Hello

Hi everybody, Just wanted to say hello. I've been lurking for awhile, learning as much as I can about WLS. I'm booked for Lab-band surgery in Great Falls, MT on March 31, 2008, so the reality is quickly setting in. I look forward to sharing all my experiences with the great people on this forum. I don't really have much else to add here, but I'm sure as time goes on I'll be burning up the boards. All the best :) Michael

i just saw that you are going to great falls,how much do they charge there? who is going to do your fills? how long is the waiting list? i want to get this done,but i am not crazy about the idea of going to mexico .the waiting list in alberta is way to long.i heard that dr.mitchel in calgary charges 125 per fill,will the dr in great falls do fills for someone that he did not do the surgery on,some docters wont,dr mitchell will.good luck, less then a month for you,hope all goes well.have you ever heard anyone say the band never worked for them? all i hear is good stuff.

Hi Tracie, I found Dr. Rohrer's name on OH after checking out Dr. Nohr in Medicine Hat, a doctor in Red Deer, and some scam outfit in Vancouver that was nothing but a middle man for a place in Montreal. I agree with you, the thought of going to Mexico, while financially appealing, scares me to death. I know people have gone there, and more power to them, but I just can't do it. Dr. Nohr's secretary or assistant was so rude on the phone that I immediately knew I wasn't interested in going there. I asked about waiting times, and she told me just a consult could be as long as a 2 year wait. As far as a waiting list in Great Falls, when I first called at the end of October they were booking for the first week of January, so it was about 2 months. I saw Dr. Rohrer in mid November and initially booked my surgery for the end of January. Due to the cost, I had to rebook for the end of March so that I could save up the $19,000 US for the surgery. That covers everything including a year of follow up and fills (might be longer than that, but I don't have my info pack in front of me). I chose to go to Great Falls because it's only 3 hours from Lethbridge, so I can get there easily for the surgery and follow-ups. If I had gone to Montreal or Toronto, I'd have paid the same amount (I got quotes from 4 different clinics, all in the 19-21 thousand range in Canada) plus the cost of travel and a week to 10 days in a hotel. Plus they required me to go back to them for fills, which means more travel and cost. This way, aside from one night in hospital in Great Falls, I can recover at home and not worry about air travel so soon after surgery. Dr. Rohrer was terrific in his consult. He spent almost an hour answering all my questions and was very friendly (I'll do a complete review after all is said and done, but so far I'm extremely pleased). I initially assumed I was too big for the band, but Dr. Rohrer said he has done the procedure on men as large as 600 lbs. He said I was an ideal candidate for the band (he does do both band and RNY, charges more for the bypass). Plus he has taught the procedure, so I'm convinced. I haven't gone through the surgery yet, but if it's anything like having my appendix out with a lapscope, then I don't anticipate too many problems. Unfortunately, he can't use my existing appendix scar, so I'm going to have two new holes in me. Oh well. :-D Keep in touch and I'll let you know how things work out. Take care. Michael

Best to you, Michael ~ I was banded in Ontario in January... seems to be the second smartest thing I've done. It was $16K, I am seeing a a Dr in Calgary that does fills for $99 -- I also have family in Ont (one cousin lives 10 blks from the clinic) so an excuse to visit them. I did not persue the Hat or Red Deer because they are doing about the same as the Weight Management Clinic in Calgary as far as addressing demand ~ i.e. 'dismal' also the Dr. at Mississauga trained most of the AB Lap-band Dr's. I had dinner with some people that went to Mexico -- I got the impression that any fears about that are quite unfounded. Lap-Band is like a patented process - the pharma's aren't going to leave themselves open to risk. I wouldn't have hestitated to go there ~ but other non-surgery & non-medical factors weighed (pun?!? LOL) in favour of SWLC. You have done your ground work well and I am sure you are going to be pleased with your results. Me: 22 pounds since 15 January, 38 since I set out on my quest for this tool July 2007...