Surgery
hello every one, well ive decided that i need surgery to help get my life back my g p sent me for all the tests bloods abdo ultra sounds xrays. she gave me a referal to a surgeon in sydney, i live in dubbo nsw.. that was fine i was excited to begin... she didnt mention that lap banding isnt done in the public hosp system....it was like falling down a flight of stairs bang bang bang crash........you see i have a disabled daughter and i am on a pension with no hope of even paying the procedure off...i feel so depressed that i dont know what to do any more.... i know i cant go on yet another diet only to put it all and more on.. i now weigh 145kg.if any one has any sugestions about other surgerys that may be done in the public system please let me know...i plan on writing to the minister for health and ask why over weight people cant get more affordable help i dont know what else to do......its driving me mad.....thanks for listening cath
Hi Catherine,
I think you need to look into it a bit more. For example I know the John Hunter in Newcastle used to do lap banding in the public health system and only stopped last year. Have you tried the Canberra hospitals. There are a couple of doctors who do lap banding here, not sure if either do it publicly but worth checking it out, but be aware you are in for a long weight just to get to surgery in the public health system. Maybe find surgeons who do lap banding and then find out if any do it publicly. Good luck with it all.
Cheers
Kylie
Hi Cath,
Unfortunately from what I know the waiting time in the public system is around a minimum of two years... if you're lucky. A somewhat different route to take to get pushed way up the list is to go for a mental health admission. Anorexics are kept in hospital for many months.. at around $700 a day to get fed and not die. Try using the reverse argument in your letter for the Minister. For some reason, people who are morbidly obese and at risk of dying dont seem to get the same treatment. I would also write to the Health Ombudsman about this discrimination. You need to have your GP on board on this one. Any public health surgery takes forever. The only other option you have really is to try to get private insurance at the lowest rate you can ..try www.iselect.com.au just hospital cover.... and stick out the waiting period.. it wont be anywhere near as long as the public system wait. Do you have any family or friends who could help out? Ask for money for your birthday and Christmas. Good luck with this Cath.
Hi Cath,
I had another one of those 'out there' ideas. A family member of mine offered themselves to that tv show.. Body Works. Think it was that one. Anyway, she got a $22,000 breast job for nothing in return for going on tv for the procedure. Just a thought......
Oh.. your GP should be able to tell you which surgeon in the public system does the surgery. If he/she isn't of much assistance I'd be looking for another GP. Last stop.. www.google.com.au
let us know how you go..
Sharyn
hi sharyn, i think you must be my gardian angel......ha ha ha.. the thought did go through my mind about the tv thing and i would do it do we have those sorts of shows here? (its soooo american)
do you think i should write to tv stations and make an offer if i cant get help?
as for the g.p. ill give her one last chance to help...
ill keep you informed.
thanks again cath
Hi Cath,
Have a look at this site: http://health.ninemsn.com.au/bodywork/default.aspx . Thats the nine Body Work site.. where my neice got her boob job for free lol. Now if you are really desperate ... what about contacting A Current Affair? On this site: http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/?_r=sc you will see a box saying 'Have a Story? email us' something like that. Anyway, what about writing to them with your predicament, use the discrimination angle (anorexics get treated, fat people dont), the gov. is pushing us to be healthy but dont help..blah blah... maybeeeeeeeeeee someone will come to the rescue.. or ask A Current Affair to use you as an example.. a work in progress? Am searching my brain lol.
Another idea I had was to try some of the Yahoo Band groups to see if anyone else has contacts. Two groups are: Ozband and Smartbandsters. They are busy groups with lots of postings.
Sharyn

hi sharyn,
after ringing a few more surgeons one of the receptionists put me on to the manufacturers inamed who put me on to a consultant of theres, she said orange base may be getting some funding for about 50 ops so there is a glimour of light at the end of the tunnel, she put me in touch with a surgeon in orange only two hours awy, i have appointment at the end of july at least i'll be able to get on a list.i will know more then, i'd say i will still be writing to health dept........wish me luck........and good luck to you to.....
ps.i'll keep those email addreses handy just in case... you never know in a couple of years i'll need to get the xcess skin removed i hope..lol .cath
hey ...i know your delima...i tried for so long to fin a way to get help with my procedure here in sydney... well i found nothing except that medicare will reinberse me with 1,000. So i signed up with the sydney institue of obesity surgery and I am having my procedure done on friday. Its costing me about 15,000 which is a pretty penny...but I did choose to have the procedure financed through their medical finace complany. I am paying 50 dollars a week for the next 4 years of my life..in which I feel is worth it....I know that my situation is dfferent but I had to look at it like it was a life threatening procedure and the only way I will live is to take care of my desease...(in which my polycistic overian desease has been effected by the weight)
I started this journey at 137 kilos...now at 129 kilos and so excited to see it continue to go down...
wish i had more help for you but if you ever need anything send me an email..and can chat or i can just listen...
Ta
Jess