New Doctor...9 days before surgery?????????

So I get home yesterday and I have a message on my machine from Northeast Surgery informing me that Dr. Lalor is no longer practicing there and is no longer part of the community.  So they needed me to call them back because my surgery is scheduled for 12/14 (next friday) woo hoo!!  They did inform me that Dr. Toder would be able to perform the surgery for me if it was alright with me (heck yeah it is!) , but I would need to come in to meet her beforehand. Well, this morning I called the office back and was told that he basically "skipped town" because he wasn't happy there.  Well I think it's extremely rude to just drop your patients like that.  But whatever!  So I am SO happy that Dr. Toder is going to do it instead. I had first chosen her, but because of her schedule I decided to go with Dr. Lalor instead.  I guess things have a way of working out for the best.   I'm thrilled about this because I had an EGD done by Lalor a few weeks ago and I had the WORST experience ever with him.  First of all the guy didn't even remember me and why I was there. I had just met the guy the week before and was having it done because HE wanted it done.  The experience was so bad that it's taken me a long time to just get through and move forward and be somewhat ok with it.  Well I'm very happy that I don't have to worry anymore and I'm so much more at ease knowing that she's doing it. I wanted to ask if anyone has had Dr. Toder as their surgeon and if you could tell me what you thought of her and how your experience was, etc. Thanks for your support with this. ~Cathy

Gee I just saw an add about Lalor in the paper. They could not tell you I wonder if they told him to skip town if you had a bad experience with him others probably did too. I had Dr. Clough and I have heard a lot of good things about Dr. Toder. I am thinking knowing the reputation ( good) they have there, maybe this Lalor was told to leave. Anyway good thing that happened before surgery now you don't have to worry.

Sorry you had this experience however in my opinion you are far better off with Toder. Know that she is one of the best there and has a lot more experience than Lalor. I had Toder and I love her and I will tell anyone who asks lol and sometimes people who don't ask. I was debating WLS for a long time and my mother is a nurse on the floor you will go to after your surgery, she told me I couldn't have it done because she wasn't comfortable enough with it yet. Well advance to January of this year and suddenly my mom has changed her mind and says I can only have Toder because in her opinion she is the best, and now here I am today. She does remember me and when I was having issues and needed a ultrasound not only did her office call me to tell me the results but she called me herself later on to talk and see how I was, in my opinion that's going above what she was required to do. My mom's opinion aside I think Dr. Toder and Dr. Clough are both excellent surgeons, they just have two different ways of doing it. I don't know much about Dr. Huang. Dr. Toder is a doll but is very upfront about everything and wont coddle you which I have heard some people are not a fan of, however I would not have gone with anyone else...I was dead set on lap. I'm sure your surgery will go very smoothly and soon you will be on the losers bench!

Hi Cathy, Wow - I must say that I'm surprised about Lalor - I was just there yesterday to have my appointment w/Toder and he was there seeing patients. It must of happened fast. I know several people who have had Toder as their surgeon - they all have the best things to say about her. I wish you the best! Candace

Wow...what a shocking experience. I am glad Dr. Toder is able to take over your case. I have heard nothing but great things about her, you will be fine!!! Everything happens for a reason, and this will be a positive thing for you I am sure.

Thank you all for you replies to my post.  I have also heard wonderful things about Dr. Toder.  I am just bummed because I had already established a relationship with my other surgeon and now it was for nothing.  I'm shocked to learn that he was at the office yesterday seeing patients because it sounded like he had already gone.  Oh well. I know that I am in MUCH better hands.  Actually as soon as I found out that she was going to take over my case my anxiety IMMEDIATELY went away.  Literally! Anyways, thanks again for all of your support.  Save me a seat because my lil' booty will be on that bench in no time. Oh and as of this morning I've lost 11 pounds!  Doing my all liquid diet has been easier than I thought it would be!  :) ~Cathy :)

So sorry to hear you have to change surgeons, but  you are getting the best! I had Dr. Toder, and she is wonderful!! I have to wonder if Dr. Lalor was there one day, and not the next, if it was his choice to leave. It doesn't really matter either way. It is good that this happened before you had surgery and not after.

When asked Dr. Toder didn't say it was his or their decision for Dr. Lalor to leave.  She said it wasn't a good fit.  He didn't feel comfortable in Maine and wanted to move back to Florida.  Also he wanted to be in a teaching hospital setting and Dr. Toder said a teaching hospital isn't the place for WLS because the patients need to develop a relationship with their dr and know that the dr will always be there for him/her because this is a lifetime commitment.  It isn't a surgery that a person has and then that person is "healed".  That being so a teaching setting just won't work because they intern wouldn't be there for all the follow-ups etc. I did wonder what the scandle was and all that.  I suppose it would bother me if I were like you...built up that relationship and then BOOM! he's gone.  But lucky for you it happened before your surgery.  I do feel sorry for those *****cently had him as their surgeon and now need to build a new relationship with a different dr. I do like Dr. Toder (although I only got to see her for a short period of time and it wasn't 1 on 1).  She seemed very down-to-earth.  Very involved in her work.  Someone who lives and breathes to help us.  Somehow she is able to handle a very involved career as a surgeon, mother, and wife (to a very handsome man).    I think she's wonderful!