Consultation with Dr. G

[Ayden]

Hey guys. So I don't want to spam the board but I'll be calling Dr. Garramone's office this week to set up a consultation. I have to get up at around 3am to call from here, but oh well. Before I do, I wanted to get some info from the guys who have already gone through it all.

How long did it take until you had the consultation? I am hoping i can do it when I am still on vacation. Was it a long wait between the consultation and your surgery date? What all, if anything, should I have ready when I call to set it up or when I have the actual talk with the Doctor?

Also, a weird question: I work with kids (ages 1.5 - 12) so I am sick a lot. I know going through surgery means you should be in the best health possible. My husband and I are both concerned that if I keep my current job I will end up sick right before my surgery. I always get sick as soon as I get any time off. Heck, I'm sick right now and it's my first day of vacation. Does Dr. Garramone refuse surgery if you have a cold? That seems to be what I get since I never had the childhood colds that are common in Japan. My alternative is to quit my job. If I have to I will, so I am not stressing about too much.

I probably sound overly worried. I'm so amped though. I can't believe I can finally get the ball rolling.

[aleon515]

Yippee, another potential clone to join the Dr G army!!

It took one week to get a phone consult, I think. I am thinking you are in Japan, so I think he has you call the office at a certain time, I had a acquaintance in Germany who did this. I think his date was about 1-2 weeks out too. My surgery date was 2 months out, with pre-op consult, surgery date, and post-op all set in clock work type order.
I would write down any questions you have as he will allow time for them and answer them well but he goes very quickly and it is possible that you will forget them. He's very nice, but I wouldn't use the word "personable".

I have heard that no surgeon will do the surgery if you are really sick, but I don't think sniffles would, something to ask him about I suppose. You can take Zycam, which is zinc, but not vitamin C, before the surgery. I don't know if you can get this in Japan, but it is pretty effective, actually cuts down how bad a cold is. I think you actually still have them. It wouldn't matter re: Japan vs American colds. I think the cold virus mutates so much that the colds you had last year are already mutated. Also with air travel virii can move.

I think you are "normal" just excited and nervous.

--Jay

[Bimmer Guy]

Dr. Garramone makes his consult calls on Wednesdays, so most likely, no matter when you call, he will call you the following Wednesday.  Typically they won't give you an exact time he will call, but I worked it out so that I would be his last call of the day.  You will email photos of yourself that he will look at while he has you on the phone.

He does surgeries on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.  Sometimes Friday.

You will have your pre-op the day before surgery and your post op appt. will be 6 days later.  At the time of your scheduling, they will give you your pre-op, surgery, and post op dates. 

Welcome to the club!