Weight Loss Surgery in NL

HI, I'm new to this site and I am just wondering if anyone can tell me if weight loss surgery is being done in NL?  I have been approved for gastric bypass surgery to be covered by MCP for medical reasons, that was about a year ago.  At that time, I was told that Dr. Pace was willing to do surgery here in NL but he was not able to because there was no OR time available for him to do so. I was told that I would have to go out of province and was put on a wait list with Dr. Beausoleil in Quebec. I was told his wait list is about 5 years. I have been reading some of the posts here and have seen some people talk about having appointments with Dr. Pace and about getting the surgery, so, I am wondering if anyone can tell me if Dr. Pace is now doing surgery in NL??  I'm happy that I am finally on a wait list with the surgeon in Quebec but 5 years is a long time to wait while being unhealthy and unhappy...any information anyone has would be greatly appreciated...thanks

Hi Tracy024:Welcome to the site and  Yes! Dr. Pace has done some surgeries.
If you read back to jdeon's blogs. She and another Tracy have had their surgeries.
Have your Dr. fax a referal to him and get on the list. It seems right now you will
still have a couple years to wait. Apparantly from what I can gather there are now
a lot of people on the list ahead of you. Oh, and I think Dr. Beau is in N.B. not Quebec,
I think, if I'm mistaken someone correct me. I have had my first office visit with Dr.
Pace and like you, I was interested in getting the gastric bypass. After talking to Dr.
Pace I am now going to have the sleeve done. He convinced me that is the most
effective and less invasive and hard on your body. He explained that with us being
over weight we are not good candidates for any surgery. He said he likes the sleeve
and that is the only surgery that he is doing at the moment. He said if I really wanted
the gastric he would do it but not in the near future. I would have to wait. So, I have
decided to have the sleeve and he said if later I feel that it is not working the way I
want he can easily change it to gastric.Anyway, Tracy go back and read up in here
about everything and if there is anything else you are wondering about just ask.
Here is a link to Jenn's blog about her surgery.
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jdeon/uzone,blog/action,vi ew/blog_id,311677/

Hi Terrie...Thanks so much for replying to my post!  I have been reading the link you gave me and I am going to call my doctor to see if she can get in touch with Dr. Pace so I can hopefully see him!  You are probably right about Dr. Beau being in NB.  My doctor told me previously that there is a doctor in NB and I think another in Quebec so I probably got it mixed up.  If you don't mind another question, I was just wondering how long it took for you to get in and see Dr. Pace and if you know how long it will be until you can have surgery? Just to say, I'm very happy to have found this website and forum, seems like alot of information and alot of support from other members :-)

Welcome Tracey.  This is a great site to get support from local people who are in the same situation.  Dr. Pace's wait list started in January 2011 and some of us are lucky enough to get surgery this year.  There was a list from back in 2002 that I  think had about 50 people on it and they went to the top of the list.  I myself had tried to make contact with Dr. Pace's back in 2008 but was unable to get anywhere.  I have been on the list since Feb 2011 and I will be having surgery sometime this fall.  Since Dr. Pace is new to this surgery he met with several patients (I heard between 30 and 50) and they are being done in the order of the lowest BMIs first.  This is because patients with higher BMI and more difficult to operate on.  He will operate on patients with BMIs from 40-60.  The sooner you can get a referral in to him the better.  I hear his wait list is growing quickly.

Tina

Hi Tina...thanks for the info, I really appreciate it....I called my doctor's office today and I have an appointment for next wednesday July 27 to see her and talk about getting a referral into Dr. Pace.....finally, there seems to be some hope to get my life back!!!!

Dr. Pace's fax number is 709-777-7044 and his office phone is 709-777-6558.  Your doctor will need this fax number in order to fax the referral.  You should also call and confirm that they have received the referral once you know it has been sent.  There have been a few instances where referrals have been lost or misplaced.  Dr. Pace's assistant is Janice.  A nice lady but I think she may be overwhelmed with the the number of calls she receives from frustrated patients who want this surgery ASAP.  I would not want to be in her shoes. 

Thank-you Tina!!  I've written the numbers down to take to my doctor with my on Wednesday!!

Hi Tracy: I had my referal in since Jan. 23rd. I called his office every 2 weeks for
about 6 months before Janice would take any referals. Mine was one of the 1st.
she took. I finally got an app. on June 16th. He wants me to lose 30lbs. for the
surgery. He said he likes the patient to have a BMI 60 and below for a safer surgery.
Mine is 61.something. I have a very bad fluid problem and celeulitis in my feet & legs.
It is so hard to lose any weight. Plus, I can't walk much for excercise. I have managed
to lose  9 lbs. so far but I have come to a stand still at the moment, with my weight
going up and down from one week to the next. It's very frustrating when I know that
just 30 lbs. is keeping me from having my surgery done before Christmas. Anyway,
Good Luck with your doc. and keep us informed. That's how everyone gets the info.
they need. Oh, I have been trying to have this surgery now for almost 3 years. I
thought that I was on a waiting list in Ont. but then found out they were not going
to take anymore patiences from out of province because their waiting lists were too
long. I also concidered N.B. and heard it was 5-7 years. I have even tried to get MCP
to cover me in the states but they would not agree to it.

Hi Terrie...thanks again for getting back to me :-)  I understand how frustrating it is to try to lose weight.  I've been on just about every diet I can think of, some that worked, some that didn't.  When I did loose weight, I'd always gained it back plus more.  The health problems make it frustrating too when you want to exercise but you can't.....But you have lost 9lbs and that is a great thing, good for you...just keep thinking about how much you want the surgery and how worthwhile it will be, you can do it!!!! 

Hi Tracy - you have been given good info in the responses to your questions. Do follow the advice people gave you to call and follow up and make sure your referral gets where it needs to go., And then call again. I know Janice must be overwhelmed with all the calls - but paperwork does get lost or mis-placed - as some of the ladies in waiting (as I like to call them) can tell you. And I apologize if there are men in waiting - I just haven't seen any postings by any men in waiting. I had my surgery in Moncton, NB by Dr. Beausoliel in 2008. My wait time from when my referral was sent to time of surgery was 3 yrs. And that wait I hear is now 5-7yrs. With WLS now being done in our home province - I highly doubt MCP would approve out of province funding. I have never heard of them covering out of country funding - but I could be wrong. This is a great site - with lots of support and information. Don't forget the main surgery site on OH as well - especially the one relating to the type of surgery you are seeking - lots of info there as well. Good luck and take care!