Heading to Richmond again

I'm heading down to Richmond today for my 4th appointment with Dr. Sampath tomorrow morning.  Since it seems that there are quite a few from that area that are on here just wondering if anyone would like to get together for coffee????  I have 2 hours between my appointment at Garrett and my appointment with Dr. Sampath and then another 4 hours until my appointment with Dr. Zetner (but since Dr. Sampath tends to run quite far behind I expect that to be shortened quite a bit).  I'll have my cell so if anyone is interested we can exchange numbers.  Have a wonderful day, Jayna

Quick change of plans, I now see Dr. Sampath at 9ish.

hi wow three in one day!! Good for you .. I just got online now.. toobad toocause I was out that way today.. Visiting my Aunt in VGH.. I coulda coffeed with you tooo.. to late now, maybe next time.

 wow that's great you have 3 in 1 day.  I have mine all spread out and its a lot of driving into the city.  Im coming from way out in Chilliwack....so it makes for a long day.  I see Dr. Zentner next Wednesday and then back out there again on Thursday to see Dr. Sampath.

Hey everyone!

I just got online.  How did all your appointments go?  All my appointments are spread out on different days too which definitely makes for some long days (although I'm not as far as Chilliwack).

I feel lucky to have some flexibility with my job otherwise I wouldn't be able to do all this.  Even with the flexibility, I find I'm falling behind with work.  It's a lot.  But whenever I walk out of an appointment, I've usually learned something that is going to contribute to a better quality of life.  So I'll do whatever it takes :)

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed.  But other times (like today after Garratt) I become very conscious and remember why I'm doing all of this.  And that I CAN do it.  I'm not sure if anyone else can relate, but I seem to slip in and out of denial sometimes.  Denial about the impact obesity has on my health and happiness.  And yet other times I am acutely aware of it.

Anyway, I feel extremely grateful to have this opportunity.  There is an entire team supporting us -- how freaking awesome is that!?

g'nite.

Well, another trip and a long day of appointments is over.  The trip down was horrible with the mud slide it took me 7 hours to get from Kamloops to Surrey (it was 4 hours just from Hope to Chilliwack).  After a short sleep (stayed at my Dad's house and didn't even get to see him as he was sleeping when I got there and was gone to work when I got up) it was back on the road to Richmond.  Had a good visit with Nooshin and got a can of Boost and Glucerna as well as a list of stuff so I can find what I prefer (yogurt, pudding) stuff like that for the pre-op diet.  Visit with Dr. Sampath was good and he was happy with my 4.5 pounds lost in 4 weeks.  I was almost able to skip a visit with him next month (he said to just call him with my weight and how I'm doing/any questions) but since I'm there again to see Nooshin I'll be seeing him as well.  Drive to West Van to see Dr. Zetner was no fun and it seemed to take forever.  The actual visit with her was good, she said that I'm definately healthy enough for the surgery (she actually said that I'm scarey perfect for the surgery, not sure how to take that) and that I don't need to see her again unless I want to.  She even gave me her card with her email in case I have any questions.  After that it was back on the road to head home.  The trip home was much better, it only took me about 1 1/2 hours to get from West Van to Chilliwack and after a quick supper there with my sister I hit the road for the final journey home and got here shortly after 9pm.  So after spending what seems like 2 days driving I'm home and happy with how things went.

Just wanted to add that Dr. Sampath did tell me about the extra funding they have received.  He said it will allow them to do about 40 more surgeries a year, but it doesn't start until October.  He's expecting that my surgery will be in October.

I'll be back down there again for appointment with Nooshin and Dr. Sampath on July 29 maybe some of us can get together for coffee then.

Hi jaynak!

Wow...a lot of driving, huh.  Makes sense that you pack all your appointments into one day.  Glad to hear everything went well...And  I'll meet for coffee if I can swing it (I'll know closer to the 29th how busy work is).

You wrote about funding,
"Just wanted to add that Dr. Sampath did tell me about the extra funding they have received.  He said it will allow them to do about 40 more surgeries a year, but it doesn't start until October.  He's expecting that my surgery will be in October."

Do you know anything more about the funding?  Like where it comes from etc?

All I know about the funding is that it's something that the drs. (the ones in Richmond as well as the 3 in Victoria) have been lobbying the government for for a very long time.  Dr. Sampath also said that this funding will allow them to continue doing the surgery in Richmond and it will hopefully shorten their surgery wait times.  That's all I really know.

We are lucky then.  Hopefully it continues to help many others as well.

Hi - I've been away from the boards for a few weeks and just seeing this now so I've missed you this time but would definitely be interested in meeting up sometime along the way...I'll watch for another posting for you! :)  I see Dr. Sampath as well and live in Cloverdale (Surrey) BC.