barrbdoll

Everyone of you are in excellent hands!!! My surgery was April 16th and I am down 120lbs... BEST decision I have ever made!! Best of luck to you all!!!!

Dr. Ortiz and the rest of the staff at OCC are wonderful!!! He helped change my life and I am truly an advocate!!! I had my surgery on April 16th and am down 120 lbs... I feel amazing!! Having my sleeve surgery was the absolute BEST decision I have ever made!!! Best of luck to all of you on your decisions and upcoming surgeries!!

I had a bite at around 6-7 weeks... it was good but extremely filling and I didn't get much satisfaction from it. It was a craving that I wanted to satisfy and one bite did it. I keep a bag of Totino pizza rolls in my freezer so if I get a craving again (which isn't often) I will just pop a few in the oven and I enjoy my pizza! Perfect size snack and I don't feel like I have to give up my favorite foods.. All in moderation!

I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz on April 16th and it was an amazing experience!! At 117lbs down I am such an advocate!! You will do great!! Best of Luck!!

There are surgeons that charge anywhere from approx. 4500 - 9500 in Mexico. I flew in on a Sunday, had my surgery Monday, was discharged and laying by the pool on Tuesday and flew back home on Friday. I could have left on Thursday but I wanted an extra day in San Diego. As far as after care?? My PCP here in the states was extremely supportive and agreed to perform all of my after care which has really been nothing. I have gone to her for a routine check up but there is really no aftercare needed. My stitches were dissolveable and I had surgi glue on the outside. Everything was pretty much healed at 7-10 days out. At one year I will have my blood work checked and maybe an endoscopy to make sure all looks good in my tummy but the only thing that I have needed my PCP for was for a Nexium prescription for my reflux. Acid reflux has been my only issue since surgery and Nexium once a day or over the counter Prilosec twice a day has been my cure. Everything else has been a breeze!! Best decision I have ever made!

Let me just say this.... I haven't discredited anyone! Choosing a surgeon is a personal decision and I've never bashed anyone's decision. I know many folks that have used other surgeons in Mexico for whatever reason and they are satisfied so enough of that... Those that have had good experiences with their surgeons are going to be advocates and those that have had bad experiences are going to bash.. It's that simple! I started researching WLS over 7 years ago when I saw Dr. Ortiz on Oprah. Throughout the years I have researched many surgeons including Almanza, Garcia, Alvarez, etc.. I made the choice that was best for ME!! What I wanted in a surgeon may not have been what others wanted but I have had an amazing journey and I feel like I have been given a platform to some extent to help others and that is what I do... This forum is open to anyone and yes.. there are trolls and paid advertisers. I am just a former 332lb girl that has had an incredible experience and I have made the choice to answer questions or help others n any way that I can. It's that simple!!

Dr. Ariel Ortiz was my surgeon. He has received numerous accolades and honors and practices in an "International Center of Excellence". Plus he was voted one of the best Bariatric surgeons by Newsweek magazine. I consider the cheapo doctors the ones around the $4500.00 mark. As far as their qualifications?? All I can say is do your research and make a decision that YOU feel comfortable with. Personally, It wasn't just about price for me... I was flying 4 thousand miles for my surgery and it was about my entire experience and the experience of my mother who was traveling with me. As far as cheap price?? When you consider how much the difference is between paying in the US versus Mexico... Yes... Mexico is a hell of a lot cheaper!! The 7k that I paid was the best money that I have ever spent. Sit back and think about how much you pay for food now, going out to eat etc... 2 grand should be a drop in the bucket.... Just my opinion!!

Dr. Ariel Ortiz is amazing!! That man has changed my life and I am a true advocate! I had my surgery April 16th and I am down 113 lbs so far!! Truly the best decision I have ever made!!! Good Luck!

Yes.. Dr. Ortiz is very handsome... I call him the silver fox!!!! But that man changed my life and I am a true advocate!!! He and his staff are simply amazing and he is worth every penny if not more!!! He is charging 6500 for the sleeve now where I paid 7k in April. 2 grand is a small difference when you think about what he charges versus what the cheapo doctors charge! Think about who you are putting your life in the hands of.... is 2 grand really that big of a deal??? Wasn't for me! Good Luck!!!

I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz on April 16th and I can honestly say it was the best decision I have EVER made!!! I am down 113 lbs so far and I feel amazing!! I am actually on his before and after section of his website and I have a featured youtube clip. I am an advocate as Dr. Ortiz has changed my life. He and his staff took such great care of me! I have posted several times about my experience so if you search under my posts you should find more info. One of his coordinators, Lori Wrights had her band to sleeve revision the same day as me.. We call each other "sleeve sisters"!!! LOL I have pictures posted of the facility and of my surgery day if you are interested in looking.... As always... I am here for support as well... So, if any of you have any questions or concerns please let me know.. I am glad to help! Best of Luck!!! Emily

Way to go!!!! I am right there with you!!!I've lost over 100lbs too and having this surgery was the BEST Decision I have EVER made!!! YAY!!!!

I'm 7 months out and down over 100lbs and my stomach still sounds like a 30 piece Orchestra!! LOL My boyfriend lays his head on my belly and just laughs!! It can get really loud at times! I call my sleeve "Chewy" because it sounds like Chewbacca from Star Wars!!! LOL!!!

