Booked Consultation! And need Advice!

[brownman]

Well i got the nerve to book my consultation for September 9th/12:30 PM..

I have one more question. is it true that the doctor fielding gives a student discount ?

I originally wanted august but i guess the winter months will be better since i can work from now until the end of august to earn that little bit of extra money....... I may also do 40 hours a week the first two weeks of school 5 pm to 3am to make half the gyne money that way.... I only have one more BIG problem left to solve.

How did all of you manage to hide this from your parents (unsupportive, won't allow (indian )).
I need to conceal the money i will be spending (once again how much is it w/student discount?)
And i need to conceal the after of the surjury, i figure this would be easy with sweat shirts......

anyways any advice appreciated!

[Blitz]

As for how much it will cost will depend on Dr. Fielding and how severe he thinks your gyne is.  He quoted me at $1500 ($1605 with tax).  Up to now, I think I've paid more than anyone else who went with Fielding.  Keep in mind, my problem is a little more severe then puffy nipples.  I have more fat in my boob area and I think that's why my price was higher.  

Please note that he did ask me a few weeks ago when I went in for my final consultation (he sees you twice at his office before surgery) how I would feel if my surgery was $500 more.  I think he's trying to figure out if he should up his fees.  He told me he was just taking a survey because of some hospital administration thing.  

I'm hiding my operation from everyone I know. Including girlfriend and parents.  Check out the Diary section and you'll see my thread.  If you have the surgery in the fall or winter, it will be very easy for you to conceal the bandaging during the healing period.  You can wear bulky sweaters and don't forget your coat.

If you have to conceal your money to keep it a secret, do it.  Even if it takes you a bit longer.  Tuck it under your mattress or a sock or an unknown bank account.  You've done the right thing by booking an appointment.  Keep the ball rolling and you should be gyne free by next summer.  

[Achilles]

Hey I'm a student too and have read on here that Dr. Fielding's rate is $1070 (GST included).  My consultation is at the end of August and I too am planning on getting the procedure done in the winter (February).  I think it would be easier to cover up then and I'll be ready for the summer....

[pirate4225]

Hey guys,

I too just booked by inital consult with JCF today, apparently the guy is booked solid and the earliest i could get was Sept. 12th.

I actually went to my family doc last week and he confirmed that i have gyno. Actually he was kinda supporting getting the surgery - he said he would hook me up with the # of a PS in the area (still yet to get it) so I took the liberty of setting an appt. with JCF.

Brownman, I know what you mean about telling your parents - I too was nervous and tense (brown as well).  But it recently dawned on me that by telling them about the procedure you are being honest and upfront, just in case something does go wrong (which hopefully it wont).  I briefly mentioned to my mom that the doc found enlarged glands in my chest area and wants me to go and see a specialist/surgeon who can fix it.  (BTW mentioned this pretty casually)  I am keeping the $$ hush hush just cause i would like to use my own money to pay for the procedure.   BTW whereand when do you pay for the procedure? I know the gyno surgery is a pretty important and delicate thing in ones life but playing it out as  normally as any other medical procedure surely has calmed my nerves.  

Thats just my 2 cents worth....For those of you who've had the surgery could you let us all know how bad the pain/brusin is?  Cause' i am the worlds biggest chicken when it comes to pain and going to the doctor.... I have what is knownn as the white coat syndrome!!!

Cheers...

[a-man]

My parents are Indian too, and I simply explained to them that many doctors had told me I had the condition, and THEY were the ones who suggested to me to get the surgery if it bothered me.

Of course, who are they to argue with a doctor's opinion. I actually wrote everything down in an email and sent it to them. I told them that I could afford it myself, and that I WAS going to do it, and that I was just looking for their support.

Initially I was like you guys and was planning to tell no one, but in the end I told my parents, and they supported me, and I am VERY glad I told them.

The first 3-4 days you will be too sore to do anything at all, and it would really make it easier if you had someone to help you around. They will certainly notice that something is seriously wrong with you, so you had better come up with a really good excuse (ie another injury) if you intend to not tell the truth. Of course this might end up scaring them more than if you just told them you were having minor cosmetic surgery, and would be back to 100% within a week or two. Ultimately of course it is up to you.

