Anne1989’s Posts
Hello all! I have my trios appointment coming up next week. Very excited but also nervous to fail and be delayed! Still waiting on my internist appointment. Do we really have to just wait for them to call with the appointment? I called the internist office directly and they said they dont book the appointments, someone will call. I like having all my ducks in a row so waiting on the phone call is nerve wracking
What an inspiration! Thank you for updating the group. I have read a lot on here and you are always so helpful with your replies. You are amazing!
I have a consult with a surgeon in two weeks! Just starting my journey
Thanks so much for the reply! I cant imagine doing a sleep test. I dont think I will feel safe at all. My BMI is quite high. I dont own a scale but it is between 48 and 50 for sure. I have my first appointment tomorrow. Hopefully there will be time to ask questions. It is a virtual appointment, new covid protocols. The receptionist told me they are just starting surgeries again starting Monday. I am so anxious to know what type of backlog there is and how much longer I will have to wait. It's been 4 months since my referral.
Hello everyone! I am wondering, is a sleep test mandatory? Can someone tell me what it is exactly? I cant imagine going to a clinic and sleeping with someone watching me. I dont have any sleep difficulties. I dont want a sleep study :'(
I should also say I got my referral from a new family doctor who I was meeting for the first time. I went prepared though. I printed off the 17 pages of instructions I found on the Ontario website. It is written for doctors, it is a step by step guide on how to submit a referral to the bariatric clinic. I also documented my weight loss journey with weight and actions taken and dates. Writing my history with weight took 2 pages. On the top of both those pages I noted my current weight, current BMI, my health card information including date of birth and anything else he would need for the referral. He listened to my journey and accepted the (hopefully) helpful paperwork. He said he would have it completed by the end of the week (3 days). It took 5 weeks and 6 follow up calls from me before he got around to the referral. Then covid happened. But alas, be your own advocate. Be prepared. SHOW your family doctor you did your research. Make it easy for your doctor to say yes. Then follow up like s/he owes you money!
I dont think it is impossible to get a new doctor right now. Where abouts are you? In the GTA we are still doing family doctor appointments via phone or in some cases video. Even walk in clinics switched over. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Update: 5 weeks less a day and the receptionist called to let me know the referral was (finally) submitted today. I am sure orientations are on hold due to covid-19 so I am a little bummed out. I firmly believe and trust in social distancing and all the precautions Canada and Ontario have taken but still, it is disappointing the wait time is going to be even longer. The receptionist said that my doctor said to call and check with the bariatric clinic in 3 days. I have never heard of that but I guess I will do it. I have to figure out what hospital I was referred to first though.
Thanks so much for the replies ladies! So I went exactly two weeks ago. I printed off the 17 page instruction booklet Ontario provides doctors on how to do the referral. I also wrote out two pages with dates and details of my weight loss struggles. On the top of both those pages I noted my current weight, current BMI, my health card information including date of birth and anything else he would need for the referral.
He agreed to refer me right away. He kept the paperwork and said he would be done in a couple of days and he had done a bariatric referral once before. Couple of days pass and he asks for an additional week. I gave him a week and called yesterday. No call back. Will have to call again today to see what's up.
I really dislike waiting. Once I decide on something I like to go get it done, check it off my to do list. But I know I will have a lot of waiting to do in this process and it is good for me. I am just so anxious to reach my goals and change my life. If anyone has any advice for me I am very interested in reading it!!
Congrats on pushing thru your anxiety. It is hard, I know. Remember this is just an information session. You are not locked into anything. When did your doctor send the referral for a March orientation date?
Thanks so much for taking the time to write a reply. I really appreciated it . I haven't been seeing any type of professional. Guess I will just hope for the best. I wish I had 20 grand to do it private but that wont be happening
Hello. First time poster. Long time reader. I went to a walk in clinic to get a referral for the bariatric clinic. They said it was beyond their scope.
I havent done a medically supervised weight loss program. I did pay a personal trainer thousands and lost 1% (almost nothing) body fat in 6 months. My BMI is 45 and I am 30 years old. I havent even really been able to give any diet a real chance. I get hopeless and give up. I actually enjoy exercise but now I am so big I dont enjoy anything really. I know for certain after the surgery I will need to really work on my relationship with food and eat healthier. I enjoy fruits and veggies in all forms a great deal. I also enjoy almost every protein. I am sure the surgery will help me although it will be work and is hard and not an easy way out.
I have an appointment with my new family doctor on Tuesday. What can I say or do to get him to refer me?
Long story short, can I get a referral without having attempted a medically supervised weight loss clinic? And never meeting with a dietician?