VSG surgery starting May 20 in St. John's

Do you have information, ie. Dr. contact info that you could share for someone considering gastric surgery.  Thank  you.

Hi Safetyman,

There is a team at Eastern Health now performing the Vertical Sleeve gastric surgery - referrals from your family physician would go to Dr. David Pace at the Health Sciences Centre.

The wait list, as I understand it, is now about a 4-5 year wait, so I don't recommend delaying. :)

For more information, you can contact the nurse practitioner who coordinates the program at Eastern Health, Kara Slade, at [email protected].

All the best!

Jenn

Congrats. Jdeon... As Tina said, I only got the news in Feb. that they were taking names for a wait list. As far as I can tell, I assumed I was in the top 10 anyway. 2 weeks before, I was talking to Janice and she was not taking any names. I don't understand how you got on a list in 2010 unless you were one of the people he saw in 2002.I am going to go in now and start following your blog. I appreciate any info. you can give us. I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery. I am going for the gastric bypass surgery. I hope I can get an appointment soon. I have been sleeping in a sitting position for the last year and a half. Can't breath laying down. Gettiing desperate... Again, this is awesome news to hear that the process has started. Best of luck, Terrie

Hi - Anyone out there who had had a consult sent into Dr Pace - whether it was years ago - or recently - needs to follow up with phonecalls to make sure they are in his files. If you had a consult sent in years ago - there was no program - and heaven knows where your consult is. Get your doc to do a new one. Find out if they have it at Dr. Pace's office . I work in Health Care and know all about how one piece of paper can end up far from where it should be. These days - the health care system is stressed and things don't always go the way they should. So - if you are waiting - be pro-active - get on the phone - find out exactly what's up with your consult - and keep checking back. Good luck to you all!

I TOTALLY agree with Mary - don't wait - get a referral into Dr. Pace's office ASAP.  From what I understand, he'll be doing 2 surgeries a week - which is under 100 a year, if you take into account vacations and whatnot.  The waitlist will explode, especially as word gets out.

I just blogged about my own road to referral - http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jdeon/blog/2011/05/16/the-road-to-referral/

Please don't hate me because it was a relatively short one - I KNOW I have a horseshoe up my bum. Pray that you all can get done soon too!

I'm Jealous! Jealous! Jealous! but very happy for you Jenn.  You'll be on the loser's bench in no time.

We don't hate you at all, just wish we were in your shoes right now.
It is so frustrating having to wait sooo long. Plus, we can't get an answer about
where we are on the wait list. If we only new that it would help so much.
Good Luck and a speedy recovery Jenn. :)

Hi,
I am new here also.My referral was sent in on March 1st.Was talking to Janice a few days ago.and she had it there.So I asked what do I do now just wait?She said yes.I asked how many on the list.She said about 50 from 2002 maybe less now due to people getting it outside of province.I did ask (Jenn)why some people who were just referred are being done.Nothing against you hun and never mentioned your name.She said that he was tring some lower BMI's first to get used to it.Anyway so happy for you Jenn and hope all goes well.Getting close now.

Wow newfie88 you must have the magic touch.  I've asked Janice about the wait list several times but she will never tell me anything.  My referral went in around Feb 23 so I'm about a week ahead of you.  Did she tell you how may were ahead of you on the current list, other than the ones from 2002 I mean?  I asked as well, Jenn, why someone from 2010 was being done before the 2002s (just trying to understand how thing work).  She cut me right off and said I would have to ask Dr. Pace when I see him.  I explained that I'm not mad or upset, just trying to understand how all this is going to work.  I guess she thought I was from the 2002 list.  When I said my referral went in in Feb 2011 she said then what are you complaining about.  I said I wasn't complaining, I was just wanting to know how things would work.  She is usually very nice but I must have caught her on an off day. 

Jenn,  don't think we are complaining about you getting done so early.  Someone had to go first and It makes complete sense that the first few Dr. Pace does would have a lower BMI and probably no other health issues too.  I'll be sending good thoughts your way on Friday.  Dr. Pace may be new to this surgery but from what I hear he is an excellent surgeon. Try and post a quick note as soon as you can (or have someone else do it ) to let us know how the surgery went.  I'll be in St. John's this weekend and I'll be wondering how your doing the whole time I'm there.  Best Wishes for a speed recovery.

Tina

Hi Tina: Soooo happy that you finally got your call. At least I know now
that he is not doing them in any order of receiving the referals since
mine was a month before yours. He must be doing some easier ones
first. Which I understand but hate.>>LOL Waiting not so patiently....