassed just by taking a drink.  I figured that there was no point in going through with it after that until I heard about the sleeve.  Now I'm refocused and I know that either one will work so long as you follow the rules.  I like the sleeve because I will have a small stomach forever so even if I have slip ups, it will never be that bad, I can just go back the the basic rules of protein first to fill my tiny stomach.  I also like the fact that if I am not as successful as I hope, it will be easy to do the second procedure to the DS.  Because I'm going to Mexico, the lapband just to much work...finding a doc to do the fills and then what to do if there is problems with it.  You have an advantage though, you are here, seeing a doctor here so if you are finding the lapband is not working I doubt you would have to go jump all the hurtles to have it revised.

You are soooo lucky, I wish I was able to make that trip myself. Weight Wise has everyone by the short-hairs up here and unfortunately there is nothing anyone can do about it. How did you hear about Dr Alvarez? How many times did you have to make the trip down there before you were approved?

I heard about all the doctors here on OH.  If you go to to the surgical forums you can see who has used who and what they thought of them.  And absolutely not trips anywhere!  Everything is done over the phone....no hoops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know that some people feel that our system is not so bad, but I personally think that the powers that be are hoping they can save money by waiting us out....you know we either die waiting or we go somewhere else.  For the luck few that make it through its like winning a lottery!  Oh well!

yes...truer words were never spoken and Ive been fighting my own battle with this system for awhile now. Not only have I wasted 2 years and 10 months, Im pretty much damned if I do and damned if I dont. Of course, being poor has only limited my options as to going stateside for the surgery. All I can do, all I have been doing is to try and be as verbal as I can about the entire process.  My back is pretty much up against the wall right now, but Ive been doing alot of letter writing, plus Im taking my own plight online, if only to expose Weight Wise for the PHONY BAS***DS that they are.  I figure somebody, somwhere has got to start listening, and once Im done with that I figure I'll just take it to the media and see how that goes.  Thanks for taking the time to answer my post, and I'll definitely look into the surgical forum and see how that goes.

                                                             HUGZ!!!

Respectfully SI--I am not sure why you are still accessing the clinic...you have the choice of reddeer (closer to you) and Medicine Hat and both have little 'pre requirements' and are not  "shoving it
down everyones throat," (your words)

You just posted that you have wasted 2 years and 10 months...that is not the clinics fault. You are just over 10 months in (according to your post below) and can still get a referral to the other clinics. The fact that you got in so quick is amazing! You are not that far in to change direction. This is a whole life change and will be for the rest of your life...so a few extra months on someones wait list shouldn't matter.

The reason that you are waiting is to access the services you don't want...you seem to have it figured out...

You seem to be very invested in trashing the program...all that energy seems to be wasted and could be directed towards helping yourself and others. How sad that others see you as a negative nelly... Are you angry at the clinic or self?

If you don't like the clinic...why keep trying? If you don't trust and like what you are hearing why bother, and why trust them with your surgery?

Post Date 2/16/09 4:15 pm
Topic: RE: New to this whole process...
Hi Lori,

My name is Barb and I live in Calgary, and there are NO Bariatric Surgeons in Calgary. Not knowing that at the time it took almost a year to find a surgeon in Edmonton, who then referred me to Capital Health who then directed me to the WeightWise organization who set everything up. After a 10 month wait with them I finally go in for the Orientaion on March 4th at the Royal Alex Hospital...


You can either believe it will happen...or believe it won't both are self fulfilled prophesies

