Weight Wise Clinic Edmonton

I am part of this program now and will be meeting the Surgeon in March.  I am looking for any feedback on the surgeons and or the clinic.  I am torn between Lapband and Gastric Sleeve. 

Any Information would be greatly appreciated.

Dr Birch did my sleeve in Nov and I had a great experience!

He has been great about answering my questions and I had no complications.

As for Lap Band vs Sleeve, I spoke with many people while I got it figured out and it seems like even people who had complications loved the sleeve and said they would do it again, I did meet some people who were happy with the lap band but I also talked to many that hated it or were having it removed to get the sleeve done.

You are probably asking telling yourself "the band is removable and non permanent" but our journey to a healthy lifestyle and weight should be non-removable and permanent.

I have found the adjustment to eating with the sleeve sometimes challenging but there are no foods I cannot eat in the right amount. So at the end of the day would I do it again, hell yes I would and I would recommend it to anyone who asks.  In fact several people have asked me how I am losing so much weight.

If you have any questions for me, please let me know.

Thanks

Seann

In the past 3 years I have done my 9 month program with Weight Wise and then had sleeve surgery and am currently 27 months post surgery and have absolutely no regrets. Through out my journey I have met lots of people who each had lap, sleeve an by-pass and the only regrets I have seen or heard of were those with the lap band. Most of those people have had several surgeries and have now had their bands removed and are hoping for a revision to either sleeve or by-pass. They have either loss no weight or loss in the beginning and gained it all back. If i were just starting off I definitely would waste my time with the band and I would do my research as I did before and still choose the sleeve. But again to each their own. I spend hundreds of hours on the computer and by the time I was approved for surgery I knew all there was to know. Dr Birch was my surgeon and I put my life in his hands and I trusted him to lead me in the right direction which he has. I owe him my life.

Good Luck,

Kee.

Thank you Kee.

It is Dr. Birch I am seeing in March.  I started with the Weight Wise clinic in September.  I am in Vancouver so I flew to Edmonton for an "assessment".  I then went a few weeks ago for a follow up and a meeting with Dr. Modi, the dietician and the nurse and the psychologist.  I am part of My Fitness Pal and recording everything.  Seeing a psycholgist here in Vancouver.  I go back on March 1 to meet with Dr. Birch.

How much food can you eat now that you are 2 years post op.  Did you have any complications at all?  How long was recovery?  Have you had skin issues after such a drastic weight loss.  I am 5'3" and I started at 275.  I am now down to 258.  I would like to be about 150.  That would be good enough for me. 

Just very nervous and anxious...In BC I can't even get an "assessment" for 2 years.  I am still waiting for that.  I was fortunate to be accepted at Weight Wise in Edmonton.

The staff so far has been very good and it has been a positive experience so far. 

I had zero complications really. At about 3 weeks out I got dehydrated and other than that for about the first 7 weeks I was extremely tired and weak. It took me a long time to recover but lucky for me I was able to use medical e.i. and have a total of 15 weeks off. I actually used about 12 of those weeks and before returning to work I wanted to get use to my new eating habits.

At 2 years out I was able to eat about 3-4 oz of protein or about 1 cup of food. Like an example would be 1 egg and 1/2 slice of little big bread for breakfast. 1/2 cup of ground turkey with peppers and onions saute in for lunch and maybe a cheese string eaten over 30-45 minutes and supper about 2 oz of chicken with 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes and a sprig of broccoli. Things like popcorn, cheesies, chips, soup, rice cakes I can eat a lot of so I tend to stay away from these things. If I really feel the need to have them I measure out my portion and that's it no seconds. Popcorn was my comfort food and it allowed me to eat like before.

Unfortunately I just had major surgery due to a bowel obstruction and my bowel looped around itself, I've been assured by Dr. Birch and his team that it has or had nothing to due with my sleeve surgery, it's just a freak thing that happened but I feel it's related to popcorn cause both times it's happen, it's obstructed twice but the second time resulted in the surgery. I had eaten popcorn so my favorite comfort food is no more allowed in my diet as well as corn. Now with that said I had to have a fluoroscope which showed my sleeve and I was amazed and so were they that my sleeve hasn't changed from it's original size and I still get discomfort if it's distended too much. After 14 days on i.v. fluids and liquids I find my eating has gone back to what it was right after surgery, a few bites and I'm full for the day. I know that I have to work through the phases again of liquids to mushies to full foods but I'm ok with that. I've loss 12 pounds in the past 2.5 weeks and I'm also ok with that but I feel I don't want to lose anymore.

As for skin, I've already had a plastic consult through Dr. Toy, he was referred  by the clinic. When I seen him we discussed my tummy issues and breast issues. The panniculectomy and breast reduction is covered through Alberta Health, I would need to pay for the fleur du is part of the tummy (upper portion), liposuction and the breast lift. Since my consult I've loss more weight and decided I might want my thighs done so I'll have to revisit him. Without thighs I was quoted 10,300. Aiming to be able to have it don't without putting myself in debt in late 2013.

The major reason I choose the sleeve surgery was because I wanted permanent help for my problem, I liked that they removed the grehlin gland causing you not to be hungry and I liked that there would be less issues with malabsorption. I didn't want my bowels rerouted. Also I am still young enough to have children and didn't want to face pregnancy related issues that rny has if I were blessed to get pregnant. In the end I wasn't given the choice of rny cause I didn't have any comorbilities other than pcos. I was probably the healthiest obese person you would ever meet. I feel blessed everyday to have had this surgery, it's changed my life for the better.

Kee.

How are you doing now?  I tried to add you as a friend but it didn't work.  I have an appointment to see Dr. Birch on March 1.  very very nervous about taking the big step of surgery and how it will change my body and my life forever.

Things are slowly getting better. I'm back to a more regular eating schedule with better amounts. Before you know it March 1st will be here and yes it's a big step but definitely worth it.

Kee.

Just wondering what made you all choose the Sleeve over the RNY

For me the RNY is not an option for a few reasons.  First it seems very drastic and extreme for me considering I don't have any health issues like diabetes, or other conditoins.  My doctor has seen too many issues as a result of RNY including kidney issues and malabsorption issues and has not recommended the RNY for me. 

I had Dr DeGara at the clinic. I have a sleeve. Starting weight 270 5'3 goal 135 today I am 134. I lost 89 before surgery and the rest since Aug 14. I cannot believe how different I am now. I truly feel blessed to be a part of weight wise they have really saved my life. In all my research I found a lot of people being revised from the lapband and I only wanted to do this once. Thats why I chose the sleeve. Best decision I have made in my entire life. This is life changing and I wish I had done this years ago.

Rhonda