I'm from Calgary but had surgery in Mexico so can't speak from personal experience. 

Hi everyone,

Just dropping in to say hi! I had a VSG through the Weight Wise clinic nearly two years ago - and am here to say hi, report in, encourage everyone at a tough time of year...  I am also focusing on getting through these holidays with no gain, staying healthy as I can. Determined!

Two years out I am still so happy with my life changing decision. I took some photos recently in my old clothes and just cried. Sometimes you mentally forget what life was before til you walk in those "shoes" again.

I went from a size 22 pant, 3x top to now about size 12, ladies M/L. All health problems like high blood pressure are gone.

Traveling on international flights, work meetings, yard work, and dance parties are all easier and more fun now, instead of stress-inducing. It is easier now to be active and I like it much more than before when it was all a big struggle.

I would credit the modules and all the group work focusing on managing food behaviours with keeping my loss maintained - you can eat "around" your tool if you don't use it properly for sure! This was important in my process. I started with the WW program in Edmonton in 2008.

I'll write later about my experience with post op plastics but I am so far very happy with that too!

Sincere good luck to everyone new and to all the old pals I had on this AB forum who supported me when I needed it most.

~Mtrai

No problem,  you might look into trying to get a out of province referall.  I know a man I met in on of my groups comes from Manitoba because they didnt offer the type of surgery he was wanting.  It just might be kind of a pain having to fly back and forth every couple months for appointments and so on.  It wouldnt hurt to try though. 

Yes, I asked to be referred to Dr. Nohr (general surgeon) in Medicine Hat.  In 2010 I do not think there was a program yet in Calgary or it was in it's very early stages.  I live in Lethbridge so 2 hours west of Medicine Hat.  I am sure my regular physician would have referred me to the Edmonton program too, but it wasn't feasible for me at the time. 

I was not required to lose any weight beforehand, nor was I put on any type of liquid diet.  Dr. Nohr considered me a lightweight.  But I was able to lose 5 lbs before my surgery date just because I wanted to.  I weighed 272 lbs when I initially saw Dr. Nohr for the first time, then I was 267 lbs by my surgery date (Oct 31/2011).  Now, close to 14 months later I am at 150 lbs.  So that's around a 120 lb loss.  In total I have taken 4 trips to Medicine Hat.  Once for the 1/2 day course at the hospital with the dietician and then the same day appointment with Dr. Nohr where I met him, received my approval, and was given a surgery date.  The second trip was for the surgery itself.  The third trip was for a follow-up routine gastroscopy at 5 weeks post op to check out my healing.  The fourth trip was my 6 month follow-up appointment with Dr. Nohr.  I am due to head down again for my 1-year appt which I am behind on.

I have on a number of occasions contacted the dietician through email with questions.  She was great on getting back to me quickly.  I phoned Dr. Nohr's office once to ask a question.  Again I was responded to very timely.  At my 6th month follow up with Dr. Nohr I had a few weird pains that ended up amounting to absolutely nothing and he was quick to say if they came back to contact his office and he would get me into the hospital for tests within the week. 

So I am very comfortable with how things have gone.  I have had no complications really at all and I feel great. 

This has been my experience so far....

p.s.  I don't think Dr. Nohr does VSG.  His expertise is with the RNY.  But you could double check this...

Giselle