No Duodenal Switch surgery!

Am so disappointed! Received a call from St. Joe's Hamilton cancelling my appointment tomorrow as I do not qualify for the DS surgery, they are now strictly adhering to the BMI of 60 or over, I am at 48.5. Asked if I could at least meet the surgeon, was told no as team of doctors met in December 2012 and decided this. Informed her that I know of lightweights who had surgery and are still having it, she advised because they were already in the process.   Am I the only having issues with THW, they took several months to transfer my file, they seem to be always missing documents from my file, St. Joe's said they faxed TWH  re decision and cancelation of appointment, no one contacted me.  Total time invested to have the WLS surgery, close to four years. Crazy. Anyone else in same boat?

Is it possible to self pay and come into the US for your surgery? Not sure who is closest but maybe one of the surgeons here will do it...or maybe go to Belgium or Brazil or some other option.

Don't give up...it just may take you longer.

I'm so sorry, Kiki. I can not imagine. I hope you can figure some way to get the DS done.  : (

--gina

So sorry to hear this, I am from Canada but decided to go to Mexico for my ds. It was very  excellent  experience

Kiki,

Why have they canceled your appointment entirely? Do you not still need to speak with a surgeon regarding other surgical options? I would continue on and request an appointment with Dr. Hong - just don't mention that it is for the DS until you get in to see him. He makes the final call. Advocate for VSG as a back-up plan.

All my appointments have been canceled as my BMI is less than 60 and that does not qualify me for the DS surgery. I requested/pleaded for an appointment with the surgeon and was advised that that doctors met mid December 2012 resulting in strict adherence to guidelines for surgery.  Further advised that only 7 to 8 surgeries where performed last year and will be focusing on gaining experience from outside sources as they are concerned with the nutrient aspect of the surgery. Regardless, am upset, I do believe if my file had not taken so long to be transferred I probably would have been one of those lightweights in mid process for surgery. So upset. Email me privately if you want to know who I spoke with at St. Joe's re this new guidelines.

So are they sending you back to the hospital you were referred from?

I would write a letter to Sherry Noseworthy, Dr. Hong, and Dr. Anvari stating that you ought to be considered 'in the process' as you had explicitly been referred to St. Joe's for DS evaluation. Don't go down without a fight!

Sherry Noseworthy is the person i spoke with at length, iI can beg, I can plead but no appointments will be booked as I am under 60 BMI.  I don't know how to fight it anymore. Any suggestions? There must be others who got calls? If we stand together, maybe something can be done.  I can maybe gain another 100 pounds for BMI to increase, sell everything I own to afford sugery.

Again, I would write a letter to Hong, Noseworthy and Anvari stating that you ought to be considered to be 'in the process' since you were specifically referred to St. Joe's for evaluation for the DS by your other assessment centre. I'm not sure what else you can do at this point.