LOOKING for some people going through similar

Just a head's up for the *newbies* and please I'm not intending to sound harsh, but Dr. Amson always says you'll hear *soon* and I was on his list for 4 years!!!! I finally had Dr Malik do my surgery but again my whole wait was 4+ years. 

Now one of my co students from college did the program through Richmond Bariactric Center and her wait was only 18 months!!!! I haven't heard of the one in Victoria, but I also haven't been paying attention much.

Hi. I'm in Nanaimo to. Also seeing Dr A

Hello,

I'm sorry I havent posted anything since I posted this message 10 months. I lost my way a bit and was feeling really disheartened for awhile after not hearing anything from either Dr Amson's office or the Bariatric Program at Royal Jubilee.. My referral was sent in 2 years ago in February of 2014 and then 2 days ago I finally heard from Michelle at the program and I am scheduled in for the group orientation on Feb 11th 2016 at Royal Jubilee. I am sooo excited to have this process final start! Anyway I wanted to check in with the people that responded to my post and see how your process is going....I promise to responded this time LOL 

Thanks for initiating this thread.  I find it helpful, especially the waiting time of two years you told us.  I spoke with a lady in Prince George, where I live.  She said she had the gastric sleeve after waiting two years.  She got the surgery done by Dr. Malik.  She seems pleased with her experience so far.  She has lost 85 pounds since July 2015.

Hello :) I am also in Nanaimo. It is a slow process; from my referral to to surgery was 47 months. There are some mixed blessings with the long wait time. The deteriorating self esteem and physical health are certainly not some of them, however, it really does give some time to really think about your relationship with food and how we treat our bodies.

I started with Dr. Tang, but then was transferred to Dr. Amson mid process. I missed out on some of the pre-op work like the ongoing visits with Carla as I only saw her twice before my surgery (once two months before and once the week of surgery). I really do wish I would have entered into one of the programs she recommends for food addiction, which I never thought I had. I have recently had a lot go on in both my personal and professional life and I realized that I never replaced food as a coping mechanism for stress. I never realized how much I would miss a Diet Coke until I realized that that was part of my stress coping arsenal.

Physically, the process is most certainly worth it. Take this time on the wait list to work on the rest of you.

Thanks for responding to my post :) How long ago did you have surgery?

I'm just starting the process and I've been looking all over Nanaimo hoping to find a support group of some sort to join to help with the process and I sort of feel alone. I know there are support groups in Victoria but I dont drive so getting there would be difficult for me. Any tips or tricks you can offer a newbie would be most welcome :)

I got for the orientation at Royal Jubilee tomorrow, im quite nervous as I dont do well in crowds....so heres hoping its not too crowded. 

How is your progress going? 

What did you do in the group orientation?  I am having mine March 3rd. I had my referral 2 years ago and finally got a call last week :)

Hi there,

The group orientation was about 2 hours long. Its normally run by Carla the programs Dietitian but she was away so a lady named Sara was filling in for her. At the beginning you are given a requisition for all kinds of blood work, ECG and urine test to be done as soon as possible. They also give a bariatric checklist, a print out on a book that you should buy (which I have done and find it extremely helpful) and a bit of information on support groups. Then follows a  lengthy power point presentation all about the 2 types of surgeries they perform, what to do before and after surgery, all about the diet we need to be following and so on. I brought a notebook to take notes as I found it alot to take in. Now that I have completed the orientation and have done all my blood work and ecg and made sure that the Bariatric Program has all they need its just another waiting game to have my assessment with Carla and Dr. Zentner (Internist) 

The assessment with Carla and Dr Zentner which I literally just got off the phone with Michelle at the program who is Carla right hand to ask her wait times and she told me that its about 4-6 months before I will have my assessment. She gave me an estimate that I will hear from them in June to book and appointment for late summer but of course this is just her guessing, could be sooner (fingers crossed) or later. I hope this helps :) be sure to let me know how your orientation goes :)

Thank you so much for posting this, nbrowne. My referral to Dr. Amson went in July 2014 and I have yet to hear from them.

It's great to know that the waitlist is moving forward. Also, I really appreciate you saying that you were feeling really disheartened with the long wait and lack of communication. I actually became quite depressed for a while, thinking it would never happen for me. It helps to know that others are feeling similar and that I'm not alone.

Did you get your surgery date yet?

Good luck with everything!

It was almost 2 years to the day that I finally heard from the Bariatric program about the orientation so I would suspect that you will hear sometime this summer. 

Ive only had the orientation and I'm still waiting to have an assessment with Carla and the internist Dr Zenter, which I just told will be another 4-6 months so I dont foresee having surgery for atleast another year.....its really depressing sometimes but I just keep holding onto hope. 

Do you know if your file is still with Dr Amson's office or has it been sent to the Bariatric Program at Royal Jubilee?