I have emailed the Minister of Health and the Health Critic

Hi everyone. I sent an email to both of them tonight and c/c'd it to my MLA and sent a copy of it to the VCHA letting them know that I have asked the Minister and the Health Critic to help them get their bariatric program up and running. I was going to see my doctor last Wednesday and put in for OOC but he was not in so I will wait til next Wednesday. The reason I want to apply for OOC is because at least with MSP I get appeal rights and I can appeal their denial based on their inability to provide the recommended medical treatment within a reasonable amount of time. You can read the email I sent to them on my profile if you want. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Take Care Janice

Hi Janice, Can your own physican sign the OCC application? I thought it had to be a surgeon? Can you clarify for me? I am also interested in applying and I have the form now. Thanks Sim

Nope my family physician can't sign the darn form. I forgot about that. I can either have Dr. M sign it or my endocrinologist...it has to be a "Specialist Physician". I am gonna talk to my family physician first to see what he thinks...I am leaning towards asking my endo to sign...will wait and see. Do you have an endo?

Hi Janice, No I don't have one. Although now, I am being told by Dr. M after my 2nd consult that he wants to go to UBC for a consult re: sleep apnea. So I have an appt on Dec 18th for a 45 min appt with no sleep test, I guess they will just ask some questions but how will they know if I have sleep apnea without testing me? Not that I want to have it, but I was just wondering? Sim

I think they will ask you a bunch of questions and depending on your answers they will then decide whether to go ahead and have the actual test done or decide that you don't need one. When you had your blood gases done do you remember what your oxygen level was?

Hi Janice, When they took blood from my arteries they also measured my oxygen level and it was the highest number- 10 I think? Thanks for your help, enjoy this soggy long weekend, I plan to stay home and just relax. Sim

That's right, they put the little clamp on my finger and tested my blood oxygen while they were doing the blood gasses. It sure is soggy out there but that does not dampen my spirits. I am thrilled to have tomorrow off from work too. tty soon Janice

Hi Janice and Sim, I know you are both trying for OOC. I talked to Marlene who had it done OOC. She saw Dr. A for an appt. then had her family Dr. refer her to a surgeon. He filled it out. I had said in a previous message that her family Dr. had filled it out. She also paid $1200 out of pocket. I know another person who had to do the same thing. Sarah

For the sleep apnea thing, they will talk to you and ask you questions. They may send you home with an oximeter that will show them your oxygen levels while you sleep. If they determine that it is necessary, they will then have you come in for a sleep test. That is an overnight test that they do on you. You will have a things hooked up to you while you sleep overnight which they will monitor. I remember the wait list for that can be quite long. I was supposed to get one done, but never did get around to it since mine sleep apnea was due more to an elongated epiglotis that would bother me when I slept on my right side. If I ever do get the RNY, during recover, I have to be on my left side, not my right for that reason.