Another "newbie"

 Hi Everyone!  I'm new to this thing, but i have been checking the posts for the last week or so.  I have found you guys to be very informative and supportive of newbies like me.  I too am from Dartmouth, NS and have been on Dr. Bs list for over a year and was told last week that it'll probably be another 5 years before I'd have a date for a consult.  I also spoke with Diane here and I'm on the list for Dr. Ellesmere etc. but she said it'll probably be a 2 years before I could see him.  So I've decide to self pay as I too am tired of being sick and tired!  Have any of you got any recommendations of where to go, which doctor to see etc that might be under the $16000.00 mark.  I'm sorry but I find that extremely frustrating that it's sooooo much here in Canada.  What do you guys think about getting it done in Mexico or the States?  

Any advice would be appreciated,
Jeni

hI I'm patsy from Dartmouth and I was self pay with Dr. B.  I'm not sure but you should ask them how long the wait is if you are self pay.  I only waited less than a year and he never said so, but i think the self pay had something to do with it.  You'll probably get a note from nsgallisvingbythesea as she went to Dr. Christiou in Quebec.  I don't know how much she paid though.  But check back with Dr. B's office and ask about self pay.  I'm curious if it could move you up a bit.  I only paid $5700 and MSI gave me back 1900.  it's not that bad.  let me know. patsy

 Hey Patsy, thanks for the info.  I did call Dr. B's office and asked about the self pay and they told me that i still had to wait regardless.  Sounds funny to me, unless he's got so many patients that he has to make a limit somewhere.  Thanks for the help.  I was also wondering where you go for your fills?  I was thinking of having the surgery out of NS but I'll need someone to do the fills.

Hi Jeni,
I know it must be frustrating, I was lucky not to have waited that long.  Maybe you should consider Dr. Savoie in Bathurst.  He is a new Dr. that only started last year.   I am having my surgery next Wednesday.  I know he will be starting other consultation at the end of the summer as per other comments from this website.
But if you are willing and ready to pay I have this website http://www.swlc.ca/about-swlc/ that they do the surgery in Ontario.  I had my phone consultation with the Dr. and I was ready to go that way too when finaly Dr. Savoie started here in NB so I cancelled everything over in Ontario.  My cousin had it done a that clinic last April and he said it was very professional and he was well taken care off.  My cousin paid $16 000 and that was the price that I was ready to pay too.  But I got lucky and heard about Dr Savoie.  So you might want to contact you Dr and ask them to send in your refferal to Dr.Marc Savoie in Bathurst......I am sure you will not have to wait 5 yrs.

Hope this help!!
Have a good evening!
Lynn

Hey ITSABOUTTIME, hows it going, sorry I dont even know your name, My name is cecile babin by the way hihi.

Hows it going with the fluid diet? Mine is going ok, its hard but Im already 10 days in tomorrow so minus well stick with it. i have no clue how I did it but I just did hehe.

I lost 10.5 pounds so far by doing the ensure diet , I was hoping for more but its ok.

Hey just wondering are you getting nervous, its so weird Im no nervous at all, just looking forward to recovering and losing my fat.

Well take care and Ill be thinking about you on Wednesday.

See ya

Hi Celine,

Good to hear everything is ok with you.  Me too as a matter of fact....I am doing pretty good.  The only thing that I am really missing is my morning coffee and also I have to make supper for the kids because they are only 6 and 4 yrs old so that part is a little bit hard because when I see really food I am just tempted to eat....but other than that  I feel really good too so that is just great.
I've lost 11 pounds as of this morning that is awsome.  I thought I would of loss more than that too but I am ok with that.

You know what I don't really have time to think about the surgery yet because I am so busy with work, the kids and all the other activities and all that stuff so so far I am not nervous....I am sure it will hit a one point hehe.  But I am so ready for this surgery that I might not even get nervous.  Like you I want to have it done and start recoving and lose the pounds hehe!

By the way my name is Lynn Boudreau!
I will definetly be thinking about you too on Wednesday!!!
Good luck and I will email you sometime next week!!!
Lynn

Hi Jeni

Welcome

I live in HRM and was self pay last June 2008.

I had RNY in Montreal with Dr Nicholas Christou

It was either $18,000.00 or $18,500.00 sorry I can't remember the exact amount at the moment - ya think it would be etched in to my brain! lol

He is one of Canadas leading bariatric surgeons - he trained Dr B in fact.

At the time his waiting list was about 2-3 months - not sure what it is currently.

Here's the link- it has a lot of information about WLS so its great to add into your resources

www.weightlosssurgery.ca

His site has recently been re-vamped because of the influx of patients he will be receiving from Ontario - as OHIP has now approved him to do their WLS . Here is the info about costs:

http://www.weightlosssurgery.ca/en/amicandidate/step3

There are some other surgeons in Quebec that do private/self pay as well I was told . Some Clinics in Ontario as well but generally the wait is longer depending on the type of surgery.

Dr S was not up and running when I was doing my research about surgery and I was told anywhere from 5-8 years from the Halifax clinic that had just opened and also Dr B's office- that is why I was self pay.

Jane on the NS board just did Mexico for VSG - she goes by
hassett on the forums- she has posted on the NS board you could send her a private message and ask her details .

In doing my research I could not come up with a US based clinic that was under $20,000.00 that was in the Northern US/Eastern US  locations that was a large bariatric centre performing RNY or VSG.

Good luck with your research.

deb

they don't do lapband in NS at all.  I go to moncton each time i need a fill.  It's not that bad.  Better than going to Ontario or Quebec in mybooks.  Anyway, best of luck with your quest.

Patsy

I know that you mentioned that they are doing the xray thing when you get fills right now but just incase anyone is wondering - does the lady in New Glasgow who I think is a retired nurse still do fills ???

Thats what I was told people did originally from this area when I researched lap band - they went to her for fills- although I know some get their family doctors to do it.

?

deb

 Deb:

Where do you go to get your fills after your surgery?