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 I have been informed by Nancy the TLBC nurse, there was a misunderstanding when she was talking with me.

She will NOT BE DOING FILLS FOR ANYONE OTHER THAN TLBC PATIENTS. Apparently she was thinking of our support group not generall.

Sorry for any problems/hope I gave anyone.

Hi

Ok here goes. I have been overweight all my life. Portion control is the biggy for me. One year ago I had a complete hysterectomy with removal of both ovaries. Since then I have developed a very large inscisional hernia. Went to my surgeon yesterday and he says it will be very difficult to fix at this weight as their is not enough available muscle to close the hernia with. I asked him about weight loss and he said it would help tremendously for closure of the hernia. He 100% agrees with me having LAPBAND and along with my GP will put in a referral to my medical Services Plan (British Columbia). Now I need to know about wait times through BC MSP or if MSP will allow me to go out of Province or if MSP will speed up my wait time due to the hernia, or if MSP will pay at all. I'm hoping that they will considering this is an absolute necessity in order to have my hernia repair. When I say the hernia is big, I mean the size of a cantelope. THe "WHOLE" insicision is open. The surgeon says LAP BAND surgery will not interfere or cause problems. Any input would be great

thanks

Hello Sister of the North.

I'm from Dawson Creek. Would love to talk to you. Trying to get all the info that I can. New to all this but going for it. Could you help with with the who what where when and how much stuff

Isabrown. Dr. Woodhead usually repairs hernias when he puts in the gastric band. So do most surgeons who specialize in the band. You just have to check with the surgeon.

To be honest, I do not think that BC MSP will cover the lapband at all, no matter what the circumstances. Not to be the bearer of bad news but I could be wrong so good luck and keep us posted. BC MSP does cover gastric bypass except I believe that the wait list is currently 5 years or so.

My local surgeon feels that because my hernia is so low, ( bikini line) that my hernia should not be attempted for repair UNTIL I lose some weight. I am hoping that MSP will get the drift, and cover the band. I will get my Local surgeon to write MSP a letter stating this, and hopfully go from there. The whole hernia is so low that there is not enough available muscle to close it up as it is right on my pelvic bone. From what I understand it will tale a minimum 6-8" diameter mesh to do the job.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you IsaBrown but unfortunately if it were me, I wouldn't get my hopes up that MSP is going to cover this. In fact I just heard an interesting story the other day at lunch....

I had travelled with my mom out of town last week to meet up with my aunt and some old family friends for lunch. As we were sitting chatting afterwards, the conversation turned (rather morbidly!!) to people who had passed away recently. (keeping in mind that these are all ladies in their 70's and 80's that have known each other since their school days and they were talking of people they had all known) Anyhow, the convo turns to the daughter (50'ish) of a women they know that recently passed away....from the difficulties of gastric bypass. Convo turned to banding (after my mom informed them all of my band) and the one lady that knew this family well said that the woman had applied 2 years ago to MSP to be banded and they had flatly refused her but suggested she get on the list for bypass. Her family Dr as well as her diabetic specialist had submitted letters saying she wouldn't survive a bypass and they recommended the band, listing all the reasons they thought it would be safer for her. Still a no-go. After fighting MSP for 16 months she was fast-tracked for a bypass, had it done 8 months ago...and sadly her Dr's were right...her body just couldn't handle all the issues and she passed away 3 weeks ago.

I really, really, REALLYYYYY hope that 1 day MSP will see that this is a safe, realistic and viable alternative to bypass surgery, but in the meantime, I would start saving your money if you're serious about banding.

All the best....and PLEASE keep us informed on what you hear back from MSP....who knows, maybe you'll be the lucky first person they approve !!!!

Patricia