How do you do it?

A little over 2 years ago my endocrinologist told me about the MB pilot project and told me that I was the perfect candidate for surgery, met all the criteria.  I wasn't sure how I felt about the referral, in some ways it felt like "cheating" but agreed thinking that I would just go for the consult.  In May 2010 I got a letter stating that I didn't meet criteria for the project but that my application would be kept on file if the criteria opened up.  My next appt I told the doc who had actually contacted Dr. Andrew to find out why my app was rejected, imagine my horror to learn that I was TOO fat (BMI 57).  So I was referred to Dr. Derkson who could refer me out of province. So at my appt in March 2011 I specifically asked for a Toronto referral as I could recover at my mom's house.  4-6 months after that I got a letter from MB Health telling me my travel was approved and to contact my physician for my appt date with Dr. Joffe.  So I called and got no response from Derkson.  My endocrinologist couldn't find any info in my chart that said where I was referred so no info there.  My GP had a letter with Joffe's info so I called his office to find.....IT WAS OUT OF SERVICE.  You have got to be kidding me!  Ontario college of physicians and surgeons had no listing.  So now it's Augustish and I'm sending off faxes stating he isn't practicing and I need a new referral.  My endocrinolgist asks how do I know he isn't practicing so I explain that the office number is out of service and OCPS don't have him listed.  So then in October 2011 I am referred to a dietician who does assessments for Edmonton and explains that I am required to complete 6 months of lifestyle counseling to proceed with Edmonton.  Great!  So when I saw her last week and asked what is next, she looked at me like I have 6 heads.  She doesn't know.  She was never asked to submit progress reports which is standard if a referral has gone to Edmonton.

So here I am 2 years later and no further ahead.  From what my initial understanding I've been referred to 3 different WLS programs and I am NOWHERE.  I know that every person on this board has been in the position of disappointment, I'm just not sure where to go from here. 

I had resigned myself to the fact that I would likely be dead by age 50 from obesity related complications, I have more comorbidites then I can shake a stick at - hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, hypothyroidism, depression and a blood clotting disorder (high risk for clots).  Now that I've seen that there is a possibility that I may get my health back, I'm hitting wall after wall.  If I had the money or a much lower debt load I would look at going private but it will be 3 yrs before I can even look.

How do you keep fighting to be your own advocate?  I will take absolutely any advice at this point.

You're certainly not alone in your battle.  There are so many others in Manitoba that didn't meet the criteria here.  Hopefully others who have had surgery out of province will give you advice and be able to help you.  

But on a side note, I jus****ched a TV show last month on Dr. Joffe.  He was charged with sexual abuse with his patients and is now practicing bariatric surgery in Mexico. 



http://www.globalnews.ca/code+of+conduct/6442585599/story.ht ml

 

OMG, thanks for sharing that Lori!  I'm glad he wasn't my surgeon then.  It's just so frustrating!  I understand why the pilot project would go for lower risk patients to begin with, it makes sense but when you have doctor's telling you that you won't likely have any significant improvement without surgery it's so disheartening.

I know how you feel as I am in the same boat. Turned down for Winnipeg because my BMI was too high but put on the waiting list. Medicine Hat wouldn't even look at me as by the time my name came up on the waiting list I would be too old for their program. Regina said no as they rarely take out of province anymore and Edmonton just doesn't work with my family obligations.

 So I totally know where you are coming from. I have just decided to keep plugging away for 6 months and see if St B opens their program like Andrea said they were going to. I too would go private but that isn't an option. I have gotten my BMI down from 55 to 50 so I keep hoping that will help my chances.

If you come up with any solutions, let me know and I will do the same.

Karen

Frustrating isnt it??  First off I came to warn you about Dr. Joffe (google him and you will see the whole story) and Im so glad you arent going to him!!!!Here is how I am dealing with my frustration with our government and just telling you what I have decided and maybe it might help you.. 

Even out of province will cost you alot of money..one member on here has spent about 7000. of her own money after the costs that Manitoba Health covers and can still be denied at any step of the process. You do get amazing information however, on the whole proces that another option does not provide.But if you are willing to do alot of your own leg work, you can learn alot as well.

