Re: My Consultation with Dr. Gagner-longish

October 11, 2000

Debbr - I'm sorry. I know you must be really disappointed. Everyone who uses

Dr .B thinks he is just wonderful, so maybe that is the best way to go. Hang

in there -

W

October 11, 2000

Heyyy, Dbbr, sorry about being turned down by the doctor. It was good

that he talked with you and that you feel accepting or okay about that,

and that you are going to pursue this still with another doctor, since

this is what you truly want. Good luck to you.

Robin F

October 11, 2000

Dear Debbr:

Well, that's quite a story about your appointment with Dr G. I am a new

person, I have been lurking before, but I think I remember years ago that

people from the US went to Europe for cosmetic and weight loss surgery. May

be my memory is fooling me, but I'm thinking it was because cosmetic/wls

surgeries were more developed there, than here. That may have been many

years ago, and I just heard the vestiges of the way used to be. So I think

that the possibilities of being properly served in Europe are probably

pretty good. I don't know what US insurance companies do for cs, but maybe

that is something we all should consider too.

Good luck with Dr B, from what everyone has been saying he's a very nice

person, and people seem pleased with the treatment they have received.

Judith in Seattle

My Consultation with Dr. Gagner-longish

> Well, in some ways my consultation went exactly how I thought. Dr. Gagner

> said he could not do the surgery because my BMI was too low for the US and

> my co-morbities was not severe enough. He explained that if something

> went wrong he would be liable. I totally understand that.

> What did not happen and I am glad is that he did not say that having

> surgery was a bad idea for me. Basically, what I gathered is that if the

> NIH guidelines were different he would think I would be a good

> candidate. Both because of the problems I am already having, and my

family

> history. He did say in Europe at my weight they would do the procedure.

>

> I really liked Dr. Gagner. I did have to wait 2 hours (in very tight

> dungarees [my heaviest piece of clothing (lol)]) But, even though he knew

> that he could not do the surgery he took the time to explain to me why and

> we discussed options and I found him quite talky. I was expecting a

> grimmer type person. He did say that if my BMI was 40 that he would do

the

> ds on me. That was good to know that he would not insist on the other.

He

> also seem to totally sympathize with my plight. So I guess my options

are

> to gain weight or ask Dr. B. Honestly I think I would rather not gain the

> weight--just gaining five pounds has caused me to have a lot of acid

> problems and my knees are hurting more. I think I will write Dr. B. today

> or tomorrow and see what he has to say.

>

> So though the outcome was not what I wanted it was not unexpected and at

> least I know that what I want to do is not crazy at my weight and my

> history. It is also useful to know that DS is an okay choice for me.

>

> My advice to the person on the list who BMI is 39 is to gain the five

> pounds. Hey I gained five pounds once I knew I had this consult (and

> because of Rosh Hashana--I bake.) Unless you have severe comorbities in

> the US they will not do the surgery at a lower BMI.

>

> Dbbr

>

October 11, 2000