inuit

Yeah really. I am so terrified and anxious that I will gain weight that all I think about is weight and food. I feel like I am so worried about it that I eat all the time or feel hungry all the time.I am hoping to get the call from moncton but at the same time dreading it in case I haven't lost or worse gained. I wish I had the money to pay for it myself so I wouldn't feel so constrained.

Ah Ellenjacq, I see you survived the ordeal. Hahaha Just kidding. You must be glad it's over. Now for the healing process. I am so happy for you!! Me next! Keep on posting to let us know how you are doing.

Really sick that if you are obese, people feel that they can be rude and hurtful and society thinks it's o.k. Mind you nobody would ever say this to my face but the cowards say it behind my back or in the next aisle over. When you are obese, you may already have a self esteem issue and it is pretty hard to maintain a thick skin. I wish it was as politically incorrect to make fun of obesity as it is to make fun of the handicapped. Hopefully in my lifetime.

Really sick that if you are obese, people feel that they can be rude and hurtful and society thinks it's o.k. Mind you nobody would ever say this to my face but the cowards say it behind my back or in the next aisle over. When you bare obese, you may already have a self esteem issue and it is pretty hard to maintain a thick skin. I wish it was as politically incorrect to make fun of obesity as it is to make fun of the handicapped. Hopefully in my lifetime.

Annie, hopefully the rules in Toronto are different than they are in Moncton. In moncton I was weighed at my first visit and again when I arrived for the info session. I still have to go back to sign consents and then back again for preops. I will need to go back again 1 week prior to surgery. I will be weighed at each visit. If at any time I have gained weight, my surgery will be postponed untill I continuously lose weight. Scary or what. Hopefully Toronto is different. Will it cost you very much? Travel and all. Optifast is not sold in pharmacies. WLS clinics sell it.

It is a sad comment on society when people think they have a right to comment about your health issues. You did not ask their permission to have surgery so what makes them think they have a right to make negitive comments about it. Obesity is the last discrimination that is not only allowed but encouraged. Sad, isn't it.

Wow, Annie that's cutting it close. In order to get the two weeks in, willyou have to start Optifast while still on you vacation?:whatchutalkingabout

Annie, I thought you already had your date for surgery. I'm sorry I must have misunderstood. Pearl, the all day info sessiion was wonderful and you learned so much. Speaers were, one of the nurses on Dr. B.'s staff, a registered dietitian, she was really good too, a psychologist came in and spoke, she was really good too. The last speaker of the day was a lady from Fredericton who had gastric bypass surgery in 2005. OMG she looked amazing. She showed us a photo of herself before surgery. You wouldn't know it was the same person. She has had a LOT of complications though. She has had surgery every year since except this year due to complications. You will really enjoy the info session. There was only a man and me there Tuesday. Someone else was supposed to be there but did not show up. :whatchutalkingabout

Annie 55, You say you will have your weight loss surgery in Toronto. Where will you get your fills done? Won't that cost a lot of money to travel back and forth to Toronto every few months. When I called medicare they said they would pay for my surgery and the band and follow up care but all travel expences were up to me.

In order for medicare to approve you for coverage, you must have comorbidities. For example, diabetes,cardiac issues, arthritis aggrivated by weight, sleep apnea, joint degeneration, uncontrolled hypertension and there are others that I can't think of now. If you qualify, medicare pays for everything. Surgery, band, followup, fills ect. If you do not medically qualify, you pay yourself. I was referred to an endocrinologist by my family doctor back in 06 and he wrote to medicare requesting weight loss surgery but because at that time I had no comorbidities, medicare refused me coverage. Shortly after that I developed diabetes and had a heart attack so my endocrinologist appealed to medicare and this time they approved it. I saw Dr B. Nov.20, had my all day info session on Dec 2 and now am waiting for the call to sign consent forms. This time next year, barring flood or famine, I will be banded and hopefully on my way to better health. Hope this info helps.

Hi, Ellenjacq, how are you? I had my 8 hour info session yesterday. The staff were all really great! I really loved the info. They sure know their stuff. They said the next step will be a meeting to talk to Dr. B. and sign the consent forms. I will be weighed each visit. My biggest worry is that I will gain weight and they will postpone my surgery. The visit after that will be pre-admission, blood work, chest x-ray, ecg. ect. I am soooo looking forward to this.

Ellenjacq, I was at the George Domont hosp this morning and while I was waiting to start my 8 hour info session, I was wondering how you were doing. Around first break (10:30) I was thinking about you. Thinking you must be done by now. Hope all went well and by now (9pm) you must be at home all done. I am so happy for you! Feel better soon:)

Thank you Doddie and jane. I will look that up.

How do you add the weight loss tape thing to your posts?:thumbup:

Good idea Katrinalud. I live in New Brunswick and the province pays for everything including the band itself. It's supposed to be universal health care. B.C. has no right to decide what is medically appropriate when it comes to the health of so many. It will save millions in the long run. If one province (a poor one at that) can do this for their people, there is no good reason why a much better off province can't do it. N.B. only started paying for the band last year. Good Luck.:cursing:

Where did you have your band surgery? Canada or Mexico?

I was told that Dr. Beausoleil's patients must undergo a two week regime of optifast. Are there any other options besides optifast? Where do you buy optifast? I have asked in every pharmacy in Saint John and none of the pharmist's have ever heard of optifast. I tried a can a long time ago and it was gross. I don't want to spend 200 dollars on it and discover that I really can't drink it. Any advice?:grouphug:

I finally got medicare approval sometime after Nov.07 and I saw Dr. B. on Nov.20 /08. and now I am going for my 8 hour info session on tuesday dec.2. I may get my band as soon as 3 or 4 months from now. The only cost to me will be staying in Moncton overnight. Something must have happened to the waiting list because when I called Dr. B.'s office in 06, I was told there was a 7 to 10 year waiting list.

I am so excited to start this journey, I can hardly stand it. I'll be thinking of you on Tuesday. I am coming to Moncton on Monday and spending the night at a motel so I won't have to get on the road so early in the morning. If I can remember, I'll bring along my laptop.

OMG Dr. B's office just called me and booked me for the all day info session on Dec.2. I am sooo excited. one step closer. That's the same day that you, Ellenjacq, will be having your surgery. Oh my. While I am sitting there at the info session, I will be thinking of you. Good luck. I will wish you a speedy recovery if you will wish me speed in getting my band.

I just wanted to comment on the airline seat thing. I flew with west jet last summer. On the way to my destination I was given 2 seats but for 3 hours of my return home leg I was given only one. I had someone sitting in the next seat. I felt sorry for him. I was squished partially into his seat and for me it was extremely uncomfortable. So I guess kudos for westjet for allowing me a second seat free as long as they were able. Hopefully now though all airlines in Canada will have to do this. BTW, Did you now that airline seats are 17 inches wide. That's not much space. Fat or average, that's a tight fit.

I can hardly wait for you to have your surgery so you can tell me what it was like for you. I was a nurse for many years. I even worked on surgical floors but this is something completly new. Don't forget to post after you are all done. Well as soon as you feel able.

Yeah, I live in Saint John. Thank you so much for all of the info. I was to see Dr.B. on thursday and after I left there was so much I should have asked the nurse. It was so busy and hurried. So you only had the initial visit, the info session, the bloodwork xray day and then was given a surgery date?

Will you be able to eat at Christmas time? Is preadmission the 8 hour info thing or is there another meeting after that?

I am so happy for you. That seems to be a lot of money. Is there anything else you can take if you cannot afford the optifast? Be sure to post on here as soon as you are able after surgery. Please.