Just starting out

 Hi,
I am really interested in WLS. I am 32 5'2 280. I have been dieting on and off for 10 years no with no real sucess. I was down to a size 12 in 2007 when my husband was on tour(military) but soon after bounced right back up :****il I had my son I was in really good shape and was always around 120-130. For the past 3 mons I have been doing 30-50 excersize 3-5 times per week and honestly its tuff.....and instead of getting easier its getting harder. Im really worried its gotten out of control and losing the weight with excersise is becoming out of reach. I called and found out that in NB Gastric bypass is covered but you have to meet the requirments, which they did nto know, I was told to go see my doctor. What are the requirments? Can somebody who has been thgh this process recently kind of fill me in on how it all works from a patient prospective? What did you do first ect.... 

 I was referred by my family doctor in 2007...now my sleeve surgery is on Thursday of this week...the 10th...but I am from PEI and we are on an "out-if-province" list...might be faster for a NB resident...and it may also depend on your medicial history.  I am only on blood pressure meds and nothing else...some are on a lot of meds and even a sleep machine...so I am not sure how it works as far as the list goes...but just get to your doctor and get him to send a referal...then call and ask questions after.....asking for the meeting of the doctor doesn't cost you anything and may change your life.....Good luck....

HI:

I had my surgery in November.  My family Dr. wrote a referral several years ago.  I was 39 when I had my surgery and I am also 5'2".  At my heaviest I weighted over 300 lbs.  I did lose weight on my own and got down to 240 lbs but I could not lose anymore on my own.  When I recevied the letter from the surgeon's office it could not have come at a better time for me. 

When I first went to the consult I fully expected to be rejected because I had no co-morbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes etc... Other than being obese I had not life threatening illness.  I also proved that I could lose weight on my own.  I was really thrown when they approved me immediately.  They said that you needed to have a BMI of 40 and above for NB Medicare to cover it and you have to have a history of weight issues.  They really took a comprehensive interview and screening process.  They explained that the surgery is a tool but not a solution.  You need to work with it and make some lifestyle changes.  I was really impressed with them and their professionalism. 

Just stick with trying on your own and see if your family Dr. will make a referral.  It will take time to get your inital consult but once you do things move much quicker.  From what I understand from other patients is that they are catching up a bit and the back log seems to have broken a bit more.  Some patients having surgery now have been on the list since 2007, 2008 and 2009 (5-3 years).  I was 39 when I had my surgery and if you are 32 you still are better off even if you have to wait a year or so.  I wished I had this earlier.  Good Luck!  It is well worth the wait.

 My doctor's referral was sent in 2004 and my first consult in NB (I'm from PEI) will be in June. Some people are opting to bypass the provincially funded surgery and choosing self pay in Mexico. It's about $6000 plus your flight. Start the process with your doctor right away and do your research. These forums are a wealth of information, explore the ones on various surgeries (VSG seems to be popular), different provinces, and Mexico if interested in that route. 

I wish you well on your journey and keep us posted!

 First step is to have your family doctor send in a referal. I was 53 when I finally had my surgery for the lapband. I am 5'2" and weighed 204, when I finally got my call to see Dr. B- --- 7 years from the time my doctor sent in a referral. I understand the wait time isnt as long now, but if you want this you need to get your referral sent in as soon as possible. you will have plenty of time to research it while you wait. I had the first apt. with Dr. B and it was a simple interview where he asked why I wanted surgery and how I had tried in the past to lose it. He told me there he felt the lapband was best for me as  I didnt have a whole lot to lose. I had co-morbibities that qualified me, high bp, diabetes, high cholesteral. Frankly I felt terrible, My quality of life was suffering. My next apt. was for a couple hours of classroom information session. A couple of months later I did 2 weeks of the liver shrinking diet which consisted of liquid protein drinks. I only lost 5 lbs during that time and I did not cheat at all. Oh and shortly before the time I started the liquids I had an apt. to get weighed again and I had gained as I took that opportunity to eat what I thought I would never be able to have anymore. ( stupid I know, but was told quite common). 3 Years later I weigh 170, and although am still working to get to my goal of 150 I am so glad I had the surgery. Just recently started circuit training and am hopeful this will  get my scale moving down again. The lapband wont take the weight off without a lot of help from you. you will still have to watch what you eat, you will still have to exercise. I am so thankful medicare paid for my surgery and my continuing aftercare, such as fills, nutritionist visits and even counselling if you want it.Hope this info helps and good luck. As a side note on my last visit last month, I was told Dr. B is not doing as many lapbands now but rather another type of wls. I should have asked why?

 I had VSG surgery in Mexico on December 7th 2011. I am down nearly 65 lbs. I am very happy with my choice to go to Mexico. I made sure I had the full pre-op work-up (including psych consult). I paid off my surgery with my income tax. so it was virtually painless (to my wallet anyway)

I didn't want to spend another 5 years on a waitlist in NB to see a surgeon who only does a limited numer of procedures each year. The surgeon that I went to in Mexico has done over 7000 procedures and is a specialist in VSG. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Unfortunatly my tax returns are not that big :( Can i ask how muc it was for the surgery in Mexico?

I am from New Brunswick and I had my referral sent in October 2008.  I am still waiting and was told it will probably be another year.  My only stress about this is that I am planning the first family trip away to my mums home town in Germany next summer.  I am afraid that the surgery will be just before I go and then I wouldn't be feeling all that great.  My friend went out of province to get it done, medicare paid for the surgery but she paid for the travel and drs appt.  I can't afford this.  I think she waited only about four months.  Crazy, but I have to wait here.  If you are just starting out, I would have your fam dr send referrals to both Dr Beausoleil and the two drs in Bathurst.  I think the drs in bathurst are newer and probably don't have the long wait lists. 

That is sooo long to have to wait, hopfully after waiting so long your sugery will not interfere with your planned trip. I spoke to my dr yesterday and he said that he sent the referall off to the dr in bathhurst...Does anyone know the name of the dr in bathurst?
Im interested in which province your friend went to, I thought that NB had one of the shortest wait times?

She went to Ontario.  I don't know why her wait was so much less.  The dr in bathurst is Dr Marc Savoie.  I am not sure of the new dr with him though.