ANYONE HAD A VSG IN ONTARIO

Hey Everyone! 
Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend of fun and sun! :-)

I'm looking for people who have had a VSG in Ontario and had it covered by OHIP.  I've just had my first meeting for a RNY and my next appointments are coming up quickly.  After all my research I really would rather have the VSG but I know that is difficult to get covered by OHIP.  I do not have a lot of health problems that I can used to try and convince a surgeon, so I'm hoping someone out there will have some advice.  I do not have the money to pay to have it done...or I would.

Thank you so much for any information you can give me.!

Sincerely,
CC

I recently (Sept. 27th) got approved to have the VSG at the Guelph clinic.  I have some medical issues that made my surgeon and myself decide to go this route.  As far as I know OHIP is only covering VSGs if it is medically neccessary (I don't know the exact wording from OHIP, hopefully someone who does know will chime in).

If you do not have other medical issues that would make the VSG the better surgery choice, theres always the option of pleading your case to the surgeon. Ultimately it is up to your surgeon which procedure they will perform and if they think you would be better off with a VSG (or RNY) they will decide.

Disclaimer:  These are my own thoughts and ideas.  You may not have success if you "plead your case", that's just what I was planning to do if I wasn't offered my surgery of choice.  Depending on the centre/surgeon, they may not give choices, and will only do the RNY, which is considered the "Gold Standard" in Ontario.

I am having a VSG in Hamilton at the end of November.  I have medical issues that make VSG the only WLS I could have.  Good luck and be very prepared as to why VSG is the only surgery for you.  Research, research, research. 

Certain doctors and bariatric centers are more conducive to VSG including Guelph and Hamilton.  Toronto and Ottawa seem to be very anti VSG in my opinion. 

I am 1 year out with my TWH VSG!  

I 'pleaded my case' to get it....no 'serious' indications that could not have VSG, rather a personal preference, as well as it being advangageous in the big picture for me, as there are many risk factors for me to need NSAIDS in the future, and I didn't want to eliminate that option. 

I'm very happy with my VSG for the most part, however, having a husband who had RNY 2 months after me has been tough on the ego!!!   I stopped 'passively' losing weight at about the 6 month mark, and have been fighting tooth and nail for every pound since.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still very happy with my choice, but at times it's difficult to watch my hubby (who is the 'what not to do after WLS' poster child) eat chips, cake, chocolate bars, and all the old comfort foods (yes, in smaller portions, and no, he does not dump) and still lose weight, while I have a half a brownie, and go up 2lbs!!!   URGH!!!  

I'm working on it....but it's n ot always easy!!  Just sayin!!! 

I had my RNY almost 3 years ago at that time VSG's were not covered by OHIP...and RNY was the most prominant type bariatric surgery..I hope you are able to get the surgery you are most comfortable with.

All the best