I accepted the transfer!

I looked into other places too, but since I live in Lindsay none of them made more sense than TWH, I've sort of thought the longer timeline was good in some ways as by the time I'm hitting surgery I'm really sure that I want to do this and also cope with the permanent lifestyle changes.

Good Luck, I'm on this downhill slope to surgery not and am strangely excited to get to the next step.

I had my surgery in Guelph last year, but did all the pre op stuff through the Windsor Clinic. It was pretty quick after I had my surgical class in January, met the surgeon in early Feb and had surgery mid March. I'm so thankful, I did not have to wait months and months.

Guelph is awesome! The doctor that performed my surgery wasn't the surgeon I met (usually in Guelph it is the doctor you meet who will do your surgery) but I lucked out with the most caring and good sense of humour surgeon!! However the surgeon I initially met, I had no issues with him either. Nurse staff was amazing!!

So you'll be in good hands, don't worry!

Good luck with everthing!!

That's great news!

I'm kinda hoping for mid March when the kids are on break so they can stay at the in-laws. Plus I have vacation booked for then and some booked for May, so hoping for the time off in between.

Thanks for letting me hear about your experience.

That is awesome news! WTG!!

Congrats and good luck, I envy you.

If what you wrote about TWH is true it's another 10 months! of waiting for me, which will be 2 years since I started this process.

I hope that isn't the case for you. If your final appointment was November and you still have no meet the surgeon date? That seems crazy. I was told I would hear in a month of my final appointment and that was January 10. But I had made it clear that I was willing to travel to Guelph.

I called TWH today and left a message to the Program Manager, Sandra. Hope she can give me some answers, I really hope I don't need to wait until November 2018.

I hope you received some answers, please keep us posted.

Karen

I got some answers finally and a decision to make. Like you I am not considered a complicated case so they asked me if I want to transfer to Guelph just for the procedure. I need to give my answer next week. A bit unexpected, lol.

1. Waiting times at TWH are not that bad: If I decide to stay at TWH they will set up an appointment to see surgeon to end of March and the actual surgery sometime in May. Which will be 1 year+1 month since my first orientation.
2. Or I can have a surgery in Guelph end of March but come back for rest in TWH, same like you.

Here are my my Pros for switching to Guelph:

1. I was planning to look for a new job, this will allow me to start looking earlier. I can't really switch to a new employer and "surprise" him with "I will be gone for several weeks...". Not to mention health insurance benefits that will kick in probably 3-6 months after probation period
2. The only other positive in this is - I've been waiting for a long time and it's tiresome, it's better to finish with this once and for all and start fresh.

Cons:

1. I live in downtown TO, I don't own a car, it's going to be a big headache and will cost extra for me and my partner to do it in Guelph.
2. From my very limited experience usually the more remote your hospital is from the big city centre chances are you will not get "the best" surgeon, the best equipment, etc. It's a stereotype that I am not sure if it applies to Ontario, but the thought crossed my mind.
3. What happens if there are complications, some other doctor in Toronto will be looking at you and thinking: "this is not my mess, why should i care...". It's not an option to go to Guelph post operation.

What caused you to decide to move it to Guelph beside the obvious dates?

When do you have to respond by about transferring?

For me, a lot has to do with the timeline. I wouldn't see the surgeon before May and was told Surgery in the fall. So March is much better, I'm thinking of all the things I'll be able to do come summer that were a struggle last summer.

And currently, my husband isn't working and likely won't be by March. Having his support at home would be monumental. Especially when I can't be alone for the first few days after surgery.

I only briefly considered the whole the best surgeons are in TO bit because I don't think a centre would refer me to a subpar facility.

And I live an hour East of the city (approximately) so either way I'm traveling.

Good luck with making your decision,

Karen