Is Lap Band surgery offered via Laparscopy in Nova Scotia, Canada?

Hi,

I am a 42  yr old mother of 3 teenagers. I have lost and gained alot of weight over the years. I've lost over 100lbs before and wasn't any happier due to the sagging skin. But now I really have to make a decision with regards to getting help to lose weight. I was diagnosed two years ago with Type 2 Diabetes. I am 5'7 and weight 258lbs and my sugars have been out of control big time. I am taking medication, 2 pills twice a day and don't want to consider going onto insulin. Is there anything offered in Nova Scotia that isn't so invasive? Are there any surgeons in Nova Scotia that offer lapband surgery via laparscopy?

Any information anyone has would be so greatly appreciated. I've had two back surgeries due to a car accident 19 yrs ago and between the chronic pain and my diabetes I need help fast. I've read in a medical journal about how this surgery cures type 2 diabetes as it's considered a metabolic procedure and I do qualify according to the criteria presented in that journal.

Thanks so much,
Rose

I believe that only the Vertical Sleeve is done in Halifax NS Welcome to the forum!

Hi Rose,

Welcome to the forum! 

I originally wanted the lap bad too (probably a lot of people here did) but then I read more and more about both procedures...  I am really glad that I ended up with the VSG - there are no bands in there to "flip" or "slip", no port fills & un-fills, etc...  I know at least one person on here has had a revision from the band to the sleeve so I'm sure she can tell you more about that...  I find the sleeve to be very low maintenance (no fills), very easy (no vomiting, food getting stuck, etc...), and very effective, and to be honest, now that I have it I wouldn't want to reverse it.  :)  I know it sounds very harsh at first, but keep reading & asking questions - I'm so glad I had it done almost 7 months ago  :)  BTW, I don't mean to be down on the band, because I've never had one - just trying to let you know that my personal experience with the VSG has been positive  :)

Whichever you decide to go with you should get a referral from your doc right away since there is a pretty long waiting list in Halifax.  Good luck & welcome! 

Hi gals,

Thanks so much for your input. I am looking for information on everything and if the vertical sleeve is better than i certainly would love to hear more about it. I mentioned the lapband only because that's what you hear most about on tv and in magazines. As long as its' done via laparascopy then I'm all for it....i don't like the idea of huge incisions in the abdominal area. So how has your weight loss been coming along? How long of a wait list is there? Do other health problems like diabetes and chronic pain enable a person to climb the list more quickly? Is there a person I can contact or a name to give my doctor as I see her next week and want to get on this right away. My sugars have been as high as 42 and I have them down to about 9 right now......but I am experiencing numbness in my feet and some blurry vision....so I need to act now and not wait around anymore.

Thanks so much for your reply,

Rose

No problem, Rose  :)  You might want to check out this site - there is a referral form & lots of info from the Halifax clinic here:
http://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/default.aspx?page=SubPage&catego ry.Categories.1=112¢erContent.Id.0=32829
 
Also, we have monthly support groups and you are more than welcome to attend and ask questions & hear about our experiences in person - I'm not sure what area you're from but there is one is Lower Sackville and one in Truro...  It's a great opportunity to meet people in your shoes  :)  This is a great place for that too!

VSG is done via laparascope.  I had mine on July 13 and I have lost 83 lbs since surgery.  I'm not sure how long the wait list is but the sooner you're on it the better & I do believe that co-morbitities put you higher on the list.  The contact info can be found on the link above...

Holey smokes - blood sugar of 42 - that must have felt horrible!!!  Glad you have them under control now but I agree with the numbness it's time to get on the list...  I had type 2 diabetes prior to surgery & took 1000mg Metformin/day - the diabetes improved as I lost weight (I lost 90 lbs pre-op) and now (with an additional 83lbs lost) I don't take medications at all and my A1C is 4.1 & 4.2.   I know there is a gal here who was taking lots of insulin before surgery just a couple of months ago and she has reduced that amount drastically!

I've heard that the wait can be 1 or 2 years so get your Dr. to refer you as soon as possible. Check out this site:  cdha.nshealth.ca and go under obesity. There is a referral form on there that you need to print off and give to your Dr. to fill out and fax in. The site explains all about the surgery and the diet you will have to follow after. The New Brunswick forum has alot of Banders so you might want to check that out too.There are some great people on this forum like Angie that are very helpfup!! Good luck!

Oops - I see that Ruthann already gave you the site!  :) 

Thanks for the info....I've downloaded the forms from the website and will hand them over to my family dr. next week. I have been seeing a pain specialist and he feels that with my health problems besides being overweight I won't have to wait that long......which would be nice.

I am embarking on a rigid exercise program now so that I won't hopefully have too much sagging skin to deal with but am making plans for a tummy tuck as I know I will  need that especially after having three kids....LOL

Hi Rose;
Welcome to the forum.
Good luck with the referral. You can ask to be put on the wait list for NB (band) as well, but it is my understanding that there is more like a 5 year wait there. You are also able to go to Ontario if you are willing to pay. MSI will (apparently) cover some of the costs, but I believe you are still on the hook for around $10K (this was information I never bothered to verify, so take it with a grain of salt).

I, like Angie had started out looking for the band as well, but after reading up on the band, changed my outlook completely. I was "sleeved" on November 16th and have lost 68lbs (and not exercising anywhere near where I should be at present).

I can tell you that there is nothing "easy" about this choice or procedure, every day it is necessary to reinvent yourself - but I wouldn't change it even if I could.

The actual surgery is relatively short and (other than the fact that they sever approximately 85% of your stomach and suck it out through a hole) really fairly non-invasive.

It hurts, don't kid yourself ... but you have given birth to three kids, you've dealt with plenty of pain, no doubt. It passes fast enough and like labor, you scarcely remember (or maybe it just doesn't matter once you've seen the fruits of that labor).

I do not hesitate to recommend this procedure if one is committed to the whole process (read/the changes required to really make it work for you).

As to the plastic surgery, try to put that to the back of your mind for now. I was worried about it, too ... but I find now I am just enjoying the benefits of easier movement and an over all feeling of success. My skin is behaving fairly well at this stage and I'll deal with the "Sharpei look" if and when I have to - but not until after I reach my goal.

Until then, I have my sights set on the weight loss and changes in my habits.

Best of luck ... prepare yourself for at least a year on the wait list.

Hi,

I am 52 years old and live in Nova Scotia. I am looking at to have lap band surgery I have a BMI of 43. Although I am a nurse I have very little knowledge in this area. Does anyone know the wait times, how I can become connected, can I get this done in another province and still be covered

Any information anyone can offer would be most welcomed

 

Heather