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!

We can get a lot of calories from drinking beer, wine, milkshakes, juice, and many other things. Once in a while is OK but if you are drinking these things daily then you are getting many more calories. I wish you the best in trying to figure this out. Eating is better for lapband patients then drinking anything. Get enough protein. It helps.

Sunshine! I love your new picture and your friend is very handsome! Sorry I've been MIA because I really have met some wonderful people here. It's not that I don't need the support, because I do, but I get lazy like everyone else and veg when I should be doing something.

WASABUBBLEBUTT: I don't know about the other posters SUNSHINE mentioned on her list, but I'm only one person without any dual ID's. Sometimes though, I wish I was 2 people! Cindy (CaliforniaNurse) and I are sisters.

Judy

Sunshine! I love your new picture and your friend is very handsome! Sorry I've been MIA because I really have met some wonderful people here. It's not that I don't need the support, because I do, but I get lazy like everyone else and veg when I should be doing something.

WASABUBBLEBUTT: I don't know about the other posters SUNSHINE mentioned on her list, but I'm only one person without any dual ID's. Sometimes though, I wish I was 2 people! Cindy (CaliforniaNurse) and I are sisters.

Judy

Hi Judy...

Don't know about you specifically but we've caught many Gonzalez patients posing as multiple patients. Called 'em out on the thread you guys didn't want anymore and started a new thread.

I just question why Gonzalez needs a support thread. None of the other doctors do. My opinion only.

WASABUBBLEBUTT: I don't know much about the old thread because it was over just after I started here. I was drawn to the Dr G thread because it was something I had in common with strangers. At the time, I didn't know about patient coordinators, or trolls, but I learned fast thanks to people who knew a lot more about the internet than I did.

It's good catching up with you again. Take care,

Judy

nm sunshine, i'm from nm also. Thinking of using dr. G. I need a revision so i hope things go well. Its kinda of weird, i guess i found a site that had a patient facilitator and he quoted me $9,000. $300.00 per fill from dr. G. Plus some other charges. Then i called dr. G. And they quoted me $7,500. For same surgery and amenities. Fills are free. I have done a lot of research - and have found some slimey people on the internet. This thread seems real. Some hostile people on some threads. I'm just browsing around and did find most banders a kind and curtious.

505:

The name GONZALES is very common in Mexico and you may have been dealing with a coordinator for another Dr Gonzalez. The doctor discussed here is Dr Francisco Gonzalez and he is in Tijuana, Mexico.

As always, please do your research and do not take someone's recommendation at face value. The majority of people seeking surgery in Mexico have good things to say about their doctors but remember... there can always be problems and someone has to make up those negative statistics. Please don't let it be you.

Judy

Hi Judy, thanks for such a quick reply. I hope I'm talking to the right surgeon. Dr. Francisco Gonzalez, his assistant is Dr. Angel Valenzuela, support person is Laura?

Yup, that's the right doctor.

May I ask? How long ago did you talk to them? I ask because I haven't been able to reach Laura.

Judy

UPDATE: 505: Dr V called today after you spoke with him to let me know the receptionist is new and they are both still there. That's great news to me as I think a lot of that group and have always been treated well. Laura has a new cell#, which I now have, and I look forward to seeing them again. Let me know if you decide to go with Dr G and maybe I'll walk you across the border. ~LOL~ Either way, good luck with your surgery. I have never regretted my decision or the doctor I choose.

Edited November 8, 200817 yr by judy2291

Hi Judy,

I talked to Dr. Valenzuela today and Laura a couple of days ago. Very curious as to what is going on. I got a price of $7,500 from Dr. V. for a revision and I talked to a patient facilitator in Florida and gave me a price of $9,000.00 for same exact procedure and same Dr. What # did you call? I called the one on their web site. Thanks Judy for responding to me so I can make a well informed decision, Darlene

If you're talking to Dr Valenzuela, you're talking to the right person. These patient "facilitator's" are actually people who refer patients and take a cut off the top. The difference of $1500. ($9000-$7500=$1500) is about right. This is money you'd throw away if you use their service.

