Weight Wise Clinic & Wait Times

I am just wondering do I HAVE to go through the Weight Wise Clinic through Capital Health, if I want to see a dr. outside of the Capital Health region (say Red Deer ect?). I was told that the wait time to get into the program is 1.5 years, and well, that's an awful long time. But I have noticed that there are other surgeons in Alberta rather than the ones in Edmonton. Does anyone know? I do need this covered by ABHC.

If you want to see Dr. Farries in Red Deer or Dr. Nohr in Medicin Hat you don't have to go through the Weight Wise Clinic in Edmonton - that is for Dr. Davey and Dr. Birch in Edmonton. As far as I now Dr. Farries only takes referrals on May 1 of each year so you must have your doctor call his office first thing that morning. I know people are referred in May and have their surgery within a year. Dr. Nohr is different and I think a longer wait. I am a patient of Dr. Davey and Birch in Edmonton and am 9 mths out from a lap RNY surgery. I know some Dr. Farries and Nohr patients personnaly. Pls feel free to e-mail me if you would like. I haven't been on obesity help much in months now but decided to take a peak tonight. This board is not very active - people tend to post to the month boards that they had their surgery - ie when I was active it was in the April board. Good luck - this is a great tool if you can manage to get past the wait - I had a long one myself - but it was all worth it...... Carolyn

Carolyn, can you tell me of the next support group mtg. I sent a msg to the person who started this grp mtg - but no response. I live in the Sherwood Park area and would like to attend the next mtg if possible. I am post op/pre-op, I have a failed VBG (done 10yrs ago) and am seeing Dr. Davey in 6 weeks - hoping for the approval to have a revision - done RNY. I last saw Dr. Davey in April/06 - have gone thru all the diet and exercise chgs to graduate me to THE APPT - approved or not. I sure hope so, I have really increased the amt of daily exercise - but have new problems to deal with- hips and knees now hurt when on treadmill. I look forward to being on the losing side - once again! Cindy

could u email me ...? Sarah Fancher in Edmonton

hi carolyn, i'm very new to all of this could you please send me a private message?. I'd like to ask you a few questions. D