South Miami -- what do you think?

I meet Dr. Gonzalez and decided to go else where. Both my husband and I had our surgery's with Dr. E. Whittwell as far as a surgeon he is very caring and makes you feel comfortable I feel that his expeirence with this surgery is a good one he makes sure all the t's are crossed and the I's dotted he has performed close to 400 surgerys I believe and he is also a tramum surgeon which I feel gave him an advantange the after care is ok as his assistant is a sweetheart but she is only one I feel overworked they don't have an on staff nutritionist and my pcp insist on doing our after care as she recommended the surgeon and had gastric bypass herself 5 years ago... (she is a little rough around the edges but I believe she knows what she is doing and being that she has had the surgery herslf she is always staying a new to things although she will keep you on only protiens for a long time especially if you have a lot of weight to loose as my husband and myself do ...I'm 3 months out and she says no to anything but proteins no veggies no fruit not even lettuce I meet the nutritionist and she said that even though my surgeon make you take her class Our Dr. pcp only wanted her diet plan followed I haven't really seen any other Dr. be as strick with the after diet as she is all this being said ....I had mine at Cedar's my expierence was very positive and my hubby had his at Baptist his expierence was so-so .. Oh! the surgeons assistant had bypass too 2yrs ago...I hope this might help you as well good-luck whom ever you chooose Laura down 72 pds last time weighed myself 2wks agos had surgery 9/28/04 Hubby down 45pds had surgery 11/27/04 men don't you hate the way they lose weight faster...

I like SM hospital & Baptist. I just don't like Dr. A. Gonzalez or his office for that matter. His complication rates are higher than I like. Everone I know that has gone to him have had any of the following: need blood transfusions, breathing problems, longer surgery, stayed in ICU & hospital longer had longer recovery journey. I had my surgery w/ Dr. Nestor de la Cruz-Munoz Jr. Which went to school w/ Dr. Gonzalez except my doc graduated top of his class not Gonzalez. What I like about my doc is that he is very strict. He reqires 3 days of only liquids before surgery he says it is to eleviate stress on your organs before surgery he allows preforms the gastric bypass on less than 1hr laproscopic even on 500 lbs patients. No of us have had complications & have been up and around days later. I am 2 years out look & feel great. Had my surgery on a Mon. went home on a Wed. He sent me to the mall to walk & have never stopped since. Everyone I have recommended to him has receovered equally well. I trust him w/ my life!! His staff is the best all around. They are all caring & helpfull. We have a support group on yahoo that he created & we do monthly support meeting, walks, night outs, picnics, & holiday parties. He supports all of continuously. Good luck w/ your journey. Carolyn Delgado Miami, FL

OOPS Almost forgot my surgery was at Mercy they were nice I had a private room. I hear Cedars is great for WLS they treat you amazing private room also. My cousin had his surgery at Baptist he had a private room they were attentive to him. My friend had hers at South Miami she said they were good to her. I think every hospital is a hit or miss. If you have great staff that day your lucky if you have the bad few that day your on your own. Every hospital has both good & bad staff I think.

Thank you so much to all *****sponded to my query, I really appreciate all your feedback. It's scary to hear negative stuff about the surgeon, particularly because I have surgery scheduled in less than a month. My preference would have been to have surgery at Mercy, since it's so close to my home, and Dr. Nestor is a highly recommended surgeon; however he is not in the United Health network. I'm now sooo confused...