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I have a surgery in 3 months at the same hospital, from diagnosis until surgery will be a total of 5 months (including diagnosis in Brandon emerg, a meeting with a specialist in Brandon, and then being passed on again to a specialist in Winnipeg)... Not bad. My surgery is technically elective, but if I wait to long it'll become an emergency.

This is elective as well....Dr referral in February of this year.....the clinic just got notified today of the acceptance...I still don't have my notification and no date for first consult.....in some cases people bariatric surgery is for simply vanity....but for some of us...it really is a health condition.....  

wait times for procedures like scopes and colonoscopies are over 6 months, at best, for something that takes 15-20 minutes.  
 
 
Brandon, or Manitoba in general, has a shortage of surgeons, but its not surprising, for somebody like a surgeon who can live and work in almost any area of North America or even the world, and make in the multiple 6 figures, its not surprising that Manitoba has a hard time attracting Surgeons, not to forget anesthesiologists as well..  
 

And this is it. Doesn't help that were becoming a obese country and being obese comes with huge health problems.  

I don't think that Bariatric surgery was included when looking at surgical wait times. The referring doctor should have been able to tell you that the wait list is that long. It is unfortunate, but the fact is that the wait to have bariatric surgery is that long unless a person is able to pay for it themselves.

Please do not be upset with the health system for a surgery you are choosing, not forced to go through.  
 
I had to have back surgery, and from the day they told me I needed it, to the day I had it was just short of two months. Reason being, it was not elective. It had to be done to obtain a decent quality of life.  
 
It sucks, yes, but sadly there are a LOT of people that REQUIRE surgeries before people that are choosing them. It's the downside of free health care. You'll get pushed back if it's elective. Like curlysister said, unless your willing to pay..  
 
I've recently found out that I may require a second surgery, and it will only take a few months to get in providing it is that urgent. So, I'm going to actually thank the wonderful medical staff that I've dealt with in Brandon, and the few doctors I have dealt with in Winnipeg. They are worked off their feet, but have always been the most helpful and understanding in everything!

Bariatric surgery is also elective like people have said, so of course you're going to wait for a long time. It's like somebody complaining that they are waiting for a nose job or a butt implant. If you don't want to wait for the surgery that is covered by tax dollars here, there are plenty of private clinics in the US, Mexico and other such places that will do it quicker I'm sure. If it's not a medical emergency, you are going to wait for it. We have more people needing procedures than we have doctors, anaesthesiologists and facilities to perform them. It's unfortunate, but it's how it goes. Surgeries get triaged just like cases in the emergency room do

My mother started the process for this surgery almost two years ago, after years of trying to lose the weight on her own, and being told she had this medical condition or that one. Turns out, she had undiagnosed Celiac's Disease for nearly a decade, and had as many as 3 unnecessary surgeries. While waiting for her surgery, she has managed to lose about 100 pounds herself.  
 
Anyways, part of the wait time is due to the fact that you go through counseling, get a psychiatric assessment done and go through several courses to ensure that you're wanting this surgery for the right reasons, and have the ability to take off, and keep off, the weight post-surgery before the government shells out tens of thousands of dollars for your procedure.  
 

I usually have no problem picking on MB but will defend it a little this time.  
 
I needed eye surgery in Saskatchewan three years ago. I was placed on the "urgent" list and I waited 6 months for the surgery.

Don't have anything to complain about .Had to get an MRI on my knee. That was 6 months to wait so my work sent me to Calgary for it . Got back seen my Dr . He sent me to see the surgeon then 2 months later I'm in getting my ACL and LCL repaired.

I know there are people out there who seem to think that this is a surgery like plastic surgery for vanity sake.....  
 
Educate yourself please before you attack someone whose PHYSICIAN recommended this to help other medical issues that are part of the underlying cause......  
 
Do not play judge, jury, and executioner unless you know the facts....oh wait.....this is ebrandon....where you speak before you think

I not once said it was for vanity's sake, I just said it was elective. Sure your physician may have recommended it, physicians recommend a lot of things. That doesn't make them necessities for survival. My physician recommended I have every dark freckle on my body cut off in his office, doesn't mean If I don't do it I'm gonna die. That was my point in saying it's elective. Not to mention the fact that bariatric surgery isn't the cure all for weight loss and therefore solving all the other issues that come with obesity. You still have to lose the weight on your own. If you don't follow the plan post-op, you're gonna keep the weight regardless of the surgery. It's not a life saving magical fix, it's a jump start to helping people make a lifestyle change. Bottom line, you still have to do it yourself.

People aren't attacking at all. They are simply stating why this surgery is such a long wait. You are being overly defensive because people aren't agreeing with your outrage over the wait time. The fact is, it IS an elective surgery.

To get an organ removed, my wait time was 3 years!! So I went back home to Winnipeg and got my surgery done within 6 months :-)  
I feel ya!

the more emergent the surgery the sooner they get in, its just part of the system. As hard as it is to wait it is because there are other more important surgeries ahead of you.  
 
example...my son at 1 month old needed emergency surgery and was waiting in the hospital for 4 days because it kept getting put off as even more serious cases were coming in. yes it was frustrating but my sister put it in perspective saying that it just means he could be in worse condition. he got fixed and so did his room mate who pushed his surgery because his condition deteriorated suddenly, and same with the other kids who were in a worse condition than him. Even life and death surgeries take precedence in order of who is worse off.  
 
I'm sure your surgery is important and can help you a lot but there are going to be more important surgeries ahead of yours and they will get to the electives when they are able.

Just read a message on FB ....the cost for a poisonous snake bit in the States.. $153,000.  
OMG....

