Spoke with Andrea

I just called and spoke with Andrea.

I asked what I should do since I have been accepted into the program.. What should I do while waiting. 

I was told to start to exercise 3 times per week for 30 minutes on the treadmill was her suggestion.  She said to keep an exercise journal and that the surgeon would like to see it. She said that I should also keep a food journal. The MINIMUM time that I will wait to see a surgeon will be 18 months, and AT LEAST 10 months before having surgery. 

For those of us that have been recently referred, we are looking at a 3-5 year wait until surgery.  

They are opening up the criteria to include men in about 6 months, so that will lengthen the wait list. They are going to do it on a "first referred, first served basis".

IF the program becomes fully funded, that will increase the wait times, because those who were initially rejected for various reasons will now become eligible, and since they were referred first, they will meet with the surgeon first, and have their surgery first.

Since they began doing the group sessions, almost everyone that is referred for surgery has been accepted because they know what will be expected of them before they meet with the surgeon.

If they fully fund the program,  that does not neccessarily mean that there will be more doctors or more clinics performing the surgery.  It will remain with one clinic and 4 doctors. So it will be fully funded but only means that the criteria will open up, not that there will be more surgeries per day.

Asking the government to fully fund the program is not the right thing.  Asking the goverment to allow for MORE FUNDING to the program and for MORE DOCTORS and more than one clinic is the answer.  

I have made a decision today to get a second job and save for the surgery.  I want to have my surgery in the 12 month time period that Ontario residents expect, and get. I am going to mexico to have my surgery.  .This wait is ridiculous.  I will leave my name on the list in the meantime, but as soon as my trip is booked, I will take myself off the list to open it up to someone else.

Hi 

Please let me know if you would like information on the facility where I had my surgery in Tijuana.  It's a certified Bariatric Center of Excellence.  Send me a private message if you like. 

 You have touched on what I have been saying. If the government fully funds the existing program, it causes a 5 year wait, at LEAST, for those of us recently put on the list.
I too, plan on creating a Mexico account and intend to look at the out of province options as well.
The province needs to FUND the LAPBAND and allow surgery at maples. The problem is that they are hung up on the idea of privatization and feel that funding facilities such as MAples will lead to that.
Has anyone contacted Maples to see if they have an advocacy group we can join, or perhaps we should start one...  

I would love the information on Mexico.

I am not interested in LapBand, nor do I believe that there is any point in Lobbying to have it covered by MB Health. That will only increase wait times more as the Private clinics will no longer be able to do LapBand since the rules are very strict about self pay vs government funded programs. So the waits will now include those that want RNY, VSG and Lap band.

There is another clinic in Winnipeg that also does the Gastric Banding, Western Surgery Centre.
They have ads on this site as well.  I spoke with an executive at Western Surgery Centre, and they said that if the weight loss surger program was expanded to include Gastric Banding, it would eliminate clincs like them, and the Maples Clinic from doing the Surgeries.

 The province does cover lap and but not in a Private clinic

So just got off the phone with Regina and I was declined (they aren't taking out of province referrrals)and encouraged to apply in my own province. I am so upset, spent time two weeks ago explaining to them that the criteria here was so tight etc.  hoping that might help my case...Beginning to feel like this is a waste fo time. Can't afford to  go to Mexico, having a special needs child and minimal family support limits where and how long and how much I can afford to do. Don't know what to do now,  feel like I am destined to be fat unhealthy and unhappy the rest of my life, which will now be much sorter as I can't find help
Sorry for sounding so negative but I just don't know what else to do,,,,
Karen

 Alberta is no longer taking out of province as well. I'm not certain if there is any point in bothering to call B.C.
This whole situation is ridiculous and I'm just sickened 

You know it is just maddening! If I made lifestyle choices that caused  me to get  cancer or heart diesease I would have no problem receiving the medical help I needed. I sure wouldn't have to be calling other provinces to beg for services or worry about money (in most cases). But because I am overweight it is my fault, I should just quit eating and exercise.
I feel very let down by the medical sysytem in  Manitoba and angry. Why should I have to pay thousands of dollars to go to a private clinic and then not even be able to claim most of those expenses. There is something wrong with our system here.

I did try to phone the Victoria clinic (BC) but got no answer. I ws going to see if my referral was still in Edmonton or maybe I am too late.

 Victoria is i believe is still shut at noon Fridays try again on Monday and contact Weight wise as they are still taking out of province patients I just spoke directly with them 

 Edmonton is no longer taking out of province?? Wow something changed I know Calgary red deer stopped but weight wise in edmonton