Expert: Diminishing Dawn - 2/14/2009

Question
Hi my name is Kathy.I am in the process of trying to get approval for OOC weight loss surgery.I seen my family Dr yesterday and he is sending me to see another Dr to get the approval and to get the form filled out.My Dr said he wasn't sure I was big enough for the surgery so that's why he's sending me to a specialist.I live in Wallaceburg,Ontario and the Dr he is sending me to is in Sarnia.I thought I would hear from my Dr's office yesterday afternoon about my appt for the Sarnia Dr but they haven't called yet.It sounds a lot like what you went through from what I've read on your site.You are the lady from Diminishing Dawn site from Windsor,On,school teacher,..right?Great site by the way!My current weight is 235 and my bmi is 38.6 depending on what calculator you use.I hope this won't be a problem,I need this surgery so bad.I feel like I'm dying inside.I have chosen Henry Ford hospital in Warren,Mi with Dr Keith Marshall.I read lots of great things about him plus I know 3 people that had him and said he was fantastic!I would like to know of the changes for 2009 for out of country surgery from ohip.I've been to your site and can't find the info anywhere on the bottom of your page.Also I would like to know,did you have to have a stress test and a sleep study done?I would like to keep in contact with you since you seem to know so much information on this process.If you could write back I'd really appreciate it.Thanks for your time.
Kathy

Answer
Yes you are correct, I am the same Dawn:)

OHIP's approval rate is declining now. Because of more funding into Canadian programs, they are now declining out of country applications much more often. They are trying to go back to Out of Country being for severe cases - meaning those patients that will die if they do not have surgery within a few months (or have permanent tissue damage).

With a bmi of 38, I am really reserved about you being approved. You will need to have significant health issues in order to qualify for surgery alone, let alone get approved for out of country. Since I don't know your health history, I don't know if you have significant health issues. Getting a specialist to sign your papers is a great thing especially if s/he stressed that you need surgery NOW.

I did not have a stress test nor a sleep study. Different doctors have different criteria.  My surgeon asked me various questions that basically helped him establish what health issues I had/did not have. some require you to get proactive testing.

Please email me anytime.

Dawn