Frustrated!

I have been selected for surgery with the Calgary Weight Management Program and was told by the program we would be getting surgery sometime in July.  I told my manager and co-workers this and they have graciously scheduled vacations around my "supposed" surgery time to ensure we have adequate vacation coverage (we're a small department so if too many of us are gone, it becomes a problem corporately). 

I met with the surgeon last week and was told that actually he would be away on vacation for most of July and the beginning of August and so surgeries would most likely not take place until the end of August or September as he would more than likely be doing emergency surgeries at the beginning of July before he left.  He indicated that we should have dates this week.  (this news did not thrill me as if surgery does happen in August, that means I'm leaving my co-workers in a lurch and hate being put in that position)

I called his office today and his receptionist promptly informed me that she had no idea when we would be getting the surgeries that they would be sometime this year and maybe they might be August or September but she didn't know and had no idea when she would know. 

I realize that this surgery is a gift, but as a professional I can't put my life and that of my co-workers on hold waiting for information that may or may not come.  I'm so excited to get surgery but am very un-impressed with the lack of organization and just general consideration for people's time that the Calgary program has displayed.

Has anyone else had this experience?  Do the programs in Red Deer, Edmonton, operate similarly?

I apologize for venting, and would appreciate any feedback anyone has!

Thanks,
Tanya

The thing you have to remember is that like any place people take summer holidays, I know in Edmonton they told us that there are few elective surgeries done in the summer due to reduced Operating room capacity.

Those that do get summer dates can be bumped right up to the time they go in for the surgery, because of the reduced capacity emergency surgery always bump elective.

I take it you are having surgery with Dr. Mitchell?
Out of the 3 doctors in this program Dr. Mitchell is the only one who has not recieved surgical dates from the hospital. Dr. Debru and Dr. Church both have already scheduled their patients with surgeriues some as soon as this week. I too have been assigned to Dr. Mitchell and was told that I would get surgery in July but then he was going to leave for vacation, and I need to be on the Ensure liquid diet for 4 weeks proir to surgery. His nurse has not been very nice when dealing with patients frustrated with the conflict of scheduling. I do not think that it is fair that those of us assigned to surgery with a doctor have to wait a full 2-3 months later than those assigned to another doctor. I am not sure what is going on over there, but I do not see any way to get any deffinate asnwers from anyone over there, nor do they seem to be concerned with our life, or how it affects us to keep moving the dates farther and farther back in the year.
Please keep me updated as to what you hear from his office, as I have all but given up on trying to get any information out of his receptionist.

 Are you in the weight wise clinic in Edmonton?Because I have never heard of any of the surgeon's you refer to.Mine is Dr.Modi.

She and I are both in the Calgary Program not the Edmonton. That is probably why you have not heard of the doctors listed.

 I can appreciate why the changes in dates are frustrating to people but I find myself wishing I were in the same boat. I didn't make the cut for surgery in Alberta. Despite being super obese, apparently I am too healthy because I don't have any comorbidities...yet.

I don't know about the Edmonton program but the Calgary program leaves a lot to be desired. It is hard getting a hold of anyone. From the start it was made clear that so many of us would not end up getting surgery despite needing it. Nothing like sitting through a group where they tell you all the ways in which being obese is killing you and how unsuccessful dieting is only to be turned down for surgery. I wasted months trying to get in to the program then more time while I was in the program and it turns out I will have to go out of country to self pay anyway. So not only do any of us have to wait...we also have to foot the bill. Consider yourselves lucky.

Jennyrenny,

I sincerely apologize if my post sounded in anyway ungrateful or callous.  I am acutely aware at how blessed I am to have been chosen and  I feel greatly for those who were not chosen for surgery and honestly wish there was a better way.

I think my frustration lies more with the Calgary Program as a whole and to be frank how they get people's hopes up about surgery only to not have enough to offer in the end and their overall operation in general. 

I am saddened that you have been left with no other option than to go out of country to get your surgery, but sincerely hope that it goes successfully and that you are able to return to a healthy, happy, active lifestyle!

Best of luck and you're absolutely right, I will count my blessings and just pray that they get their act together and get a friggin date soon!