Just starting with weight wise... What to expect???

Hi all!!!! I am VERY new (as in my family dr put in my referral last week) to the whole weight wise process! I got a call last week and am meeting with a dietician next week but have NO CLUE what to expect!!!

Can anyone shed some light for a newbie???!! ;0)

HOLY MOLY.. u got in fast.. my refferal was may of 08... my letter cam in JULY 09 saying i was IN.. and my first apt with my Nurse was Jan 25th 2010.

you will have lots of apts..the first.. i would say.. 2 or 3  months.. try to book as much as u can.. you can start taking the Moduels.. start writting a food journal.. and wearing a pedomoter. wright down everything.. what u eat.. what you felt... when u ate.. and what ur steps were at the end of the day.

you will see the nut.. the nurse.. the psychologist.. ... and prob the internist. *NO NOT THE SURGON* in the beginning.. and the lady about daily living adapters stuff... aim for 10,000 steps a day... but do what is enough for you. .. when i dont work i get about 7,000 .. when i do work.. i get about 12,000

hope this helps..

im still in shock how fast u got in.. wow


sarah

The process has changed ALOT from when I was referred.

Meaning my referral went in...I had to wait about a YEAR to hear from the clinic. And about 10 mos to be able to start registering for the education modules.

If you haven't started the modules, they'll get you registered for the first one right away...as it is mandatory to participate in clinic appts.

I met my nurse first, she took a history and set some goals with me.  Took measurements, BP etc.   You'll meet with your nurse every six weeks or so.

You get weighed every time you have an appt with anyone at the clinic.

I met with the dietician a few months in...not sure why it took so long.   You'll see your dietician every couple of months so that she can look at your journal and help you find ways to eat healthier and less calories.
KEEP a FOOD JOURNAL EVERY DAY.  It's a mandatory thing, as well as wearing a pedometer.
Tracking food, amount eaten, what meal you had it.
I also note my steps for the day
I also note my emotions that I had that day.

You'll be referred for blood tests and a bone scan and body density tests.  I thought these were so interesting!  If there are any issues then the dietician and team will help you get things on track and get your body healthy.

You'll meet with occupational therapist at some point to discuss body care and identify if you have any challenges and need to meet with her personally.  (putting on socks/shoes, washing, toileting).

You'll meet with the psychologist (to identify if you have any emotional eating issues and have a general chat). 

I think most people meet with the psychiatrist at least once as well.

You'll meet with the doctor and his team eventually (dr. sharma).

Somewhere down the road when all people have met you and your progress is continuing, your bloodwork is improving,  you'll be referred to meet with the surgeon, if that is your wish.

You could be sent for barium swallow and espophogeal scope (by the surgeon) to make sure all is well.

You would then meet with the surgeon again to discuss type of surgery.  Once everything is signed off for surgery you have to take a couple of classes relating directly to bariatric surgery.

Once you get to that point...surgery could be in a few months.  (I think...I'm at the point where I've just taken my barium swallow test...so the rest is new to me!)

D

I was bumped from Dr. Nohr's surgical list in Medicine Hat and have been considering trying to get into Edmonton.  Do you think it's feasible to do the Weight Wise program from a distance (a five hour distance) ?  It seems like the program in Edmonton is far more comprehensive.

I would find out how long you have to wait under Dr Nohr for the surgery, but if you don't mind the drive I would try for the weight wise.  I believe for out of town people they try to book appointments all on the same day.  I like the program but it can be frustrating as well.
Good luck and hope things fall into place for you quickly.

wow you got in quickly.  For me from referral to first appointment with the nurse it was a two year process although I did start the modules before the appointment in August last year.  Now anyone can register for the modules without an appointment in the weight wise program.  They like you to have done as many as possible.  Call the link line to book.
I had my first appointment with the nurse in Feb 2010 and got approved for surgery in August 2010.  So am now just wanting, I have the preop classes booked for Sept and Oct.  It can be a frustrating process but well worth it.
Good luck

I'm with everyone else on being surprised on how quick everything has gone- are you meeting with a nutritionist at the weight wise clinic or has your doctor referred you to another nutritionist? Unless the process has changed greatly, normally you attend module 1 and then you get a call to go into the clinic where you meet your nurse. After you meet the nurse, you will have appointments scheduled fairly regularly- mine are every 4-6 weeks. I have the same nurse who I see often, as well as the same nutritionist who I see almost as frequently.

I have had two bouts of blood work, I completed a sleep study, a body scan, and I met with a psychologist who diagnosed me with ADHD. I am now medicated for that, I wear my pedometer every day and when I forget to wear it during the day, I start at zero in the evening and go for a walk (when I started 10K steps was one hour and 45 mins of constant walking, now its about an hour and 20 mins). I journal my meals each day and I note my mood during my meals in the journal.

There are 10 modules and at my last appointment my nurse asked me how many modules I had done, I had finished them all and he told me that if I had not he would have had me do the remaining.

My understanding is that as part of the weight wise referral you need to be under your doctors care and on a medically supervised diet for several months, as well as have to attend modules- so I am just curious how you managed to get into the clinic unless you were already on the medical diet and attending modules? (I am reading this and realize I might sound a little snotty- I don't mean to... it's just that like anyone else on here, I waited a long time to get into the clinic)

I wish you every success in the clinic. I have really loved every moment of my journey so far!

As with everyone else, I am amazed at how quickly you got into the clinic. For me it was a little different. I only did one of the modules and I never met the psychologist, psychiatrist, or the occupational Therapist.

So I had my referral in January of 2008, first appointment with the clinic (Nurse) in March of 2009. Did all the blood work and bone/body scan. Met with one of the doctors and was approved for surgery. Had the sleep study. Met with Dr. Birch February of 2010. Did a CT scan. Officially approved for surgery May 3, 2010. Had surgery July 13, 2010.

I find this a little odd, I have a friend that is still waiting and her referral was sent in last year!?!?

I'm wondering if there is a confusion here. 

I am doing the modules and seeing the nurse and the dietician and exercise specialist, but, although the modules are Weight Wise modules, this is not considered the "Weight Wise" program.  I was told that while I was waiting to get into the actual "program" I could take the modules and jump through the other hoops and I would be further ahead for later when I got into the actual "program"...

Could this be what is happening here too???