Expert: Diminishing Dawn - 8/4/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I am a 39-year-old woman who weighs approximately 210 lbs (I stopped weighing myself after this) and am 4'10.  If I calculated my BMI correctly it is 44.
I am a severe asthmatic and have even been intubated due to the asthma in the past.
I have now developed type II diabetes for which I have to take insulin and pills daily, high blood pressure for which I also have to take medication daily, and my feet are almost constantly swollen.
I have to take oral steroids to keep my asthma under control and there are no signs that I will be coming off of these for some time.  For this reason it is very difficult for me to diet and of course the asthma makes it very difficult for me to exercise.
I am very discouraged because I have tried many times to lose weight.  I did once lose about 30 lbs but it was short lived.
I am a young woman with two grand children and a young special needs daughter and I would really like to be around for a long time to see them grow up.
Do you think I would a candidate for gastric bypass surgery and how long do you think I would have to wait???

Thank you so much,

Desperate Mom

ANSWER: Hi there

It depends what province you are in as you did not say. Some have health coverage for gastric bypass, other provinces do not.  

By BMI standards, your actual BMI is not that high but it is more than enough to qualify you for surgery in Ontario.  Are you looking to having surgery in Canada or go the route for out of country surgery (the USA) which is quicker?

You have a good amount of comorbidities that are weight related.

Again it's hard for me to give you a time frame of a wait because I do not know if you are in a province where surgery is covered, or where you'd like to have surgery.

If you give me more information I could give you more as well.

Dawn

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dawn,

I live in Ontario.  I really didn't think about where I would want the surgery done but it would have to be covered.

Thank you

Answer
Ontario makes it really easy.

You have one of two choices.

Your doctor makes a referral to a surgery facility in Ontario.

   * St. Joseph’s HealthCare Hamilton provide 450 surgeries a year
   * Humber River Regional Hospital provide 330 surgeries a year
   * Guelph General Hospital provide 240 surgeries a year, and
   * The Ottawa Hospital provide 450 surgeries a year.

The typical wait is 8 months to 5 years depending on what doctor you would like to see.
The more experienced doctors, the longer the wait.  Surgeries available: RNY or VSG.

Go out of country. If you are having to incur travel expenses anyway because you'd have to travel
outside of your hometown, they consider surgery to New York or Michigan.

Typical wait is 2-3 months.  You choose the doctor. RNY or VSG.

Your doctor fills out a form and you wait for OHIP approval.

If you would like any more assistance please email me privately

goldenlover@cogeco.ca