Hi susans, I'll be in Montreal from March 6 to whenever the bleeding stops.  I'm hoping to bring along my girlfriend and was wondering if anyone could recommend decent well priced accomodations for a few days, ya know until we are sure I'm not going to end up in a glue factory.

To some people I'll always be a guy with mutilated genitals, supported by a greedy network of doctors and mental health professionals.  But to me, this means an end to depression, the real beginning of my life and one lived with no regrets.   

In this community it is impossible to not notice the backs of the men and women you are standing on, and I thank them every day I look in the mirror.  If you've had a voice, if you've put on that dress and said the hell with it, if you've gone to your job, your family, your senator and you pled our case at the risk of your safety you will always be in my heart and I will always be your sister.  Thank you. 

good luck and congrats.  youll find the staff wonderfull and the food amazing too.

A lot of friends and family stay at Gîte du Marigot http://www.gitedumarigot.com/800x600/anglais/home.htm.  The rooms are reasonably priced and the place is about 10 minutes driving from Brassard's facility.

Chantelle is the owner and makes great French toast!  And she's a real sweetheart. 

Julie

That is SO awesome, I wish you the best. 
Glue factory, lol!

Way to go, so happy for you, Amy!

Kristi

Another one for my list.

Congratulations any way, Amy.



Janet

Quote from: AmyM on September 18, 2009, 02:57:16 PM
until we are sure I'm not going to end up in a glue factory.

It's people. Canadian Glue is made out of people. They're making our glue out of people. Next thing they'll be breeding us like cattle for glue. You've gotta tell them. You've gotta tell them!

Congrats on your surgery!

Soylent Glue?

glue....lol i guess thats better then cat food ralston purena im sure would accept whats left of us and my cat isnt picky what it eats lol

Well, I thought I was scheduled.  I'm having some issues with their medical secretary in terms of getting answers to simple questions like.

Where do I send the money? 
Can I confirm the total amount, as in the document you sent 6 months ago it states the price fluctuates?
How are complications handled, with regard to extra cost to me (having no insurance)

I'm having a hard time believing this is a professional operation with this level of non-service, and I haven't even written the check yet.  I realize his work is good, but why am I dealing with this garbage at this stage?

Does anyone know of a better email address than the general one to get answers about the details?

Forget emailing.  You have to call Suzanne Dugre and talk to her. (514-288-2097  For some reason they don't seem to respond well to email correspondence.  Remember, there is a language barrier there.  Everyone at the facility speaks French but not everyone speaks English.

As far as price fluctuations, check the exchange rates.  At the time of my surgery CN currency was in the 70+% range against US currency and the normal $18,000 ended up being about $14,000.

Few US citizens have insurance and I don't think Brassard takes US insurance anyway so you have to pay in cash (money order, cashier's check, etc) before surgery.  Suzanne can answer your questions but you HAVE to call if you want answers.

Julie

Yeah, they don't seem to do so well with email. I emailed them last week and haven't received a response yet either. At this point, I wouldn't hold it against them too much.

When I had my FFS with Dr. Ousterhout, they weren't too responsive in email either, but get them on the phone and they'll answer all your questions. And when I actually saw the doctor, he gave me all the information I needed. So their lack of communication may not be directly proportional to their level of overall service.

I'd call them like Julie suggested and try and get the answers you need. And giving them a bit more slack for the language barrier might serve well too. I've almost made my choice to go with him too so I hope everything works out for you, and me alike

~Sarah

Thanks to all responders, I tried to work with his office but I couldn't get answers to simple questions through his main contact.  Honestly I'm appalled by the level of incompetence displayed by his staff.  I really expected much better considering the kind of business he is in.

Here's a tip for any business owners reading this, if a customer writes you and asks where to mail the check for 17 thousand dollars.  You need to give them an address not a terse reply to re-read documentation that doesn't have the answer in it.  Maybe his frontline staff are designed to weed out the customers who wish to be treated with respect, I dunno.

Hmm, that sucks. So what are you planning on doing? Are you still going to go with Dr. Brassard or find someone else? I'm sorry you're not having luck getting your answers and their lack of courteousness.

~Sarah

Nope, I won't be going to him.  Yes, absolutely I will be undergoing the procedure.

Quote from: AmyM on September 22, 2009, 02:44:41 PM
Nope, I won't be going to him.  Yes, absolutely I will be undergoing the procedure.

That's too bad.  I always dealt with Brassards office by phone and I was always treated well.  I'm not sure why you would be having trouble with sending money.  Their payment schedule is pretty straight forward.  If I recall they ask for two payments before the surgery and the balance can be paid just prior to.  You can pay by credit card, or certified check etc.  I simply sent a certified check to their office and PHONED  them a week to two weeks later to make sure they received the funds.

Phone her she is really nice on the phone, and remember Brassards office very, very busy.

-={LR}=-

Remember, that this is about you getting the medical care and attention you need. To change to another doctor may mean months of delay. Brassard does very good work when it comes to vagina's. The after care in the house next door is second to none. I had my surgery a year ago June, and was very satisfied.

I say don't let a secretary deprive you of the quality medical care that you need. One other thing, when I used to email them, they couldn't receive my Yahoo emails. Once I switched to the local Comcast account, they went through fine. I don't know if it's on their end or what.

Checks are mailed directly to the doctors office in Montreal.

Good luck.

Quote from: AmyM on September 22, 2009, 02:44:41 PM
Nope, I won't be going to him.

Please reconsider. You've fought to get this far. Picking a surgeon is not an arbitrary decision.

The info.pdf that you were sent should cover the details.
A cashier's check to Société de Gestion ELIJEAN mailed to 995 Salaberry should do.

I agree with the other girls. It may be a little hasty to rule out Brassard now just because of some bad communication. I'd say ride it out for a while longer, try and get the answers you seek, and in the end it'll all work itself out.

And based on how many people he sees per year and the amount of communication flowing through his office, there is bound to be an instance where someone doesn't have the best time getting through. This is an important decision that I'm sure you took great effort in deciding upon Dr. Brassard, and to hastily drop him may not be in your best interest.

It's all up to you, and of course we do not have the insight of first-hand knowledge of what you're going through with this, so this is just our opinion. I hope everything works out well for you in the end, and keep us posted on the progress if you don't mind.

~Sarah