Have given up on Calgary clinic

So I made the decision to pull out of the Calgary program after completing over half of the classes. It was more depressing to invest all of this time in a program after initially being told they have no money for surgery right now, anyway. And that is if you make the cut.

I am now going to ask for an additional referral to Medicine Hat and see what comes of the Red Deer program when they contact me. 

The Calgary program seems like a make-work project at the moment, however well intentioned the learning component piece is meant to be. 

 

Jill

 

I do not know the Calgary program as I went through the Edmonton program but, by telling people this it would seem to be a way of getting rid of people that are not willing to commit 100% to it.

 

I have heard stories of others saying the same thing but they stuck with it and got the surgery.  As well have they said what happens if you do all the classes and stick with it, if you do not make the selection this time do you have to do all the classes again?

As well you might look into a referral to the Edmonton clinic, if they are the same weight wise classes you will have a good start into the program here without losing too much time.  I know some people come from as far away as MB to go to the Edmonton clinic.

Sorry to be a bit of a downer. I'm sure they must base these clinic models on some sort of identified set of ideal practice guidelines, as outlined in the literature.

If I was to be asked for feedback I would simply indicate that there needs to be less hoops to jump through-- either screened in or out. Then one can make an informed decision about continuing with classes, with the option to chose not to stay on the wait list for surgery if the classes are enough. 

I am a full-time working professional, single parent and part-time graduate student. I don't have a lot of free time to waste to prove to AHS how dedicated I am about the possibility of having a surgery that would improve my quality of life. 

:-( still being a downer....

If the programs in Alberta don't give you what you need, maybe look at the options down south. I went to Mexicali and haven't regretted it for a minute. Having surgery locally, paid for by Alberta Health, is ideal, but dropping the weight whichever way you need to is priceless.

Have you been referred to the Red Deer Clinic? They don't make you jump through hoops . You start with the a group info session, then at your fist meeting with the nurse they start you on a 1 cup meal diet (3 cups a day). You then meet with the doc after a few sessions with the nurse (I think i saw the nurse twice before i met the doc). They do require that you lose about 10% of your body wait. Before meeting with the doc (that day)they have you watch a video on the different surgeries that are offered at the clinic(they don't do the band anymore). Then after that you meet with the nurse and dietician . They also have you meet with a  Physiatrist(I had my app on Tue) and they will do a gastroscopy and then the you meet with the doctor to go over your results , after that it is meeting with the nurse once a month and waiting for your surgery date . I started with my doc sending my referral in March and I was accepted into the clinic in Sept. I am now waiting for to have my  gastroscopy on Feb 11,2013 . The process so far has gone fairly quickly . They are a fantastic clinic(nurses and staff are very friendly), I did my homework in which clinics to choose (I live in Calgary)but I to saw how the Calgary Clinic makes you do all the modules and then there is no guarantee that you will be chosen for surgery and the Edmonton Clinic was to far. Don't get discouraged it will happen ! Hope this helps :0)

Pauline

 

Thanks Pauline-- Red Deer sounds like a better process for sure. Fingers crossed that I will hear from them soon-- my referral went in the end of October. :-)

 

Jill

You will get in it takes about 6 months just a little patients thats all lol ! Phone them and ask them where you are on the list . That is what i did :0) 

Warning - I'm gonna blow off some steam here.

I was Mexico self-pay because I knew I'd never get the surgery here with a BMI of 41 and no co-morbidities living in Calgary. Or if I did it would take an impossibly long time. it seems that the Calgary program has always had the least capacity to do surgeries. Now I hear they are at a complete standstill, which is absolutely shameful.

So I think the endless jumping through hoops is really just a way to report that they have a program when in fact they don't. I don't consider their big announcement last year to 'double' their surgeries from 25 to 50 a year to be anything to brag about. Nowhere near an acceptable improvement for such a large catchment area. And instead of it actually being the big 50, they are doing none?? A complete disgrace.

I'm disgusted by the lack of response to such a high need area of health care. But if you're 80 and need cataract surgery? No problem! Get a new hip at the same time.

Sorry for the rant, but I do feel a lot of anger about the way that critically overweight people are discriminated against here. Stepping off my soapbox now.

This is why I didn't even bother here. When it finally became my decision, I didn't want 6 months to a year between now and then. I have an eating disorder and I am morbidly obese, time is not on my side. 

I made the decision Jan 25th to have the surgery and I am already home recovering. It cost me $6500USD, but I now have a second chance at life. I cannot wait!

I will submit to AHCIP and get back a cpl grand to pay it off, then claim the rest on my taxes next year, and get another grand to pay it off. By the time it is paid off, I should have lost about 100lbs.  Fair trade in my mind.

But, all the best to you and your endeavors. I hope Red Deer is the solution!

I actually had a good experience with the Calgary Weight Management program.  It was a LONG wait but I was happy with the program.  I was approved for the band and had it placed for 18 months but due to constant vomiting they removed it last December. I am anticipating having the SLEEVE done in Calgary, though I don't have a date yet.

 

I know many people were frustrated with the classes and the weigh ins.  However,  I found it very valuable and the expertise of the dieticians and physicians ....priceless.

 

The wait was horrible and I do believe that in a city of our size that there should be additional funding for more surgeries and programs within Calgary.  I was prepared to travel to have my surgery done but then my name finally came up to be a part of the program after an agonizing 4 year wait.  I was not guaranteed a surgical spot but I felt that the additional information was helpful to me.  

 

I have heard wonderful things about some of the other programs in Alberta, as well.

 

Just my two cents worth!  :)