Possibility of surgery?

My dr. just suggested surgery yesterday.  Anyone know about the Red Deer clinic?

Sorry, I dont have any information on the Red Deer Clinic but keep a watch out and you will see others whom have been there.

Rhonda

Hello. I just had gastric bypass 2 weeks ago through the Red Deer clinic.  What would you like to know?

congrats on your surgery  i so hope i get to have mine ,   i am a diabetic and since ive been trying to eat right im  hungry all the time  and well im just scared i cant get off 10% of my weight for them to  do surgery  as the nurse explained they  want at least that much off

Hi,
If you could just tell me about your experience and the time line involved.  I am at the beginning stages of gathering info and really don't know which questions to ask. Did you go on a restrictive diet before surgery and what is you diet like now after surgery?
Thanks,
C

Hello. I hope I can answer all your questions.  My doctor referred me to the clinic back in August 2011.  At that time they were only taking patients once a year. The government of Alberta put more money into the program so I got a call November/December to start the program on January 10th.

At your first appointment you will be weighed and measured.  They make you fill out paperwork of your medical history and information regarding weight loss efforts in the past. You will be required to lose a minimum of 10% of your current body weight. 

They will put you on a diet - the dreaded 1 cup diet.  You will only be allowed to eat one cup of food three times a day.   No pop, no fast food, no caffeine, no sugar, no junk food, no artifical sweeteners, no bananas, no cheese, no juice.

This is a very hard diet and I had so many fears when starting it.  However I powered through. I found that drinking water and skim milk helped fill me up between meals.  The clinic wants most of your one cup to be protein and the rest to be veggies, fruit, etc.

There are many people in the program who have diabetes and have made it through the one cup diet with success.  I think it is just something you discuss with the nurse and surgeon.

I started the one cup a week before I met the surgeon which was Jan. 23.  The day you meet the surgeon you will watch a video and get a talk from the nurse about the program.  Then one by one you meet with the surgeon to go over your options, get weighed and he will also look at your stomach.

Everyday you will be required to journal your food intake and at your montly weigh ins the nurse will go over it.

Throughout the program you will:

-meet with the nurse once a month for journal check and weigh in
-blood tests - glucose test so be expected to be at the blood lab for about 3 to 4 hours
-have a gastroscopy to check you out internally for any problems like hernias
-meet with a psychiatrist for a psych evaluation
-meet with the dietician to go over healthy eating habits

I was approved for surgery in May 2012 and I had surgery July 4th. 

I must say the Red Deer clinic is wonderful.  The staff are very friendly and make you feel comfortable.  They will really educate you about your options and any concerns you have.  There is also a support group run by the clinic.  They meet once a month on the third Wednesday of the month at the Red Deer Hospital from 6 - 8 pm.

Please feel free to ask any questions you might have.

 I hope this helped.

Yes, your comments were very helpful.  Thank you very much.