Where to start?

I have just recently found your forum and I was wondering where I need start in terms of WLS? I understand that there is a program in Manitoba but, I have no idea how to acces it? I did talk with my family doc about this and she was not really aware of this program....is there a clinic I can call to talk to someone or???

TIA!

Hi there and welcome!  You have to have your family doctor send in a referrel to the Barriatric Surgical Program.  It was originally out of St. B, but they recently have set up a Clinic that works out of Victoria Hospital.
 If your doc looks up Dr. A.Vergis or Dr. C.Andrew, these guys are the ones doing  the surgery the most in the province.  Once your doctor sends in a referrel and if you meet the criteria you get a acceptance letter into the program.  After that comes a info session...consult with the surgeons, dieticians & psychologists.  Once all these things are done & completed then it's surgery.  It is a long process so the sooner you have your doc send it in the better.

Hope this helps!

Also if someone else can reply with the requirements to get into the program...
I know you have to be female & under 55 yrs of age, not sure on the BMI limit though.

Thanks so much! I did talk to my doctor about this in May and she *may* have sent a letter. I will confirm with her tomorrow on that. How long does it take to get the referral set up? As in if my doc sent the letter should have I heard something by now or am I way off here?

Also, does anyone know what the wait time is for the WLS?

welcome to the boards.the lasst i heard the wait times were a couple of years,due to sooo many people trying for surgery.it might be going faster now but that was what i heard lately

Sadly the wait time is very long, at last estimate, around 3-5 years.  There are hundreds on the waiting list and very limited surgical time.  The present criteria is limited to (and correct me if I am wrong here fellow posters)

- BMI of 35-47
- female
- under 55 years of age

But there are people who have not met these criteria who are on a waiting list as the criteria is being reviewed - no idea how long that is going to take but if they do change things, those people will apparently be blended into the list from when they were referred.   Some of the people who have not met the criteria have been referred to other provinces (mostly Alberta), where the wait is still long, but at least it gives hope.

There are 2 surgeries done by the Drs at the MB bariatric clinic, the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) and the Roux-en-Y (RNY).  It is a good idea to research both to find out which is best for you

Lots of people have gotten fed up with waiting and have gone to Mexico, most have excellent experiences and highly recommend it.  Talk to people on her regarding their experiences, it might be an option you may want to consider

I pretty much fit the criteria....

Also, does MB Health cover the cost if you go to another province to have it done? Will MB Health cover the cost to go to Mexico? (by cover costs I mean sugery itself ;) )

No, Manitoba does not cover the costs of surgery in Mexico. They do cover the costs of the program in Alberta, but you are responsible for the travel costs.

Tanya

Good to know about the costs being covered in AB! I think I am going to call my doc and see what the scoop is on going to AB as well. I am just tired of being overweight and I have read and done lots of research on WLS and I think it is the answer for me and I have discussed with DH and he says he would be supportive of me having the surgery.

Hi there 

Check out posts by Seeking_Freedom.  The surgery costs to go to Alberta are covered, but she was required to make numerous trips to Edmonton and her flights, hotel & meals weren't covered. I believe she said her costs out of pocket were about as much as going to Mexico to have the surgery would have been, plus there was still quite a long wait.

I'm one of those who went to Mexico and paid out of pocket. I had an excellent experience. There are at least three or four others on this board who went there as well, most to the same surgeon (a different one than I went to). I'm sure they'll comment, too.