As for the pain: none whatsoever. I got to the operating room, they stuck the IV in me (I didn't feel a thing... it's just like getting a needle), then I woke up in the operating room. Again, no pain, no nausea.

For the first few days I felt no pain at all, just some soreness like everyone else says. You will have a hard time moving around. I had very little bruising, and it all went away within a week or so.

I am now almost 3 weeks post-op, and was just playing a bit of basketball outside (just shooting around by myself). I figure I'll be back to 100% in another week or so.

Good luck guys.

[Grandpa Bambu]

BTW whereand when do you pay for the procedure?

Thats just my 2 cents worth....For those of you who've had the surgery could you let us all know how bad the pain/brusin is?  Cause' i am the worlds biggest chicken when it comes to pain and going to the doctor.... I have what is knownn as the white coat syndrome!!!

Here's what will go down.... You go for you consultation. If surgery is a 'go', then you will return to JCF's office about a month later to pay for the Lipo portion of the proceedure and Leslie will give you a list of Do's and Do not's for your surgery. Then all ya gotta do is wait for the 'big day'.

The actual surgery and recovery is a piece of cake! Trust me! The worst part for me was the anxiety and nerves the day and night before getting cut.

John.

[brownman]

i plan on driving to and from the surjury is this possible ? Its a 35 minute drive from Burlington to his office, i'd imagine the hospital would be a similar drive..


Also i was intending on just avoiding my parents, i will give it some thought maybe go see the doctor, but i dont think it will go over well at all. for the money thing i was thinking i'd just say i upgraded my computer labtop... the funds arent the problem the problem is laundering them to the surjury

[a-man]

depending on the severity of your problem, I think driving would be out of the question.

In fact, I don't think you can legally drive in canada for 24 hours after going under anesthesia. I certainly would not have been able to drive all that way....

[KingCobra]

Brownman, I would advise you not to drive to and back from the hospital.  After surgery my chest burnt like a mofo man, and I was seriously groggy.  If I did drive home I would've flipped the car for sure.
I took the TTC to the Dundas West Station then cabbed it to the hospital ($7 maximum).  After surgery a buddy came to pick me up as they insist on you being picked up by someone.

[sillyguy]

I'm not sure how things are in Canada, but in the US, I get TONS of credit card offers in the mail, even back when I was in school.  If one offered a 0%apr on balance transfers and/or transactions, you could transfer your bill to it and have an interest free loan you can work on over time or something like that.

Although you'd have to read the fine print on the credit card to make sure there are no hidden surprises.

[Edit:added]
Oh, and you'll probably be pretty groggy after surgery, so it'd be safe if someone drove you.  Maybe ask an understanding cousin, buddy, girlfriend or something.

Btw, the Canadian dollar is close the US dollar right?  $1605 for surgery?  Man you guys are pretty lucky.

[a-man]

The US dollar is still a good deal more than the Canadian dollar, so it's even less than that.

And $1605 is the MOST anyone has ever paid with Fielding.... the least being nothing at all....

[3cheers]

YOU DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE!  Do risk getting into a accident.  How about taking the GO train. Ask your friend for a ride or stay overnight at the hote. After the surgery I  took a T3 and had something cool to drink and sat back while my  brother drove me home. Yeah I know, I am a lucky son of a Bytch. When I told my brother  he didnt laugh or goof on me.  Anyhow take care I gotta get some beer

3cheers

[brownman]

if i stay overnight is it safe to assume i could drive the day after?

since that hotel nearby (Sheridan?) has a discount for those with surjury right ?

[Blitz]

If you stay overnight, they won't release you to a hotel. They'll have you stay in the hospital.  The hotel thing rate is for out of towners who come here for surgery.  They don't get to stay in a hotel after surgery unless they have a friend to drive them or take them there.  


Read my post in the My Diary (surgery is done!!!!) section and you'll see how I kept it a secret even when a friend came to pick me up.  

[a-man]

brownman: probably not...

i actually felt worse the day after surgery... would definitely not have wanted to drive

immediately after surgery your chest is still numb, so you don't feel much at all...