I don't get it!!!

I know my surgery is probably about 3 months away at the most but I have to let off a little steam. This has been bugging me since I started looking into my surgery a little over 2 years ago. In two years, I've seen many people have surgery before me. Keeana can attest for it too cuz she's been waiting since December of 2008. People have gone in for a consult and a couple of months later, they had a date for surgery. Don't get me wrong though! I'm very happy for the people getting surgery but I just don't get how the system works. Why would someone be pushed up ahead of another? Why don't they just follow a list of patients by consult date or whatever? I've heard of people waiting up to 4-5 years for surgery when some get it covered in 4-5 months. This is complete bull**** IMO. I know people who have less weight to lose are less risk and all but don't the bigger patients need it more than them? How do they decide? Is it luck? If they would just follow a system, everyone would get operated on in the same amount of time. Instead of waiting 2 years for my surgery, I would have had it 6 months ago. And the person who had surgery 12 months after her consult would have it 6 months later. Wouldn't that just make sense? The system they currently have in place is messed up. When you call and they say that there are only 2 people ahead of you in August and still here we are 5 months later and still no date? WTF? Sorry about all this ranting but that's all for me today. I just can't believe we, the patients, still get bullied around by the doctors.

Derek

Hey Derek,

I agree with you 100% I felt exactly the same way, couldn't understand why people where bumped up before me and wondered how can I do that too.  Where's the fairness in it?
I have no answers for you just wanted to tell you I understand your frustration and sympathize with you.

Oh and anytime you need to rant, this is the place for it..... GO FOR IT

Hang in there

Huggs
Cindy

Thanks Cindy! 

I knew I could count on my OH'ers.

Derek

Hey Derek,  you are soooo right about this!!!   Like you said, I've been waiting since Dec 08 and STILL no date yet....   When I called in November, they said there was only 5 or 6 people in front of me and that they would call me for my pre-op testings in Dec or early Jan. but still no call!!!  I'm starting to be really desperate right now....  What's going on???   I've seen so many people who have been waiting for way less time than me that already had their surgery and i'm still waiting.....  I can't wait anymore !!!!   This is no fair!!!   Don't want to sound whinny but the wait is just too long....   And my health is NOT improving with all this waiting....   I'm really discouraged.....   2 years is just too long !!!!   Hope to get a call soon !!!  And you too Derek.... 

Anne

I've even seen people get a consult, get a date and reach their goal all while we waited so it's just ridiculous how this works. I know it's coming but it should be fair all around. I guess we don't call the shots. Don't worry Anne, we'll be sleeved together and we can sip our water thinking about how long we had to wait for this. We'll get the call soon! Did you do your pre-op tests yet? I have the papers at home and will be doing the ECG and blood work sometime next week. Tests are only goor for 3 months so Mid-April at the latest for me.

Derek

Hi Derek, nope, no pre-op tests yet but Martine or someone else there should call me sometimes this month....  I sure hope so!!!!   Will keep you updated....

Anne

I feel the frustration too, and I have a ways to go yet.  I had my consult Sept 09, and was told there was a 2 year waiting list, so I'm still 8 months out at minimum.  I feel like I'm just wishing away time just to get to the surgery day.  Also, we are putting off other big changes in our life...we are thinking of selling our house and moving to Ottawa but I don't want to start all over again on a new waiting list.  Although it might end up being faster in Ottawa!  The other day I read on the Ontario forum that they are increasing the number of surgeries they are doing in Ottawa.  I see some people there are being operated on within six months start to finish.  It's crazy that we are waiting so long for this, and in the meantime our quality of health goes downhill. It really makes me wish I had had the courage to seek out information on this years ago.  But we'll get there...eventually.  It's certainly giving me ample time to get informed on it!

I agree with all of you!

Understanding how those lists work is impossible...Surgery dates don't seem to be related to rank or comorbidities...when officially, they should be...Complete non-sense!

Stay focused and call your clinic to get the facts!...In a private business, isn't client satisfaction priority no1???

Well Derek you know how I feel about this. Frustration does not begin to explain how I feel. I started this journey right after you and at this point I can see no end coming soon.

It is hard to plan your life and not only for yourself but for other people around you. My mom needs surgery soon for something but she keeps putting it off for me. I told her to go ahead with it and to think of herself first.

When I went in for my consult I was told 18 months at the most. I was led to believe that it wouldn't take too long.We are now at 13 months so I will be a little more patient for a while.

We are all in this together and we need to support one another...so Derek I hear you my friend and feel like you but hang in there and we will soon be sitting on the loser's "bench" and be the ones offering hope to people waiting like we are now.

Hugs,
Ada

Hey again,  is it just my dr. or everyone else's too???   When i met him in dec. 08, he told me the wait would be 16 to 18 months, then after calling his secretary a few months later, she told me 18 to 20 months but I'm still waiting after 25 months!!!

A girl at work, who started the process a few months ago has dr. Atlas too with vsg too and he told her she would have her surgery within 12 to18 months ..... WTF??   And she has no health problems and less weight to lose than me.....    Shouldn't those who have health problems be more urgent???  Should I weigh 500 lbs for it to go faster, no thanks, 304 lbs is enough for me....   I have diabetes which i take 6 pills a day for, high BP, one pill, high cholesterol, 2 pills, arthritis, a few pills a day.....etc.....  I now take more than 14 pills a day and i'm only 37 years old!!!!     No need to say that I can't wait anymore!!!!!!!  

I understand completely all of you who are still waiting and thanks for your support....

Anne