I know that there is another thread out here for Dr. Gonzalez, but that seems to have evolved into more of a discussion on the pros and cons of this doctor. While I absolutely agree that this is a necessary thread, I feel like those of us who have done our research and are comfortable with our personal decision don't really have a place to post anymore. I am scheduled for surgery with Dr. G on December 7th and I would love to share pre-op, recovery and living with the band stories with fellow Dr. G patients.

I thought it was interesting that Dr. V told me that I could have mushy veggies on the pre-op in addition to the liquid diet. Because I am a little freaked out about the whole liver issue, I think that I'm going to try to stick to straight liquids, but it's nice to know that it's out there. I also am going to start the pre-op diet the day after Thanksgiving (2 weeks instead of one).

Thanks for listening!

Hi! I am Judy's sister and I got banded on 12/12/07. I am doing well. I went for my first fill on Jan 2,2008 but i wasn't able to tolerate a fill so Dr. G said to come back in three weeks. It was very disappointing but he is the expert and I trust his judgement.

Omlagirl,

My flight is tomorrow and I am scheduled to have surgery Saturday. I am very nervous! too bad I had to cancel the first time or we would be at the same point. Well thank you for checking in on me and please wish me luck!

Hi! I am Judy's sister and I got banded on 12/12/07. I am doing well. I went for my first fill on Jan 2,2008 but i wasn't able to tolerate a fill so Dr. G said to come back in three weeks. It was very disappointing but he is the expert and I trust his judgement.

Hi, remember me? I'm Brenda. I met both you and your sister last time I was at Dr.G's for a fill. Your stomach must have been still swollen. How are you doing? Do you feel restriction?

Omlagirl,

My flight is tomorrow and I am scheduled to have surgery Saturday. I am very nervous! too bad I had to cancel the first time or we would be at the same point. Well thank you for checking in on me and please wish me luck!

Congradulations. You will be happy when it is over with. It's sort of a journey. Good luck

hi brenda,

i remember meeting you. it was before my surgery, my surgery was 12/12, how is it going? Right now I do not have any fluid in my band so there is not much restriction. my incisions look good and I am eagerly awaiting getting a fill. I went JN 2 but Dr. G wasn't able to fill me at that time. Cindy

hi brenda,

i remember meeting you. it was before my surgery, my surgery was 12/12, how is it going? Right now I do not have any fluid in my band so there is not much restriction. my incisions look good and I am eagerly awaiting getting a fill. I went JN 2 but Dr. G wasn't able to fill me at that time. Cindy

It's great to hear how your surgery went. I was in for my 2nd fill at the time. This was the fill that really taught me about all the stuff I'd been reading about. I've had strong restriction since then. Isn't it great that our surgeon is the one who does the fills. Most doctors have a nurse do it. This way we can ask him all sorts of questions.

When do you think you will be getting your first fill?

I am hoping to go and get my fill on Jan 29. I have to check with Laura to make sure that date is OK with them. The office is very nice and it is nice to see Dr. G again when we have the fills. So your last fill was in the beginning of Dec? According to my scale I have lost about 16 pounds. It is hard to limit my eating without any restriction in my band, but I am trying because I don't want to gain my weight back. cindy

Hi California nurse...welcome to our happy band of bandsters!!

Jen - you're done...yay!!!

I'm jealous of all of you who can return to Dr. G. But Wednesday is my fill day - can't wait.

Have any of you requested and received your op report? Dr. V mentioned at discharge that I would need to bring it when I went for my first fill. I requested it from Laura a few weeks ago but haven't heard anything. I guess I'll send an email to Dr. V directly. My Fillcenter didn't say that I needed it, but I think that I'd like to have it anyway.

Newblew

I am hoping to go and get my fill on Jan 29. I have to check with Laura to make sure that date is OK with them. The office is very nice and it is nice to see Dr. G again when we have the fills. So your last fill was in the beginning of Dec? According to my scale I have lost about 16 pounds. It is hard to limit my eating without any restriction in my band, but I am trying because I don't want to gain my weight back. cindy

Did you notice that we are at the same weight loss and the same amount we need yet to lose. The BIG difference is that I was banded 3 months before you. You are doing GREAT.

