Chatted with Andrea

So I just gave Andrea a call.  She indicated to me that currently there is an 18 month wait to get into the group session.  After which it is another 4-5 month wait for your private consultation.  And THEN it is about another 9 months before your surgery.  All tolled it will add up to about a 2 - 21/2 year wait.  I asked her if she anticipated this speeding up a bit once their third surgeon came back from maternity leave in August.  She said that actually . . . .they are thinking about opening up the criteria, which would mean that people who have been in the system for the past two  years but didn't qualify before, would now take priority over anyone new who was registering.  Therefore, this 2-21/2 year wait is anticipated to get longer.  The criteria not only includes age and BMI restrictions, but your priority level on the list is also apparently affected by your comorbidity symptoms and whether you are on medications etc. and of course by the date of your referral.  I am still going to go to my GP on Monday for a referral - - and it is time to get my blood sugar and cholesteral checked since those haven't been looked at in years!!  But I think I am also going to initiate a conversation with my husband about the possibility of getting surgery done in Mexico or Florida.

Oh, and just in case there is anyone new browsing around and looking at this . . . the current criteria is to be 55 or younger and have a BMI under 47.  I know lots of you already knew this, but I wasn't clear on it until I talked to Andrea. 

Thanks for updating us..I know the wind went out of my sails when I first learned of the new wait times..and yet another poster on here only waited 1 year??? I sure wish we could have something more definite. I am keeping my name on the list even though Im going to Mexico just to see how long it ends up being for a Dec/Jan refferal.

Madelaine, which hospital/clinic and doctor did you choose in Mexico and how soon are you scheduled to go?  I've looked at two or three and was just wondering which one most people are leaning towards.

Hey Bdredger, this is how I came to my decision. Since I started reading on here of others going to Mexico, I seriously thought about it. Especially when I heard of the new weight times. I would say that for the past 2 months  have spent every night after work from 6-9  or 10 and then probably 5 hours out of Saturday and Sunday..researching, researching, researching to the point where my family said I was obsessed. But to me, I needed to know everything I could about not only about the surgery but the surgeon, the finances, RevenueCanada, post-op and how on earth people actually thought going to Mexico was a good idea. I could not believe how many people went and once I read through all the good and bad,and emailed the doctors themselves,  I went with Dr. Ponce de Leon out of INT. He is not the most expensive or the cheapest but I felt really good after I emailed with people who just got back from him. If Ihad more money, I would have chose someone else I had in mind, but I will want to have some money for plastics later.I am going down on May 21 for surgery on the 22. I just booked last night but I have been corresponding with them for a couple of weeks now. One of the things they are doing for me is that when I land at 8:30 at night, they suggested they pick me up that night and let me sleep at the hospital so I dont have to pay for another nights hotel. Kind of impressed me for sure.

Keep me posted about your experiences please.
 http://mexicalibariatric.com/
This is a link to a surgeon I have been looking at in Mexico  Did you find out anything about him during your research? Would you mind sharing with me what the prices are and which surgery you opted for?

 I'm happy for people who didn't meet criteria before and who will get on the list now but I am also even more miserable and despondent for myself. My brand new co-morbidity, type 2 diabetes, has messed with my eyesight so badly that I have to wear two sets of glasses, one for close and one far. Optometrist says there is no point in writing a prescription for glasses till my sugar stabilizes. My eyesight is constantly blurry. I can't tell you how upset and frustrated I am. I don't know if I should call the clinic and tell them I have this new co-morbidity or not, will that just take me right off the list?
The province will pay for optometrist visits now that I a diabetic...guess they will pay for future amputations and rehab too.
Really and honest to God, if not for my kids I'd just give up.
I'm so sick and tired of feeling this way. So sick and tired of looking in the mirror...just sick.

I have been fortunate that the only comorbidity I have been diagnosed with is sleep apnea, but I feel as though others are hanging over my head and are just around the corner.  Your comments about blurry vision Canadiancricket, are making me think that I should be getting my blood sugar tested - - haven't had it done in ages.  Going to doctor today and hoping for the best but expecting the worst.  And I don't understand why an additional comorbidity factor would get you taken off the list?  i would think it would make it even more crucial for you to have the surgery?  Can you explain that to me?  there must be things about the criteria that I don't get?

I think that they want simple and straightforward surgeries and adding  to co-morbidities could make the surgery more of a risk. Does anyone know for certain? i have a call in and will let you know when I do.

 well, I'm not any higher on the list but at least I'm not off. Please, please get your blood sugar checked and keep on top of things. I can't stress enough how important it is. I wish I had taken it more seriously and been more careful.