Good luck, with volunteering to help enter refferals into database.  I am sure they will appreciate the assistance. I wish I was in the city so I could also volunteer. 

Thanks Carly!

Of course I'm not the only one left out of the "private country club". There are thousands of us that keep on suffering (malnutrition due to excessive vommiting) because they can't find the care or know Dr. MacDonald can help in Amherst. It took me 3 years to finally learn he was still an active surgeon in this province, and that he would actually do something called a "revision". My family doctor had no idea where to turn and I only found out because I started a support group! Otherwise, I'd still be walking around with my fistula, puking 3-4 times/week if I tried to eat more than mush and my stomach attached to my liver!!!!!!! I had suffered from GERD since 1993 with severe spasms, and had Dr. Curry do a scope test which hurt like Hell, when he rammed that scope down through my band or staples!! He said I had GERD but didn't know how to treat it with a "pouch & band". Medication never worked and it's literally destroyed my beautiful teeth due to the acid!!! I had to live like this in silence for 17 years with many nights curled up in a ball because the pain was so bad and just had to wait out the spasms. Thankfully my sleeve removed this problem of a blind stomach and I can't express in words how good I feel to finally be NORMAL!

Right now while I'm in recovery waiting for my stomach to completely heal (seal together), I face a high risk of if I got a leak, I would have to high-tail my ass to Amherst for treatment! Yup! QEII will not treat it, even though they're doing the same surgery I've had.

And anyone, I mean ANYONE WHO'S had surgery out of province is TOLD TO RETURN TO THE CLINIC OF SURGERY. One lady I know had her bypass in INDIA....if she had a rupture or stricture, she has to fly back to India for help. I see this as neglect. It makes no sense and we should not have to move and follow our surgeons!

I'm not just looking at how it directly affects me, I'm more upset with what's happening today with this LIST and how shoddy this clinic is being run!!!! I'm still questioning how they're also part of an outside program which has nothing to do with bariatric surgery or MSI.

Just let me tell you, if I ever develop a stomach problem, I WILL go to my hospital that I pay taxes for, in Halifax, and I will not leave until I am treated! I'm sure it would make the news because I wouldn't back down!

Keep going Chris, don't let anything get in your way now! Honeybee, take care and best of luck with your banding!! We have a couple support group members who've done the same thing!

On a sidenote, more sickening than my referral being sent in 1998, and Honeybee's being sent in 1996 --- Coreena's initial surgery was done in Halifax by the former surgeon who was the only surgeon in the province to perform these surgeries for years.
Coreena's care will not be followed up by any member of the 'Obesity Network Team' at the QE2. I
I can't imagine having a liver transplant in Alberta, relocating to Halifax, and having no liver specialist here take care of you because they didn't perform the actual surgery. That scenario isn't even close to what happened to her. Imagine a liver transplant doctor, working out of the QE2 relocating to the US where they are better paid, only to have the hospital here unwilling to assist in your aftercare.
I despise the actions of the people managing the 'Obesity Clinic'. They make like it's a private country club, and I don't feel like it's fair or treating all of us equally. I've stayed quiet for over a decade. I've felt beaten down, defeated, abandoned. I can't wait until I'm strong enough to have my ***** spite.. and fight back. It's slowly resurfacing. Every once in awhile it peeks in and rants -- such as today : )

 Hi Carly, 

Yeah I totally get you and I know you aren't judging.  I can't beleive that you've been on the referral list since 1997!!! That is completely unacceptable!  Stupid question, but are you certain they have it? 

Funny thing is to that I should add, is that mom did get the call last week from Diana explaining that she no longer qualified for the procedure because they hadn't recognized before that she was out of province.  What's that all about?  It took them a year and an invite to figure that out.  She's been thinking for over the past year that she could do this and come to find out a year later, she in fact could not.  So no she waits for the Moncton site.  So if it's any consolation, they did do the right thing and removed mom from the list altogether.   Their charts, files, and info seems very disorganized and I fear that their rankings may not be cons****  It's a theory.  They cannot be maintaining our info in a database at all.  It's impossible.  As a health care provider myself (Respiratory Therapist), I have never in all my experience working in hospitals ever had such difficulty in receiving correct information or complete incompetence.  And honestly, I feel like I can not say a word.  I feel like they can hold this surgery over me and if I am not condusive to their "program," I would be relinquished of the opportunity for this surgery.  They shouldn't and god knows there are regulations and enforcements to prevent it, but people can still negatively affect your life.  

Now after surgery, I am going to have a few things to personally say to "the team."  And trust me, nothing will hold me back.  With some diplomacy and much respect, I will make a point (and I cannot wait).  

All in all, I am personally disgusted that you have been waiting since 1997.  That is beyond unacceptable.  Why am I ahead of you??  That makes no sense! 

Looking forward to hearing back from you!!

Chris
 

Hi Chris,

In no way was I intending to single you out as part of the problem, but only to use the story you told as a way to get my point across.   I've read other posts of yours that said that your Mom was being called for an information session in May/June in Halifax as well, so whatever province or however you're handling this is not my concern.  I totally agree with doing whatever needs to be done to take your own life into your own hands, doing what's necessary -- being pro-active and making things happen.  Believe me.... I would do exactly the same thing if I could.  I am not judging anyone for how they make this happen for themselves.  

I was merely using this as an example of how messed up Capital Health Obesity Network is, whether you look at the province someone resides in, what the patient's health issues are, or how long they have waited.  Things at the Obesity Network don't make sense.  I just believe that someone should be regulating how things are done there.

My referral for WLS was sent in February 1998 (1999?).  It went to Dr. MacDonald's office, and when he relocated, it was passed on to the Obesity Network when it was opened.  However, how they place people for surgery is messed up.  I can only talk from personal experience that my health has drastically been failing, and Obesity Network couldn't give one sweet f*ck what is different.  

I agree with having a triage as such, and people's health and willingness to help themselves assessed.  I also am a firm believer that regardless of someone's health or co-morbidities, local people should be treated by their own local healthcare prior to people from other provinces.  Especially since MSI will not cover a patient going from Nova Scotia to any other province because there is an option in place here where they can be treated.  The same should be in reverse.

I've asked how they create their waiting list.  The primary list is for people with co-morbidities by referral date.   That totally makes sense.  The secondary list is for people who don't.  However this list is sorted alphabetically, not by the date of their referral.  There are over 2000 people waiting for surgery, primary list holds steady at about 500.

Picture waiting in the Emergency Room to be seen by a ER doctor for a gall bladder attack, which needs to be dealt with, but ambulances keep coming.  Even ambulances just transferring patients from other hospitals they could have been treated at in their own province.
It would be like the Emerge triaging people alphabetically after the trauma rooms are full.  It's discouraging and sickening and messed up.

Coreena -- what bothers me so much is how you're left out of being able to be followed up or treated by any part of the Obesity Network 'team'.   I think the Obesity Network is a farce.  It infuriates me more than would be suitable to express on here.