Getting Started - Calgary

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I have just started to do some serious ground work on weight loss surgery and don't really have the time to read through every post on here so I'm looking for some info on how to get started.

I have an appt with my local family doctor to talk about this more in depth. Where are people first referred to. I have read a lot of people going out of the city to clinics in Edmonton and Red Deer and Medicine Hat, and even out of country. Are Calgary clinics not taking new patience? I also don't have any serious life threatening medical problems due to my weight but I have a BMI of at least 40 and at least 150 or more pounds overweight in the morbidly obese category although I really don't like to admit this. Does this put me at the end of the waiting list? I do realize that after struggling with  my weight for almost 20 years something drastic has to be done and I'm ready to really put my life as the number one priority. I have even done the Dr B diet although it did show some result couldn't continue due to the cost and the weight piled back on even trying to stick to the food plan. Once the accountability was done so was the motivation. 

I have also read a lot of posts about people opting for the sleeve and not going for the bypass surgery. Is there more of a reason behind this method other than personal preference as I have also read that people who opt for the sleeve often don't get any coverage by AHS. Or are more surgeons pushing patience towards this, or is it because the criteria for the bypass is strict to those with life threatening conditions due to their weight.

I had read on comment from a fellow Calgarian that she didn't think it was fair that she would have to wait to get a life threatening condition to get the help that she needs to avoid this happening. 

Any advise and support would be greatly appreciated as we all go though this together and support one another and share success stories. 

Monica 

I don't have any insight regarding Calgary and there type of programs but I have lots when it comes to the weight wise Program Edmonton has to offer. I have met people through this clinic from all over Alberta, British Colombia and Winnipeg. I personal give Thanks for the Weight Wise clinic and the new life I have due to my sleeve surgery.

Start off by discussing your options with your doctor. Get referred to the Calgary clinic and the Weight Wise Edmonton Clinic. See which one calls your first and go from there.

Have your family doctor do a medical, blood work and ultra sound of your pelvis and liver. Most of use overweight healthy people actually have underlying medical conditions that we are not aware of such as fatty livers, Poly cystic ovarian syndrome,  elevated A1C (insulin) and achy joints due to the weight we carry. It doesn't have to be life threaten, I had pcos and was able to get surgery because it's considered a metabolic disease. which makes weight loss nearly impossible due to being insulin resistant. Obesity causes pcos and pcos causes obesity. 

To my knowledge AHS does cover the sleeve surgery, at least in Edmonton. Weight wise offers it as one of it's 3 three choice, along with RNY and Lap-Band.I was given a choice of lap-band or sleeve and for personal reasons I opted for the sleeve. The lap-band required too much maintaining for my liking and if I was opting for surgery I wanted it to be permanent, allow me success which the sleeve has. Plus never being hungry due to the grehlin gland being removed sounded like heaven to me.I didn't want all the absorption issue that rny offered and didn't like the fact that my bowels would be rerouted. In the end it wasn't an option but I was grateful that I had done my research and made the choice I did.

Good Luck and I do home your family Dr is able to point you in the right direction. Weight Wise also had modules which are awesome tools for learning and future success.
 

Kee.

Hi Monica.

I went through the Weight Management program in Calgary and found it to absolutely wonderful.  However,  I waited 7 years for my referral to go through.  :(  I have heard that wait times aren't that long anymore but I am not certain.  Your family doctor is the best place to start.  I had lap band done here in Calgary but it was not a good experience for me ( though it was for many others here in the program).  I was vomitting for almost 20 months and had to have it removed last week. :(   I am looking into the options for a revision surgery and am leaning towards the sleeve because I believe it will offer me what the band was supposed to (minus the constant vomitting!)  = restriction of food intake and therefore weightloss.  I see the surgeon again just after new year's and we are going to discuss options at that appointment.   He told me that at this point in Calgary the only options are the sleeve of the lap band but elsewhere in the province there is also option of by-pass.  I don't know the waiting times but I know it's LONG.

I would agree that getting a referral to both programs in Calgary and Edmonton would be a great idea.  As well,  I know from my experience in Calgary that unless you had some co-morbidities ( high blood pressure, asthma,  high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, sleep apnea, etc...), you would likely not be a candidate for surgery covered by AHS.  I totally agree that is unfair that people have to wait until they have  significant health issues until they would be eligible for surgery.  I had a similar experience with our insurance company ....they will cover  high blood pressure med, diabetes meds, inhalers, cholesterol meds BUT would not cover ANY weightloss medications.  I found it frustrating that they would treat the symptoms  of the obesity but not the obesity itself.

I also would agree with the having your doctor do a pelvic/abdominal ultrasound and check your ovaries, liver, etc...   As well,  I discovered that I had severe sleep apnea and had no idea. A sleep study done through the Foothills determined that I had  Obstructive Sleep Apnea and that is one of the helpful things that allowed me to get my surgery ( after a  LONG wait in the line!).

Get on the lists as soon as you can.  If you change your mind or decide to do surgery elsewhere, you can always remove it at a later date.  

Feel free to message me if you'd like more info regarding my experience with the referral and process in Calgary.

