Ang1982

I posted this in the Canada forums but thought I would put it here too in case there is anyone that might have information that doesn't browse the Canada forums. So last night I was explaining the surgery, etc to my mom and she had a couple of pretty legitimate questions which I was hoping perhaps someone here could help out with. 1) If I get my surgery done out of Province/Country - currently looking into going to Dr.Kirshenbaum in Colorado - and self paying as BC Med does not cover it - nor does my extended medical through work . . what happens if something goes wrong during the surgery such as lets say for example: a heart attack (for lack of something better, unlikely since I'm 25 but it's the first thing to pop into my mind) and now they are treating me for that - Will I be getting hospital bills up the wazoo? 2) So say I get my surgery done whether it be Toronto, Colorado, wherever (basically anywhere out of Province) if there is some sort of issue with it that requires emergency rectification that I cant make it back to the original surgeon in time to deal with - would I have to pay my local hospital the cost of having to deal with it? And would they just remove it? 3) Similar to question 2 - if you have to have a port replaced or anything of the sort done due to errosion, slippage, etc. and you go back to your original surgeon - do you have to pay for that too? Or is it considered "warranty"? Thanks for helping with my questions

Hopefully this doesn't get lost at the bottom of this thread and people still see it. So last night I was explaining the surgery, etc to my mom and she had a couple of pretty legitimate questions which I was hoping perhaps someone here could help out with. 1) If I get my surgery done out of Province/Country - currently looking into going to Dr.Kirshenbaum in Colorado - and self paying as BC Med does not cover it - nor does my extended medical through work . . what happens if something goes wrong during the surgery such as lets say for example: a heart attack (for lack of something better, unlikely since I'm 25 but it's the first thing to pop into my mind) and now they are treating me for that - Will I be getting hospital bills up the wazoo? 2) So say I get my surgery done whether it be Toronto, Colorado, wherever (basically anywhere out of Province) if there is some sort of issue with it that requires emergency rectification that I cant make it back to the original surgeon in time to deal with - would I have to pay my local hospital the cost of having to deal with it? And would they just remove it? 3) Similar to question 2 - if you have to have a port replaced or anything of the sort done due to errosion, slippage, etc. and you go back to your original surgeon - do you have to pay for that too? Or is it considered "warranty"? Thanks for helping with my questions

Enjoy your visit and coffee with your friend. Who better to sit down with and ease your fears and concerns then your good friend who has been through it all

*hug* Crispy, please don't take this as me "attacking you" or anything just trying to put some perspective into things.. I've not had the band but am trying my hardest to get the finances together to be able to. "I should try another diet again" - isn't that why you are looking at lapband in the first place. I know personally that I've tried the various diets and methods and sure you can stick with it for a while and you do well but eventually... it just stops and *I* need away to be able to "not just stop". I've tried various different things, some successful, some not sucessful and others that were temporarily sucessful then brought 5-10lbs of revenge back with it. Why do you think you cant do it? Will it be easy? Heck no, it's not supposed to be easy, it took a life time (assuming) to get here it's not going to be a cake walk to get it off. But ifyou are given a tool that gives you a HIGHER chance to suceed then just "another diet again" isn't that worth it? Are you willing to give up some of your favourite foods (granted not all and I'm sure some day you will be able to have SMALL tastes of these) to be able to walk into ANY mall and walk into ANY store and know that you can buy their clothes? NOT feel embarrassed going to a movie and barely fitting in the seat? Know that you can comfortably sit on a bus/airplane? Isn't that worth giving up Cheesecake and Starbucks (two of my personal demons) for? I think so. You have been given a chance to recapture the rest of your life. Grab the bull by the horns and kick its ass!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! And you have sooo many great people here to hold your hand along the way. Don't give up. We're here cheering you on every step of the way!!!:clap2::clap2::clap2:

Great thanks! I actually live in Chilliwack BC, but I'm looking into getting banded by someone not in BC and will need to find a fill doctor. I wonder if they will see people who were not banded by them.. guess I'll have to call and find out. Appreciate the response. I see you were banded in Surrey, are you a fellow Canuck? What was your overall opinion of Dr Leung? Ive heard he lacks a bit in the bedside manner? Also, I have heard he is getting up there in years so if he retires will his band patients be referred elsewhere? I know he does not take other surgeons band patients for fills. Thanks! Angela

Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone knew of a Bellingham area fill center or doctor? Thanks!

