Are going with a private care provider or does BC have a bariatric program that you get referred into by your family doctor?
In Ontario there is a bariatric program that covers most of the costs (you have to buy your own Optifast for the pre-op liquid diet, but broadly everything else is covered, including all consults and tests (sleep study, endoscopy, bloodwork, etc) if you meet several criteria; BMI greater than 40 or BMI between 30-40 with one comorbidity which are defined as coronary heart disease, hypertension, Type II diabetes, or diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea.
Once you're enrolled in the program, there are several appointments and classes including a general orientation (virtual), a meeting with a nurse (in person), a social worker (virtual), a dietician (virtual), an internist (in person, who will likely order a sleep study if you haven't had one or have not already been diagnosed with apnea), a nutrition class (virtual) then a meeting with the surgeon (virtual, and who may require an endoscopy to have a look inside your stomach). They will then decide if you're approved for surgery and you'll receive a surgery date shortly thereafter.
Next you'll attend a pre-surgery class (virtual). Lastly, you'll need to go in to the hospital two weeks ahead of your surgery where you'll see a nurse, an anesthesiologist and a pharmacist. During this appointment they'll draw blood, give you an ECG, discuss anesthesia and whether you should continue or stop any medications you may be taking before surgery.
From being referred into the program to getting my surgery date took almost exactly 4 months (March 7-June 8) and my surgery date is Aug 28, so roughly 6 months total.
