New, unsure.... where to start?

Hi everyone.

I;m hoping that all you great people will be able to help/inspire and motivate me through this journey I'm on.

A little about me...

I was a skinny girl.... barely 100 lbs until I got an office job in my early 20s.  Add Depo Provera birth control injections and I ballooned up well over 80 lbs in less than a year.  I remained heavier no matter what I tried... and I tried.  I tried WW, Atkins, Soup diet, Low Cal, LA Weight Loss.... to name a few.  I almost WISHED that I could be Bulimic just so I could lose weight....  If you can imagine that.

3 years ago I underwent a transfortmation.  I worked out like fiend 5 days a week.  I went on Jenny Craig.  I lost nearly 70 lbs.  While I wasn't at my goal weight of 140 lbs, I was still a very happy girl.  In that time, I started dating my best friend who is now my husband.  Just under a year ago we married in a beautiful ceremony on the beach in the Mayan.  Shortly after that, I went through a complete emotional and mental breakdown.  I was off work for 4 months, in therapy weekly, and put on a ****tail of anti-depressants, anti-anxiety and anti-psychotics.

I managed to ballon up to my pre-Jenny Craig days in a matter of 4 months.

I've been fighting ever since then, while reducing my meds as much as possible to re-lose the weight.  It appears that my metabolism was destroyed in the process of the last year.  I've been exercising faithfully on average 3 times a week (2x/wk with a personal trainer) and eating 1400 calories per day.  Logging all my food and being oh so very "good".

I've gained weight since then.  Nothing I do seems to help me.  I considered putting us into debt 16,000 so I could get the WLS in Ontario, I've tried powders and pills and everything you can imagine... nothing.  Barely a pound loss.  My doctor has been monitoring me all along and I now qualify for the Weight Wise program.  She submitted my info last week.

I'm finding some of the posts here a little disheartening.  Could I really be waiting a YEAR just for the FIRST appointment???  What do I have to look forward to?  At a BMI just over 35, with no diabetes, am I even a candidate for WLS?

How do you get your name on lists across the province?  I've seen posts about Red Deer, Southern Alberta....

Is there anyone out there still reading?  Can you guide me?  Where, how do I start this?  I feel so distant from my husband.  A year since we married and I feel unsexy and unattractive.  I don't want this life anymore!

Hi, from what I've heard you can wait up to 3 or 4 years to get it done with AHC because they only do so many per year.  I went down to Tijuana and had the VSG done with Jerusalem Hospital for $4000.  That was six weeks ago and I've had no complaints.  You can check out their website, it's all pretty good down there.  I've heard that AHC will cover some of the cost, but that remains to be seen.  I submitted the paperwork about 5 weeks ago and haven't gotten a refusal yet, so that 's somewhat good. 

Good luck on what you choose, let me know if you want any other info.

I just had my surgery with Dr Almanza 11 days ago.  How are you doing??

Unfortunately the waiting can be long. I waited 14 months after my Doctor's refreral for my first clinic appointment. From that appointment it was 9 months for the approval for surgery and then 3 more months to get the surgery done. So total in all it was 2 years and 2 months.
I defintely think it was well worth the wait and lookign back on it now it really didn't seem that long.
I am so happy with my choice to have wls and I'd do it all over again if I had too.

Good Luck.

Kee.

http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/services.asp?pid=service&rid=1008784

There are the requirements that you have for the weight wise clinic. Some of us have been in the clinic for over a year now and the process is always changing.

I got my referral sent in from my Doctor in January of 2008. I had my first appointment with the clinic in March of 2009 (for 2 years ago this month) I then had surgery in July of 2010 and I am still currently in the clinic.

Like Kee, I wouldn't change it and everything I have learned from the clinic has been invaluable to my weight loss - with and without surgery.

Another thing you can do is come to the support group - the next one is on April 7 at 5:30 in the Jean Hamiliton Room of the Royal Alex hospital...and no you don't have to be in Weight Wise to attend..it is open for everyone.

And I also work out at Londonderry Leisure Centre and am always looking for a workout buddy...I find the motivation of others helps lots. Let us know if you have anymore questions!

Thanks so much for the info. How can I find a schedule for the support group?

I decided to do self pay instead and so now I'm jonseing to  start working out again but as I'm only 11 days out, its a bit soon so far.  I get tired easily since surgery.

It's quite a slow process with Dr. Nohr in Medicine Hat as well.  I had my family physician put in a referreal for me the summer of 2009.  Then in April 2010 I had my assessment with Dr. Nohr as well as a half day dietician appointment.  At the assessment I received a surgery date of December 2012.  I am having the surgery done by lap so I think the waiting period is even longer.  Dr. Nohr does have a cancellation list and I hear that he has received more OR time.  There are some people on this forum that have had their surgeries quite a bit in advance of their original date.  I am hoping to get that call as well.  2012 seems so far away.  But I hear Dr. Nohr is a great surgeon so I am using the time to gather as much information as I can and try to build a support system as well.  I know I will still have a lot of questions after the fact.

Giselle