Got my letter today

Oh wow, now I'm getting nervous. my referral was faxed in at the start of December. I'm going back to watching the mail like a hawk.

 Got home, got my letter and am on the wait list....OMG!!!

Yeah for all of us..now we just sit and wait. I received my letter Jan 24..and I called the clinic the next day just for clarification..and Andrea told me that the waiting list is now 2 years from time of letter to completion of surgery. So even if its 18-24 months, I am still very OK with that. The last time I asked for a referral, it was 7 years just to see the doctor!!! That was about 6 years ago.,.Lori..you are so lucky to have it all practically in one year. I wish I had discovered this website earlier so I could have been on the list sooner. My doc didnt even know about this program..I had to show her the website where we could get the contact information!! I have ordered some books from Amazon just to be able to read all I can and do the very best I cn. So lets make sure to update each other as we are so close to acceptance letters.

Looks like a few of us got 'THE' letter!  I talked to Andrea a couple weeks ago and she said they were quite backed up to due lack of staff, funding etc.

I got mine today, very happy to see I was accepted. As well, we read that I do not meet the criteria... It's written so weird, that at first glance it looks like "you do not meet our current selection criteria"  But actually says "You do meet our current selection criteria".  Either way, I'm happy that part of the waiting is over.  It was the not knowing that was driving me nuts.  Now, the rest will be a piece of cake.

I was quite obsessed with all this a couple weeks ago, I actually had to completely shut it off.  I didn't visit this site, or talk about it with anyone.  I was quite upset and even had to get some advice from the lovely people on this site.  Which by the way, THANK YOU! 

I've accepted me for what I am... and look at it as a temporary thing.  I no longer obsess over it and am going on with my life.  I've been this size for 20+ years so what's another 18 months or so? 

My time lines are similar to Lori's. 

January 31, 2011 Referral went in by my GP
February 2011 Got my acceptance letter
August 2011 Received confirmation letter re: group session and surgeon consult
September 2011 Group Session (same one as Lori) and consult with surgeon
Was not accepted by surgeon at the consult and had to wait 2 more months
November 2011 Follow up apt. with surgeon and was accepted
December 2011 Pre Op physical with my GP
December 2011 Met with Psychologist
January 2011 Met with NUT
February 13, 2011 Start Optifast
FEBRUARY 27, 2011   S U R G E R Y  ! ! ! !    Fyi that is OptiFast in those glasses! lol

Hang in there ladies, the time does fly by.  I promise.  In no time, you will be saying the same thing to a whole new bunch, who will anxiously be awaiting their Acceptance Letters.

if it isn't too nosey of me...
why did the surgeon not accept you at consult? is there something that i should know that might help me while I wait?

 I was going to ask the same thing :). Hope it's not too mosey as well. I would like to know. 

Okay, I too am very intrigued? I guess the letter means we meet the criteria, and then the surgeon, along with the recommendations of the other professionals the patient sees, decides based on their assessment..probably your weight, health issues, etc?? I wish we could find out what the next criteria would be so that we wouldnt be waiting so long only to be rejected??? If anyone has some info, we would all really appreciate it. Thanks

OMG ladies, it is NOT nosey at all.  I would be happy to share.  The reason I was not accepted into the program at the first consult was because I was not on a regular exercise program.  Therefore, before Dr. Vergis would accept me into the program, I had to begin an exercise program and in order to prove to him I had, he told me I had to lose 15 lbs by my follow up apt.  At the time I was horrified, as we all know how difficult it is to lose 15 lbs.  But once I started it was not as difficult as I thought it would be.  And, since September (my first consult) to date, I have lost 30 lbs.  I am very proud of myself but of course I am always hungry!! 

Unfortunately there are several times in this process you may not be "accepted" into the program.  The Psychologist will tell you right at the start of your appointment that she may not recommend you for the surgery by the end of the appointment.  Fortunately, I had no issue there.  She felt emotionally I am a perfect candidate for the surgery.  I was relieved.  And then there is the NUT.  If she does not feel you are eating properly or you will continue to eat properly she will not approve you for the surgery.  I felt like I was walking on eggshells the whole way through the process.  But believe me it is worth it.  I just picked up my OptiFast from Purolator today and I begin the two week Pre Op diet on Monday.  I also received a call from the Victoria Hospital yesterday to let me know my Pre Op appointment is on February 21st.  At which time, I will be meeting with the anesthetist and a nurse that will be going over all of the Pre and Post Op information.  I am terrified by excited all at the same time.