StephieLynn

Hi! I am leaving for Mexico next Saturday, the 25th. My surgery is scheduled for the 27th. I am wondering what are things to pack (must haves). For people that had the surgery, maybe you should tell us things you had and things you wish you would have had. I am especially wondering about sleepwear. What is most comfortable or easiest (lose PJ's or gown) since apparently we will be doing alot of walking the halls. What is worn in the OR? Just a hospital gown?

I was sleeved by Dr. Ariel Ortiz of Obesity Control Center. He is awesome and his center is extremely clean. I had no problems what so ever and didn't even need any pain meds. I still contact them 6 months out with questions and they know who I am. http://obesitycontrolcenter.com/ You can click on the top tab, About OCC, and see the video library. You can also go to You Tube and look up WeightLossSurgeryOCC and see many videos. Dr. Ortiz is a dual citizen and actually lives in San Diego but crosses border to Mexico daily to do what he believes in. He has an autistic daughter and a portion of the surgery proceeds go to autism research. I did a LOT of research before having my surgery this past June. Hands down, Dr. Ortiz, was who I felt most comfortable with. In all my research I could not find where he had any complaints against him and he has never lost a patient. I had such a GREAT experience (and was back to work in 7 days) that a friend of mine, who is an OB/Gyn here in the states, went to him in November. She also did her research at the doctor level and had a family member who is CIA level research him and they could find NOTHING against him. ALL good. She too was very impressed with the level of care she received and how clean the facilities were. He will not take chances on his patients and I witnessed this first hand when I was there. A patient came to him, that had her lap band done by him many years ago. She decided she wanted it removed and have the sleeve done. He went in to do the procedure and was able to remove the lap band but there was too much scar tissue there to proceed safely. So, he cleaned out the scar tissue and closed her up. He told her it was not safe to proceed. He wanted her to heal for several months and go back in Oct for the sleeve. She was disappointed but grateful. She trusted him with her life and he knows that and doesn't intend to let you down.

I was sleeved on June 27th by Dr. Ariel Ortiz of the Obesity Control Center. I LOVE him and his entire staff. I too did a lot of research after I was turned down by my insurance company. I did also look at Dr. Aceves because he has such a huge following but ultimately my instinct told me to stay with Dr. Ortiz and I am very pleased that I did. I had a text book recovery and was back at work a week later. Aside from many many reasons I chose to go to him, a big one is the fact that his center is an International Center of Excellence. He has many videos posted under weightlosssurgeryOCC on You Tube or you can access his website. http://obesitycontrolcenter.com/ My cost for the sleeve for $8000 including hotel accommodations at the Marriott and my meals. Dr. Ortiz lives in San Diego, and carries Dual Citizenship. He commutes across the border daily for work. He is very committed to his patients. I saw that even the staff loves him. He was gone the week before I was there for a conference and when he came in all the staff that were free were coming up to him and hugging him and welcoming him back with big smiles. Just witnessing that as I am awaiting my surgery, made me feel great.

Congratulations on taking that first step. I was sleeved on June 27th. I had a textbook recovery and am doing GREAT. Last week I had a problem with retaining fluid, but it is coming off now. I am down 30 pounds since surgery. I have had amazing support group from my family and even my doctors (And I went to Mexico). The hardest part for me post surgery is knowing how much my stomach can hold and not listening to my brain when it tries to tell me to eat more. It is a very miserable feeling when you eat just one bite too many.

I just flew to San Diego and back June 25th and returned on July 3rd. We flew out of Cola, SC (usually fly out of Charlotte due to cheaper air fares) but we were able to secure flights out of Columiba for just $25 ea more. This really surprised us. That was with Delta. Our airfare was 398 + 70 dollars for taxes, etc. We also flew in on a Saturday when my surgery was on Monday just because it was a lot cheaper to fly on Saturday versus Sunday so we had a couple days to unwind and do some things before the big day. I used Booking Buddy and then went to the airlines site itself. I generally find better deals just by going directly to the airlines website but I like to know prices of the online booking sites to compare. Also, check jet blue. Do they fly out of Charlotte? They had great prices, but did not fly out of Columbia.

Hi Pink Betty! I am 2 weeks post surgery with Dr. Ortiz at Obesity Control Center. I did a LOT of research and it was between him and Aceves. However, I kept going back to Ortiz. I am soooo glad I did. If you go to his website you will get a lot of information and he also has a lot of You Tube Videos by weightlosssurgery (I think). I will be glad to give you more information if you want to PM me. You don't see his name much on this blog, but I can tell you he is awesome. I have had NO problems at all. His staff is amazing. His Center is VERY clean. He also is an International Center Of Excellence. (A recognition given by an organization in the states to stateside doctors and now to international doctors as they qualify.)

