Nothing with the Capital Health Obesity Network makes sense...

 Awww thanks Coreena, I think you are amazing!  I love your spirit and the need to act instead of just talking about it.  Let's make the t-shirt instead of thinking about it!!  

We need to develop an action group. 

I wasn't going to say this, and just as a side bar, I've applied to the Faculty of Medicine at UBC to study for a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Science (online).  I am seriously looking at targeting this situation or something near it as a potential thesis. You might as well study something close to you.  

Anyway, perhaps at the next meeting we will form an action group?  This could be step 1.  

Any thoughts or comments?

Chris :)
 

That's awesome and best of luck with UBC, you sure will have a lot on your hands with that study!


Action Group (Step 1)

Sounds great to me,
let's see what others say....

Carley, eventhough I know first hand how frustrating it is when the clinic lose files or misplace them, i can empathize with them in their predicament on being underfunded and short staffed for the amount of intake they do have it must be difficult. I realize it must be frustrating for them but in no way does it excuse them for the unprofessional way that they speak to people etc. I realize too that we as the "referrals in waiting" can be hot tempered , exasperated and impatient in waiting but still a professional being ignorant is no excuse...even if shortstaffed....as well as the missing/misplaced files is of a concern...but ourselves being hot tempered and ignorant will not get us anywhere either. The method how people are chosen is not laid out by the clinic...so put the blame where it lies.

So what can we do? as an individual we have to take our own health into our own hands and be proactive....stop blaming an do something. we have done it too much in our lives with our health and weight and we have to approach this the same...who is accountable and go after them. Like coreena said ...we need to make a noise where it matters.  we have to he heard to make things happen.

Nannydeb i commend you at offering your services...and thanks they did accept...(and i can only imagine that they will have a screening etc as they do for ALL their volunteers at the hospital through) this at least is an attempt in the right direction....not just complaining and not doing anything..kudos....and it's nice to know someone who knows what it's like will be a part of helping the referrals coming in so they at least get seen ;)

 

Coreena.... have a meeting..invite the mlas of the area...they want to help the people...pick their brains on what can be done or what they can do ..or people they know who knows higher ups to get them to do something for the health care for the obesity network....we can all be there to tell our stories...invite the media too. I am not much into politics and the only names i can think of in my area is Scott Armstrong and Lenore Zann..... they both i know are on facebook...an easy way to get ahold of them.

NSBlue,

I'll need a "sign up" list of attendees before I will exhaust myself with contacting the suggested guests.    If we're gonna make this work we need some individuals that will commit to the effort!

Will you plan to join?

sorry i hadnt seen your posts when i was typing and had hit send....yes i will join...i will do whatever i can

The way I see it, the only way that we can make a difference is by being vocal, and getting as many people that have similar experiences to speak out as well.  This is hard, as WLS is a very private thing for many people, and unlike ANY other surgery, is subjected to unwarranted advice and judgement from the people who claim to "know" you best.  So, I believe the best way to approach this is through a business model.  Does anybody know how much it costs a taxpayer for one bariatric surgery?  Or how to find that information out?  I have asked the Health department for it, and haven't gotten anywhere.  I am assuming the restriction on surgery and OR time is a cost cutting measure.  Therefore, I would propose that the government should look at the costs associated with chronic diseases, that are associated with obesity and do THAT math.  Its more cost effective for them to pay for bariatric surgery than to treat the co morbidities.  The other issue is there are VERY few surgeons that do these procedures in the area, mainly due to NOT getting any OR time.  SO, that is why private clinics are cleaning up.  My opinion on the ON is that they are overwhelmed, underfunded, and muddling through with little or no guidelines, thus the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and maybe the decisions are made on the SENSE of urgency, rather than the urgency itself.  That's wrong.  I am up for any kind of meeting, if you want to discuss strategy, or to try to organize some kind of formal complaint system.  I think it's time that the provincial government who have made it a priority to address the growing obesity issue take some responsibility for assisting those who are already obese.  It seems all the programs are focussed on awareness and prevention, rather than treatment.  I have no issues with talking to people about this problem, I know I am obese, I also know it's not due to a glandular problem, or PCOS, or thyroid,but my lifestyle.  I am willing to put it out there for scrutiny, so they can match it to other lifestyle conditions, such as heart disease from unhealthy habits, lung disease from smoking, to name a couple.  I don't expect special treatment, nor do I expect more than anyone else from my health care system, but I do think it's criminal to be ignored, shunted off and forgotten, because your condition is not deemed as 'important' as somebody else's, simply due to lack of understanding of the issue.  Ok, rant over, lol....
I am available most evenings and weekends!
Shannon

sigh me up I will be there with bells on.  I am frigging frustrated as hell , I have sent a letter to my MLA and to to the chronicle herald and never got any reply.  They still cant find my referral  as of yet .

  NS Blue -- This is Obesity Help -- A place to come and feel safe and vent your frustrations, voice your concerns, get help from your peers.

The QE2 Obesity Network Team are the people who hold the opportunity for me to begin my new, healthier life in their hands.  I've handled them with kid gloves for 13 yrs.  I've called when I could soften my voice, remain calm, and have resorted to practically begging them to take notice of me.  

The method of how people are chosen is 100% the choice of the staff at Obesity Network.  The number of surgeries is not their choice, however the people they operate on is.

When frustration and desperation sits in, I felt that this was a warm, safe place to fall.   I've never judged one single soul on here in my time, and take offense to how you described me without even knowing me or my story based on how you read a post in a forum.  I knew this message may not be well-received, but I didn't think my character and personality would be attacked.
Walk a day in my shoes NSBlue...  before you pass judgment on me and presume things about my situation or how I've dealt with the staff at the Obesity Network.

It's rather presumptuous of you to think any dealings that I've had with the Obesity Network have been hot-tempered, exasperated, complaining, ignorant and impatient.  So I take offense to that. My message on this forum was not attacking any one person or any patient, but the Obesity Network as it's own entity.  Too bad you didn't do the same.

This will be my last open post voicing my concerns with how surgeries are scheduled with the Obesity Network.  People who have not had similar experiences do not understand, and are willing to put blinders on and keep thinking everything is wonderful and the Obesity Network is doing all it can do.

Coreena, or anyone else, feel free to message me privately on Facebook or on here, and I'll contribute to the noise making for the  people that actually show compassion and empathize or live with similar neglect.

Chris -- you're adorable!  I'd honestly hate for you to be a boat-rocker when you're so close to having your surgery.  Stay quiet on the sidelines until you get what you want, would be my advice = )   

Carley I appologize if you think i was labeling you as those things.... i had said "I realize too that we as the "referrals in waiting" CAN be hot tempered , exasperated and impatient in waiting" i never said YOU alone nor that YOU WERE ....I was talking in general in the fact that people can feel this way in waiting to hear from them.....i realize the way i had typed it may have not read that way for you.

My referral was misplaced...not only with ellsmere's office but also with dr Klassins....was i exaperated? yes..i had given up on them until i ended up back in hospital again years later and had to send a second referrral to dr ellsmere....and when i contacted them 2 months later...once again...cant find it...and was given quite the response from them to find another doctor or hospital but like you did remain calm with them...but it didnt change how i felt in no way.

 Hi Carly, 

Don't worry I won't rock any boats until after my surgery for sure!  Thanks for your concern, because I do agree with you.  

Now after reading what you have said, I really would love for you to continue voicing your opinion on this forum.  Even further, I would suggest that you are a necessity and asset to this group.  Move past that comment and stay with us.  We need you here!  

My two cents, 

Chris :)