New Here

Hi Everyone! I am new here, I just found out about your page from my Doctor last week. I am so happy to have gotten in touch with a group in Manitoba! It is great to read about your experiences & weight loss journeys! My Doctor just sent off a consult for the surgery for me to Dr Chris Andrews, did any of you have him as a surgeon? Am wondering hoe long the process takes from creferral to surgery? My Dr said he thinks there is a wait list but not sure how much time I am looking at.

 

 

Welcome here, you'll find this is a very friendly, compationate and sharing group.  Dr. Andrew was my surgeon and he was great. Put me at ease before surgery and thorough follow up post op.  There is  definitly a waiting list, that I believe may be greater than 18 months but others here may have mormore up to date information.  Good luck with your journey and information gathering  

hi,

 welcome to our group.please feel free to ask any question you might have. we have lots of members who are at different stages of the journey.we try and meet once a month with everyone  then we also have another meeting with those who are part of the manitoba surgery program.

again welcome

sondra aka newfie99999

welcome, Yes, I had Dr. Andrew and I only met him the day of my surgery in May . I was supposed to have Dr. Hardy, but she was off on maternity leave so I had no idea who ws doing my surgery until that same day. He was very nice. The waiting list continues to get longer and longer everyday. I am sure it is probably up to a few years by now, but you may get a letter from them confirming your referral and to go for a consult . Don't get discouraged for the wait. You have support right here in the meantime. We are having a meet and greet on Tuesday at the Sir William Stephonson Library, 765 Keewatin this Tuesday., Oct 30th. A few of us that have had surgery will be there as a support group to eachother. Everyone is at different stages and have questions, suggestions, clothing exchange, etc. Why don't you come..everyone is welcome who is interested in finding out more about the bariatric surgeries. Some of us had the Sleeve, some had the RNY bypass. Hope to see you there. Barb C. (bcwating)

Hi Averysmom, welcome to the forum.  You will learn lots on this board, I sure did.  Also met lots of super nice people.  Please come to the meet and greet on Tuesday.  We will be having a clothing exchange(you don't have to bring anything and take what you need.)  There will be coffee available, we will have some recipes for exchange.  The hours are from 5::30 pm to 8:30pm.  Hope to see you there.  Barb (I T K ) for short.

Thanks so much Ladies! I am expecting a year or so to wait for the process to get going & that's ok by me I have been fighting the weight fight for 20 years now so one more year will be worth it. I would love to come to the meet & greet but have a meeting at my child's school that night, if there is another in November I am definately there! Would love to get more information on everyones experiences with the different types of surgeries! What a great idea to have a clothing exchange!!

Welcome. I am waiting too as I don't qualify for the criteria and am on a waiting list for when they accept women with BMI's of more than 47. Happily I am  now less than 10 lbs from having a BMI of 47 so will hopefully quialify soon. The ladies here have been supportive and full of information too.

I was hoping to come Tuesday night, checked hubby's schedule it was blank and then he came home on Thursday and wrote a bunch of shifts down and of course he is working 4-10pm. One of these days I will get to come. Probably better I miss this one since I have been sick for over a week and am now on antibiotics for a whopper of a sinus infection. I also have 2 dozen cupcakes to bake and frost so I have lots to do.

 

Karen

Good Morning!

I didn't know there was a BMI max you had to be before surgery? I am just starting the process so have no idea the criteria. Does anyone know why that is? That doesn't seem to make sense to me to have to lose large amounts of weight prior to surgery? Isn't that the point of the surgery because I have tried everything else?

 

Thanks!

Heather (Averys mommy)

 

 

 

Right now in Manitoba you have to have a BMI of 47 or less to get into the program or else you are put on a waiting list. There are a few other things to qualify but I can't think of them right now. The BMI was my only problem. Programs in other provinces have higher BMIs but I really didn't want to travel out of province as I have a special needs child and it would be hard on him and on those with him if I was too far away...

Hi Heather and welcome to the forum. It's a great source of info for everything you need to know about WLS in Manitoba. The BMI limit of 47 was set when the program began in this province less than three years ago. Patients must also be: female, under 55 years old and have minimal comorbities.   The reason for this is because patients who meet this criteria are deemed relatively low risk at developing complications during or after surgery.  Hopefully soon the government will expand the program to include male patients and those with higher BMI's but as of yet this hasn't happened.