Of course it's a long wait and likely called a surgical program for a reason. And don't you have to lose a certain amount of weight etc to prove you can change your previous lifestyle? It's a major surgery that you can't change after its done, it's better it's a long wait then not long enough.

Pita said " Holy crap.....I have heard what a wonderful job Manitoba has done on cutting down wait times for health services....     Got notified today I was accepted to a surgical program at Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg....wait time.....SEVERAL YEARS!     Way to go Manitoba "

your wait time is very long because sooooo many people have signed up for it. I did this program the first year it came available and my wait time from start to finish was 10 months. The program puts you through a dietician and exercise and a nurse. they monitor your progress. you have to take a course on food addiction etc. Great program that tries to change your habits before surgery. I am 2 years post op now and feel like a million bucks! High success rate that the Victoria hospital has started so there is a huge waiting list now. Good luck in your new journey.

This is a surgery that are the sole surgery that these doctors do....there is no other surgeries done there so not to worry about being moved down the list for other surgeries...they will go on as scheduled....  
 
Also....obesity is not always caused by overeating....

Pita said "This is a surgery that are the sole surgery that these doctors do....there is no other surgeries done there so not to worry about being moved down the list for other surgeries...they will go on as scheduled....     Also....obesity is not always caused by overeating.... "

you are correct about obesity not always being caused by overeating.....but bariatric surgery is done to prevent one from overeating. Hi amounts of sugar or high amounts of fat intake cause dumping syndrome. You can only eat small portions at one sitting. So this surgery is not going to be effective for someone who is overweight for other reasons.

Yes, they only do bariatric surgery, but they are also the ONLY ones performing this surgery in all of Manitoba, so of course the wait will be very lengthy. It is considered elective because there are options other than surgery. Also, I agree with another poster who stated that if your obesity is not caused by overeating, this surgery won't be of much help. Unless you eliminate the cause, you will struggle post-OP, and likely gain the weight back. Also, while their are other things that cause weight gain (medications, medical conditions), I'm not aware of any that would cause obesity to the point of needing bariatric surgery. While these things may have been contributing factors, proper diet, portion control, an exercise would help control weight gain even with other factors. And by the way, I am also considered obese, so please don't think I'm picking on you. I've lost 35lbs in the last few months through simply changing my diet and eliminating pop. Since it's going to take years anyways, why not use that tame to work on taking the weight off through diet and exercise and maybe you won't even need the surgery when the time comes! Good luck either way!

braid said "Just read a message on FB ....the cost for a poisonous snake bit in the States.. $153,000.   OMG.... "

Is that what a person pays to get bit by a poisonous snake? lol!

Enfyre said "wait times for procedures like scopes and colonoscopies are over 6 months, at best, for something that takes 15-20 minutes.       Brandon, or Manitoba in general, has a shortage of surgeons, but its not surprising, for somebody like a surgeon who can live and work in almost any area of North America or even the world, and make in the multiple 6 figures, its not surprising that Manitoba has a hard time attracting Surgeons, not to forget anesthesiologists as well..     "

the six month wait time is for elective scopes. If the doctor thinks there is a problem you get in faster.  
 
We should be grateful that all these wonderful doctors, not just the surgeons come to live and work in Brandon!

The thread I started was titled "Surgery Wait Times" and yet again it has derailed to a discussion on obesity.  
 
Regardless of the surgery types.....the wait times have grown instead of shrunk.....that was the whole point of the thread...  

92 on emergency wait list it took me about 3 months, 5 years or so ago emergency waiting list was about a year. I got the same letter months ago, dr said it will be at least 2 years before they even call me to start anything. My last surgery was at Victoria as well. I was told I could pay and get it done in Saskatchewan within a couple months.

It absolutely is relevant what kind of surgery it is in regards to wait times. The province has much bigger worries in regards to health care and surgeries than elective surgeries. You can't discuss surgery wait times without breaking down the waits for each kind of surgery, because some are much more important than others. Heart surgeries, cancer surgeries, organ transplants, brain surgeries, and all other surgeries that are necessary to prolong or save lives are really the only surgery wait times that are I'm concerned with. Those and hips and knees as they have a lessoned quality of life and a lot of pain while waiting, and surgery is their only option. Wait times for An elective bariatric surgery does not even slightly compare to the importance of keeping wait times down for the surgeries I mentioned. I'm sure it's frustrating for you, and that sucks, but I don't want this sinking province to put their time and effort and money into reducing elective bariatric surgeries by recruiting new surgeons in that field. There are MUCH more serious health care needs.

The wait time for bariatric is long, and like any other surgery is triaged based on other factors, including comorbid conditions.  
 
Yes, it will take time. You haven't even been approved for the surgery yet, you are just being introduced to the Program. There are a number of crucial steps that you have to go through before they will actually do the procedure, if they do it.  
 
These steps don't happen overnight. It likely took years for you to find yourself in the position where you need the surgery, and if you are of the mindset that this will be a short journey, you are setting yourself up for disappointment, and increasing your odds of failure.  
 
Take advantage of the wait time and prepare for whats ahead.  
 
Wishing you well in your journey.

Truthie said "92 on emergency wait list it took me about 3 months, 5 years or so ago emergency waiting list was about a year. I got the same letter months ago, dr said it will be at least 2 years before they even call me to start anything. My last surgery was at Victoria as well. I was told I could pay and get it done in Saskatchewan within a couple months. "

what your surgery was that the wait was 3 months and a years time.....  
 
I had emergency surgery when I was a kid, appendectomy and was operated on post haste.

I'm thinking the term "Emergency"is likely being misused here. Emergency surgeries are surgeries that are immediate life and death situations. At no point would an actual Emergency surgery take as long as she is stating. My guess is her surgeries were marked "urgent" by her physicians, not "Emergency"