New to Forum -Question : hospitals outside nb performing rny or lapband

I was approved by new Brunswick medicare last month for surgery either lapband or bypass. When i called Dr. Beausoleil's office The secretary said she would switch me to the approved list but that it will still be years before i see the good Dr. She couldn't possibly tell me how many years. I was on Dr. Macdonald's list in Nova Scotia but he retired , nobody had the decency to call me ,when I phoned them i was told i was number 99 on the waiting list of a suspended program. I wasted three years .It will be 5 years in January since i started down this road. I wonder how many more roadblocks there will be. Having high blood pressure diabetes and severe arthritis in my spine and being 45 years old idon't think i can wait that long. Medicare has told me that they will pay for a hospital outside New brunswick to perform the surgery but not a weight-loss clinic or or a clinic in USA or Mexico. My Question is ...Does anyone know of a hospital outside New Brunswick that performs this surgery with a more resonable wait time. A phone number or address would help too. Should I contact the Human Rights Commission , the Health Minister or the Ombudsmen. This does not seem like a reasonable Standard of Care. I'm so freaking depressed. Help

Hi Stephen, I am in the same situation. Dr. MacDonald retired and didn't let his patients know. That is really unacceptable. Then there was no one to refer us to. Then comes along Dr. Beausoliel, who my doctor didn't know about and when I finally did, there is a wait list of over five years. Well, I am nearly at 6 years now. I went through PEI's red tape, I finally got approved to go to Elliott Goodman in the US. Guess, what? It was a hollow victory. PEI will only pay PEI rates. Dr. Beausoleil supposedly charged less than 5 thousand for hs procedure, Dr. Goodman sent a bill for 26,000. Guess who is to pay the difference? Me! There is what is like an ombudman in Ontario, who will negotiate a price reduction. Lets face it, it ain't gonna be that great! So, I checked all across Canada, Ontario goes to Dr. Goodman, (no wait by the way) the sent around 400 there last year. Alberta and Sask. etc. go to Quebec. All of them are on a 5-7 year wait. Except ... there is a Dr. Christou, in Montreal, operating out of the Centre Metropolitain de Chirurgie Hosptial. I contacted them, it is a private hospital, with no wait time, This is what he had to say "The all inclusive cost of the laproscopic Gastric bypass is $18,500. There is no wait other than to properly work up the patient so we can provide the safest surgery possible." I am presently trying to find out just how much of the bill PEI will foot and I am going to see what I can come up with. I can't wait another 5-7 years. I am pretty disappointed in all of Canada's handling of this disease. It is even more upsetting that money is the only thing standing between a person's health/life. Hope this helps. Something tells me there are alot of us out there! Belinda

The phone number is 514-843-7531 good luck, B.

Thanks Belinda for all the grat info,mexico is 8000.00 airfare included ,we should get a busload together and get an even better rate

just wondering where in Mexico? What procedure, does that include stay and does it include air and stay for companion? Thanks Krista Cook

His name is Dr.joya Drjoya .com 8000.00 us dollars for the lapband 12500.00us dollars for the bypass you canread about it from a kitchener girls experience . She has a website called shrinking laura.com. you can google her. It might be a solution for a lot of us. That is all inclusive so his website says airfare hotel etc. if there are complications it will cost more. Sounds like a class act though.he has done alot of them.

thanks for the info...something new to look into. LOL

I like you was waiting to have surgery by Dr MacDonald. It will be 6 years for me in January. I was lucky enough to find out right after his retirement that Dr Bonjer was taking over in July 05, and to expect an info session by jan 06. When the time came and went I called only to find out that the program was stopped, and I was number 27 on surgery list. It wasnt until I called for a progress report in June 06 that I found out about Dr Beausoleil. They sent off my refferal. I was very angry because since joining this forum I have discovered that halifax had reffered newer people to NB before even letting those of us who have been waiting twice as long know. Halifax has made many mistakes with me...my first referral was lost, then my file was lost, resulting in me not having surgery before Dr M retired. I was fortunate enough to have my first consult with Dr B last week. It is still a long road before surgery. I am a bit bummed that I had to start all over again with Dr B, but at least I will get it done sometime in the next year. I like you have many serious health problems and it is disgusting how the government is handling the treatment. I have made many phone calls to NS MSI and they too said they would pay for me to go to another province IF it is in a public hospital. My family Dr is amazing and she made many phone calls on my behalf only to discover that the public hospitals who offer the surgeries are just as backed up as ours...if not more, SO.....it really is no help! We must wait and pray for a speedy process. Maybe another Dr will join Dr Beausoleil and make the process faster. Good luck with your journey! Krista Cook

Thanks for your story Krista, I want to gather as many of these horror stories as possible. When i go to the health minister i want to be well armed.This is a disgrace!

I have been waiting over 2 years just to see the endocrinologist and I have about a year to go- Then I just MIGHT get on Dr B's waiting list....if Medicare approves. Don't you just love our medical system. I would jump on going to Mexico, given that I will have to pay 4500.00 for the lapband device if I am done in NB. $8000.00 with the high Canadian dollar sounds great. The big "but" is that Dr B will not do fills for anyone who is not his patient