new to hep c, living in Ontario, Canada

[andy_k]

hi,

do we have anybody here from Ontario, Canada?

i have got tested positive for hep c about 4 months ago, found a family doctor which set up for me an appt with gastro in Brampton for march 2011. it looks like they are very busy and 7 month is normal waiting time for ontario (i was told so). and it looks like gastro will accept the people by refferal only...

does anybody has an expirience with that system in ontario? or maybe you have any advise how to get an appt faster?

also, could you please advise any internet sites where i can find the info about who gets approval for treatment

i'm not really sure what stage of hep c i have. just the results of the test, that i have gen 1, 1.62e+6 viral load, and ALT 72

thanks a lot
andy
  

[Trish77]

sorry...just noticed you DID find a family doctor and that's good.  Not easy for newcomers to find one so you're doing well with that.

[Trish77]

Hi Andy,

I'm from your area as Will and Bill have mentioned.  If you don't have a family doctor, how did you get referred to the Gastroenterologist?  Through a walk-in clinic doctor?  I had a 10 month wait first time I was referred to the gastroenterologist in my area and when I contacted Toronto Western Hospital for a second opinion, I got in within a month but was told I was lucky as it usually takes six months.  However, they have a number of hepatologists on staff and it's worth a shot if you can get to downtown Toronto well enough.  You'll also get very good knowledgeable care there.   Whoever referred you to the gastro in Brampton, you can ask them to refer you instead to TWH.   Specialists don't take patients directly, they need a referral from a physician.  

It'll take a biopsy to know what stage you are and when you get in to the gastroenterologist / hepatologist, they can take care of that.  

Hope that helps and good luck with this.

Trish

[andy_k]

hi Will,
thanks for the info about Toronto Liver Clinic.

i didn't have a family doctor, and just found one that was accepting patients close to my place. so not really sure how good he is, don't know him at all.
don't know anything about the gastro niether

by any chance do you know if can call the Liver Clinic in toronto and make an appt or at least request if it possible to get one, or it has to be done by family doctor?

i'm sorry if my questions sounds kinda damn, i'm new to canadian health care system and have no idea how it works.

thanks
andy

[andy_k]

thanks Bill,
i will try to send Trish a message.

[andy_k]

thanks a lot!
i will check the forum tomorrow and next week.

[willbb]

HI Andy I am also from Ontario,and there are a few others that will respond in the next few days.As Bill said Trish77 is also in the area and is very helpfull.

As far as not being able to get reffered to a gastro here until Mar. that is an extraordinarly long time here. Your GP is obviously reffering to one that must be extremely busy. My avg. wait time was never more than about 4 or 5 wks.

Having said that ,because not all gastro"s here are all totally familiar in all aspects of HCV my advice would be to ask your GP to refer you to one of the hepatologists at the Liver Clinic in  Toronto. It is one of the foremost clinics in North America.

They are much more knowledgable about HCV than most of the Gastro"S.  They would most likely order a biopsy and as Bill said that is the best indicator of how things are.

They would then be able to talk to you about treatment or not depending on the stage you are at.

If you need any other info as far as the Liver Clinic  go to the send a message link to myself or Trish77 and we will help you out.

All the best.. Will