I love Dr. G's office. It is so tastefully done and I think the nicest Dr.'s office I have ever been in.

yes, i noticed the same amount of weight. i hope I will feel some restriction after my next appointment

I recieved my op report from Dr. V. I wanted to take it to my primary doctor when I went for my appointment. When I went for my appointment my doctor cut my blood pressure med in half for a trial period of two weeks. I think this in the right direction. Yes!

Well, I guess since my beautiful sister is posting, I need to get my butt over here more often. It was disappointing when she wasn't able to get a proper fill because we had decided to lose weight together and I'm a little ahead of her in that department right now. But knowing Cindy, she will zoom right past me once she has some restriction again. And her husband is such a wonderful support system he even prepares her snacks! What a guy! I've really come to appreciate my BIL and actually look forward to him coming along on our treks into the deep Mexican interior. ~LOL~ His enthusiam for both of us makes him the wonderful guy he is.

We finally told our mother that we had surgery in Mexico. I kept telling her the doctor's office was south of Temeciula (wine country) and near San Diego. (Hey, I wasn't lying!) She took it pretty well considering we have other relatives who get medical care in Mexico and I never felt she was Ok with it. She was a trooper, as usual, and just laughed as she said "I knew it!". It's pretty hard to put anything over on her.

Well, I've been on mushies most of the past 2 weeks and doing a lot better. I found my bites were too big and I wasn't chewing enough. Using a baby spoon has really helped along with meats like hamburger and tuna. I still can't eat chicken very well. I had a pot pie at work the other night and did ok until I downed a chunk of chicken. Yes, it stuck! So for now, I'm eating soups, stews, and salads. But, believe me, I'm not starving! No way!

My port area has been giving me a little problem the past few days and will probably have to have it looked at. I can feel the port because it's right on my waistline, but there seems to be more swelling up near where the top incision is located. It feels like it goes from there toward the port and I can't understand if it's the fill lines, or I may have an infection. It is a little tender, almost sore. I'll be emailing Laura this afternoon and may meet up with Cindy next week for another Mexican adventure. If it is an infection, I don't want to let it go too long. Depending on what she says, I do have extra antibiotics I bought when I had surgery.

I'm so glad everyone is doing well and will be back a little later. I have a girlfriend flying in on Wednesday and I have so much cleaning to do I may as well shovel it into the garage and shut the door. I have no idea how I will get this place looking presentable by Wednesday.

Have a great week!

Judy

California and Judy

You both are doing wonderful in your weight loss. I need to do something to speed mine up.

But...but...but....Sunshine! You are doing well. I thought you'd only lost a few pounds when I saw you in December and now look at you! You're down over 15 pounds and feel some restriction. That's more than you had before.

Sometimes I think we're so anxious to get to the finish line that we lose sight of the progress we've already made. Baby steps....

Love those blue cups too!

Judy

JUDY

Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, now that I remember, I was down only a few pounds in Dec. and had the holidays to deal with. I'm doing much better than I thought.

California and Judy

You both are doing wonderful in your weight loss. I need to do something to speed mine up.

You are doing good. Maybe a higher rate of weight loss is not so good is you are having kidney problems. Take it easy and lose that weight at your own pace.

CaliforniaNurse welcome to our group!! Is it any easier being a nurse and around doctors after having the lap band? What do you think Judy? With your sister as a band partner.......

jen6740 how are you? I hope it all went well for you with Dr. G and you got back home alright. Tell us about it!.

I think I'm at a small plateau at this point, but I'm ok with it because I know after a couple of weeks my body's metabolism will kick in and I'll be back on the saddle. I didn't lose any weight last week at all, but I think I felt a little loose in a pair of new jeans that were a little tighter. or maybe it's wishful thinking. NewBlew I got mine about a week after surgery, maybe you should contact Dr. V...Well I gotta get back to work guys, check with you all later!!