argon

Yup, 3 years ago.

Yeah, I lived in NB for about a year and a half, then Halifax for a year, and now Quebec City. Fun for a non-french speaker.

Hmmm.. I think you need to search search search and see if you can find someone either on here or OH (obesity help) who's also from Nova Scotia and had it covered in another province (other than NB). I guess, if you live in NS, and they'd cover you to go to NB for Beausoleil, it should be the same thing with say, "Dr. So-and-So" in Montreal, wouldn't you think? I'm pretty sure MSI wouldn't pay your travel expenses if/when you have to go to NB for consults or fills. Same thing if you got it done in QC. BUT, you can always claim those things as medical expenses when you do your taxes. For last year, I claimed $600 in fills. I shoulda saved gas receipts, but I didn't. Lets say you managed to get banded in Montreal. You'd probably have to go down there once for a consult, and maybe some time before your actual surgery date. Then, just because it would be a good idea... go for your first fill 6-8 weeks after your banding. After that, you could go see any person who is trained in doing fills. I don't think you HAVE to go back to your original surgeon for fills. I've had probably dozens of fills, and only one of them were at the clinic I was banded at. There was a lady in Pictou doing fills, and she was fabulous. I don't know if she still does them, or is even in Pictou anymore, cause I wasn't able to get ahold of her before I moved from NS in Feb. How is your French? Mine is very bad, and that's what's stopping me from calling some places here in QC where I now live to inquire about the lapband for my boyfriend.

Have you been looking on the Obesity Help forums at all? You might be able to find some info there.

I'm pretty sure he's just a lapband surgeon (at least as far as WL surgeries go), that's all I've ever heard about him. Wow.... 5 years for just the consult?! That's insane. Definitely see what the story is with Dr. Savoie, and if nothing else, maybe it's time to bug MSI a little bit about whether they would still pay for the surgery if you were to get in to somewhere like in Quebec. I've *heard* things about that, but never got a straight answer as to whether it's true or not.

Yeah, try to find out as much as you can from them. I'm already banded, have been for a few days over 3 years. :glare:

What I meant is that I think I read somewhere that you have to get some kind of specialist (like an endocrinologist) to give you the referral to Dr. B rather that just a regular old family doctor. But this might have been in New Brunswick. I lived in NB and NS and was trying to figure the whole thing out in both provinces. I also could be completely wrong, so yeah, find out from the secretary and let me know what she says !

Oh yeah, and why not check out the Dr in Bathurst? Get referrals to both, and see who comes up first.

You know, I think your best bet would be to just call Dr. B's office, and ask the secretary your questions. At least you'll have the answers from someone who reallllly know! Ask how long of a wait (typically) after your dr. sends in your referral until you get your first appointment, and how long between all of the other steps. Maybe also when you have to pay for the band itself would be good to know. ( make sure you hound them a few days after your Dr should have sent in your referral, checking whether they've received it or not, to make sure your doctor did actually send it) I don't think there should be any special wait for getting in to see your family doctor for a referral. Just as long as you would normally wait for any other appointment to see him. I saw some of your other posts, and if he isn't willing to make the referral for you, find another doctor, any other dr. I really don't think it matters if they've known you very long. You'll tell them what your issues are. If necessary, they can get your file from your last Dr. I didn't have to get a referral for my banding, but I did have to go see a doctor to do a pre-op checkup before surgery, and I just saw whoever I could at the walkin clinic. And yes, that would be normal, Dr. Beausoleil having to write up/send in something to justify why you should have this surgery. I'm sure it's not anything that you need to be involved in, or ask him to do. He's been through the process enough that I'm sure he knows what's gotta be done. Just make sure you ask him what the next steps are. Good luck! You should definitely post what you find out, because I think there's a lot of confusion as to what the process is to get covered in NS, NB, and PEI (now that I look back at these other posts, I remember something about having to get your referral from a specialist, not just your family Dr. This is something they'd be able to confirm if you called Dr. B's office though. Do it!!)

same problem still... It downloads a text file with only about 26 pages of posts (of the 90+)

Is there any way to save all pages from a thread at once? The thread I want to save is 94 pages, and when I click 'download this thread' it appears I only get the very first page.

Whooops, sorry Doddie! I somehow blanked out the whole Vancouver part of that question every time I read it! Haha, sorry!

She was looking for someone in Saskatoon. Unless she wants to fly to BC for fills? Anyways, pm'd with contact info!

Wow, all this attention! I am back from SK. Got in on Tuesday. It's nice to be back, but I wish I could stay longer with my dad. Hopefully he'll come and see me this summer. I did promise that I would try my best to go back in late August/Sept., which he was happy about cause he said it would give him something to look forward to. I'm doing ok, I suppose.... as well as could be. Probably better, actually, considering I'm still an emotionless robot. :confused2: I decided while I was in SK that I wanted a career change, so I signed up and have now started on my home staging course. ( The Haverhill Institute of Staging & Design ) I've got about a month to get the first segment done (well, I could take longer, but I want to get done ASAP). That's about all that's going on with me... how bout you? And thanks for asking, btw. Mandi