a must read - a very good article from todays Edmonton Journal.

A must read! http://www.edmontonjournal.com/mobile/news/edmonton-alberta/Foreign+obesity+surgery+poses+major+health+risk+doctors+warn/2735862/story.html

Hopefully people thinking about going out the country will read this! Thanks for posting!!

  
 I heard before.. ::::;

I saw dr robbins on Wed for a med review and check and she was telling me that several patients from Mexico are being seen with SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES from having surgery recently.. she was like I wish people knew that .. This isnt always the best.. And joked.. Can I be a poster person for the clinic.. LOL.. I was like. I didnt get this way over night and I know this is just a small step in a big picture.. Sad but thank you for the article. Jen.

Thanks for the read.

But, this sheet happens here at home in Canada too...Living proof of a hole/leak in my sleeve and lived a year of hell! 3 month hospital stay and much more. It can Happen in Mexico, United States, or Canada. And would do it all over again in a minute! Someone feel my forhead...LOL!!

PS...There was 3 leakers in the hospital, while I was there!


Hugs

Donna

Thanks for posting the link Jen. Very interesting article! Pause for thought for ANYONE considering WLS - whether here in Canada - or away. Complications DO happen - and I think one has to be a bit pro-active and have a basic game plan in mind just in case.

Yes conplications arise in our own country but if John Doe goes to Mexico to get a surgery and he has complications-- those patients are coming back into their home countries  and seeking medical attn and a fix on the tax payers dollar as well as taking the surgeons time away from their patients making their wait times even longer.

It seems like it's common sense to me- but I guess some ppl feel the need to go that route.
Weightloss surgery isn't a quick fix.....

Hi All! 

I think the issue here is multi-faceted.  It's about patients jumping the queue, it's about limited resources in AHS for bariatric programs, it's about surgeons taking on patients that they've never treated before, it's about potentially inferior foreign treatment, and it is ultimately about patient health.  All are legitmate issues and each have their points and counterpoints.

IMHO, if patients want to go to Mexico or where ever and pay for surgery, let them.  They are electing to create a two tiered health care system by doing so.  When those patients get back to Canada and need follow-up treatment, they should be prepared to open that same wallet to pay for any follow-up, band fill, counselling, emergency surgery, or whatever else is necessary.  If the patient was okay with paying the $10K to get the procedure done, they should be prepared to pay the full costs associated with the surgery.  There is a reason why these procedures in Alberta are twice the cost.  You are paying for the support structure around the surgery - physical therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists, other medical professionals and their services.

If the future of health is globalization, it seems to me that a medical professional could make a nice practice cleaning up bariatric medical tourists.  In any case, it's a topic that needs to be a larger discussion within the government and medical community with ample patient input.  Knowing the AB goverment like we do, we shouldn't hold our breath waiting for that to happen.

Cheers!
-- Xcalibur

i agree that complications do happen, as i have had a few myself, and quite severe ones, including a new one they aren't sure what it is yet. 
my problem with people going away for surgery, to try to skip our wait times, is that yes in fact some of them are coming back and expecting our healthcare to pay causing others to wait even longer.
another concern is that our dr's don't know what has gone on in the OR and then they are going into a complication situation blind.
i know complications do happen as i had a twisted bowel resulting in emergency surgery 40 hrs after my gastric bypass, a complication that is potentially fatal.  i now have a severe pressur pain in the middle of my chest.
i thought this article would give others looking to go somewhere else an insite into what our surgeons think....

Also thought I should let you guys know that Dr. Sharma talks about this too today on his blog. (www.drsharma.ca)

 Thank you for the information..  Jen

I was aware that this is becoming  a Big Issue .. the Dr told me that it is something that she doesn't understand cus  It's also about
" Legal Stuff ".  I understand we all paid into Health Care. But Ethics from a Dr's perspective. Should they ??? What Was Done Previously? 

 I know complications can happen.. No matter what.  I was told I died/ coded  on the table on two occassions from trying to get Gullstones from blocking my liver... And it was not the Dr doing the surgery's  fault.  I was misdiagnosed  ( lack of care from the  ER Dr )... and by the time I went back to hospital I was really Ill .
 
Like you said Jen. It's about the Cost to the person / system already stretched.. Im sorry but I  worked my ass of to get to this point.. 
 
For me personally. I waited 25 yrs to get to this point. And from starting at WWC  to now was only 2 yrs. (  April  2008 letter sent requesting me to be seen then  Seen First Assessment Feb 2009. Full Into Program  May 2009  less 1 mth.). So For me.. Not much of a wait.. Im very thankful everyday for what I have been given.. 

I have tried before with other diets, * one of which  2 surgerys ( gulbadder/ kidney)  and nothing worked.. I wasn't ready to change.. that was the biggest thing. I did the program and continue to do it..

I have friends who years  ago had it done. With No follow-up support No Prior support. Just visit and done.. Today they have huge issues.. One had to have it somewhat reversed.. 

She told me the other day that even thought she doesn't agree with me having it. she understands and is greatful I had to do the steps first.. To me. thats the big pic.. And for the people on the Wait list at WWC. It maybe getting longer if these types of things happen.. Cus Edmonton doesn't have a large amount of specialists/ funds..

I guess we all can either take the information or leave it.. Like most things.
 
I don't think it's about One Dr against Another.   It's about .. Who should be responsible .. For Out of Country / Out Of Province Issues....?????? And like you said. you have issues from your surgery that weren't suppose to happen.

 But I also beleive things " do happen for a reason"..

 Just My 2 Cents...