Are there any doctors in Alberta I can just pay out of pocket for VSG?

Cause going out of country makes me a bit nervous....
Katie

Hi there- I am not aware of any surgeons in Alberta who will do this. But I live in Edmonton as well so thought I would say hello.
I am part of the Weight Wise program throught the Capital Health system. I am sure you have heard of the program. It is definitely not as fast as paying for the surgery in another country, but it does have a lot of things you might want to consider. The modules may seem basic but are actually very good. And you are given very comprehensive health care- the emotional eating groups, meetings with nutritionists and psychologists have helped me prepare for the surgery. Without this prepartation I know that I would have struggled more in the long term and this is something to think about. Actually we are pretty lucky to have a program like this in our city. The wait lists may seem very intimidating but it is a process which addresses many levels of the physical and mental healing that need to occur to get to a healthy body weight.
Anyway. I can relate to the desire to want to just take care of it but wish you luck and hope you find lots of support/ resources in whichever way you go.

The city surgeons are affliated with Weight Wise and the one in RedDeer & Medicine Hat have lengthy waits as well.

The wait is not long when you are in the program and this isn't quick fix kinda stuff. It's mentally & emotioanlly draining as well as the obvious physical results.

We had to learn to be accountable, follow a program, get tests and be in this for ourselves.
Sure I could have paid to go to Mexico in the worst possible conditions and get something done to my body only to have potentially fatal repercussions and have to use the doctors of Alberta to put me back together. I'm damn sure that the tax payers in this province and people waiting on bariatric surgery would be thrilled to know I'm getting a botched job fixed on their dime.

I noticed to wrote on the VSG forum about the "governement run weight wsie and it's 2-3 yr wait time". What is your hurry in getting this surgery? We are all wanting in yesterday but isn't it better to be save than sorry? I might coem across as sounding bitter but I think all of us in the program would have paid to be healthier yrs ago - if that was an option.

I'm all for weight wise and it's team- a team that will be with me until I "graduate".

Good luck in your search but you might want to check out Weight Wise and what it has to offer. I'm not spending a dime-- besides gas $$.

This is only my opinion..

Going out of province (Canada) is foolish!

The aftercare is none exhistant...

I don't know if you read the article in the Journal awhile back about someone going to Mexico and has had nothing but problems since....her stomach eventually got so thin it was bursting...she is under the care of Dr Birch now and when I had my surgery last May, she had been in the hospital since last November....and no signs of leaving yet.

She was my roommate in the hospital....omg...she told me she never got any aftercare, no guidelines to follow, no courses to help her with her surgery/food consuption...NOTHING!

Don't do it...get the referral in to any of the doctor's in Alberta...wait your turn...start journaling your food and walking...your call will come...then your true journey begins.

We all had to wait our turn....jump through the hoops....but in the end we all received and will always continue to receive excellent support and care.


Brenda