Feeling So Overwhelmed... please help me find some answers

Hello All,

I was hoping that some people could help me out. I am brand new on here and despite having two parents have surgery for weight I am still a little clueless about all the different methods and what happens post surgery. My parents have told me that they think I should get the surgery done (whatever is happening in Ontario- they went down to Michigan years ago for theirs... and apparently there is a difference. They had their small intestine shortened as well as a reduction in stomach size). Please know that I am in my late twenties. I am not a child getting pressured from my parents.... I am an adult getting pressure from my parents. LOL.

Both my parents had wonderful outcomes with their surgery. So I am not quite sure why I am apprehensive... probably because I hate talking about my weight, I hate when other people talk about my weight (good or bad... especially good. Hate it when people mention that I have lost weight... usually leads me to not want the discussions to happen so I (consciously? /unconsciously?) gain the weight back on).

I was hoping that you nice people could give me some information.... about what happens to people that get their stomach stapled and kinda prep me for what might happen. (sidenote, I have anxiety... so any prep in advance will help a great deal). Also, what are some timelines that I would be looking at. I am in the VERY early stages- going to book an apt with my GP to discuss the option.

Any hospitals you recommend (apparently there are like 5 in Ontario that do this?). I would be coming down from Northern Ontario. So all are an option.

Thank you for your time for reading this and your replies. :)

Hi!

What OHIP covers is the Roux en Y or the sleeve.  They prefer to do the RnY one but for various reasons might opt for the sleeve.  There is lots on there about the RnY, which it sounds like your parents might have had.

It is not a fast process. Check out my siggy.  I am guessing I will have surgery in Sept, which will make it one full year from when I was referred.  Some hospitals are faster.  I liked this speed as I felt I had time to really decide if this was for me, and let my friends and family get used the idea.

I don't think you get to decide which hospital, you will get a referral to the closest one that does bariatric work.

I don't know how far north is north, but if you get a chance go to a support group meeting with others that have had this done.  It might be easier to talk to them than family, and they will have had it done in Ontario.

They no longer send anyone to the US.  They have opened up more hospitals in Ontario that do bariatric surgeries.  They do RNY, VSG and DS.  Your parents should know which one they had but could be RNY or DS.  Not sure what part of Northern Ontario you are in but you get referred to an assessment first.  There is one in Sudbury and one in Thunder Bay.  From there you do all your appointments at that centre then get referred to a surgery centre.  Thunder Bay is now doing surgeries of if that one is closer, you may end up doing it all at that one.  Not sure where Sudbury is referring to these days but it used to be St. Joe's Toronto but there was such a backlog they started using TWH, Humber and St. Joe's Hamilton to get through their backlog.

Majority of people out of Sudbury go through st joes(in Toronto) with dr Sullivan or Lindsey. Or through Toronto western.  The odd person will slide over to Toronto east general.

OH is a great spot to find information uon weight loss surgery.and to find support. The one thing I found the best help was to find a support group. I am sure you can find info on this site. That way you can meet others going through the process. When I put in my referral I found one near me and 4 yr later I still find support. It took about 18 months for me. There are lots of steps togo through to make sur you are physically and mentally prepared to be a sucess..  

Good luck in your journey

Hey there!

So you want to have surgery....good for you!! Now, you need to do your part and do some(a lot) of research. There are many resources out there. OH is great!! YouTube is another great resource. You will see/hear so many different stories... no problems, lots of problems, quick loss, slow loss... but all in all, pretty much everyone says it's the best thing they have done. 

The more mentally prepared you are, the better. If you can start cutting back on calories and portion sizes now, then go for it. You will have to do it eventually, so why not start getting your mind ready for it now. I'm not saying cut everything out that you enjoy now, but be mindful.

Good luck!! For some, the hardest part is realizing they need help and going to their GP for a referral. 

Cheers,

Skotti

You start this off by saying your parents are pressuring you to have this surgery. Step back and make sure this is what you want. This is a life altering surgery. You will need to make a lot of lifestyle changes for it to be successful. Are you ready for this?

If you can find a local support group great. Otherwise do as much reading as you can.

Hi there,

I had RNY surgery in Thunder Bay via the Thunder Bay bariatric centre.  My family doc put the referral in in late September 2014, I had my orientation session at the centre in December 2014, my first intake appointment with the medical team in January 2015, a couple of appointments in between, and then had surgery on May 11, 2015.  I actually could have had it in April but opted not to based on my personal and work schedule.

I believe things are still moving fairly quickly here in Thunder Bay.  A colleague of mine was just referred in late April, had her orientation the last week of May and has her medical intake appointment this Friday. 

There was a 2 night hospital stay after the surgery.  Recovery wasn't that bad at all as far as pain goes.  I work full time and took the advised 6 weeks off to recover (I am lucky and had great health benefits with my job) but I probably could've went back at the 4 week mark.  I was lucky and had no complications immediately post-op or anytime since.  It's definitely an adjustment getting used to the new way of thinking about food (protein first, very small portions - food as fuel not as comfort) but its been worth it.  My only regret is not having done it years ago!

I am almost 1 year, 1 month post-op and am down from 255lbs to 167lbs.  I have a few more lbs to go (my target is 150lbs), but I am so much happier than when I was 1 year and 1 month ago...

My suggestion is to start the process. Your first step would be an orientation (which you must attend to even begin). There they will explain the process, step by step. When I went to my orientaion I wasn't sure if I wanted weight loss surgery. When I left my orientation, I was sure I wanted it. They will give you tons of information that you can read over and over again.

As for talking about your weight, you will be doing a lot of that through this process. But it's just weight, it doesn't define you. You can do this! This place is a wonderful support.  I look forward to reading about your journey and welcome!