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

Oh wow, that will be nice. I'm actually completely empty right now, so no fills or defills needed, but that's good to know that if in the future I have to, it'll be alot closer! Plus hopefully it'll give that Dr. lots of time to practice on other people... I don't want to be a guinea pig!

Hi Katya, I'm also in Halifax, just moved here as well, a couple months ago. For aftercare sake, I'd go with Dr. Cobourn (or the SWLC, rather). They've got someone in Pictou (which is still a good distance away, but not too bad) to do fills for us, and hopefully will get someone in Halifax soon. Honestly, that's the only 'aftercare' I've had from them, besides the odd email or phone call. If I ever need anything I can call or email, and hear back fairly soon, and that's the best you can hope for, living so far from your clinic, I guess. There's some kind of 'bariatric' support group around here, but I've never gone, so I can't help you with that. I'm sure the lady who organizes it comes around here and will post soon. Mandi

I had a pain like that a few weeks after surgery also... and it kind of freaked me out. My Dr. told me not to worry about it and it would go away, and it did after about a week. BUT, of course, this is only my experience and if you're very concerned and it persists too long, ask your Dr also. and no, nothing weird after starting back on the pill

It's really up to you... maybe you'll be able to, maybe not. I don't bother ordering 'em in restaurants anymore, cause I can't eat much of them, and they're no good to take home for leftovers. But at home I make them some times, and it doesn't matter if I have to throw out half.

Thank you Maria and Susan :confused_smile: I know it must have been fate. I can't believe the fact that I was here. If I had been in Halifax and my dad had to make that call to me... and if he'd had to go through this alone, I can't imagine. She'd just been in the hospital to determine if she would be a good candidate for this medication pump a week before (that's where I walked in and surprised her with flowers), and while she was there, she was visited by 2 of her sisters from AB, and numerous aunts. Just a few days ago, she had the opportunity to meet a couple friends of mine that I'd known for years, but she'd never physically met. At Easter she saw her brother (who also has MS), who she hadn't talked to in quite a while, as well as her parents. The day she died, she convinced me to plant all her bedding plants for her, even though I tried to get her to let us do it this weekend. I spent a good part of that same day helping a friend at a garage sale, and was invited to stay for dinner but I opted to go home and eat with my mom. It was just after dinner that it happened. I could have easily missed dinner with her and not been there for her in those last minutes. I keep realizing little coinicidences that happened that makes this seem like it was the time. No one expected it to happen so soon, but I guess everything aligned and the universe decided to make it happen. Everyone keeps saying that she was the happiest she'd been in a while cause she had her girl home, so I'm grateful for that. Thanks again.

Alex, is this feature gone again?

Thank you, ladies. Now can someone offer me some advice? I came home to surprise my mom for Mother's Day, and was planning on staying 2 weeks for some old fashion quality time, and leaving this Wed. That is until Thursday night when my mom's heart stopped, we called 911, I had to perform CPR, and she passed away at the hospital. I cried that night, off and on, but haven't been able to since. Everyone offering me support and hugs and crying, and I'm shedding barely a tear. I feel like something's wrong with me, and people probably think I'm some cold, heartless bitch. My mom was/is my best friend. Now a little back story. My mom had MS. She wasn't really in physical pain, but it was hard for her for sure. She was tough and never complained. I tell myself, to try to explain why I'm not crying my face off that how can I be sad when I know she's finally at peace, and if she had to go, this is one of the best ways it could have happened. Am I in shock? I guess I feel numb. Maybe I'm in denial? I have fleeting moments when I want to go tell her something or call her, like I used to do everyday. I want to be sad. Maybe the funeral will be where I crack.. it's on Tuesday. Anyone? :wink_smile:

Well, size 6 is pushing it. If anyone wanted to buy me clothes, I'd definitely recommend no smaller than a 8 to be safe!! But thank you Wheezy, how are you doing? And yeah, maybe I'll hold on to the ticker a while longer. I just feel this weird obligation to update it (even though I dont), and when its not quite right, I scream "The ticker is a lie!!!" in my head!! So, I AM going forward with the home staging career change. I'm obligated now. I'll start the course as soon as I get back to Halifax (in SK) right now. And hopefully not be more than a month or so before I can start actually working at it. I'm pretty excited. I think it could be great. Anyone have any tips in the way of write-offs for someone who will be primarily working out of their home?

Yikes Buffie... please keep us updated!

I feel like getting rid of my ticker. I flucuate up a few pounds, and feel like it's a big fat lie... i'm just so sick of seeing it, and feeling like I need to constantly update it!

I feel like telling someone about this cause I'm excited! I had a job interview a couple weeks ago, and it went fairly well, but they still haven't made a decision. It's a scary job, and I'm not sure it's something I even wanted to do... BUT it would look really good on a resume. Anyways, I came across an ad for a 'school'. They train people to do 'staging' for real estate, and guarantee you a job upon completion. Either part time or full time. Even if I could only get on part time (25hrs a week), I would be making a good $5000 more a year than I would if I got that other job (which would be full time, and a ton of unpaid overtime). Full time, I'd make nearly double!! It's only $1000 for the course, and you have up to 6 months to complete it, but can finish in as little as 4 weeks. If for some reason they don't offer you a job upon completion, they will give you back your tuition, and if they do give you a job, you get that money back as a bonus on your first paycheck!! Can't lose! If I get offered that other job, I am 99% sure I'll decline it. I think doing this staging would be fun, and so much less stressful than the producer job I was gunning for. So I am very excited. It's totally different than what I've been doing, but I've always been a big re-decorating person, and into real estate, and I think I would do really good at this, and actually enjoy it! I'm in Sask. right now, surprised my mom for mothers day, but as soon as I get back to Halifax, I'm signing up!!! Yay!!!!