new and confused :)

[purpleR]

Hi there,

I'm from the county durham area. I'm a little lost... I love the site though! it has answered alot of questions.

It was sugguested a couple of months ago by my endocronologist that I think about surgery - went to GP (they said i do not meet the criteria for referal/ funding due to my bmi being around 40 and I have not had "formal" weight monitoring) never the less my GP said they would refer anyway. I was asked to meet a nurse at the GP's regularly to monitor my weight and diet (that's not going well, busy work life = couple of cancellations.

.... however I have recieved a letter inviting me to a seminar in oct at DMH...

does this mean they are processing my referal and I will find out about funding/ rejection down the line or that I may have the go ahead ?

... see I did say I was confused.

(sorry about the legnth of my first post but been pondering this for a little while)

 

[clickityclick]

Hi purpleR
I'm also from county Durham so wanted to say Hi, I have just attended a seminar at Sunderland last month, I also asked on here if that meant my funding was in place and was told it was, at the seminar was also told it was a long wait around a year to 18 months, might be quicker at Darlington.
Good luck on your journey x

 

[Evenstarr]

Hi PurpleR, just wanted to say welcome.
Sorry I don't know about your hospital, but there's loads of people from your area on here so I'm pretty sure you'll get plenty of advice.
Em xxxx

 

[borogirl]

Hi I live in MBro and acceptance at a seminar in Sunderland meant I had funding, just ask at your forthcoming seminar if this means you have been approved. Your wait will be loads quicker if you are getting done at James Cook / D'ton or North Tees.

 

[purpleR]

Hi there,

Thanks for the welcome. I will be sure to enquire at the seminar about funding.

Seems like quite a legnthy process from what I have read. Hopefully even if I don't get accepted/ funding I will gets some good help and advice along the way.

 

[Mrs Quiggle]

Sorry I don't know about funding etc. for your area but wanted to say hi and welcome to the forum. A year to 18 months is pretty normal in most places I think. It can be around 2 years from referal to op sometimes.

Good luck with your journey.

Kate x

 

[mr97]

Hi PurpleR, I attended a seminar at DMH in Aug. Like you I didn't know if I had funding or not. From what I have read here on the forum, if you have been invited to a seminar then funding is in place.
At the seminar you will be weighed and have your height measured. The dietician will give you some info re. a healthy eating program taking into account your height and weight. If it's the same format, then Mr Samier (Bariatric Surgeon) will discuss WSL using a powerpoint presentation. After he's explained the surgery in detail he will ask if anyone has any questions. The dietician will also give a talk. At the end of the seminar, the doctors and other health care professionals will be available to answer any questions you have, if like me, you don't like the idea of asking questions in front of people.
Mr Samier, informed all those wanting WLS to show commitment by trying to lose some weight before your next appointment at the hospital - usually a month or two later.
Depending on what you wrote on your referral questionnaire, you may get an appointment to attend the 'sleep clinic'. The sleep clinic's involvement is to see if you have sleep apnea or any other related condition associated with having a high BMI.
Since the seminar in Aug, I have been assessed for sleep apnea and have since attended an interview with a nurse specialist, that informed me that I could expect a date for wls next year, all being well.
All I can add is that the bariatric team at DMH are very friendly and approachable.
I'm new to this myself and have just started my journey towards wls and have to say that this site has been a godsend, not to mention a mine of information.
Hope this has helped.