Q's about Ottawa clinic procedures

I was just wondering if I could get the scoop on the Ottawa clinic, if anyone knows the answers to these questions....

1. Who is Dr. Dent? Do all surgery patients need to see him? What role does he play in the process?

2. Who are the surgeons there? Do you have a choice which surgeon you go with or are they assigned to you? Is there a difference/preference between them?

3. After the orientation session, do they book all your appointments at once, or just book one at a time, after the last one is finished?  Is there a specific pattern to the timing of the meetings?  (ie., SW first, NUT second etc).

4. How often do they do orientation sessions? monthly only?  Are there many people at these orientation sessions?  Does it appear that the vast majority of them go through with the WLS?

5. Do you know if they have cancellation lists?  Would getting on cancellation lists help the process go faster?

6. Is the orientation the only group session you attend?  Are the rest of the appointments individualized?

7. Are there any group after-care programs?

8. Does the OH community do any Ottawa meet-ups for support IRL?

Thanks for any help folks!

I don't have all the answers, but here are a few -

1) Dr. Dent is the original founder of the WMC study.  He is still there, but you most likely will not see him.

2) There are several surgeons - you will only meet them at the very end.  You will meet a nurse practitioner first.  I have Dr. Neville, I just met her last week and am waiting for my surgery date.

3) You will get your NP apt, then she will send you for any additional tests (ex. sleep apnea, abdominal ultrasound, etc.) - at this appointment, you should be making your combo apt. with the NUT and Behaviorist.  After you are cleared by them, you will wait to get a call for your nutrition class/pre-surgery class.  After this class (or at the same time as the class), you will get your surgeon's apt date.  After your meeting with the surgeon - you will wait (approx. 3 months) for your surgery.  You will get a call somewhere within those 3 months advising of your date.

4) I don't know how frequently they hold classes, but there are MANY ppl!  My orientation was in the auditorium at the Civic... probably 100 people there.  Don't know about the % of them that go with WLS.

5) No - there is not a cancellation list.  You can call in - but they are a bit nasty about this.

6) The nutrition class/pre-surgery class is a group session.  All other apts. are individual.

7) There is a post surgery program - details are posted on the walls at the WMC.

8) Don't know what is IRL.

Hope this helps!

Thank you so much for the great reply! 

IRL = In real life

Wow, I can't believe 100 people attend the orientation!!  And it appears that they have them at least monthly...

Did you have the same amount of people in the group Nut/pre-surgery class or was this smaller?  What kind of information do they go over in that class?

As part of my orientation package, I received a questionnaire/booklet to fill out.  Do they go over this booklet with you at the orientation, or do you just leave it with them for later appts?

Thanks gain for anyone's feedback!

No - our nutrition class was 18 participants only (only those approved for surgery and who have no other hoops to jump through... surgery upcoming). 

The orientation class discusses the 3 programs the WLC offers, WLS, non-surgical program and nutritionist program.  Hence the huge number of people.

Your questionnaire will be taken at the orientation and you will be asked to sign a document indicating which of the 3 programs you are interested in.  If it is WLS, when you get your call for your first individual apt, you will be sent another questionnaire as well as blood requisition form.  You will need to have your blood test done at the Civic before your next appointment there.

Hope this helps -

There is no Cancellation list for the WLC appointments, but if you need other appointments (i.e. sleep test) they may have cancellation lists.  So once you get your appointment call and you'll be able to ask.  I know when I did my sleep test, I went on the list and had it done within a week. 

I think Dr. Dent works on the non surgical side, when you get your referral, it goes to the surgical side.

I wish you well on your journey.

Cathy

Just wanted to chime in that there are group sessions available for support at OWMC if you wish (dependent on your needs and availability) but IRL there are some of us that meet for coffee once a month. We're on a Facebook Group; if you're interested, I could send you the details. Some of us are on OH, some are not.

There's also The Closet: a local woman houses a boatload of clothing from previous WLS patients and we borrow them for free. She holds a Closet afternoon once a month and any interested parties can go there (on request/appointment) to go through the clothing and take what you need, as well as recycle things you have grown too small for. I found this really useful during the earlier phases of my weight loss. Now that I'm in size 12 or 10, there isn't much in The Closet available to me. Again, this is a Facebook group.

There are a number of surgeons at OWMC. I saw Dr. Yelle; he was wonderful. I know there is Dr. Mamazza (still there?) and Dr. Neville (a female surgeon I believe). I did not get a choice; I was assigned to Dr. Yelle and that was fine by me. I've only heard excellent things about all of them.

My orientation session was held in April 2013, so awhile ago now. It was at OWMC and comprised about 40 people or so. Each person (or many of them, at least!) brought one support person with them. My husband came with me. He found it very useful.

There was another group session I attended about one month post-op. It was for recent post-ops and discussed our nutritional needs and how we were doing in general. I say it was a 'group' session, but there were only two of us at that class, although others had been invited.

I hope this info helps. Wishing you luck!

Thank you all, this has been very helpful and enlightening! Hopefully other people who are just starting their journey through OWMC also find it useful.

Hi Jiliana

i am out of Ottawa and had surgery 9months ago. I never heard about the closet I wish I did as I gave about 5 bags of clothes to Sally ann about a month ago.  I was also wondering if there was a coffee group that gets together.  Can you tell me what the Facebook pages are as I would love to donate any clothes or go for coffee.  

Cheers

cathy 

Hi Cathy, 

The Closet and the FB groups are secret groups; you cannot search for them and find them. 

The best way to get added to those groups is to Friend me (send me a PM and I can give you the details) and then I can direct you to those groups. Not a problem. 

I hope that helps. I have a donation for the Closet for this week in fact. A bunch of 1x-3x summer clothing. I am sure they can use them! 

Hi,

I have all the same questions and concerns as you. Thank you for your comprehensive post and for all the comments people have been posting. I have my orientation in Ottawa March 2 and I go from excited to nervous. I can't wait to get there and find out what lies ahead for me. I think I'm most nervous about the timeline. I want to start booking trips and time with my family who live far away but I also don't want to miss appointments and get set back. I'll let you know on March 2, in the evening how things go!