The Canadian Process:

[*Love* 2]

Has anyone in Canada had to jump through all kinds of hoops to get an appointment? It sounds like Americans have to go for a psyc evaluation, meetings, seminars, etc before hand (as seen on the tv programs). Does that happen here too? Are the hoops insurance related?

I am 'out of town' for the clinic I have contacted.

I faxed in my medical / personal history questionnaire Tuesday night & had a short phone consultation the next day, at the end of which I picked a date for next month & was asked how I would like to make my non-rufundable deposit. I am being sent a package with the forms for the lab work (which has to be done 30 days before the surgery) + surgery info, I imagine. I would have though they would want to see the test results before taking a booking.

Is this typical? :biggrin:

[cathyalmond 1]

Hi there,

I have contacted a clinic in Missisauga ON and also faxed a patient questionnaire, I have my first surgical consult on Wednesday and that will be followed by a psych assessment and nutritional consult sometime in the few weeks...surgery date?? I don't know right now.

My choice is for Lapband, it is not covered by OHIP or private insurance..so I am paying..there are financing options such as Medicard, you can apply on-line and approval is almost instant...I am hoping not to have to use it, but it's there if I need to.

I hope all goes well for you....take care, Cathy

[Cindy_D 1]

There are very few contraindications for having a lapband inserted. The "hoops" people have to negotiate are related to insurance company regulations for those who are lucky enough to have that sort of coverage - to the best of my knowledge, there are no private insurance companies that are covering this in Canada (extended health benefits). Some provinces are starting to provide some surgical spots, but the wait lists are long and they too are requiring lots of extra testing to "qualify".

Securing an OR spot is not something that cannot be changed if for some reason you cannot have the band inserted - I'm sure the clinics would refund your money. Having a partiality to the Surgical Weight Loss Clinic in Mississauga, I would say that if that is your choice, you have made a good one. Likewise, I don't think you would have any worries with booking with TLBC - it is preference.

Good luck and keep in touch - we're all here for support.

Cindy

[*Love* 2]

Cindy D:

I don't have insurance coverage.

It was TLBC & Kathy was clear that the deposit was non-refundable, though it could be used at a later date. That doesn't help much if you don't pass the tests. I have no reason to believe that I won't.

I convinced her to 'pencil' me in & I would pay Monday (tomorrow). I have since decided that I will pay as soon as the doctor has seen my test results & has approved me. I can't see them having a problem with that. I am trying not to get too excited until then.

Thanks for the support. :biggrin:

[mylah 0]

Hi

I was a self pay $16000 and had mine done in Mississauga.I only had to wait 5 weeks and did not have to do anything else expect pre-op diet.This clinic is wonderful and I had a great team.Dr. Mummford did my band.

I had a speedy recovery with no problems at all.Looking forward to my first fill in a few weeks

[betttybboop 1]

I called TLBC on a Tuesday, they sent me the consultation forms that same day and booked me for a face to face consult with Kathy two days later. At the consult, Kathy took my $2500 deposit and offered me a surgery date a week from Thursday. Now that's fast...

I ended up booking the surgery two weeks out from my original consultation date (by choice, not because they couldn't accomodate the 7 day timeframe). I did my tests a couple of days ago (last Friday) and they should arrive at the clinic by Tuesday. Just so you know, if the clinic decides you're not eligible for the surgery, your deposit is refunded. I asked Kathy about that and it's stated in the pre-op package (the billing information sheet).

So, within two weeks, I filled out my forms, had my consult (it amazes me that I'm paying $1,000 for a psychological assesment that from what I can see is a 30 minute initial consult with an uncertified "bandster"), scrounged up $18,000 which I will not be paying until the day before the surgery, booked my surgery and began my pre op liquid diet.

Yeah, you could say they move pretty fast! But, I make quick decisions, so it works in my favour (I have the, it's now or never mentality). I can see how it might put someone else off.

