I am so down! I went to see my family doctor today who I know has always been against weight loss surgery but I was houping she could get me some of the tests I need done sooner than later. She asked me why I didn't get myself a trainer. She said she had many patients who had wls & they had all gained the weight back. One had her spleen cut accidently when she had her surgery in the U.S.. She told me that many of them had diarrhea a lot. I asked her what kind of surgery & she mentioned a lot of them had the lap band, but some had other surgery. However she admitted that no one had had the sleeve. Now this doctor is an amazing doctor. She has gone beyond what many people would consider being a doctor entails, so please take that into consideration...that's why I am having such a hard time with this now. She then told me about this drug (Victoza), which is currently used for diabetes, would become available as a weight loss pill come Oct & she had heard many good things about it. She told me to wait & try it. I am so ripped up inside. I was so set on going to Montreal for wls but because some tests take up to a year here in Canada to do, I had to go to my family doc if I wanted them quicker...unless I want to pay a private clinic which just adds to a high cost to begin with, for the wls. Between a rock & a hard place. No wonder people go to Mexico! The hoops we need to jump thru in Canada are ridiculous! I need the gastrectomy & colonoscopy which are done only in Banff & take a long time to get into, never mind how expensive they will be. I also need a sleep apnea test, which thankfully she is going to order for me anyways, since we had discussed it some time ago. So help me out people...I need some good things told to me again as I had also read the posting about someone saying not to get it done, last nite. All the research I have done, since before Christmas fell out of my head, as I had it all ready....but then I backed down. Such a chicken, me. Please please help me out here....I am so disappointed not only in what my doc said (which I was expecting) but more in myself for having fallen flat & backing down. I didn't know what to say because I have failed so many times & don't have much faith in myself anymore.

Glitterpockets, thanks so much for answering so quickly. I am from Calgary Alberta & I am finding how behind we are in everything. The closest we have is Red Deer, even though we are a much larger city. Red Deer does only through referrals & is a year wait for surgery (once you are able to get your 1st appt with the nurse), never mind the wait in getting into the programs they tell you that you have to sign up for. That & the monthly drive north 1.5 hours each way...I don't even want to think what that would be like in winter. Oh & my favourite is that once that year wait is over, your bmi still needs to be high, so don't bother dieting...but you still need to lose 10% of your weight, but again not so you fall under the required Bmi. My best alternative is Montreal which means self pay, 12,750 + plane fare for myself & a caregiver, + hotel for a week. Expensive but then won't have to wait a year. Just getting those darn tests without having to pay a lot more, & having to wait a long time in getting them done.

you can get a doctor in Calgary to refer you to the weight management clinic ( old children's hospital). I have surgery scheduled for Aug 28th.

Here's the deal. Your doctor, lovely as she is, is no different from the random sister-in-law who's against you having WLS. What they have in common is that they ...

... HAVE NO FUCKING IDEA WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT OR EXPERIENCE WITH THE GASTRIC SLEEVE.

In fact, they shouldn't even be talking about it.

And you shouldn't be talking with them about it. They are ignorant (uneducated, uninformed, without data).

Until you either insist that your PCP get educated about gastric sleeve surgery or you stop allowing her ignorance to influence you, you can't really advance toward WLS.

My strong advice is that you should find another PCP who knows what gastric sleeve surgery is about. Work with him or her.

More than this...Don't give up! You are worth fighting for. My doctor really wasn't into my

having surgery in the beginning, just told me to exercise more... She finally got on board though, and I'm almost to my surgery appointment(to set the date). I tried dr supervised programs, and

lost weight, but gained it all back plus more after the weight loss pills and shots stopped. I'm doing this so I can feel better for good, not just a few weeks or months here and there.

Ok here's something to think about. You have failed before because you didn't have a wonder aid (WLS) surgery alone isn't going to make us health but will darn sure help. So don't compare your past to your future. I have never had will power but have had no problem with pre-op diet. It's different mentally,

thank you, all of you..you are all so kind & I am humbled...to get such caring & solid unbiased advice...& you don't know me...which is...well really touches my heart...

I have decided to go to Montreal on self pay. I am going to see my doc on Monday & tell her this is what I am going to do because I believe, after almost a year of continual research, is the best thing out there. I feel so good that I have my head on straight...finally...going to do something for my self, instead of for someone else. Going to believe in my self instead of think that some one is more "right" just because they are not me...& all coz you all stood up for me by giving me hope & strength in believing I can do it...yeah I know this all sounds very syrupy....but I mean it...totally surprises me that I have found so many wonderful, caring people...on a site...this site. You are all so wonderful...I have been blessed finding you all, on this site. A million thank you's for your support....I will let you know what happens...thanks again!!