Hi Everyone I am new here.  I tired to get approval from Medicard for my weight loss surgery in Mexico through Weight Loss forever but I was told by the company that they could only approve me for $3000 and that was with a Co-Signer. Needless to say i am totally bummed right now.  My Father is great, he said not to give up hope and we would try the application with him as a co-signer and see if we can get the full amount.  I am now in the process of finding a doctor who can do follow up care, who is also sensitive to obesity issues.  I am what is classifed as Super Obese....died when I read that, but I can't argue with it.  I have Osteoarthritis in my knees and am in pain all the time. When I had an Endoscopy done they said i had an Ulcer (a year ago) not surprising-i am a single mother and always under stress.

I am here because I NEED the surgery, I don't want the gastic bypass that I can get here in Saskatchewan, I dont' want to be open on the table. I have also had too many friends who have done this and they are perpetually yellow......that and the waiting list is SO long and the hoops I have to jump through to get it done is crazy.

I CANT lose weight because I suffer from Polysistic Ovarian Syndrome. Keeping track of my food for 6 months and proving that I can lose weight is just unnecessary suffering.  I am wondering why we can't get the Gastric Sleeve Surgery paid for. It is a safer surgery, less side effects and they have been doing it for years-if you have Stomach Cancer that is. So now I am feeling my best bet would be to have stomach cancer so that I can have the Sleeve done-which is totally ridiculous.  I am starting to suffer from some Severe Co-Mobitities......I can't get a job right now because people won't hire me because of my weight and my weight won't go anywhere do to my medical issues......but yet everybody keeps telling me to diet and exercise.....I can't exercise, my legs/knees won't allow it........and when I diet I GAIN weight.....so I have stopped dieting.

I am curious as to when the Saskatchewan government will get progressive and pay for some prevention surgeries....I would rather have them pay for the sleeve surgery than two knee and hip replacements, all my drugs to deal with the pain and what ever other surgeries I will need due to my obesity-oh and I won't be able to get any of them until I lose weight-which is quite ironic.....

So thanks for listening to me and all the best to everyone getting WLS...I hope to be one of those people SOON..!!!!

 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

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.

Hi, I am new to the site and have so many questions! The first one is can you have lap banding done if you have a peptic ulcer? I have been reading this site for the last year and finally got the courage up to talk with my Husband about the idea of wls, I was surprised how supporitve he was.

 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