I'll tell you, the only thing I've been uneasy about up to this point is that there's a bit of a "sales pitch" involved in the initial consult, but I guess that's to be expected for an elective surgery. Also, I thought it was weird that Kathy slashed my pre op diet from 10 days to 7 days, in a rather laid back sort of way, as if it really wasn't important. I guess I just don't understand what her level of knowledge is from a medical perspective to be making those kinds of decisions. I thought she was just a former patient who's made a career of the whole thing... but she's changed my pre-op diet and I guess assessed mental readiness, so I'm probably wrong.

Good Luck if you decide to pursue the Lap Band - and wish me luck on Friday's accelerated surgery!

[*Love* 2]

bettybboop:

What was in the pre-op package? What forms did you get? Does your family doctor have to fill anything out?

When will you have the psyc exam or was that part of the consultation? If that is the case, Kathy didn't really ask me anything. What is the $1000 all about? I was told the $18,000 included everything.

I agree that it seems all about the money, but if they do a good job & we get everything we are promised....I guess I don't see the harm. Obviously, I wish it was faaaar cheaper.

I am surprised you are getting that quick. Somewhere I read, or was told the lab work had to be done a month before.

I wish you an easy surgery & I look forward to hearing all the details. :biggrin:

[Doddie63 6]

I have understood Kathy to be a registered nurse as well as a bandster. She is knowledgeable. As for the diet, the lengthy is determined by your BMI but the clinic can adjust it to meet your needs. The whole purpose of the diet is to shrink the liver as much as possible. I had to go 30 days on cottage cheese and plain yogurt. Doddie

[*Love* 2]

Doddie:

That makes sense to me.

I think I was told I will have to do 3 days on the yogurt / fish thingy.

(I have seen all about shrinking the liver on those bariatric tv shows.)

[Donna D 1]

Love, you have very little weight to lose so that is probably the reason for your short presurgery diet.

[Donna D 1]

p.s. nice ticker btw

[susieq321 31]

I have understood Kathy to be a registered nurse as well as a bandster. She is knowledgeable. As for the diet, the lengthy is determined by your BMI but the clinic can adjust it to meet your needs. The whole purpose of the diet is to shrink the liver as much as possible. I had to go 30 days on cottage cheese and plain yogurt. Doddie

Kathy isn't an RN, but she is a very experienced bandster with 8 years banded herself and 4 years doing pre and post op. She is certified in many different areas and goes for extensive training throughout the year on dealing with patients, evaluating them, running support groups etc.

TLBC is implementing a formalized psych testing program to ensure you are getting the band for the right reasons, not because someone else is telling you, that you need it. No bandster who gets the band for anyone else other than themselves will be as successful as one who does it for the right reasons.

Since we are all self pay and there is no insurance the hoops we jump through in Canada are much less than the US where there is insurance coverage if you can meet their regulations. Very few people are turned down by any clinic unless you are too obese (ie 1000 lbs and can't travel to a clinic or hospital) serious health issues where the surgery might kill you or you need to be done in a hospital in which case they will not turn you down but it make take a little longer to get into the hospital.

Doddie is right Kathy has enough experience dealing with bandsters to look at a BMI and say your liver isn't as fatty as a heavier persons and cut a pre op diet here and there. The pre op is nice and it makes the surgery easier on the surgeon and less risk of complications to you but when I was banded we didn't even have one.. so it is a nice to have not a must.

If there is a reason you can't have the surgery I am sure Kathy would refund your money. I think the deposit comes into play more when she books a date because once that date is booked and she books all the support staff who have to be there to cover you during and post op.. the clinic has to pay them regardless if you show up or not that includes the supporting Drs and pre and post op nursing staff. So if you book and cancel at the last minute the clinic still has to pay their staffing needs who were booked to take care of you. (some staff are full time and some are part time)

Heather

[betttybboop 1]

Well, I must ask then, why did I get charged $1,000 for a psychological assesment from the TLBC, if they haven't even implemented it yet? The only person I met was Kathy. It's great that she attends courses and I do feel she's knowledgable on the topic, but I question if she's capable of determining my psychological readiness for the surgery and more over, if she's eligible to charge me $1,000 for the assessment.

