Spoke with Dr. Gagner today

So, Dr. Gagner was good to his word and he called me today. We spent about 15 min on the phone - longer than you get to spend with the average GP these days - and he actually asked me to tell him a bit about myself. I can't remember the last time a doctor asked me that so at first I was at a bit of a loss!

Anyway, I did manage to ask him a few questions - dozens more came to mind as soon as we hang up - and he told me a bit about himself, his experience, his practice. He was very straightforward and clear. So here's the gist of the info he gave me.

He practices outside of the RAMQ - i.e. you have to pay for the surgery out of pocket - at two private clinics: Centre métropolitain de chirurgie (http://www.weightlosssurgery.ca/en/about/facilities/cmcp) and RocklandMD (http://www.rocklandmd.com/). For those from the Montréal area, he can arrange for you to have the psych and nutrition evaluations done at one of these clinics but for the follow-up, other than the medical part, you're on your own. The costs are 15K for the VSG and 20k for the DS - but I didn't think to ask if that covers the evals.

I told him I might be looking at having the surgery done sometime in October and he said I could just email him mid-September and he'll set up all the necessary tests and evals. And I confess that that's where I kinda started to freak out. I was suddenly overwhelmed and feeling that this was going way too fast. I mean, I've just started thinking of the possibility of having WLS a few weeks ago and here I was almost making the appointment. So I told him I'd contact him again once I'd made up my mind, which didn't seem to phase him in the least. I really appreciate it that he didn't have a salesman approach and didn't try to pressure me in the least.

So now, it's up to me to decide what I want to do. I know I still have a lot of research to cover and a lot of thinking to do, but at the same time, I feel that I need to take a step back and... breathe! And yeah, maybe I should start but trying to get an appointment with my family doctor since he'd need to be involved in my follow-up if I decide to go ahead with WLS.

Have a nice week, everybody!

Monica

Hi Monica,

What impressed me the most about Dr. Gagner, is that no matter what the question, he will respond to you almost always that same day personally.  I have been speaking with him through email over a year.  Originally he was coming to New York City when he left Miami Florida.  So I was waiting for him to come to New York, which would be just half an hour away for me.  But he ended up in Montreal Canada.  So, now, I am making my travel arrangements to Montrea, because my surgery date is August 23rd. 

I have complete faith in him, he is a man of his word.  I will be driving 6 hours there, will be in the hospital for 3 to 4 days depending on how the surgery goes, then 3 to 5 days in the hotel nearby.  I will have to see him prior to leaving so he can release me for the 6 hour ride home. 

If I have to continue to see him for follow ups at 6 months and/or a year, I will drive to him again. 

I can't wait for my new life to begin after my DS.

Take care, and best wishes.


Donna

Hi Donna,

Thank you for your testimonial. I have a fried *****cently had her VSG done with Dr. Gagner and she's very happy with him. She also said that he was very good at answering questions so that's good to know 'cause I have loads of them!

Now, I only have to make up my mind about WLS and then convince my bank to lend me the 20k!

Good luck with your surgery and if you can afford to arrive a few days earlier, Montréal is a great city to visit!

Cheers,

Monica

 HI Jack!!  Jersey Girl,
I wanted to pm you but you are blocked.  If you don't mind please friend me so we can email.  I am hoping for a revision with Dr. Gagner and would like to ask you some questions on motel, transportation, etc.

If you don't mind,
Terry

Hi Monica
Dr. G did my surgery last week. If you have any questions after you decide please feel free to ask.

Thanks for the offer, Jennifer, I might just take you up on it!

Monica