Newbie

Newbie   Hello everyone,   My name is Monica and I am 26 years old. I was referred to Dr. Beausoleil about 1 year and a half ago. I’ve struggled with Obesity my whole life. 4 years ago I followed a regime with a Nutritionist and lost 60 pounds.  It felt so great but I’m a yo-yo and gained everything back (and more!). I am 5’2 and weight 260 pounds.   I have the following issues: Severe acid reflux (I need to have an endoscope every year) and will be on that medication for the rest of my life, I am asthmatic only since two years ago, I have mild hypertension and I have a benign tumor that needs to be scanned yearly. Since I am so overweight, radiologists have a hard time seeing it correctly.   I gain all my weight on my stomach (like ALL MY WEIGHT) and my back hurts. I’m also concerned because my father had a massive heart attack at 35 years old.   I guess what concerns me is the wait period. I was told it could be six years before I get to see Dr. Beausoleil. This concerns me because I am not able to carry children as is and if I wait six years, when will I have my children? At 36? I know it's possible, but it just changes my life plans around so much.    I’ve already been on the list for over a year, but it discouraging. Then I start thinking screw the surgery and I need to lose weight asap by myself but I’m just so tired of it. I’ve been yo-yo’ing my whole life. I’ve followed the regimes, lost weight, and just gained it back. What’s the point? Do any of you feel this way?

hi  I libe in fred NB
I just went to see him yesterday  he is sooo nice
email me back
we can chat about it

Yeah my I have a friend who had the surgery and I guess there is no better doctor than Dr. Beausoleil. I can't wait to meet him (and hopefully sooner than six years!)

You know what?  I just went to the info session on Tuesday and the one thing they stress the most is that this is not a cure or a fix.  It is only a tool to help you as you diet.  You still have to follow a diet like weigh****chers and exercise every day.  There is no magic to this.  It will help you to not feel hungry.  But you need to get your diet habits in check.  I started Weigh****chers back in february in preparation for this.  I am now down 40 lbs before I go into surgery.  I feel I have got a handle on the diet part.  Now the surgery is going to help me to not binge or overeat a meal.  I truly encourage you to start now.  They look at your proactive interest in losing weight.  If you don't lose between now and then, they won't see the commitment you require to earn the surgery.  They take this very seriously and need you to do the same.  I urge you to start now and show them you can do it and you really want/need this.  It won't hurt you to start now.  If you don't you will probably gain between now and then and that will hurt you.  They already weighed you once and if at any point you gain, they will push you back.  I am passionate about this because I am 47 heading for 50 and weighed 362 in February.  I am 321 now and already feel like a million bucks.  Anyway, best of luck to you and the rest and hopefully you will jump on the wagon now and get ahead of the system.

I have been waiting 4 years and expect to get a call soon. A;lso there are 2  doctors in Halifax doing  WLS, plus a rumor that there is another one starting in Bathurst.  I would say chances are really good that you won,t have to wait that long. Welcome aboard!

Hi Welcome!
You are certainly going in the right direction and not just leaving things the way they are but looking to find the right solution.  I believe that you are entitled to have medicare pay for this, but I also believe 5 years is a lot of time out of someones life. 

If it is an option to pay to have the surgery done earlier, you may want to consider it.  Personally I took out a bank loan and pay 300 each month...and I skip to the bank to pay this.  Best money I ever spent.  I think of it like a car loan..but I have to drive a really crap car and I have lost 175 pounds...so for me...it worked. 

It is something to consider anyway.  Take care,

Good for you!
I am very close to the top of the list and now is a little late to self pay. I would be paying a lot longer that I have to wait.  I am number 10 on the lap band list, and Nathalie tells me that she expects the doctor to put a lot more emphasis on lap bands in the near future. She also told me to check back with her at the end of this month as there isgoing to be a meeting where decisions re the progra,m will be made.  She hinted that these decisions may benefit me.
However I wish that I had just paid for the procedure when I started this process.

I am really sorry to hear that it is taking everyone so long to see DR B.....from start to fini**** took me 3 years....I had my bypass 6 months ago and lost 107 lbs.......I was approved by medicare before even seeing the DR not sure if that makes a difference

back when preapproval was necassary, the biggest delay was getting to see a doctor to recommend you to medicare. I have been waiting 4 years next month, and I still had another year to wait to see the endcrinologist.  Thank heavens preapproval is no longer required. I did hear that Dr B was putting those that were preapproved first.

Thanks for the nice welcome everyone!   How can someone get pre approved, by an internist?   I already am a patient to 3 internist but I have never discussed weight loss with them, well except for Dr. Mallet due to my asthma. Can a regular GP request Medicare approval?   I’m happy to hear that things are being made to stop the wait from being as long. I called the office about a month ago to confirm I was on the list and the nurse said I was, and then I asked how long the wait was, and she said that it’s long but she doesn’t know who went to Nova Scotia so she has to call the entire list.   I said, so approximately 3 years and she said, “Yeah could be longer”. I don’t think that three years is a very long time since I”ve been on the wait list over a year already, but I heard a lot of people say 6 years and that is too long?   I would really love to know the name of the new DR. in Bathurst.  I wonder what will happen, will Dr. Beausoleil transfer NS patients to NS and up north patient to Bathurst or just keep the list he has?     I’m so happy to have found this support group.   Keep us updated Monica