Hi to all,

Just want to let you know that we have a new surgeon in Bathurst, N.B. who does lapband, sleeves and lapband re-route. I met him a couple of weeks ago and my specialist for diabetes and some nurses I know praise his performance. I don't have my date yet. He said as soon as he could get an op-room, I'll have to follow an 2 weeks SlimFast diet and then I would have the surgery.

Clempier:biggrin:

hi I'm new to this sight and I have not seen the doc yet but would like to get some information about this lapband operation and how it works is it covered by medicare , how can you know if you qualify to have this surgery..

thank you

hope someone can help me.....

Hi,

In order to have the surgery without to have to pay you have to have something like diabetes, sleep apnea. A sickness that if you had the surgery, the sickness would go away or a big improvement.

You have to have refferal from your family Dr.. When you go see the surgeon for the first time (I went to see Dr. Savoie), he explains the 3 different surgeries he does and look at the medical reason why these kind of surgeries would improve your health and your life. If he gives you the OK, he is going to put you on the list. You won't have to pay.

It takes approx. an hour to do ther surgery. You stay one night and go back home the next day. That is for the lapband surgery, the simple surgery of the 3. The second one (the sleeves), probably more time at the hospital and the third one, you stay a week. The third one is the hardest one. The best one to inform you is the surgeon.

Good luck and if you are with Dr. Savoie, the last I've heard is that he won't start his surgeries before September. They are waiting for more medical supplies to be able to do the surgeries.

clempier:sleep:

I just read on another site that Dr. Savoie's office won't be opening till the end of June. I had first heard end of April, but it is now end of June. Sorry to everyone who has been waiting a long time already. My doctor just sent in my referral last month, so I have not been waiting as long as some. But I'm still a little discouraged because of the amount of people ahead of me waiting. Anyway, just wanted to let people know an update.

If you are from Nova Scotia and going to a doctor in NB. What MSI told me was that you need to get a referral from your family doctor to go to the specialist. When you get that referral your family doctor has to write a letter to MSI that he recommend you to have this surgery and for teh reasons why.......

I questened NS MSI as to what is based on coverage for Lap Band and they said it depends on the person and their situation as everyones is different. (I then questions if half was paid for or in cases of all it paid for-she adviced me that this isn't an surgery that is normally cover so for all of it to be covered is rare or not possible- she did hear of some people getting everything covered except the band) But she again reassured me its based on an individual basis.

Again that is just what I was told.

I thought it would have to be the doctor to recommend to MSI why you would need teh surgery and the type of surgery(ie: lap band,gastro bypass and etc) ??I mean that is something a family doctor wouldnt know.....

Did your guys family doctor or surgeon write the letter to msi to apply for the coverage??

thanks,

mel

I don't live in Nova Scotia, I live on PEI. I was told by our out of province coordinator... that the government here only pays about 2000 dollars and you have about 4500 out of your own pocket. She also told me that if I couldn't afford that then maybe look at the sleeve or bypass which are fully covered. I told her that neither one of those surgeries appealed to me. That I felt the Lapband was a better choice for me. But it isn't fully covered and I can't afford 4500 out of pocket. So what do I do? I have a really bad family history, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. I watch my dad who is obese struggle everyday with these problems. So do wait and end up costing the government millions of dollars for my drugs or fight to have them pay for the surgery I feel comfortable with. Thanks

hi macaulie4,

see every province is different. and by all means i am just telling ypu want NS MSI told me. It is true that that bypass is govered in NS via MSI but Lap Band is not.

I have never actually heard anyone here in NS get the full/whole procedure including hospital and band covered 100% . I have heard that the MSI pay for the hospital and medical expenses but Not the band.

Also MSI basically in around about way divulged that if any was covered it would be medical expenses and not the band -that was the farthest they would take it....

I dont knwo what your next step would be as I am kind of in teh same boat.

You can challenge your government MSI or whatever they call it in PEI however if they have a limit they may not change it but you can try.

Did you se eteh specialist? If not it maybe best to speak with him and see what route is best for you then make a plea to your coverage.

Just my thought and ideas,

Mel

Thank you I appreicate any thoughts you have. Right now I am just waiting for my consult. But it seems that alot of people are waiting too, either for a consult or surgery. So I have some time to see what happens.

Hi Macaulie4,

Thank you for the info. Let say, April was the earliest I had heard but the probability was very slim. So if he can start at the end of June I'd be happy because the actual time I had heard was in September so if he starts in June, it's fine with me. Better June than September for me at least. I'm a teacher so the end of June and the beggining of July would be perfect for me. In September, it's the beggining of the school year and it's absolutely not a good time but if it's so I won't say no. I'll figure out a way. Maybe he doesn't have that many patients who's waiting. I hope for you.

Hi,

Do you know if Dr. Savoie is making lapband operations in the new operation unit in Bathurst? I am still waiting to see him since December 2008. Need help??

Liz

Hi LizCNoel,

Unfortunately, all the people I talked to who works in the medical surrounding told me it wouldn't be before September. I don't know why his secretary doesn't tell the truth when someone calls there. About the new unit, I don't know. I wish I could tell you more. I also wish we could have some some kind of meeting so we could talk to dieticien, a psychologist, a plastic surgeon or other people who would be able to answer any questions we might have. Any gastric bypass is a long process and it's really hard to cope with every aspect of it. Even being together and sharing what we go through is really important. I'm glad at least we have this site. Hope to hear from you soon.

clempier

Hi to all,

Dr. Savoie's secretary called me and she told me he wants to see me this Monday coming up. I'm going to see him at the Diabetic Clinic at the Hospital. He wants me to bring a list of all my meds., my glucometer and a list of what I ate from yesterday (Friday afternoon ) up to Monday morning. I have an appointment with him in the morning. I'm all excited about it. In a way I'm saying to myself, good it's finally moving but part of me says if he changed his mind . . . you know. On part of me want to see the positive side and the side who doesn't want to be hurt just in case he changes his mind comes. You probably know the feeling. Anyways, I just wanted to give you a little hope that it's finally moving. I'll keep you posted . . . next Monday.

clempier

Hey Clempier

You made my day!!! Wow finally some update. When was your first appointement? I when to see him in nov. You, when was it?

I am so happy for you and for all of us waiting!!! Keep us update and dont worry he wont change his mind!! I am confident!!

Good Luck

Hi Nancy and all the other ones who are waiting,

GREAT NEWS!!!!! Dr. Savoie is starting his lapband surgery on June 3rd. I went to see him today and he schedule me for that date. We're going to be 3 patients going under the knife. I saw him in October so if you saw him in November and you're going for a lapband surgery, they're going to call you soon. The nurses at the Diabetes Clinic told me he was strating that date and all the other Wednesday. In the morning, he does the lapband and then in the afternoon he does his other surgeries. If you're waiting for the other surgeries, they are not ready yet and the way they were talking, it's going to be a while before he does the other bariatric surgeries. So it's going to be pretty soon. FINALLY!!!

I'm all excited.

clempier

Hey Clempier

Thank you for the update!! You made my day!!!

I wish you all the luck possible!!!

:thumbdown:

WOHOO...GOOD FOR YOU!!!...The surgeries are finally starting YAYE....I also have a friend who is going for surgery on the 3rd of june....Just curious when was your consultation clempier?...Mine was on oct 30 I'm wondering when I will get a call....I am soo excited and anxious to start my new life. I can't wait...You will have to keep us posted :0)