What happens at orientation?

as the title says - what happens at orientation? I got a call today to say I'm invited to my orientation (in Sudbury) and he said it was from 8am until 3:30pm and I wondered why it's so long? I've no idea what actually happens during the day and wondered if you could shed some light?

Hi anncha, no clue why Sudbury's is so long...but generally the orientation/information session is an opportunity to learn more about the surgery.

I've been to two (HRH and TWH), both covered what surgery is and isn't. What is covered by OHIP, with a brief explanation of why. HRH also covered the eating plan for post op...and as was explained to us during that session, would be our pre-op nutrition class.

They also go over what the lifetime requirements for post op are (blood work, follow-up and vitamins for life)

Hope this helps and certainly someone going through the Sudbury centre can explain why or if the orientation is truly that long!

HI Tanya

Can I ask why you asked for a transfer from HRH? I don't know anyone personally that has gone to HRH and can't seem to really find many recent posts about ppl who have gone there....

Hi!

I transferred from HRH as the majority of my close friends/family who have had gastric bypass went through TWH. I absolutely adore all the staff that I have had assesments with and interacted with when calling in for information.

I may have waited a little longer in the end, but I have no doubts in my mind that 1. I would not have been ready for surgery if I had stayed at HRH and had surgery scheduled prior to now, and 2. I truly believe the pacing of appointments was a better fit for me then the program at HRH.

If you're in the GTA and don't mind travelling a little, it truly is a blessing that we have two surgical bariatric programs with such different pacing of appointments.

As for current experiences with HRH, try posting a message on a new thread here on the forum and seek out other HRH patients....they're out there....just quiet at times.

I went threw Sudbury bariatric 2 years ago. Orientation is an all day (not til 3 usually done by 1 or 2) there will be a presentation done by the dietician, social worker and the nurse. They will cover everything about the surgery and the whole process. Its a class room type meeting you will in a room with about 10-15 other people and depending on how many people show up/ and how fast things move along it could be done much sooner then 3 pm. When i went we took 1/2 hour lunch and i was on my way home at 1 pm.

Hi Anncha,

I had to do the Sudbury orientation twice because I was held up for such a long time waiting to see an asthma specialist.

Both times, I went in, registered upstairs, went back downstairs and sat in a waiting room with a bunch of other people for a bit. Then we were all taken to a classroom. All of the various people (dietitian, nurse, social worker) came in to talk to us and give us hand outs, and information. We were asked to write out our goals and proposed changes in behaviour. At the end of each session, there was a question and answer period.

In one orientation, we voted to work through lunch and had all of our classes back to back, and got to leave early. In the other we stopped for lunch and left later, but were still out by 2 PM.

The second orientation, over a year later, was more helpful to me because I was invested by then and knew I was definitely going to go through with this. The first one was just for information as I was considering having weight loss surgery and not sure if I'd do it or not, or even get approved or not.

If you have to stay in a hotel and have any allergies or sensitivities, I highly recommend the Clarion, as it was super clean, smoke free, and they used cleaning supplies that didn't trigger my asthma. Their restaurant, the Hard Rock Cafe, was delish, and the bedding/pillows super comfy. Good prices too.

The first time I stayed at the Travelodge, and the cleaning supplies they used triggered such a bad asthma attack I had to sit outside on a bench in the middle of the night. Then a smoker joined me and I had to go sit in my truck because that made my breathing even worse. Their attached restaurant, Perkins, was very good though.

Sorry for taking so long to reply to this. I've literally just moved house and it's been utter chaos.

When they ask about goals and proposed changes in behaviour is that just like I want to be healthier, stop taking my medications, live to see my children grow up, stop myself developing diabetes, stop getting infections under the apron of skin I have etc or can it include things like not have to shop in plus size stores, being able to fit in a kayak/canoe so I can be more active with my family?

As to proposed changes in behaviour, would that be things like be a conscious eater - know each and everything you're consuming and only have the things you can get the most nutrition out of? Stop drinking pop/tea/coffee, keep a food diary, take supplements, exercise more/every day etc?

Sorry it's been so chaotic; hope things are calming down and you're enjoying your new place.

Yes, exactly. They're looking for goals they can measure, like "I will use my fitness pal to log my calories, protein, and exercise" or "I will walk 5 for 20 minutes, 5 times per week" and "I will give up coffee and pop". Then next time you go, they ask if you've met those goals.

I've moved from the GTA up to Sudbury from a large 2200sq ft house to a 900sq ft apartment (we're looking at buying here next year but I wanted to actually be in the area to get my daughter settled for school and then my other daughter settled into JK next year with people she knows before we buy)

This is really helpful thank you, I think I have a better idea now.

How long was it for you from the orientation until the next appointment? What was your next appointment after your orientation?

My process took over 2 years from first orientation to surgery because I needed an OK from an asthma specialist and it took a year to get in to see one as mine was away that year. So I had to do orientation/bloodwork twice. So I'm not a good example as most people went much more quickly. Sorry.