VSG Surgery - anyone recommend a doctor in Alberta?

Hi,

I am researching the VSG right now and wondered if anyone out there knows of a good doctor that does the VSG surgery in Alberta.  I live in Calgary and so it would be great to find someone close by...but I would consider traveling wherever I would have to go.  Also, if anyone has had this procedure I would love to hear from you! 

Thanks,
Patti J

Hi Patti,

I don't know about in Calgary but my surgeron is Dr. Daniel Birch affliated with the Weight Wise Clinic  in Edmonton. Others with him are Dr. Doug Davey and Dr. S. Karamali.
Not sure what the docs in Red Deer or Medicine Hat areas offer but I'm sure others on here could help you.

I'm set to have the sleeve sometime soon. There were 6 people ahead of me on the list in mid June and I was told I'd likely not get in until September due to the summer. I'm excited to have this surgery to aid me further on in my journey. I've lost 83lbs since I started Weight Wise in August 09 and HIGHLY RECOMMEND this program to anyone. Never would I have dreamed that I would have lost 96llbs in the last yr on my own - but with a team of people behind you, coaching you along the way , it's really hard to fail.

All the best to you in your search but be prepared for a wait. Can be up to 4yrs for some surgeons and the clinic in Edmonton has atleast a yr wait once your family doc sends a referral in and a yr or so before you see a surgeon in some cases. Everyone is a different case though.

Good luck in your search! 

Hi Kim,

Thank you for your reply.  That is wonderful that you have lost so much weight already just on your own!  What have you been doing to achieve that, may I ask?  You must be very proud of yourself!!!  I know that there is going to be a lengthy wait whever I go from the sounds of it, but you have given me a lot of good information.  Thank you again for your input!  Best of luck on your journey Kim. 

Cheers,
Patti

Hi Patti,

I had my VSG done by Dr. Farries in Red Deer on Oct 7/09.  I was olny his 4th or 5th sleeve but  have had absolutely zero complications & so far I am down 124 lbs (35 lbs preop).  I LOVE MY SLEEVE!  It was the best decision I ever made for myself.  Still want to lose another 40 or 50 lbs but I am so happy right now I can't even tell you!

I'm not gonna lie to you... it takes time to get in.  I was referred to Dr. F in May/08.  Had my 1st consult at the end of Dec/08, surgery Oct/09.  But I will say that once you start the program after your 1st consult it is amazing how fast the time flies!  Dr. Farries puts you on a plan & wants you to loose about 10% of your weight before he will book you for surgery.  Some don't wait as long as others cause they loose faster but he just wants to be sure you are ready to make the necesary changes in you life to be sucessfull.  They make you keep a journal of what you are eating & you have to go back every month to review it with him or his nurse, Chris, & also weigh in each month.   It isn't always easy but I can tell you it is so worth it!

If you have facebook, you should check out the support group page, its called "Weight Loss Surgery Support Group in Red Deer".  There are a bunch of knowledgeable and supportive people on there that have had surgery with Dr. Farries & a few that have had surgery with other Dr.s or are preop. 

Besides Dr. Farries, I know there are Dr.'s in Edmonton doing the sleeve.  There is also a Dr. in Medacine Hat, Dr. Nohr.  I'm not sure if he does the sleeve yet but he does RNY (open only I think, don't think he does lap yet)  & I've read good things about him.  As for self paying & going out of province for VSG, I would say that is one of the best things about the sleeve, it doesn't require alot of follow up after surgery as long as you don't have complications.

Good luck  with your research, feel free to contact me if you have any questions I can help you with!

Marie

Hi Marie!

Thanks for emailing me back.  You have given me some great information and I really appreciate it.  It is nice to hear from someone who has had this procedure and especially nice to hear you have not had any real complications from the surgery.  That is wonderful!  I can just imagine how happy you must be!  I will be seeing my doctor tomorrow and I will ask him to refer me to Dr. Farries in Red Deer.  Can I ask how long it took you to loose the 89 lbs. since surgery?  I know about Dr. Nohr in Medicine Hat and if you can believe it I actually was scheduled to have the RNY through him about 20 years ago.  I ended up loosing a lot of weight with the Sugar Buster diet he put me on and since I had done so well on it I just kept going with it instead and cancelled surgery.  I think I would still prefer tohave the VSG rather than the RNY surgery as I have heard so many good things about the sleeve.  A friend of mine had the lap band about a year ago and has not had great results with it.  I also had considerd it, but now she is saying she wishes she had pursued the sleeve instead.  Anyways I will check out the Facebook support group in Red Deer as well.  I want to say that I am so happy for you and you have certainly done very well.  Thanks again Marie for your input and the best to you in the future!!!

Cheers!
Patti

I am seeing Dr. Farries right now too, I want to have the Bypass. The only down fall is that he Only accepts referrals at the begining of May of each year. This year it was on the 3rd of may next year it will be the 2nd of May. He is really nice we call them the DREAM TEAM. His nurse is so amazing!! Best of luck wih your search.



Chrissy

Thank you for the information Chrissy!!

Hey Patti

Are you going to be self pay or through healthcare if you dont mind me asking?

Doug

Hi Doug,

No I don't mind you asking at all.  I am going through healthcare.  I WISH I could do it through self pay because I could have my surgery anytime.  A friend of mine in BC did hers through self pay and was in for her surgery within 2 months.  The rest of us have to us have to wait a long time unfortunately.  If you are able to do self pay then that sure seems the way to go.  How about yourself?

Cheers!
Patti

I was self pay, it is a double edged sword because you have to have a whole pile of health issues to get pushed to the front of the line or even maintain your place in line with the AB health care system from what i understand. I also took the attitude that if i self pay, even take out a loan to get it done sooner and pay it off over the next couple years those years will have a way better quality of life and will make it worth while, If you self pay you could be at goal before you would even have had surgery with the AB system. Just a thought. I went out of country for mine and it was the best decision i have ever made for myself, i think we could take some lessons here in Alberta in regards to patient care and cleanliness. JMHO

Good luck

Doug