Looking for Dr. Gagner? Good luck!

Hi Julie,

Lauren is doing well. We are planning on leaving Montreal Wednesday and being back in Hamilton on Thursday.

Jan

I have to say this... I had my surg in June of 2011, and had a wonderful experience with Dr G.   I stayed at Rockland, and I have to say, the staff there really think the world of Dr G.   My ani was from Ontario, and she too had to be the best I've ever experienced.  I did not even feel her putting in the gadgetry.  Didn't hurt or anything.  I commented to her... hey you ARE good.  

As for being Dr G an a/h, I dont know, I expected him to be just that (because I have read that people said he was one), and again was quite surprised at just how nice and concerned he was.  He was a little overbooked when I went to see him for the EKG and bloodwork, but I also got to experience him talking to other patient families, and again, he was very pleasant and friendly.

I pre-sent my payment, and I kinda felt concerned about it.  But it's all above board.   And had no isssues.

The staff, Lula, Laurent and the recovery staff all took extremely good care of me.  Spoke very highly of Dr G, and I even made him laugh about my concern about my cats.  He was very nice, and even made note that the hospital needed to get an extention for the headphones for the TV.

Except for a small hernia, I've had zero complications (knock wood) and have lost 105 pounds in 8 months.   

To be honest, I kinda wish he would do plastics and hernia repairs, because I would book with him again in an instant.

YMMV.

Cheers
Allie

Allie, I have to agree with you on this.  I had him as my surgeon, and he was surprisingly pleasant everytime I spoke with him, and he answered all my questions patiently and honestly.  As far as paying up front....it's a business, I expected that and it went smoothly.   Even through emails, he was cordial, and answered every email I sent him, even when he was traveling on vacation with his family. 

I went there alone to Canada, and stayed at the hospital all alone.  They called my son when I was in recovery to let him know how things went, and that I was ok, in recovery.  Naturally, I was in an out of sleeping in the recovery room, so I couldn't talk to him.  When I was ready to go back to the hotel, they provided me with the taxi cab back to the hotel as well.  Lula and the nursing staff at the Rockland called me a few times a day at the hotel to make sure I was ok.

I too stayed at Rockland, actually I was the very first patient there for an overnight.  That wing was brand new when I was there.  All the staff went the extra mile to comfort me, speak english to me, anything I wanted, they were there.  Actually, I was the only patient there for overnight, so I had my own nurses and their assistants and that wing, all to myself.  All the nurses and doctors working at Rockland all spoke very highly of Dr. G and had the utmost professional opinions of him.   When Dr. G came to see how I was doing, he was professional and warm.

He's a surgeon, and an excellent one.  I can't speak to how he is speaking to others, but perhaps he may be overbooking himself with difficult cases....and that may be because he cares and wants to truely help people.  IDK.  If others re arrange the positioning/schedules of patients for the operating rooms, I can't see how that would be his fault?  He makes the best of all situations, I would have to assume.  He is a problem solver.  Perhaps he needs additional staff.  IDK.

If he had to perform a lap in the dark, he would be the one I would want doing it on me, no one else.  To me, he's a wizard....and I was an extremely difficult case, i came with extreme cement adhesions all inside my abdomin and over all my organs from several MAJOR open surgeries.  Other surgeons would not touch me for fear of what could happen.  I'm here today, alive,  because of Dr. G.  He still sends me follow up emails every now and then, just to see how i'm doing, and he doesn't send me a bill.  (what is that all about anyway????).

Hope it all works out for all.  :)

Allie and neacre100, I completely agree with everything you said. Dr. Gagner is the absolute best and even with the scheduling issues, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone else.

Nea, I too had the wing to myself and basically had my own staff. LOL... was like being a rock star :)

I can't say enough good things about Rockland and Dr G and how everyone there spoke so highly of him.  I too wouldn't want anyone else to work on me.  He was top notch :)

Allie

Rock Star!  Yes...exactly...movie star treatment.  Oh, and the ani....she was wonderful.  I also couldn't believe I felt no pain when she was inserting that cath and hooking me up, no burning in the hand as the meds started flowing.  I can't say enough about how at ease they all made me feel at Rockland.  And I was a complete nervous basket case....all alone, with no family members there to console me or hold my hand.  Kudos to them.

All I can say is based on my own experience....and I'm very greatful my experience was a real pleasant one. 

I feel for anyone who didn't have a great experience.  Surgery is a big decision....and the anxiety that comes along with it....the last thing you need is stress prior to surgery.