Hello! Newbie here

Hello everyone!

Very early in the process of being selected for surgery in Hamilton Ontario.  My family doctor was very supportive of my request and I am hoping all goes quickly.  I have attended an information session, filled out the paperwork and am waiting for an appointment.

I have thought about this for over a year and have researched alot of information. I have been lurking and reading here for about a week, after my best friend told me to look for a support group. I am so impressed with the sharing of information.  I am hoping this forum will become a great support group for me.

Anyone have any idea how long this process will take now that I am registered with the Bariatric Centre in Hamilton Ontario?  I do not have to wait for insurance companies - thank goodness.  Any ideas?

Thanks for listening! 

Ann

Hi Ann.

I'm new to this site also and too hope that it will be a great resource and provide the opportunity to gain some support before, during and after surgery.

I didn't have to go through the insurance channels either and it took me about 8 or 9 weeks to schedule surgery. The steps I had to follow: 
1. Attend an information session
2. Fill out application (allow for it to be processed)
3. Take a Psych evaluation (the results took two weeks)
4. Meet with the Psych to go over results
5. Meet with a Physician, Nutritionist and dietician - 5 hr appointment
6. Meet with Surgeon
7. Attend a pre-op/post-op nutrition class
8. 3 weeks of a milk diet
9. Surgery
I'm counting down the days to surgery at this point. I could have scheduled my surgery for 3 weeks after meeting my surgeon (after the length of the milk diet) but I needed an additional month to save the rest of the money. My surgery date is scheduled for December 14th.

I hope this helps in some way!!!

Amber

Welcome to the board !

Welcome to the group Ann.  I am not sure of the time line in Canada.  Here in the states, we look at 6-9 month wait from informational session to surgery.  This allows us to complete 6 monthly nutritional sessions that most insurance companies require.    Guessing that your process could be a lot quicker without the wait for insurance coverage.  Let us know how things progress.

Do you have access to a wls support group through the hospital you are using?  Local, face to face support groups help too.  I find that the support groups usually meet once a month.  At times I needed to have contact with others going through the process a lot more often than that.  Especially just before and for the first months after surgery. 

Come share during monday evening chat sessions, we discuss what is on our minds at the time.  Lots of caring and sharing happens.  I attend as often as possible.  The shortcut to chat will be posted most mondays.  Just click the word 'chat' in the box to the right and follow the directions.

Wishing you all the best as you wait for your surgery date.  Which surgery are you planning to have?