Denied by MSI

56 years old, severe arthritis, can not go into work any longer due to mobility problems, BMI of 57 and denied by MSI to cover the cost of WL surgery. 

Has anybody else been there and have any suggestions?
Thanks!
Marlene

I have never heard of this! Were you having the surgery in Halifax or NB? 

How can they do it?  It's hardly fair, nor does it make sense.... 

All I can say is appeal the decision.

I agree with Debbie, tell your friend to fight this and appeal their decision!!  Sometimes they are looking to see who is most determined.  Almost seems like a game to them, but this is our lives!!!  Good luck!

This is a close friend of mine. I had my surgery in Utica, NY and it was covered by the Province of Ontario because the weight was too long here. My friend has been referred to a specialist in Halifax but was told they are not doing many surgeries and it would be at least three years. She does not have high blood sugar, colesteral and has never gone for a sleep test. MSI might think she does not have enough medical problems to warrent surgery. Her employer has allowed her to temporarily work at home but will push for long term disability.

I also know that Dr. A. MacDonald is still performing Bariatric surgeries in Amherst and the wait list is a lot shorter than with the rest of the province.  Have your friend see if their GP can refer to this surgeon instead.  Most are lead to believe he's retired, but I have 2 friends that just recently had GB and the wait time was less than 3 mths!!!! 

Wow, you're one of the very few patients of Dr. MacDonald's who I've heard would recommend him to another potential patient.
Most are horror stories.   

It's not that he's 'retired' as such, I just heard he wasn't allowed to practice anymore at the hospitals in Halifax, so he relocated.

That's news to me!

Another friend of mine just had a revision by Dr. M last week.  It's not the Dr's fault for her revision, just that back in our day, VBG had a high failure rate (province being cheap and not giving the proper education and support for the long term), and she's now had Gastric Bypass by him due to her full regain. 

Another friend of mine who had GB by Dr. M last fall is having him repair her hernia and give her a tummy tuck at the same time soon.  She loves what he's done to help her lose 100lbs already, she only has 40lbs left to go to goal!  No horror stories there!

Personally, of the horror stories I've heard, they've been complications from either personal neglect or other health issues, nothing the Dr. could have caused.  I have 6 friends that Dr. M performed VBG on and they've never complained about him.

I don't have an opinion of him one way or another, just know that some of his patients continue to see him for follow ups or revisions.  I haven't seen Dr. M for over 15 yrs but definitely would if I needed to.  Sometimes we have to take accountability for our regains, and not blame the Dr., But again the province did nothing to educate us afterwards--such is life.

I just know it's rediculous that  QEII has such a long waiting list, yet, you can go to other provinces or towns in NS and have the same surgery within months. 

Hi,

I'm really glad to hear that so many people you know have had great success with their surgeries = )

Maybe the VSG is that much better than the old VBG, and maybe he has revised his technique -- or doesn't just do open surgeries any longer.

I know a lot of people who had major complications from the VBG, and since he was the only Doctor doing it in Halifax for so long, maybe he's got the bad rap from that.

I know what you mean about the long waiting list.  I've waited a lifetime already, sometimes it feels hopeless.