WLS?

I'm currently new to the WLS surgery process. I have made several attempts to lose weight, going on strict diets where I have lost weight, but regained twice as much. Case in point, I went on X diet an lost 67 pounds only to regain 95 pounds. I recently informed my doctor that diets did not work for me as I needed something else and she informed me of biatric surgery as my BMI is 40 and I recently just turned 18. Yesterday, I received a call from Wharton Medical n, asking to schedule an appointment with me. I am nervous now, because I have heard so many horrible reviews regarding this clinic. According to pre-existing members Wharton doesn't like to refer patients for WLS surgery unless their BMI is over 45.

Hi:

i was referred to the Wharton Clinic myself last year in December 2014. I live in Toronto. My BMI is not as high as yours, but I have other contributing factors, hence the need for surgery. My family doctor (from Hamilton) referred me to the Wharton Clinic, after numerous requests to enroll me into the Ontario Bariatric Registry. The Wharton Clinic will do an assessment of you, give you a bunch of paperwork to fill out, set up some blood tests, and stress tests, sleep apnea tests, etc. and set you up for further appointments, to try and help you diet on your own. They have nutrition councillors who help guide you with your eating choices. I believe you have to attend least 2 appointments at their clinic before you can request Dr. Wharton to refer you to the Bariatric surgery program. I spent two months with the Wharton Clinic, which I felt was a waste of my time. I had gone down that road many times, but I am not as young as you. I let my family doctor know that the Wharton Clinic was not what I needed, and since my family doctor was now a registered referring doctor to the Ontario Bariatric Registry, he e-mailed my referral request immediately that day, which would have been February 2015. I attended my bariatric appointment group information class March 31. I have now completed all the required appointments and will be meeting the surgeon November 13, 2015. Long story short, perhaps your family doctor referred you to the wrong place? Mine did... I believe the Wharton Clinic wants a BMI of over 40, (over 35 BMI if you have other health issues) in order to refer you on to the Baraitric Registry, (after at least 2 appts with them) but they want you to try their program first. If I had to do it again, I would not have attended the Whatron Clinic, and insisted my family doctor refer me to the Bariatric Registry program from the start. The Whatron Clinic is similar to other weight loss programs out there, which have not been successful for me, and going by your post, have not been all that successful for you either. These are my thoughts only, based on my experience with the Wharton Clinic. I suggest you research the services of the Wharton Clinic first to see if this is really what you are looking for - or not, to avoid disappointment and lost time. S.

From my understanding, my doctor informed that it is not possible for her to refer me directly to the surgery clinic and that I'd have to go through Wharton, but I have discovered this not to be the case because of you - thank you, for your detailed response. As an individual who is tired of diets in general, I'm leaning towards surgery. As a result, I've decided to ask my doctor for a direct referral to the surgery option, saving time and ener

From my understanding, my doctor informed that it is not possible for her to refer me directly to the surgery clinic and that I'd have to go through Wharton, but I have discovered this not to be the case because of you - thank you, for your detailed response. As an individual who is tired of diets in general, I'm leaning towards surgery. As a result, I've decided to ask my doctor for a direct referral to the surgery option, saving time and energy.

I do not want to discourage you but please do a lot of research. WLS is not a magic fix. It is a lot of hard work that will require you to stay on a diet for the rest of your life. If you have not already done so I would encourage you to seek out counseling to help you determine why you have become obese and work on strategies to use after surgery.

There is a wise saying that wls operates on your stomach not your brain.

Good luck in your choice

hi