PSTEVENS9

Well, you can bet I'll be looking into the other clinics. However, the one in Mississauga says it costs $200 for a consultation, refundable upon surgery. I didn't like that much. But, I have mailed TBLC and will check it out. I wonder if they would charge extra to fix my hernia? I'm still quite upset that I have not heard back from the founder of CIBO with any answer to my questions. I really thought the phone would ring ten minutes after I e-mailed him.

Thanks for the info. I was told the package is for a year of support and fills. Then they start charging extra. Dr. Misra told me that if there were any problems with the band that required additional surgery, that OHIP would pay for that. So, now I don't know what to believe.

Well, the cost is also one of the questions I want an answser to. I will be looking into the other clinics for sure.

Yes, Dr. Misra spoke to me about the clinical trial, but I don't have diabetes, so I didn't qualify. Also, as you said, the patients have no control over which surgery they get. I don't want the gastric bypass as I have some blood issues which can be dangerous if I get an infection. She said the band was a much safer choice for me. But, I would still like some answers about the clinic. I did e-mail the founder, but he has not answered me yet. It's not giving me a warm fuzzy feeling about the clinic.

Well, I'm certainly not disagreeing with you. My family doctor sent me to her because I have a large abdomial hernia that needs to be repaired and she does that laproscopically. He's the one that told me she did the lap-bands, so I asked her about it when I went to see her. She told me I was a perfect candidate and she would fix the hernia at the same time as the lap-band. She gave me the pamphlet for CIBO and I contacted them. But all of these posts have me pretty nervous. I knew it was a new clinic, but I'm concerned about this doctor that people are talking about. If anyone wants to e-mail me personally, I would appreciate any information. Thanks, PSTEVENS9@COGECO.CA

Yes, they charge $18,000. That's one of the questions I've asked. As for the surgeon, here is what it says about her. I've been to other doctors for other problems and they spoke highly about her. Dr. Monali Misra, MD, FRCS©, FACS Chief Surgeon Dr. Monali Misra obtained her MD from the University of Saskatchewan, completed her General Surgery residency at McMaster University and completed an Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgical Fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She holds certification in General Surgery from the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Misra shares her expertise by teaching courses in laparoscopy to other surgeons, clinical fellows, residents, medical students and nurses at the Center for Minimal Access Surgery at McMaster University. She is also actively involved in bariatric and laparoscopic research, and has been involved in numerous studies, many of which have been presented at national and international meetings. Currently, she is a co-investigator in a study examining the benefits of bariatric surgery on Type II Diabetes Mellitus and is planning further research focused around bariatrics and advanced laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Misra is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons (ASBS), the Society of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), the Canadian Obesity Network, the Canadian Association of General Surgery and other professional associations.

Well, I sent an e-mail to the founder of CIBO asking him some very important questions. I'll let you know what he says. Nisrene is the woman I met with and she seemed very nice. I asked him if she used to work at the other clinic and I asked him about the price. I don't see why I should pay an extra $2,000 for an inexperienced clinic. However, I did google Dr. Misra and she teaches laproscopic surgery. I really did like her.

I'm a newby and currently looking into surgery at this new clinic. The surgeon is Minoli Misra. She works out of St. Joe's in Hamilton and I liked her very much when I went to see her. I'm more than a little concerned about the comments about this clinic? Does anyone have anything to base this on? PSTEVENS9