Guelph

Jan 15, 2011

Once I got to Guelph I had already been waiting 2 full years.  I was extremely frustrated with the process.  I had fallen in every crack in the system since 2008.  I saw the nurse, NUT, and social worker on my first visit.  I was told that if you are "ready" you will only need to see dietician, social worker and nurse 2 times.  I was ready--my weight was 262.  I had trouble with my feet, legs and ankles.  I was short of breath with any activity.  I had to stop doing water aerobics because I had trouble getting out of the pool and my chafing was out of hand.  I had hoped that I would be able to have a vsg because I took nsaids regularily.  The rules changed in Oct--OHIP started cracking down on Drs that did vsg on pts unless a rny was contraindicated.  I guess OHIP started auditing the charts of ALL pts that had a vsg.  The "gold standard" is an rny so thats the procedure covered by OHIP.  The whole thing was taking too long so I called about a lapband.  The sales person was great and said I could have it done the next week.  So I booked it--out of sheer desperation.  I put $15, 000 on my visa.  That was THanksgiving.  I knew that was a complete mistake so I had a 2 month fight to get my money back.   My next plan was to go to Mexico.  I was so frustrated.  I spent so much time waiting I reached my limit.  It was all tempered by knowing I had already done the wait--why should I pay.  I got a 2 week punishment from the NUT because I told the truth that I ate lucky charms 3 nights in a row.  I told the truth.  Seriously, people that are over 250 lbs eat the wrong stuff all of the time.  I was punished because I told the truth.  NEVER again.  I learned that these people are not there to help me.  I was so angry.  I was to do a food/mood journal to help me figure out my triggers.  The really annoying part was the reason the NUT was quick to stall me was because she felt that the other NUT didn't go over the same info she would have.  Not my problem.  When I would bitch to the nurse, she would say to be patient because I've only been waiting since May.  I was IRATE!  I have been waiting since May 2008.  I was in a different line--my stuff was screwed up fro the get go. 

When I saw the DR--she said no vsg.  We talked about the nsaids she said I should take narcotics.  What?! Narcotics?  I still agreed to a rny and bought my optifast.  I was very uncomfortable with taking narcotics.  I am a RN and I work in a busy Pediatric intensive care unit.  Narcotics are not an option.  I called back and talked to the nurse she pulled the plug on everything.  I had to see the Dr again.  Still no vsg.  RNY or nothing.  In the interim I contacted my mpp and a Dr in Montreal.  I had all my info.  I decided if she stuck to rny or nothing I would go to Montreal and submit the bill to OHIP and fight for reimbursement.  When I saw her--she did not blow me off ; she really looked into it and still said no.  I gave up and said yes to the RNY.  It was done Jan5, 2011. Now the journey begins!

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