I come from a Medical family and I went to Mexico due to my company having WLS exclusions in our insurance policy. I had an amazing experience.... ZERO complications, hardly any pain, no gas, no nausea, etc.... The facility itself is an "International Center of Excellence" and rivaled any center I have ever seen in the US. My surgeon is world renowned and has been on Oprah, The Doctors and even voted one of the best Bariatric surgeons by Newsweek Magazine. I can't say enough about him or the care that I received! I am a advocate as this man has changed my life!!! Having this surgery was the BEST decision that I have EVER made!!! If you would like more info please feel free to send me a message...... Best of Luck!!!!

I was sleeved by Dr. Ortiz April 16th and there is absolutely nothing to worry about!! Not that it really matters but his facility is directly across from the Police Station and you have to be buzzed up to even get into the place. The Marriott where you will be staying is extremely safe as well. My 63 year old mother and I walked down the street to the shopping complex (about 3-4 blocks) and had no issues at all. There is a Wal-Mart there and a large gambling complex too. Looking back.... I would have gone alone but my mother was adamant on traveling with me. We had no issues at all... you will be very well taken care of. As far as my surgery experience??? Didn't even felt like I had surgery.... No Gas, no nausea and no pain... Just a general soreness. This was my first surgery ever and it was a breeze! The entire procedure only takes about 45 minutes and Dr. Ortiz and his staff are wonderful! I can't say enough about my experience!! Tomorrow is my 6 month anniversary and I am down 98lbs!!!!! I feel amazing and you will too!!! All the best!!!! Emily

Heartburn and Reflux are the only issues that I have had since my surgery, I take over the counter Antacid's twice a day. I have tried a few including Zantac, Prilosec and even a generic that I found at Sam's, They seem to work for about a month and then I need to switch up. I do find relief in chewing Tums here and there. I have more heartburn than reflux... THANK GOD but the other day the acid came up and it was horrible... Burnt, made me gag and cough and was just very uncomfortable. I have a Dr's appt on the 22nd to see about getting on another prescription strength antacid. All in all I am happy that this is all that I have to deal with... I've lost 98 lbs in 6 months and feel amazing!!! Good Luck!

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience... I had my surgery in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz who practices in an International Center of Excellence and didn't have any gas/nausea at all and no pain... just a general soreness in my abdomen and I flew the whole way across the country. I didn't have any hernia repair so maybe that is where we differ. As far as care afterwards??? My PCP was very supportive and agreed to do all of my aftercare which is really none unless you count blood work at 6 month and 1 year intervals and maybe an endoscopy after one year. I was sleeved April 16th and I haven't had one single issue... Granted, we are all different and I am truly sorry that your experience has caused you this pain but there are a lot of folks who view our posts. Everyone needs to know that not all sleeve surgeries result in what you are experiencing.. May I ask who your surgeon was?? I hope you feel better soon!!!!!

Love Chobani... I also enjoy Oikos Apricot Mango.... YUMM!!!!

Before anyone chastises me let me add..... I always fill up on Protein first but I enjoy various carbs such as rice, Pasta, some bread, etc... I didn't have this surgery to diet the rest of my life.... the sleeve gives me the control not to overeat and it's been the absolute PERFECT fit for me!! Love my sleeve!!!!

I've never counted carbs and I have lost 97 lbs in less than 6 months..I'm not trying to sway your decision to do so but we eat so little that the weight will come off even if you eat carbs.. Just make sure that you focus on eating good complex carbs and you should be fine. I enjoy Peanut Butter with pretzels or wheat thins.

AMEN!!!!!

WOW!! I'm not a "private" person per say but I can relate to this post... There are indeed a lot of folks that think that WLS is the "easy way out".... I would say that 95% of these folks have never battled with their weight.. I have been very successful with my sleeve surgery dropping almost 100 lbs in 6 short months.. I had absolutely no pain, no gas, no nausea and other than walking have done no major exercise.. Has this been easy for me??? YES!! and I thank GOD for that but I am far from the norm. We differ in the fact that I feel that I have been given a platform to some extent and want to shout to the world how this surgery has changed my life!! Those closest to me know my battle and those that don't?? I could care less what they think. I was an athlete in school yet have been overweight my entire life and have tried diet after diet, boot camp at the gym, hiring personal trainers, etc... to lose at the most..... 30lbs???? The easy way out is exactly what you said... Settling for another failed diet or straining my back at the gym... for what??? I just turned 38 and feel that my best years are ahead of me!!! I finally have control over my weight and easy or not... It's the BEST feeling in the world!!! Congratulations on your accomplishments thus far!! I wish you nothing but continued success!!!

I felt fine by that time and was on a 4 hour flight back home from Mexico but I also had minimal pain, no gas and no nausea... Everyone is different. I would encourage you to supplement your fluids by drinking some Gatorade G2 or Powerade Zero just so don't get the "run down" feeling that affects a lot of sleeve patients.

Took me about 9 days after surgery to go and it was painful..... still not as regular as I was prior to surgery. I purchased some Smooth Move Herbal Tea and need to be diligent in drinking it each evening.... It definitely works and is all natural!!

Urinary Tract Infection maybe???? Do you have pain or pressure?

I had my surgery on April 16th with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. I've lost 95 lbs and I feel amazing... I come from a medical family, Dad is a Doctor, Mom is a retired nurse and my sister is a nurse practitioner. I can honestly say it was the best decision I have ever made and best money I have ever spent. My insurance has exclusions for WLS so Mexico was really my only option. I had researched for YEARS and Mexico has some of the best Bariatric surgeons in the world. My Dr. has actually trained a lot of the US Doctors on the various WL procedures so I wasn't nervous a single second. He practices in an International Center of Excellence and his facility rivals some of the top US hospitals.... I never once second guessed my decision! Good Luck!!