what to expect?

Hi I just received my letter indicating i have been accepted into the program.  Besides playing the waiting game, as the wait list is so long, what can i expect from here? What are the interviews like? Can a person be turned away after being accepted? Any info would be helpful - thank you!

Hi, I had my orientation session in April and go this coming Thursday for my 4 month appointment and am hoping to get my referral to see the surgeon this visit.

After your orientation you have about a 2 month wait for your first visit. You will get some questionnaires to fill out after the orientation that are turned in before you get this appointment. The team set goals for you and explain the program and the expectations for you as a patient. You then have 2 months to work on the goals given to you at your first visit. you will also get to sign up for the Craving Change course which is 4 - 2 hour sessions.

My understanding is if you don't get your referral to the surgeon at the 4 month point, you come back in another 2 months. If you haven't met your goals at that point it will be decided if you should stay in program or be released.

My advice to you is to listen to what you are told at orientation and start making changes right then. It's less to work on and shows some willingness to succeed.

I hope you don't have to wait too long! I am getting excited/nervous for my appointment on Thursday.

Karen

Thank you for responding! Will your surgery date be set at this next appointment? How is it decided what surgery is best for you - do you know? Also, I am wondering if the Craving Change sessions can be done online or through telehealth - or do you have to travel to Winnipeg to attend? I have so many questions and my family doctor doesn't know the answers and because I like to have details I decided to not wait and find them on my own. Good luck on Thursday Karen! Let me know how it goes!

About Craving Change, call Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and they can give you answers to where you might attend this. I took mine in Selkirk. 

About the journey, everybody's seems to be different. I had a group meeting in January and a surgeon appointment in March and surgery mid May. I followed what they asked, have never smoked and have lost weight on my own and am active, maybe that played some part. I was even going to have it done at the end of June and asked if it could be done sooner and got May 13th. I didn't consider this a long wait at all. 

Goneforgood, you were very lucky to get through so quickly. I am very frustrated that I am still waiting. I was told by Amara that I would whisk through the process because I had been on the waiting list for when the criteria changed. I have had to follow the same process as those who applies like a year ago, and I am coming up to 3 years waiting. There seems to be no reasoning for scheduling appointments. I handed my questionnaires in the day of the orientation. My cousin took hers in 2 weeks later and got an earlier appointment than I did.

It's getting close for me but I had hoped I would have been done by now since I am laid off all summer. I am hoping that I can get in to at least see the surgeon before I go back to work.

Hi, do you remember when your referral was first submitted? I'm curious how long it took before you had the group meeting...

I can't wait!!

I was referred in January of 2011 but was put on a waiting list as I didn't meet the criteria for the program at the time. So I am not the best person to ask about that. I'm thinking a year or more but perhaps someone else can  answer that.

Hi Karen, sorry I ment to direct that question to goneforgood but i replied to you instead.  You go for your group meeting this coming Thursday, right?

I see the dietician, the nurse and kinesologist  on Thursday. I don't have to see the psychologist again.

It sounds like they are accommodating for out of towners and schedule appts all at once - that's good news for me.