Expert: Diminishing Dawn - 8/18/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi, i am 22 years old, 5 foot 8 and i weigh 340 pounds, do i qualify for surgery? i have been trying so hard for the last 6 years to lose it on my own and i havent been able to, i went to my family doctor here in windsor ontario and they sent a referrel but they told me i would have to wait 1 year and sometimes even longer.  Thats such a long time, are there any exceptions? i really need help.  And is this covered under OHIP and greenshield?

thank you for taking the time and patience to read my question

ANSWER: You more than qualify for surgery. To qualify you need a bmi of 40 so there should be no issues there.  OHIP pays the cost. Sounds like you have already started the process if you've done the referral through your doctor.

I'm from Windsor as well and run the local support group. Have you been to a meeting yet?

Yes the wait is typically 1 -1.5 years. Well worth the wait - the preparation time is actually a good thing as there is a lot to learn and you only get one chance to do it right.

Trust me we have it good. The wait in Nova Scotia is 10+ years.

Dawn

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

QUESTION: thank you so much for replying!
i thought it would take a while to get a reply! i appreciate it!

No i havent been to a meeting before, are they held at a clinic ?

Yes, the referral was sent through my family doctor i jusst hope i get an answer soon!

thank you and God Bless

Answer
We meet at the Hospice near Jefferson and Tecumseh the first Tuesday of every month from 7 to 9 pm.

No they are not held at the clinic. We are actually older than the clinic itself. We run it ourselves and receive no money or compensation for doing so. The clinic though has been really good to us though since they've come to Windsor and promote us well.

Dawn
www.diminishingdawn.com :)

here's another great site to stop by:

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ON