I live in Ontario, Canada and about a year ago had my CAMH appointment for approval for my lower surgery. I got a approved around August and have ever since been struggling to work with Dr. Brassards people to get a consult. After some miscommunication about required additional documents (other than the ones from CAMH and the Ministry of Health/OHIP) and delays due to my file being moved from the pre-op tem to the clinic office and then the delay of the holidays and hat not. I finally got phone appointment with Dr. Brassard because the staff said that I should talk to him on the phone instead of having to come in for the consultation. I had to wait a month for the call and then they called last minute to reschedule to today.
He called me today and I asked him some questions, but he said he could not answer them without an in person consult, which I completly understand but then why did we even bother with the phone call? I spoke with a guy from Alberta who had his surgery a few years ago and he did not need a consult. I prefer to have one but what makes me frustrated is the difficulty I have had with this office. I am extermely patient but I am getting really frustrated.
Has anyone else had this problem? I have now scheduled an appointment for May 3rd (they only had two spots available because they are very busy one next week which is not possible because I do not have a car and I have to arrange trasnportation and because of work and then the May 3rd date.
So now I have to wait for that, I already have put my surgery on hold for years due to other family members health and needing to help them but now I feel like it will never happen.
I also gained weight back that I lost prior to my other surgeries and I know that can be a problem. When I mentioned that I was planning on a metiodioplasty and enquired about a mons resection on the phone with Dr. Brassard he mentioned in a way that because of my weight a phalloplasty would be better. (not in those exact words but that is how it came accross). I am just so fed up with how things are going. I am grateful for everything I have but I just do not understand why it is so difficult.
I already know I would not be satisfied with a phalloplasty I do not like the procedure and have given this years of consideration.
Does anyone have any advice or has anyone had similar experiences? I feel like I should be looking at other surgeons at this point but OHIP does not cover travel costs and I cannot afford to fly to the USA or Europe and have no car. Honestly, I don't want to go to the USA especially with the current political climate and the issues I have heard that can happend surrounding travelling as a trans person across borders and in airports.
I also want to note that I had my chest surgery with him and did not have these issues. I know things change and they are busier now but I am not even covering some of the other deatils about the exchanges I have had with the staff trying to get things in order just to get an appointment for this surgery.
Basically I have been waiting 6 months for a consultation and now have to wait another month and a bit for a real one.
It is a bit ridiculous IMO. Part of me feels this is directly related to that fact that I am overweight but I am not sure what their angle is if this is the case. I have also read that some people with OHIP funded surgeries are having a hard time getting stuff scheduled.
Quote from: Devinster on March 22, 2017, 04:50:19 PM
He called me today and I asked him some questions, but he said he could not answer them without an in person consult, which I completly understand but then why did we even bother with the phone call? I spoke with a guy from Alberta who had his surgery a few years ago and he did not need a consult. I prefer to have one but what makes me frustrated is the difficulty I have had with this office. I am extermely patient but I am getting really frustrated.
Has anyone else had this problem? I have now scheduled an appointment for May 3rd (they only had two spots available because they are very busy one next week which is not possible because I do not have a car and I have to arrange trasnportation and because of work and then the May 3rd date.
Disclaimer: AMAB person here, who didn't even go to Brassard.
Having said that, I did look into several surgeons for my own bottom surgery, and the story was pretty much what you're describing here: you're approved for surgery, and send them all of the documents. Next thing, you call them and get a nurse or similar who knows what to do but isn't really allowed to give you any definitive answers. So you call again another day, get a second nurse and have to explain the whole story again. In the end the nurses talk among each other, give the doc a nod and he/she calls you. Only to hear from him/her that there has to be a personal consultation.
After some misconceptions, I tried to figure out why this is how things usually went. Basically, what I surmised is that the doc has to follow a set of guidelines when it comes to planning surgeries, which has to be explained to the insurance companies. That means having you in his/her office so the talk is a: on record and b: payed for. Also, he/she probably is obliged to give you a basic physical examination.
In the case of Brassard, who's got long waiting lists, even the consults can't be planned on short notice. So that means more waiting :(
Good luck on your May 3rd date, at least it's a bit over a month out. Taking into account the years you've put this off... You'll get though it :)
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I have not had any experience with Dr Brassard and am in no position to give you advice about this. Sorry.
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