Hmmmm 70 and about to retire that's kinda scary! Hah, although really how much do I care about the guys bedside manner if he gets the job done and well? I'll give them a call when I get home from work today. I've heard from someone else that Dr.Woodhead isn't getting much OR time, wonder what the deal with that is?

Paula, Thanks for the input, much appreciated. I'm definitely closer to him than Dr. Woodhead seeing as he's in Surrey and Woodheads in Delta and I live in Chilliwack! Hehe.

Looks like today is surgery day, hope all went well!

Argh, the current dilemna that I am facing is that I am already 3 years into a 6 year car loan that I pay approx $524/month for. And unfortunately I do not have a house to use for equity as I am just a renter right now. I'm trying sooo hard to not get discouraged... but it's not working =/

Hello my friends! I have been doing some searching on the internet as to different financing options available in Canada and thought I would see what you guys have to say in case I am perhaps missing something. So, if you got financing help did you go through a bank personal loan? Has anyone used Medicard (or whatever it's called)? How much did you finance? How long is your finance term? Are you comfortable telling me approx how much per month you pay? Thanks in advance!!!

Thank you both for your responses. After hearing more and more about aftercare and the importance of being close to someone who deals with that I am reconsidering my thoughts of going to Mexico.

Hey all, me again continuing my research!! I am currently looking into what my options are for where to get my band / how I can self-pay etc and of course Mexico is high on my mind just for the HUGE difference in cost; however... I've found of two surgeons in the Lower Mainland that deal with Lap Bands: one, Dr Leung, who does not do fills for any one that wasn't his patient and two, Dr.Woodhead, who apparently charges a consult fee ($400) and meets with you to decide you can be his patient and then charges you $75/fill. So.. getting to the point - has anyone had surgery elsewhere but looked to get fills in BC? Where did you go? Any tips/pointers/etc. would be greatly appreciated. My main concern is if I get it done elsewhere what happens when it's fill time or if I have any complications? Please help Cheers, Angela

Doddie, thanks so much for the input, I will do my research etc as to what my plan will be. My next step is meeting with my own doctor next week. Unfortunately when it comes down to it is a car more important then my health? No of course not; however, the car loan I was referring to is already 3 years into a 6 year loan so it's not like I am deciding on getting one I'm already half way into it and there's no backing out of that now. Thanks again for the info

Hi Peaches, by all means please jump in. I appreciate all the input and support I can get. Just to clarify you got a loan for a 10 year period? If you dont mind me asking - how much was the total amount of your loan for (assuming it wasn't a personal loan from family/friends)? And what kind of monthly payments do you have/ which financial company? If you would rather PM me the info, that is if I'm not being too nosey, I would greatly appreciate what kind of numbers I would be looking at. I'm starting to think this will be my only option but I'm currently in the middle of a car loan so there's not a whole lot of spare cash flow at the moment around here haha.

Thanks for all the support Doddie. I am trying not to give up hope. My doc appointment is for next Tuesday and I am going to be asking for a referral the two doctors in the lower mainland that I have found is Dr.Woodhead and Dr.Leung. I phoned Dr. Leung's office just out of curiousity and his receptionist (or whoever answered the phone) informed me it was not covered by medical. But I am going to try my darndest (new word?) to see if I can get it covered. I actually also phoned BC Medical and they told me it was not covered as well so you are not out of date at all. May I ask why you chose to go to TLBC instead of to someone like Dr.Woodhead in the first place? And how long from your decision to get it done to the actual process was your wait? Thanks again. Angela

So apparently after finding out more information, including speaking to BC Medical I have found out that they do not cover the cost of the Lap Band (although I am almost certain that they used to). They do however cover Gastric Bypass, how does that make sense? Since I do not believe I could get time off work for a Gastric Bypass I guess now I have to find out some other information. For anyone that can help... How much does it cost?/Where did you get it done? I am so disappointed, it has been one hell of a week for me and finding this out was pretty crushing.:cry

Thanks for the info Doddie. Unfortunately I do not think I will be able to make it in for tomorrows meeting as I have to work a bit later and I live out in Chilliwack, so it is a bit of a drive however possibly a future meeting. I do have to stay that finding out that BC med doesn't cover it but the gastric is .. very saddening to me as I could never afford to have the band done otherwise. And gastric is not really an option as I could not afford the time off work for recovery period.

