Ottawa Weight Loss surgery

Hey Everyone, I am 27 years old I have a BMI of 52.6. I am thinking about getting a weight loss surgery done. I have tried all the diets out there and nothing is helping in the big way that I need it. I live in Ottawa Ontario. does Ohip cover the surgery?. I am asmatic but its the only condition I have. I am at risk tho. There is biabetes,high blood pressure and high cholesterole in the family.

How did you start the prosses of getting the surgery done?

any info on getting the surgery done in Ottawa,Ontario would help me lots.

thanks

AB

Anik - I am still fairly new as well but the way I got started was that my family physician filled out a referral to the Ontario Bariatric Network.  From there, they assess and then invite you to an orientation session.  Not exactly sure how Ottawa works.  In Kingston, we do the whole workup at our hospital and then go to Toronto for surgery.

Anyway, the first step is learning about it and getting your physician to refer you.

Best of luck.

Hi Anik,

OHIP has certain qualifiers for surgery.  If you have co-morbities (diabetes, blood pressure, etc) you need a BMI of 35.  Without co-morbidities your BMI needs to be 40.  So you definitely qualify for OHIP, they'll do an RNY unless there is a medical reason to do a sleeve.

Step one is to talk to your doctor, or go to a clinic and they will need to go on line and fill out a referral to the Bariatric Centre.  They assign you to your Weight Loss Centre based on your postal code (which will be the Ottawa Weight Loss Clinic at the Civic).  From there you will get an orientation package and go to an information session.  I'm not sure if they've changed process at all, but after that you saw the Social Worker, Nutritionist, and RN.  They will either suggest additional appointments or clear you  Once you are cleared you see the surgeon.  Then it's waiting for surgery.

The journey through Ottawa is about 18 months, but there is lots to do in that time.

Cathy

Hi Anik, Cathy pretty much spelled it out for you, but just to be clear, you have to go to your own general physician first (or a clinic if you don't have a GP).  Ask them to refer you to the Ontario Bariatric Network.  This is an online website that you should Google now so that you are familiar with it.  It will give you all the details about the process.  Take the details of this website with you when you see your doctor because many of them are not familiar with the process and/or they think that they can still refer by fax (which they can't).  It seems like a lot of people get bogged down with this part of the process so be diligent with following up to make sure it got done and it got done right. Call your GP to make sure it was done, call the Ottawa Weight Management Clinic to make sure that they received it as well.  You can also Google their website and it will give you even more details about the process.  Good luck!