That's all I'm saying. I'm still getting the surgery, still going through the TLBC and still confident it's the best thing for me, I just think it's a bit of a cash grab, charging me for services they didn't even perform.

I also find it SHOCKING that the post op care costs more than the band itself!!!! $6,000 for post op support? That's pretty high, considering the surgery only costs $5,000 and the band only costs $5,000. And what traditionally costs the most, the anethesist (sp??? I have no clue how to spell the name of the guy that knocks you out), only costs $1,000!!!! It's just all a little off to me.

Still, regardless of where they allocate the $$$, it's $18,000 overall and that's what I expected to pay for the entire surgery, so that's what I'll pay.

[betttybboop 1]

*LOVE* - I'm at work, so I'm trying to answer your q's quickly. Let me know if you have any clarification questions! Here goes:

What was in the pre-op package? (nutritional info, billing breakdown, blood work sheet, etc.)

What forms did you get? (just the bllod work sheet, credit medical financing application and billing breakdown. The rest was a package on the risks and info on dietary choices pre and post op)

Does your family doctor have to fill anything out? (my family doctor was not asked to fill anything out and probably wouldn't as she doesn't support weight loss surgery)

When will you have the psyc exam or was that part of the consultation? If that is the case, Kathy didn't really ask me anything. What is the $1000 all about? (the psych exam was apparently meeting Kathy, since I have the surgery on Friday and no one's contacted me about anything other than payment! Kathy asked me a lot of questions about my engagement ring, but that's about it - maybe that was my psych exam!! You'll see in your billing breakdown the Psych Exam is $1,000, but it still all totals $18,000)

I was told the $18,000 included everything. (it does)

I am surprised you are getting that quick. Somewhere I read, or was told the lab work had to be done a month before. (the lab work really only takes 1 business day. I did mine Friday morning and was contacted by TLBC this morning with the results - all good to go!!!! So, I think they want the work done within a month so that it's a recent snapshot of your health. I know at other places, your ECG and Bloodwork expire monthly for this reason.)

I wish you an easy surgery & I look forward to hearing all the details. (Thanks, and YOU TOO!)

[susieq321 31]

Well, I must ask then, why did I get charged $1,000 for a psychological assesment from the TLBC, if they haven't even implemented it yet? The only person I met was Kathy. It's great that she attends courses and I do feel she's knowledgable on the topic, but I question if she's capable of determining my psychological readiness for the surgery and more over, if she's eligible to charge me $1,000 for the assessment.

I also find it SHOCKING that the post op care costs more than the band itself!!!! $6,000 for post op support? That's pretty high, considering the surgery only costs $5,000 and the band only costs $5,000. And what traditionally costs the most, the anethesist (sp??? I have no clue how to spell the name of the guy that knocks you out), only costs $1,000!!!! It's just all a little off to me.

Still, regardless of where they allocate the $$$, it's $18,000 overall and that's what I expected to pay for the entire surgery, so that's what I'll pay.

Ok you would have to phone and ask on that the pysch fee call them on it, who knows they may have something else they want you to do or they may have switched the billing breakdown to the new one just a little to early there is more than likely a simple explanation.. contact Kathy and ask about it or email and ask about it and she will explain it.

6000K for post op care that is a great deal post op care for life for 6k I know you are thinking I lose the weight and never go back and what do I need.. I am over 6 years out and I still get fills and defills and I have been at goal for more than 4 years almost 5 now.. but you will have this band for life and if you start breaking it down it is a tiny tiny cost. It includes access to TLBC only events, nutritionists, fills, their website and everything else it is a steal at that if you start breaking it down you will realize post op care should be the largest cost!

Good luck and you will be on your way before you know

Heather