I was going to say Mucinex DM too and also Neil Med Sinus Rinse. I have a chronic cough due to allergic asthma. These two things help me a lot. You will be amazed at how much the Neil Med Sinus Rinse Helps.

I am one week post op today and thankfully feel great. I did have some bloated issues about day 3 but GasX was a lifesaver. I was taking 2 about every 4 hours. Also, I am concerned with your being so tired... that is also a sign of dehydration. If your urine is dark in color... another sign. May need fluids... Drink lots of Water.

I would love to see the diet plan too!

I am just now seeing your post about the stomach pains and then checked this when I got your email. I am glad to know this can happen but sorry it happened to you. I will pray hard it won't happen to me. Glad to know it is a long wait for the drain procedures daily. When you say you were sick all night long, do they not give you anything for nausea or did it just not work?

Thanks! This is a big help. We are going a few days early due to plane fare being cheaper. Will we need to exchange dollars for Peso's? Also, Kelly, wondering about the tape measure..... ?

Hi Everyone, I have been reading posts and doing lots and lots of research. My journey started in March when my lung specialist suggested I have bariatric surgery done. I am a state employee and just this year, the legislature voted to allow 100 bariatric surgeries to be paid for by insurance. When I booked the appt and saw the doctor, there were still openings in my area. I didn't have to go through all of the other required procedures because I had already had them. So getting to the actual appt day was very fast. Once all paperwork was submitted to insurance co. I get a call from the BCBS nurse telling me I was qualified to have the surgery, but I wasn't qualified for the state program because of a small glitch. (15 year state employee, switched for 2 years to Blue Choice and I just switched back to state standard 18 months ago. The requirement is two years as state standard policy holder.) She also said had I been qualified, I was number 18 on the waiting list for my area and that is would probably be at least another year. The one good thing that came out of my visit with the Dr. was the fact that I was leaning toward the lap band and he mentioned the sleeve and I didn't really know much about it, so hadn't considered it. He told me, that if they had to choose just one surgery to perform for bariatric patients, it would be the gastric sleeve. He said it is the one that has the least amount of complications and if most successful. THAT 10 minute conversation cost me $485! We are still fighting to get back part of that money because they should have prequalified me before scheduling me for an appt. Finding this information out, set me on the path for other options. Unfortunately, when I checked into cash pay with that doctor, I was told the cash pay price was 20,000. I also have to have a hiatal hernia repaired, which insurance does cover. The BCBS nurse, suggested I talked to him to see about doing the hiatal hernia surgery with the sleeve surgery on the side to reduce the cash pay amount since insurance would be paying for everything else. So, I called to find that out and was told it would still be 20,000 for the sleeve surgery and they would bill my insurance company for the additional hernia surgery and I would still be responsibly any additional costs with that like my 20% that insurance does not pay. Lets talk greedy! My research led me to Mexico. I have done a lot of research and I decided to go with Dr. Ortiz with Obesity Control Center. I must say, I am having my doubts after seeing so much being said about Dr. Aceves. (not that there is anything bad about Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Aceves just has a big following.) I even called them after I booked with Dr. Ortiz, but something keeps telling me to stay with Dr. Ortiz. There doesn't seem to be too many patients on here that have had Dr. Ortiz ao I think that is where my doubts are coming in to play with my mind. I have been on the pre-op diet of liquid Protein shakes and a lean cuisine meal a day. I have lost 9 pounds in spite of having to attend a family reunion and 2 birthday parties without cheating, so that is pretty exciting but I must say it isn't how I want to eat the rest of my life. My surgery is the 27th, and we will be flying out of SC on the 25th so we will have a couple of days to do other things before the surgery. I think I am starting to get a little anxious, but I am hoping that is normal no matter where you have it done.

Thanks Raine! I really appreciate the support.

Hi Angela! Wow! How interesting. I live in Gilbert near Lexington. Since you mentioned Dr. Givens, I know you are close by. That is the group I was originally going to (Dr. Antonetti). That is good to know he will take care of you afterwards.. I am going to Dr. Ortiz at Obesity Control Center in TJ . My best friend had lap band done with Dr. Tribble in Columbia and has done great but I Dr. Antonetti is the one that convinced me to go with the sleeve. I just couldn't afford them, like you said. Plus the sleeve has no maintenance like the band does.

Yeah! I am so glad it was just a UTI! I have been so worried wanting to hear from you and how things are going. Hoping you still give me the all clear and had great experiences with Dr. O.