Ok, wait, what? Qualify?

After a post yesterday where someone was not given the go ahead after her Nut. appt, I've seen another post today with a reply," ...waiting to see if you qualify..."

Can someone please enlighten me.  If one was to not "qualify" when would they be told? 

After completing the nutrition class,  all my one on one assessment appts, and a psych appt, it is my understanding that my file has gone to rounds & I am to receive a call in a few weeks with an appt date to meet a surgeon.

I would like to think if I was not demonstrating the right behavioral changes, self accountability, or a be a good candidate for whatever reason, that it would have already been discussed during one of these appts.

Do I need to stay away from this forum for the next couple of weeks as to not freak myself out?

Ack!

It really isn't a matter of "not qualifying" rather than requiring another appointment to address issues or allow one more time to adjust to new habits. This could happen with the doctor, nut, social worker etc. However, if you required more appointments you would know, They will/should be up front with you at your appointment. It sounds like you have been given the go ahead up until this point and one of the last steps is to see the surgeon so you have nothing to worry about.

Take care

Personally, thru my journey I would filter and only take in what I felt was positive and a gold vibe. Yes if you read the notes referring to not qualifying, there are reasons they don't get tithe next phase which are probably not related to your situation.   

Yes, you will gets a call and yes you will see the surgeon. The clinics are not in the practice of moving people along the process (this far) without a certainty they are good candidates for surgery YES you are a good candidate if you've come as far as the surgeon appt. yes in no time you will have your surgery  

Personally, I focus on the good posts and happy people.  Stay strong, focused and yes, positive!

rose xo

Hi Annie,

I can only speak to the process used by TWH, but the post you mention may have been referring to the final panel discussion that happens after all your individual appointments have taken place (social worker, nurse practitioner, nutritionist, and psych). A panel is convened where each of these evaluations are reviewed to determine if your surgery is recommended to go forward.  They don't usually deny people surgery, but there are instances where they want to be certain that you have the right supports in place after surgery to deal with any concerns they may have found during these appointments. For example, if a patient has issues with binge eating, they want to be sure that patient has had a course in mindful eating or has a therapist in place to help them cope after surgery because obviously binging isn't an option at that point.  Sometimes people will have their surgery delayed if one of the professionals are concerned about any aspect of a patient's ability to cope with the lifestyle change requirements post-op.  This is all for your safety and it isn't capricious. I was really impressed that TWH takes such great care to ensure that this surgery is right for each person they wheel through the operating doors!  Chances are you will have no delays, so don't worry too much. It's just a process to ensure we are safe, mentally and physically, to cope with life after surgery.

I hope this helps!  Good luck on your journey!

Thank you all for you kind, thoughtful, and informative replies. 

My experience at TWH has been nothing but positive and I guess the nerves of "the date" have gotten the better of me.

All of of journeys are different and I have to Keep Calm and Carry On.

Have a great weekend everyone and again, thank you all!

I'm not sure which posts you read specifically so I hope my answer isn't way off base but here it goes. I know in the US people actually have to qualify through their Insurance companies after jumping through many hoops to see if they qualify for surgery. They have to go through a lot more in the US then we do here. They usually have to go through 6 months of medically supervised diet, then all the Nutritionist, Social Worker and Psychiatry evaluations, etc... Here in Ontario we apply through the Bariatric Registry and they assign you to a Bariatric center. You then attend an information session or orientation session which ever your center may call it. Your file is then passed along to the Bariatric team and they decide if you go forward from there. My friend was not so lucky, she went to the information session and then they decided she didn't qualify because her BMI was less then 40 and she had no co-morbidities. Here in Ontario I don't think you would get to the final evaluation process with the Bariatric team if you weren't already approved to go forward. I hope this answer was helpful not more confusing.

Hi There!  Thank you for your reply. 

I too am an Ontario Resident and I am so lucky to be part of the TWH program.  I'd seen 2 posts in the past few days on this Ontario Forum that got me over-thinking.  I have completed all my initial assessment appts am am waiting for my appt to meet a surgeon.

I, like no doubt many other pre-ops, am looking forward to the day I can put my surgery date into my calendar!

Until then, I'm learning new habits and behaviours, setting and achieving goals, and generally hopeful for the future.

Take care