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location:  Transition  >  Chest Surgery  >  Pre-op Timeline When I was researching surgeons, results, and people's personal accounts of chest surgery, I always wanted to know how long it took between finding a surgeon and actually having the surgery. So, here is my timeline of my chest surgery events. For more details of my experience in Montreal, see Surgery Experience. March 20, 2003 Emailed my first request for information to Dr. Menard at GRS Montreal. April 3, 2003 Since I had not received anything by snail mail or email from GRS Monreal, I requested information a second time. April 5, 2003 Received information packet dated March 27th. April 15, 2003 Called and made the first available consultation appointment. May 5, 2003 Saw one of the two licensed councellors at my university's councelling center to discuss getting a letter recommending me for chest surgery. I only had to see her this one day, because she consulted with my previous therapist I used to get my letter for T. May 22, 2003 Had my consult with Dr. Menard in Montreal. While I was there, I gave him my email address and requested that he send me pre- and post-op photos of some of his patients. May 27, 2003 Received my chest recommendation letter in the mail. June 5, 2003 Faxed my testosterone recommendation letter and my chest surgery recommendation letter to Dr. Menard. June 9, 2003 Called to confirm their receipt of my letters and to make a date for surgery. Since I had not received the photos Dr. Menard said he would send me, I requested them a second time. June 16, 2003 Requested the photos for the third and final time. June 17, 2003 Received an email from Dr. Menard's secretary saying she will "transmit the [photo] request to Dr. Menard". June 18, 2003 Received my surgery confirmation letter dated June 13th. June 25, 2003 Despite never receiving the photos, I still felt confident in my decision. I sent my $1,000 certified check deposit to save my surgery date. July 14, 2003 Got my pre-op bloodwork and chest X-ray done. July 25, 2003 Picked up lab test results and sent them, plus a $100 deposit for my girlfriend-at-the-time to stay with me at the residence care, to Dr. Menard. July 30, 2003 Emailed to confirm receipt of test results and $100 deposit. I also asked what day my final payment must be postmarked and what exactly I owed as my final balance. The secretary replied the same day and told me they had not received either my test results or my deposit. She confirmed my final balance and said it must be postmarked by August 17th. August 6, 2003 Emailed to check back to see if they had received my test results and deposit yet. August 7, 2003 Received an email saying they did receive my travel information, pre-op lab test reports, and $100 deposit. I also deposited my loaned money so it could clear. August 14, 2003 Sent my final certified check payment of $3,820 (procedure remainder of $3,420 plus $400 remainder for girlfriend-at-the-time's stay) to Dr. Menard. August 26, 2003 Travelled to Montreal by car and spent the night at the Residence Care. August 27, 2003 Day of Surgery August 31, 2003 Returned home from Montreal.