My Horror Story - very long

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone

I must tell you about my experience last month with the band. For

those of you who don't know, I was banded by Dr A July 18, 2005. I

have been seeing a fill Dr in College Station TX for my aftercare.

I live in Houston. I used to go to the Surgery Center in Houston.

They had fills without flouro but the nurse practitioner left and

the new person had NO band experience (or personality). Deb

introduced me to Dr ($200 w/flouro) and that is where I've

been going for over a year now (but never again).

Since I've had my band for so long (had 3.5 CC in 4CC band), I know

all of her tricks. I know I'm more restricted " that time " of the

month, when I'm on antibiotic and when I'm sick. Last Dec it

finally happened, the " perfect storm. " They all 3 hit me at once

and I was so restricted I couldn't swallow my saliva. I had this

problem right after surgery and ended up spending thousands in an

ER, when all I really needed was to wait for the swelling to go

away. I tried to wait it out this time.

From Thur – Sat I took in NO water (or food) and was throwing up

saliva 1 or 2 an hour. I was lost and didn't know what to do. I

didn't call Nina because I knew I was in no shape to fly anywhere.

Finally on Sat I felt like I was on the verge of dying so I called

Dr (in tears) in College Station. Her husband said they

couldn't help me because they no longer live there and they were on

the way home! They gave me the # for Dr Garwood and said he could

do an unfill. Since I didn't know Dr Garwood, I didn't want to

bother him on a Sat. I decided to give it one more day to see if I

would loosen up.

Needless to say Sunday was the worst day ever! I called Dr Garwood

and was transferred to his cel phone. He was in Houston with his

family shopping for Christmas. He was actually right down the

street from where I live but of course without medical supplies, he

couldn't do anything. He told me he would call me when he left and

he would meet me in College Station for the emergency unfill. I

couldn't believe he was doing this for me. He didn't even know me

and he was willing to give up time with his family for my

emergency.

He and his wife met me at his office in College Station later that

Sunday and he removed all of my fill. I was immediately relieved.

I guzzled 3 bottles of water in his office. While there I asked

about his partnership with Dr and he said he had never met

her. She was referring patients to him when she didn't have time

for them but she never took the time to set up arrangements with him

(how thoughtless of her). This is when I realized she had turned

away other emergency unfills when she was too busy or out of town!

Not good since most of us were using her as our primary aftercare

physician.

I spent some time speaking with Dr Garwood and his wife Janice. I

found out he was one of the first Dr's to work with band patients in

TX. His partner moved to Dallas and he is now setting up his own

office for Lap Band patients who have had surgery outside the US.

He specializes in internal medicine and his focus is before and

aftercare (he is not a surgeon). I hope everyone takes advantage of

his services. The man actually cares for people not just money. He

only charged me$100 for the unfill without flouro! He wasn't even

greedy in my time of need. That says a lot about a person.

He also gave me a sample of a special shake for Lap Band patients.

He actually created it by himself. It's not something he's selling

for someone else. The military is working with him to develop a

formula for soldiers because it helps wounds heal faster. I have

NEVER taken a supplement because they all taste like crap to me. I

drink a shake every morning and I love it. The web site is

www.myocel.com if anyone is interested.

Anyway I hope everyone who used Dr. changes to Dr.

Garwood. He is a caring physician who goes out of his way for his

(and other Dr's) patients.

His contact # is 979-661-1160 call for an appointment. His new

office is down the street from Dr 's.

He will do fills during the week in his office or on Sun 8-12 and

Sat by appt

He charges the following (cheaper then Dr too)

$200 – first visit – includes administrative fee and fill with flouro

$150 – fill with flouro after 1st visit

$100 – fill without flouro after 1st visit

He also gives you 7 days for a free unfill

07/18/05

280/180/140