VSG surgery starting May 20 in St. John's

Hi everyone,

I have been reading posts in the community for many months, but have only recently "come out" about my own journey. 

Blessedly, I am scheduled for VSG here at the Health Sciences Centre with Dr. Pace on Friday May 20th, and in the interest of "paying it forward", I have started to blog about my journey here on ObesityHelp.com.

If you'd like to check it out, here is the link: www.obesityhelp.com/member/jdeon/uzone,blog/action,view/blog _id,311677/.

Obviously, there isn't really a patient support or information program up-and-running here yet, but I am totally willing to share my experiences with anyone.  I have gained so much inspiration, information and support from so many members here, and now I am hoping I can give something back.

Cheers, strength and love,
Jenn

Hi Jennn - I sent you a message via facebook. So glad you decided to "come out" about your surgery. I did the same thing as well - hoping that I could pay it forward. And I have - at least 2 people who initially asked me about my surgery have gone on to have RNY. Sadly - they had to travel - but hopefully WLS will be more accessible to people in this province as the bariatric program gets going. Take care!

Mary

Awesome. I am trying to get something set up for me but I dont know Dr.pace's fax number and my dr here wont send it unless I can get him a fax number. Do you know his fax number?  
I was planning to get the by-pass done but now I know the mcp covers the VSG I am now going for that one.  I hope everything works out for you.

Thanks for your good wishes - right back atcha!

Dr. Pace's fax number is 709-777-7044 and his office phone is 709-777-6558 - his assistant's name is Janice, and she is very nice and helpful.

I wouldn't wait too long - I image the waitlist will balloon quickly!  BEST OF LUCK!

(I just saw the respirologist this morning and got the official GREEN LIGHT, so I am now in the t-minus ten day countdown - very excited!)

How exciting. I wish you the best of luck and thanks.

Do you need to have a referral to see Dr. Pace?

Wow Jenn,

Congrats on being the first!  I knew they were starting on May 20 but my understanding was they were going through a wait list they had in 2002 first.  If your referral didn't go in until 2010 they my information must be wrong. (I read your blog by the way,  very well written).  I have been on the list since the end of February 2011 but still have not heard anything.  When did your referral go in?  I too am going for VSG.  I have been researching WLS for several years now and I truly believe its the best surgery for me.  I tried to track down Dr. Pace a couple of years ago when I heard he was trying to get something going.  I sent several emails to his assistant at MUN but never got a reply.  It wasn't until Terrie on this site posted in early February that he had just started taking names that I was finally able to get on a list.  Do you have any idea how many of these surgeries they plan to do a week?  I really hope once they get started they will move down the list fairly quickly.  They don't give too much information at his office.  I don't know if I'm # 20, 200 or 2000. 

Can you post a list of the tests you had to complete before surgery?  I'm from central and I'm hoping to get most of them done at home.

Anyway,  I am really happy for you!  I hope your surgery goes wonderfully and you have a quick recovery.  Hope to join you on the losers bench soon.

Tina

Hi Tina,

The interventions I have had so far are:

- March 22 - referral appointment with Dr. Pace at the clinics in the HSC (Health Sciences Centre) to discuss my candidancy for surgery. We chatted for under 5 minutes and he felt around my abdomen - a nurse took my weight and height afterwards.

- April 23 - met with the dieticians at HSC for a 1 hour appointment to review the 2 week trial liquid diet, the pre-surgery 8-day liquid diet, and other surgery-related dietary stages

- May 5 - got hooked up to the gear from the Puminary Function Lab at the HSC for an overnight sleep study, which I completed at home and returned the gear to them the next day

- May 10 - met with Dr. Jamie Farrell (hottie, BTW!), the respirologist to discuss results of sleep study. Received prescription for a CPAP machine. (see my blog for more on this)

- May 12 - met with respirology nurse at Lawtons and picked up my CPAP machine and have been using it every night since (it's awesome, I sleep so much better now)

- May 17 (tomorrow) - have follow-up appointment with dietician

- May 18 (Wednesday) - have 4 hour pre-admission appointment at the HSC

- May 20 - Surgery Day at the HSC

Hope some of this is informative!

Thanks so much Jenn.  This is exactly what I was looking for.  Please keep up updated as time goes on.

This is very nice to know ...Thank you. Jenn
I also had to have an upper GI. I was told on
the phone to have my family doc. arrange it.