Did you know ?

Hi everyone ~ smiles ~

I wanted to write and ask a question of the room. Did you know . . that if you lived in B.C you could pay an AB doctor to perform the same surgery that I ( an Albertan ) has to go to Mx to have unless I want to wait months and years to have it done here in AB.

Won't take my money but will gladly take someone from out of province. Now how f***ed is that ? 

My hip specialist informed me today that he sits on the board that decides who  ( non Albertan resident receives the lap- band. Its the only surgery that is offered to out of province patients.

The look on my face must have shocked him that I was not aware of this. I was disgusted !! Again, the health care system !!

Thanks for listening to me !! 

Lori

No matter what province you live in you can go out of province and pay for Weight loss surgery. There are clinics in Ontario and Quebec that you can pay for lap band but again you receive no after care and no pre-op care. It's a visit the day before surgery, then surgery then go home and fen for yourself kinda deal. It's not like the Weight Wise program where you not only have the option for surgery  but the options to find out why you are obese to start with. The clinic offers you so much more through their program and the clinic does not allow self pay from any province. If you live in B.C or S.K you can be referred to the clinic but you will pay out of pocket for all travel expenses such as bus, airfare, hotel and meals but you will not pay for the surgery. I have met lots of people through the clinic that did live out of province and took that route. Now I'm not say there ain't doctors in Alberta that allow self pay but I know first hand the Weight Wise Clinic doesn't.

 

I was told by a doctor that sits on the board for lap band surgery done here in Calgary that out of province folks can pay to have surgery done. My beef is this , I should not have to leave AB to have the same option to pay for my surgery, just like someone from out of province.
I have done the program and know the why and how of weight gain and loss. I have spoken with others who did not do the program and they are just as informed as I am. Most of them have had to have surgery else where due to the wait time.
Oh and paying for surgery say in TO was going to cost $16,000 not including hotel flights etc, sooooo that being said I am having my surgery done in Mx for under $10,000 including flight and hotel.No wait time either.
Regarding after care. My doctor is more than willing to do after care with me. I was told by a nurse at the bariatric clinic that whether the surgery is done in another province or say MX most Canadian doctors don't want to assist as they did not perform the original surgery. I get that and understand the theory behind it, but that does not assist the men and women that are forced to have surgeries
somewhere else because we were not one of the lucky chosen this time around.

I'm one of the ones that traveled, and it was the best decision I could have made. The only thing I'd do differently is I'd have booked my surgery the day after I was turned down here. (For doing too well at losing without surgery. Sigh)

They told me that it wasn't worth the risks of surgery, since I'd most likely not lose more than another 10-15#, which would have left me at about 245#. Happily my surgeon and GP agreed with me that I could do better than that.

Kelly-Anne

Kelly,

Good for you for booking the surgery and just doing it !!! I felt the same way. Angry at myself that I have waited this long since having my first thought of WLS. When I realized that I would not be one of the few that was going to be receiving surgery this time around I was determined to find a place that I could have the surgery done . 

Lori

I think it's wonderful that you are taking weight loss in your own hands and willing to make that change. I met Kelly-Ann through the clinic and I admire her for the choice she made and the change she made. That being said I also agree that it is awful that patients have to wait so long for surgery here. I disagree with any doctors or clinics charging for lap-band or slim-band surgery with it's high rate of failure and revision rate. Most doctors or surgeons don't like to deal with other work once you have had weight loss  surgery. I can't even be scoped by my local surgeon I have to return to the city and see Dr Birch and in all honest when  a surgeon looks at me and say What's Gastric Sleeve well then it all changes and I'll drive to the city to get the proper care. Obesity is a real disease and these clinic should be more available across Canada. I wish you all the best in your journey to Mexico and in your weight loss journey.

We are always here for encouragement, to answer questions or just listen to a rant.

 

Kee.

smiles deeply @ Kee.. . Thank you for the wonderful post back. Boy do we know the skinny on bariatric surgeries here in AB. . sheesh . Its makes me want to take action. It drives me crazy so I come here and rant because you are all wonderful listeners. Thank you 

I would love to meet each and every one that I have conversed with through this site. 

I feel like many that power is in numbers. We ban together than the journey or what ever you call it stands a better chance of success.

I will keep all updated when I return from Mx. I feel like you folks are the life line to many questions, experiences , hardships,  success' along the way. I need to read some one's raw honest words. It keep me humble. It keeps me in the moment.

I agree with you about finding a great MD who will assist after the WLS. My doctor has been amazing. Why you may ask. The answer is simple. She as my doctor believes and feels deeply that I deserve a "quality" of life . She feels that what ever she can do to make me healthy, happy and in control is a "win win" for her. 

I'm lucky to have her, Along with her she has a surgeon in the city that she would send me off to if it were something that she was not able to to deal with. I get really pi$$ed off when I hear that physicians will not assist. Holy Cow Man. . you are a doctor that is required to provide the best care for me and others. That is part of the credo. 

These doctors are starting to sound and act like hockey players. . . Only if the money is good does it benefit them to get their arses off the bench.. Okay there is my rant. :)

Talk soon

Lori