I'de 1rst like to say that Weight Wise is a great program
for those "in need" of a weight management program, and I
have stated all along that it shouldnt matter how you get
there, how you achieve your weight loss goals, whethers
thats through Weight Wise, Tops, the Zone Diet, the
Hour Glass, or even my own program, We**ht Wa***ers,
They're all great programs, and they all have alot to offer
people who have been struggling to lose weight their entire
lives. And that should count for something! But it doesnt!
And why is that? Because Dr Sharma has somehow managed
to convince all the powers that be that only he and his
weight management program (Weight Wise) are the only
ones capable of fighting the obesity epidemic in this
country, the only ones capable of saving us from ourselves.
And I cant believe you cant see how wrong that is! And 
just so you know, and everyone else reading this post, as
soon as my Doctor sent in my referal to see a surgeon
(Dr Davies) in Oct, 07, one of the 1rst things I did was
join a weight management program because I knew from
the start how difficult it was going to be to even qualify
for the gastro surgery;  1) I had to quit smoking.  2) I
needed to lose as much weight as I could before seeing
the surgeon. At that time I weighed close to 500 lbs, so
knowing there was a cap on the surgery, where they
considered you too HIGH RISK, I wasnt sure if that
was 400 or 500 lbs. Either way, it was very important
to me that I try to lose at least 100 lbs before I got in
to see the surgeon.  3) I needed to make some serious
lifestyle changes as well, so I was very committed to
my program in learning how to do that. 4)  I needed to
start moving again. Because of my knee injuries and the
Osteo Arthritis Ive been struggling with these past 10
years, Im extremely limited in what I can and cant do.
As it is Im so close to being in a wheelchair permanently,
and the Ortho surgeons wont even look at me until Ive
lost a substantial amount of weight. Not to mention its
another strike against me as far as the RNY surgery
goes, because they want you to be able to walk and
exercise, so you can be successful in maintaining that
weight loss once the surgery is done. Im literally
fighting for my own independance here, because once Im
in that wheelchair, its all over for me. Im back where
I began, being totally dependant on everyone for 
everything.  and that is NOT how I want to live the
rest of my life.  5)  I needed to start journaling. I
needed to keep track of everything so that when I did
get in to see the surgeon I could open up my journal
and show him exactly what Ive been doing, show him
exactly how committed I was to really making some
positive changes in my life. So it isnt that Im lazy
or that I dont want to do the work involved in 
becoming a successful candidate for the surgery.
Ive spent the last 2 years working very hard at 
achieving those same goals so I do know what you
people are going through in the Wieght Wise program, 
and I know how hard it is in trying to accomplish
those goals because Ive already done that through my
own program! I know how hard its been for me so I
applaud each and everyone of you because I know what
you've been going through!!! Just dont tell me that
what Ive been doing these last 2 years through my own
program doesnt mean a damn thing, and that I now have
to put in another year and a half to 2 years doing the
exact same thing through Dr Sharma's program.
My gawd, cant any of you see how wrong that is????
And by the way, my referal was sent in Oct,07, and the
1rst reply I got from Weight Wise was in Apr, 08, and
that was only to tell me that I was going on their
waitlist, and then I didnt hear from them again until
Apr, 09, to tell me that I was booked for their
Orientation on Mar 04, 09.  So dont tell me I got in
rather quickly. I WAITED ALMOST 3 friggen years
to get into this farse of a program. And your damn
right Im angry! Im angry at Dr Davies for redirecting
my referal to a weight management program without
1rst meeting me or talking to me to even see if I
actually needed to go into a weight management
program like Weight Wise, Im angry that its taken
almost three years to get in to see them. Im angry
that all the hard work Ive done in those 3 years doesnt
mean a damn thing. Im angry that Im literally being forced
to comply with this program just so I can get in to see a
surgeon. Its just so WRONG from beginning to end, and
that our own government is backing them...I just want to 
SCREAM!!! I just cant endorse this, and I REFUSE to be
a part of this, and until I take my very last breath, Im
going to do everything in my power to call them out for
the FAKES that they are. So all you  Weight Wise "LAP 
DOGS" out there who think you know me so well, who
have from day one have done nothing but attack me and
critisize me for having my own opinion about all this,
all I have to say to you is...STICKS & Stones people. 


             
STICKS & STONES

     



 

you said "Dr Sharma has somehow managed
to convince all the powers that be that only he and his
weight management program (Weight Wise) are the only
ones capable of fighting the obesity epidemic in this
country, "
I don't have any information that is true...but you seem to...
You said: And I cant believe you cant see how wrong that is! 

Just like you I am entitled to my opinion...and that is...that is the clinic is the wave of the future. I have seen many people in my life not have the surgery success they wanted without support. So my opinion is that it is good...and helpful...and at some level or point I will need them, despite the million diets I have learned from (I obviously didn't learn the right way to lose weight)

Congrats on your changes so far...

You called US 

Weight Wise "LAP 
DOGS" out there who think you know me so well, who
have from day one have done nothing but attack me and
critisize me for having my own opinion about all this,
all I have to say to you is...STICKS & Stones people. 

what?
Hmm...lap dogs? I do have 3 lap dogs and I am very fond of them. I assume that was an insult? That information aside...I never once criticized you for your opinion... I was asking you respectfully a few questions...opps sorry I asked...yikes. Hmm...you are right I don't think I know you at all...and am a bit sorry I asked. I am here for information and support, not to feud, or B*8ch, so we are on different planets.
Peace out...hope you get what you want here...