Hello All! Well I have been doing my research and homework and have a doctors appointment with my doctor on the 25th to get the referral (hopefully!). What my question is - any of you British Columbia Bandsters that have gone to someone in the lower mainland (do not want to have to go to the Island, makes fills etc a bit difficult)... 1)Who did you go to and what is your opinion of that surgeon? 2)How long was your wait to get a consult appointment and then to the actual surgery? 3)Did you managed to get it covered by BC Medical? (My girl friend had gastric bypass covered by BC Med). Thanks in advance. I'm excited, I'm scared, and I'm worried my doc wont give me the referral. ~Angela~

Hi Trish! Let me know how your seminar goes, I need to look into going to something like that in my area. I'm only just starting my research now then I am going to book an appointment with my doc and see where to go from there. Out of general curiousity can anyone tell me - once you have gotten your surgeon referral how long is the average wait period for surgery? Thanks!

Hi Lisa, Perhaps Canada Govt was an inaccurate statement but I know BC medical paid for my girl friends gastric bypass (they even actually paid for her to have it done in Alberta) so I am assuming that Lap Band is covered as well if that is. I will have to reread my contract again, they debit it directly from your bank account not credit card. I think the only way to get out of it is to either move or have a doctor write a letter saying you can't go anymore (and I doubt my doc would do that). Thanks for the suggestions though, I will look into that! Angy

Hello, I will start with just a quick intro to what brought me here/about me... I am 25, my entire life I have struggled with my weight, I was a bigger kid yet still quite active until I was blessed with puberty and a large chest which plagued me and my athletic activities all through my teens. At 19 I had a breast reduction - one of the best things I have ever done! As the years went by my weight crept up and up, a few years ago I successfully lost 50 lbs through Weight Watchers and have not gained it back (yay!), however I have since fallen off the WW bandwagon and have just managed to maintain not gaining any weight or losing any either for that matter. Weight Watchers was great at the time however now, I can't really afford to pay $15.00 every week to go right now. I tried Medifast for a month and hated it but it worked and I lost 20'ish lbs, however due to the fact that I couldn't stand to eat/drink it I didn't do longer then that month and the 20 lbs I lost came back and brought 10lbs worth of friends. I am currently a member of Curves (signed up a few months ago) and as much as I love the concept of it and the place itself I HATE going and feel miserable before, during and after everytime I go. Yet here I am locked in for $45 a month (hence why WW isnt an option these days) for the next 9 months or so. I have been eating not so well lately and I know that I need to change it and I have the information required to change it (I kept all of my WW info, etc) and it is something that I am working towards getting better at I dont know why it seems to be such a struggle for me. My boyfriend is amazing he loves me exactly the way I am and thats perfect yet its also hard because he doesn't give me that extra "oomph get your but in gear and eat better shove" that sometimes I need. I feel like I have been spiralling down lately, I look in the mirror and I want to cry and recently I saw a picture that wasn't taken directly of me but I was in the background walking out a door with my back to the camera and the first thing I thought was wow, is that really me? Is that how I look? My best friend has had the gastric bypass and we were roommates at the time and I've seen first hand the effects the harshness of the surgery and the after effects and I know that is not something I could ever do (not to mention I could never get the required recovery period off work). She suggest that I check out the Lap Band and find a forum to get some information as it was one of the options that she had looked at before deciding on gastric bypass. I know the Canadian Govt would cover the cost should I chose to do so... So why the big post? I guess it's more a way for me to just "get it off my chest" regardless of whether or not anyone takes the time to read and respond to my small novel. Any words of wisdom, advice, info you can give would be appreciated. And is there anyone in the Vancouver, BC area that has had it or is going to have it done? What surgeon are you seeing/did you see? Thanks for listening. In need of an emotional and physical overhaul, Angy :cry