Hi!  I have gone through the Red Deer program, just had my surgery 4 weeks ago...I'll give you a run down of what you can expect.

Your first appointment is a group orientation where the nurses will go over the different procedures they do there and explain how the program works.  At the end of the appointment, they'll schedule people for their first nurse visit, which for me was about a month later.  

At your first nurses visit, you'll be weighed, photographed (just for your file, so they know who you are by face instead of just by name), and from there you'll be expected to lose 10% of your body weight before you can qualify for the surgery.  You'll be told about the one cup diet...meaning that at every meal, you'll be allowed to eat no more than one cup of food, and you'll have to journal all of the food you eat.

From there, the program varies from person to person, the order of appointments is different...you'll have to be there monthly for appointments, meeting with a dietician, a psychologist, there will be a psychiatric appointment, another group appointment to see a video about the surgeries...once you've lost the 10% you'll meet with a surgeon who would be the one to give you the go ahead to be put on the waiting list for surgery.  You'll also have to me with an anesthesiologist.  During the waiting period after you've been approved for surgery, you'll still have to go there for monthly visits, either with the nurse or the dietician.  

They told me last year during the orientation that the time from your first appointment to actual surgery is anywhere from 8-16 months...it all depends on how quickly you lose your 10%.  I had my first appointment in April of last year, lost my 10% and met with my surgeon in August, and got the call for surgery at the end of November...I had requested to be put on a short notice list, and only got a week notice before my surgery.  

They have a good group of people there, and I've been happy with everything, although I did find it frustrating to have to go for monthly appointments during the "waiting for a surgery date" simply because I had to travel from Calgary, but that's not their fault!

Good luck on your journey!  

Hi there- I had my surgery in Medicine Hat at the beginning of December. I'm still attending the bariatric clinic there. 

My wait time for the Edmonton clinic from start to surgery was only one year. I was aiming for lap band too but after talking to many I decided that was not for me. I am very happy with my gastric bypass and Dr. Karmali was a excellent surgeon.,

I had RNY with Dr. Alkassem through the bariatric clinic in Medicine Hat. I love the clinic and the staff. They are so helpful and friendly. The support is amazing!! 

Thanks for the words of encouragement.  I need to know there are others out there like me!