I'll send you the number in a private message.

Judy

Edited November 7, 200817 yr by judy2291

Hi Judy,

I talked to Dr. Valenzuela today and Laura a couple of days ago. Very curious as to what is going on. I got a price of $7,500 from Dr. V. for a revision and I talked to a patient facilitator in Florida and gave me a price of $9,000.00 for same exact procedure and same Dr. What # did you call? I called the one on their web site. Thanks Judy for responding to me so I can make a well informed decision, Darlene

What procedure are you revising from? Band to sleeve?

Hi Wasa,

I'm glad you saw my post. I had gastric bypass 20yrs ago with no support or instructions. I live in New Mexico and we still have no bariatrics surgeons so I'll have to travel somewhere for this surgery. I'm thinking of the band. I see alot of success but also failures on line so I'm leery. I found Dr. Gonzales on the internet. I have talked to his team but wondered how to find out about his credentials. I've tried to find out all Mexico Drs. credentials but can't seem to find the link to that information. Does it exist?? I've talked to some other Drs. teams but just had to pick one and leaned towards Francisco Gonzalez. I've done some research but hard to get some of answers I'm looking for. I see you had the band and now looking into the sleeve. Can I ask why? Should I get the sleeve, so much to consider here. Thanks Wasa for any information you have. I did see your report on how to pick a surgeon. The more I research the more confused I am and wonder if I should do this at all? Anxiously waiting to hear from, Thanks so much,, Darlene

what is the lbt system? new to this forum and don't know all the in and outs yet. Thanks, D.........

Hi Wasa,

I'm glad you saw my post. I had gastric bypass 20yrs ago with no support or instructions. I live in New Mexico and we still have no bariatrics surgeons so I'll have to travel somewhere for this surgery. I'm thinking of the band. I see alot of success but also failures on line so I'm leery. I found Dr. Gonzales on the internet. I have talked to his team but wondered how to find out about his credentials. I've tried to find out all Mexico Drs. credentials but can't seem to find the link to that information. Does it exist?? I've talked to some other Drs. teams but just had to pick one and leaned towards Francisco Gonzalez. I've done some research but hard to get some of answers I'm looking for. I see you had the band and now looking into the sleeve. Can I ask why? Should I get the sleeve, so much to consider here. Thanks Wasa for any information you have. I did see your report on how to pick a surgeon. The more I research the more confused I am and wonder if I should do this at all? Anxiously waiting to hear from, Thanks so much,, Darlene

If you had bypass 20 years ago you would not be able to revise to a sleeve. You have a few options, a band after (band after bypass), ERNY, DS <--not suggested), or there are a new set of procedures such as Rose, Restore, and stomaphyx but the results so far from what I have read are about as close to 100% failure as one can get. Those procedures are designed to tighten up your stoma and decrease the size of your pouch but every person I have read has lost about 20# on the post op diet then they regain again.

There is another procedure that literally burns your stoma and causes scarring thus, a smaller stoma. Some docs like it, some don't. You usually have to have several treatments. I don't have an opinion of it one way or another because I've never done extensive research on it.

There is a doc in MX that specializes in bypass revisions, I can't think of his name. I don't remember where in MX he is, Ensenada?? I forget. But that is all he does is bypass revisions and open bypass for very high BMIs. There are two surgeons that are experts in band after bypass, one is my doc and the other is Rumbaut in Monterrey.

A band after bypass is tricky to do and you really need to go to someone verrry experienced or it won't work and you'll lose the band or have many problems down the road. It's not an easy procedure to do.

You can verify licensing, certification, credentials, and education quite easily. Go to someone that is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. The American College of Surgeons has already done an exhaustive background check and those docs have to have to meet the same standards as US docs. There are not many non-FACS docs I would go to outside of the US. Otherwise you are left to believe whatever the patient coordinator tells you and they will absolutely tell you anything you want to hear to get your business.

Sunshine what was your pre-op diet like with doctor Gonzalez? How have you been treated as far as fills? I am considering him for lap band and I am trying to get some feedback. I am less than an hour from his office and this has become an important part of my decision making process. Thanks.