Good luck to you on this journey. It's a long road but there are many here walking it.  :)

Hello - I had my RNY surgery done in Medicine Hat.  Dr. Nohr is a very competent surgeon and had done many RNY surgeries over the years.  I had no co-mobilities regarding my weight before surgery except foot and back pain.  I was at a 42 BMI.   I had my surgery the end of October 2011. 

I was referred by my doctor the summer of 2010.  Then in April 2011, I was called to attend a half day dietician course at the Med Hat hospital.  Later on in the afternoon that same day was my consult appointment with Dr. Nohr.  He approved me for laproscopic RNY then and there and I was able to get an appointment date of Dec 2012.  I asked to be placed on the cancellation list and ended up having my surgery over a year earlier than my initial date.  It is important to ask to be placed on cancellation lists for both the consult appointment and the surgery.  I would say the one negative is Dr. Nohr does not offer any real pre/post-care program.  Beforehand I needed lab work done but that is about it.  After the surgery he and the dieticians are always available for you to contact but there is no real post-care program.  He requires a gastroscopy done approximately 5 weeks after surgery to make sure all is okay.  He requires lab work to be done every 3 months for the first year and then yearly after that.  You'll see him at 6 months and then a year for follow-up.  More afterwards if you need to.

My experience was great and I haven't had any complications at all.  I have lost about 115 lbs and have been sitting at 150 lbs now for the last few months.  All is great.  I totally recommend Dr. Nohr in Medicine Hat.

I should mention that I think you need to be 100 lbs overweight minimum for Dr. Nohr to approve you for surgery.

Giselle

Hi Gizzy

Did you ask to be referred to Dr. Nohr or can your referral be given to any clinic. I live in Calgary and would consider the drive to Medicine Hat as I have heard a lot of good things through this site about this doctor. Are you also from Calgary or is Medicine Hat your home?

Was there any weight loss required before your surgery? How many pounds are you down from your operation?

Monica

I was hoping to get some more information specifically in Calgary. From what I have read the bypass surgery is not offered in Calgary. Just the sleeve and the lap band. Can you all confirm this. I also have found out that the lap band has been nothing but problems for many so I really would be willing to avoid this type of procedure.

The sleeve I have also discovered doesn't get coverage by AHS. Which clinics in Alberta would offer the bypass surgery as I think this is the direction I would like to go.

Who in Calgary are on wait lists and with which clinics.

Your continued help is appreciated as we all know what its like to be going through this and the support we can give to each other is a great tool.

Monica

Hi Monica. 

I had lap band in Calgary and it wasn't successful for me.  I know for many people it has been, though.  I had to have my band removed and am planning on revising to another surgery ....not sure which one yet.  In Calgary,  I have been told, the only options are lapband or sleeve.  Edmonton and Medicine Hat also offer weightloss surgery .....not sure which ones.

Long wait in Calgary.  :(    Get on your waiting lists as quickly as possible.

I have been offered the sleeve as an option for me ,  covered by AHS.  I don't know what the criteria is for getting it but for me the band has been a failure and so it is the only other option if I want a revision done in Calgary.  For  By-pass  I would have to go to Edmonton ( according to my surgeon but I haven't looked into that yet). 

That's all I know.  I hope that helps a little bit..

take care

So I only have experience with the weight wise Edmonton clinic.  I have heard that the wait list in Calgary can be quite long so you might consider being able to go to Edmonton.  I have read some other peoples responses and really its a lot more simple than some have stated.   If you want to try Edmonton, the wait is very short now.  (relativily speaking)  Your first step should be to call and book a few modules.  Then go to your family Dr. and have them send through the referall. Having a BMI of 40 or above is reason enough to qualify you for the program.  There is no need to have ultra sounds and blood work done by your Dr. prior treferral.  Once your referral is accepted you will receive a package with blood work requisitions You do not get put on a list quicker or slower depending on your co-morbidities.   You wait time for surgery really depends on you.  If they see you are making progress and making lifestyle changes and loosing a little weight and keeping it off they will refer you to the surgeon.  I am no waiting for surgery.  The entire process from the time my referral was accpeted until I will have my surgery will be aprox a year.  From speaking with other people, this is about average.  Although some people take quite a bit longer.  Again, it is a very personal experience so times vary.  As far as surgeries go.  Edmonton offers RNY, VSG, and the band.   It is strickly a person choice on what surgery you choose.  They dont push you into anything and just give you your options and all the information they can on the surgery. 

Thanks Nicole

The only problem I have right now is its not realistic for me to travel to Edmonton. I would have to go back and fourth several times. I have a job and a family and this might cause a problem with scheduling.

Do you know if its a requirement for weight loss surgery to go through this kind of weight management program? I was under the impression if you met the requirements by having a high bmi or some co-morbidities you would just go right to a waiting list.

Please correct me if I am worong.

Monica

Im  not 100 percent on how it works at the other clinics, although Im pretty sure its quite simular.  Sorry, I wish I could say it was that easy, however no you have to go through the clinic and the modules.  I totally understand about your schedule.  I would like to say though that in Edmonton we have a lot of out of province and out of town clients.  A lot of times they can work around your schedule and try and get your appointments all in one day so your only having to come up about once every two months rather than often.  You can also look into taking the modules in your local area or you can also book many of them on the same days as well. You could technicallly do three a day if you needed.