WLS Dr's in MB?? (Newbie to MB formum)

Good Afternoon All...
Can someone tell me if there is a bariatric surgeon in MB area (Winnipeg?)  I've done some online searching, and even this site tells me there are none, that MB residents have to go outside the province for WLS.   But I get the impression, from lurking around some of the posts, that there may be a couple??  Does anyone have any info or phone numbers??  I saw mention of a Dr Hardy, and possibly Dr Andrews??

I have been trying since 2004 out here in NB for WLS, finally got the call for Dr Beausoleil in early 2009.  Was almost through the whole process, inital consult, day long info session, nutritionist, and had even signed my consent forms in Sept of that year.  Then the issue of funding came up, as I am with DND, and they decided they needed me to see a few more specialists before auth payment...

I finally got a call last week, from the receptionist here in NB, stating that the approval appeared to have gone through quite a while ago, but they only just rec'd the paperwork.  I held off two years of joining my husband in Winnipeg, waiting for this, and finally gave up on it ever going through, and decided that I was joining him this year.  Two years apart has been hard on my daughter and me, but such is the life...anyhow, our house is sold, the movers come in 3 weeks, and I will be in Winnipeg by the end of June...

I am wondering if my file can be transferred, and if I go down to the bottom of a waiting list again, due to the change in location/dr.  In the two years that DND has been procrastinating, I now have to take blood pressure meds, and just a couple months ago, told I am pre-diabetic.  Not full yet, thank goodness...but was told its coming...

I am terribly sorry for ranting, I am so very discouraged at this point...but sincerely thank you for any info you can provide me with...

Laura.

hi,the st.boniface baratric clinic is the one that does the surgery in manitoba thats covered by manitoba health.its about a 1 year wait as this is a new program.i was referred in august and had my surgery last thursday.there are several doctors in the clinic.they are dr.andrews,dr.hardy and dr.vergis.i hope this helps

Hi Laura,

Yes, bariatric surgery is available in Manitoba.

I have just cut and pasted my post from a few weeks ago. It should have the info you need:

Yes, both the gastric bypass and the gastric sleeve are now available in Manitoba!

They are available through:

St. Boniface Surgical Associates.
Suite 200
400 Tache Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R2H 3C3
258-1087
fax: 237-8141

(The surgeries themselves are done out of the Victoria Hospital.)

There is no cost for the surgery, but you will need a referral from your family physician. (There is a charge of $200 to see their nutritionist, $150 to see their psychologist, $200 for the pre-op diet products and at least $50 for meds.)

At the moment, they are only taking women with a BMI of 47 or less. They are hoping to open up their criteria shortly. Unfortunately, the wait time keeps getting longer. At first it was about 6 months from time of referral to time of consultation and then another 2-3 month wait for a surgical date. Now, there are apparently 700 people on the list, so I don't know how long a consultation will take. You can call the clinic and ask them.

Once you have your consultation, you will discuss with the surgeon which procedure may be best for you. Basically, you get to choose which of the two you prefer. So it is best to do a lot of research ahead of time.

Good Luck!

Tanya

Thanks so much Newfie(many 9's...lol), and Tanya.  I have done quite bit of research here, and a year wait isn't so bad,  in NB...wait time is 5 years.  I don't have a family doctor, as I'm military... its good to know that there are surgeons in the area at least.  I will call and ask what they recommend...I was set for RNY here.  My BMI used to be between 41&42, its about 38.8 now, but I've developed co-morbidities now while waiting...so frustrating, I could pull my hair out!  LOL

Hubby has considered funding the costs to flying me back and forth to continue to stay on Dr B's list here in NB, but that would be about 4 rtn flights in the space of a year, as its been 2 yrs since I've seen Dr B, and he would want to re-evaluate, and then he does a 3 week pre-op blood work and tests, ect, and gets you to order the MediTrim products for the 2 week liquid diet, and one week prior to surgery, he has another check he does, THEN the surgery.  I have family in Moncton, so I could probably combine the last two, if I took leave, ect from work.  But I will be just starting  a new job out there working as the Operational Reception and Dispatch clerk for 17 Wg AR Flight, and would hate to take time off so soon!   

Anyway, thanks again for the info, I did try to do a search, but I was at work this afternoon, and sometimes, the DND firewall plays havoc with the internet sites...lol.  Was going though individual posts...was taking me FOREVER...

Warm Regards....Laura