I am on the waiting list as well and was ecstatic to learn, initially, that it was an 18 month wait. It has now jumped to 3-5 years and I am not willing to wait that long especially because when I looked into this years ago, I was on a huge wait list and just gave up!
For me, I am not willing to spend thousands of dollars and use up all vacation time to go out of province and then have no time off for the actual surgery!!Plus the whole chance of being denied at any step of the process after you have spent that kind of money is completely
out of the question.

After ALOT  of research and number crunching, I have decided that going to Mexico might be my best chance. My first thought of that option was NO WAY!! THATS CRAZYbut once I started researching and emailing the hospital I am considering, I feel very comfortable with my decisiion. If you really do some homework, it might not seem as out of the question as you might think. You can claim it n your income tax and get quite a bit of it back based on your income. Seat sales come up all the time and  everything is included.
I will use my doctor here for all pre-op testing and then she has also agreed to help with any aftercare I may need. I also have, through my doctor, access to nutrionists and therapists to help me along the way, covered under Manitoba Health. Plus all the great people on this board who are more than willing to offer advice.


So I know you said financially going private in not an option..it wasnt for me either when you are talking 20-25000 dollars here in Canada..but I have found a way to get what I want, in the time frame I want, with the credentials I want from a surgeon, and a financial plan that was not going to bankrupt me.  It was alot of work but its going to be worth it..thats how I am being my own advocate.
I wish you well on your fight and please remember, there are alot of us here fighting along with you. It would be especially nice if we at least got a response from Theresa Oswalds office instead of a form letter..grrr! We all just need to continue to pressure our governement.

 I had my surgery done in Medicine Hat ..here are a few things you need to know DR Nohr does not take female patients over 50 or male under 45 .the waiting list is about  3-5 years for consult 1 year after for surgery(there is a way around this that I was able to use he has a cancelation list that you can ask to be on I went from an appointmnet April 2012 to January 2009 by getting on cancelation list). he does ask for dietary now (he didnt in the past) I have a friend who has gone thru it not a biggie its pretty much a class. No preop diet  but, I do have another friend who was turned away fro hi for being overweight her BMI was in the 60s tho mine was just over 50(52 I think) . The  surgery is only good for 100lbs on average so you may need to lose a little weight  this is in your best interest anyway it will make you healthier for surgery and a better candidate! My friend who was refused went to Mexico her and her hubby both have had life threatening  complications please be careful if you go this way do your research! Also research what you need as aftercare because you will not have a surgeon to help you with that you are pretty uch on your own (they did not know about what blood testing etc was normal after surgery  or the fact that they will need to take calcium and vitamins for the rest of their life. They didnt even know that they should get everything checked out a few weeks after surgery (scope). They thought leak test in Mexico was all they needed. plus they left without drains. I could go on and on but the lack of aftercare from Mexico was horrible.. 

As much as I would love to go to Mexico (and I would do research first!), I don't think that it's a possibility even if I won the lottery.  I have survived 4 pulmonary embolisms in 15 years and the plane rides plus car rides may just put me at that much more risk.  As it is, I will have to be on heprin shots pre and post surgery, I think I would rather be in my home and native land for that.

Hey cat lady,

At least you know your health limitations and are not risking it..thats very smart thinking.  I truly hope you get what you need for a healthier life.

I had my surgery done almost a year ago in Medicine Had with Dr. Nohr.  It was a wonderful experience and you even get a free tummy tuck after your weightloss has settled.  The whole process for me took 5 years but that is becasue I lost 18 months due to the same issue of my refferal being lost.  Once you get your consult (the same day you attend a nutrition class) you will be book for your surgery before leaving the office.  Basically you have your class then the consult.  Now the wait time is different if you are having an Open or lap RYN.  He can do more Open's in a year so that has a shorter weight list.  In addition you can go on his cancallation list and if anyone cancells they give you a call (this is what happend to me).  I had my consult in September and in Feb I got a call with a cancallation, Surgery was book for March 28 so if you are flexable it helps things along.  I did have some complications, but it was because I had a cold not because of my surgon and no cold was going to delay me!!!!  I have gone from a size 24 to a size 6 and I feel great.  I highly recommend him to you.

I phoned Dr Nohr's office this summer and was told to not even bother applying as by the time my name would come up on the waiting list I would be at the age limit (it's either 53 or55). I had heard goo things and was very disappointed by this news. It would have been ideal for me as my sister lives outside Medicine Hat and I would have a place to stay and someone to help with my son for  a few days.