Where are all the Saskatchewan People?

 Holy smokes that is absolutely great!  Are you still losing?  Was there any complications whatsoever?  Would you consider yourself wieght loss resistant prior to the surgery? Unable to lose with diet and excercise.  How much was the flight?  Did you have to get any vacinations prior to going to mexico?  Any medical problems associated with flying and the operation?  How long were you on a course of antibiotics?  Did you go alone?  How are you able to handle the post op diet?  Are you from a small town?  Do you have post op medical support?  What does your Doc think about what you have done?

Please tell me anything else you think that would be benificial for me to know.  I currrently have an appointment mid august with the sask bariatric for a RNY but I do not feel that that is a good option for me at all.  I really want the VSG.  With further research, I asked the Doc to refer me to the Wieght Wise in Alberta.  I am on a list there and they will not be calling me for an appt till next year sometime.  Then it is a 9 month program till you can even book for a surgery.  ACK.  

I am seriously considering the Mexico thing.  I am scared of flying though but I have flown before so I can put on my big girl pants and do it again.  *smiles*.  

I appreciate any and all info you can give me.  Thanks so much for replying as well!
Straw Walker

Hey Straw Walker!

It seems as of late, many of us tend to be lurkers on the forums...lol

I'm glad you took a step to make a difference with your Obesity. Many of us have and many are still scared.

I'm the President of The Saskatchewan Bariatric Support Group aka SBSG and we are a Provincial Group looking to support, Pre-Ops, Post-Ops and No-Ops to find a healthier Lifestyle, and I'm also a Post-Op! I've lost 200 lbs since September 2008, and it feels fantastic!

We hold Monthly Support Group Meetings on the 1st Saturday of each month, and a Wellness Acitivity on the 3rd Sunday of each month. I know you live in a remote area of our great province, but we'd love to hear and see you sometime. 



E-mail me if you have any questions, I'd love to hear from you!

Our Website is: www.sbsg.ca and our Facebook Group is : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33295884776&ref=mf

Come and Check Us Out.

And the word on the street: Dr. Pooler is considering Gastric Sleeve in Saskatchewan through the Bariatric Clinic!

 Joel, do you think this is true?  How soon do you think it will be implemented?  I am very excited at the possiblility of it happening.  How does one keep in the loop so to speak about the bariatric events, surgical or social in Sask?  
Thanks so much.
Straw Walker

 Hello Joel, do you know if it will be under the sask health or pay as you go?
Thanks 
Straw Walker

Hello everyone.  I am from Regina, SK.  I was wondering if anyone knows of a good personal trainer in Regina, who is willing to work with post-op weight loss surgery patients?  Thank you.

Hi StrawWalker;

We're all lurkers in this province. :)

I think Regina's the only current program you can get into in less than a couple of years.. though I hear Dr Gagner, a US surgeon who does all 4 surgeries is moving up here.

I went to Mexicali Sept 29th last year and had the VSG with Dr Aceves. It was amazingly easy surgery, I had no pain and recovered just fine.  I'm a slow loser -not unexpected, had the same issue with regular diets- but am getting there. Feel free to ask stuff.


Ivy

 Hello there fellow 'lurkers'.  So cool to hear from some fellow Saskatchewanians!  Joel...you have no idea how happy you have just made this girl by your little piece of talk about the VSG possibly coming here.  Also the info about the surgeon who does all 4 coming to Sask!  Wow...that would be just so wonderful and great.  I am more excited than I have been for quite some time now as I have been quite at odds about my dilemma.  

 I was so excited when I read both of your posts that I didnt take not of where the meetings are.  I would love to come some time when possible.  Do you have to be post surgery before eligible to attend?  

Thanks so much both of you!!!
Straw Walker

Straw Walker,

It sounds like Dr. Pooler would like to start doing it through the Bariatric Clinic as soon as he gets approval, so that means Province Funded.

I do believe to qualify for it, you would still need to go through the 6 month pre-op program, and I highly recommend it. It helped focus with me the reasons I was making the choice to be accountable and take action against my Obesity.


I hope this helps.

 Hey Joel,

  I am dancing in my boots as I have recently spoke with the surgical center and have my first appointment booked for the 6 month process in the clinic.  I am very excited to go through the process.  I also asked about Dr. Pooler doing the VSG and apparently he is all trained up and have done a few of them already!  I can not tell anyone how happy I am about all of this.  I am certain that the Drs will feel the same way I do about VSG suiting me better than RNY for a variety of reasons specific to my situation.  This is all that I would have hoped for....VSG in my home province where I have access to more proximal services and support.  
Thanks so much Joel for telling me about this an making this girl happy!
Take care.
Straw Walker