barrbdoll

39 years old, 5'10 and 332 at my highest..... Had my surgery April 2012 and lost 142 lbs.... Now 7 months pregnant expecting my first baby and have gained 19lbs..... So far so good!! Best decision that I have EVER made!!

I'll be 2 years out in April and I have been enjoying my coffee, iced coffee and iced tea pretty much since a week post-op... No issues whatsoever... Different Dr's give different advice.... My surgeon did not have anything against coffee. I didn't have this surgery to NEVER have a certain food or drink again.... All in moderation.... Listen to your Dr. but also listen to your body...... best advice that I can give.....

Dr. Ariel Ortiz performed my sleeve surgery in April 2012.. Best decision I have EVER made! Top notch care and I come from a medical family on the East Coast. Amazing surgeon, staff, center, etc... you are in good hands! Highly recommend! Good Luck!

I was given the choice to go Phase 1 Atkins to lose my pre-surgery weight by Dr. Miranda. I was happy because I had done the whole "low carb" deal before and was comfortable with the plan and knew that I could lose the weight that I needed before surgery and not feel deprived. As the previous poster stated... Just ask Dr. Miranda... She will give you your options.. Good Luck! Emily

Good to know!!! Thanks for sharing!! Best of luck on your continued success!!!

I'm with Pottergirl...... how was the pain???

Well.... to be honest... Not much at all.. I have 3 teenagers so they keep me pretty busy! I walk, lots of yardwork, swimming on occasion, and I have some free weights that I use here and there. Looking back I wish I would have incorporated more toning but I had a lot of muscle mass before.. Hard to believe because I was so heavy but my legs have always been pretty solid. My arms had a good amount of muscle as well. There are definitely parts of my body that I don't like now.. My inside upper arms and my stomach could use some "help" but all in all I accept my body and the changes that it's made. Kind of hard NOT to have some loose skin after losing 140 lbs. Is a tummy tuck in my future?? Maybe.... but for now I am happy, content and at peace!!!! Best decision I ever made!!!

They are listed on my profile here...... http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/user/22901-barrbdoll/ Plus if you look in my gallery you will see pics from my stay at OCC.

I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz on April 16th 2012 and I can honestly say it was the best decision I have EVER made!!! I am down 142 lbs 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 also use his Enspira vitamins.. I have never taken the recommended dosage (4 per day) but I try and get at least one down a day. I also take an additional B12 not because I have too... I just believe in B12 so much for overall wellness. Haven't been sick a day since my surgery. 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

Hi There!! I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz on April 16th 2012 and I can honestly say it was the best decision I have EVER made!!! I am down 142 lbs 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.. She has turned out to be a great friend!! 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

I had no pain with my surgery.. Just a general soreness in my abdomen.. Like doing about 500 crunches.. My sleeve surgery was my first surgery ever and honestly.. it was a piece of cake and my 3 tiny scars have completely faded!! I had to have my gall bladder removed 9 months after my sleeve surgery and I was definitely in pain after that one!! OUCH!!!!

You will be able to enjoy pasta again one day... 5 weeks is way too soon though.... hang in there.. It gets better!

Mine was April 2012 and I still take a daily heartburn med.. It's the only issue that I have had.. I can usually skip a day or two but more than that and I will feel it.

I was 332 lbs...... I flew to Mexico with my mother to embark on a journey to change my life!! All I can say is WOW... what a difference one year makes!! I have surpassed my goal and have lost 135 lbs. Dare I say that my journey has been relatively "easy"???? YES!! It has!! There was no pain.... only a general soreness in my abdomen..... No gas, no nausea, nada!! I have a little reflux here and there but daily a daily OTC med that keeps everything under control. I have exercised... some... not a lot and my body has transformed!!! My surgeon Dr. Ariel Ortiz is AMAZING!! He and his staff were very accommodating and have been extremely supportive. I have made lifelong friends with other patients and refer to them as my "sleeve sisters"!!! When I look at my "before" pic I can't even believe that I let myself get that big. I have always been a happy and confident girl and even at 332 lbs I still felt beautiful. I am definitely an advocate for this surgery as it's changed my life... I am still the same happy and confident girl but my "light" is shining a lot more brighter now!! I feel as if my outside finally matches my inside!!! In honor of my accomplishments I had an incredible photographer take some pictures of me... I was blown away when I received them.... I've posted my before and after pics... WOW!!! What a difference!!! For those that are contemplating this surgery.... DO IT!! If your insurance doesn't cover then go to Mexico as they have top surgeons and incredible care!!! I obviously have to recommend my surgeon and his clinic www.obesitycontrolcenter.com. I cannot thank them enough for their service, hospitality and support!! I am TEAM ORTIZ all the way!!!

Nooooo... NEVER!! When I graduated High School I was a 3 sport athlete and still weighed 230 lbs.... I am in a size 10-12 now and can't even remember when I was that size... Probably elementary school... Hard to get my mind wrapped around it at times... While I have always been happy and confident I can honestly say that I feel as if my life just started!!! I'll be 39 this September and I feel better now than I did at 29 or even 19 for that matter!! LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!

Yes... I watched the show as well and he was definitely PART of the show and not just in the audience. It was roughly 7 years ago when I first started researching WLS... Over the years I had researched other Dr's and due to my health insurance exclusions I knew that Mexico was my only option financially... I made the decision in March 2012 to have my sleeve surgery and on April 16th my life changed! I have nothing but positive things to say about my entire experience.. As other posters have mentioned.. YOU have to do your due diligence when reasearching surgeons.. I researched off and on for YEARS and I always came back to Dr. Ortiz... One of his coordinators had a revision surgery the same day as me. She took her band out and opted for the sleeve. We have become great friends and Dr. Ortiz actually flew me out to film a youtube video for him. I jumped at the chance because this man and the entire staff at OCC are top notch and they helped change my life!! If I can help others change their lives by my testimony why wouldn't I?? I am featured on his site in his video section and I was only 4 months out from my surgery. I am just a small town girl that has had an incredible surgery experience and I want to let the world know!!! I have nothing to hide.. I live in Hagerstown, MD and given the opportunity again.. I would jump at the chance to promote Dr. Ortiz!!

Dr. Martinez practices along side Dr. Ortiz... Both are excellent!! I am over one year out and have absolutely no issues... Best decision I have ever made!! Team OCC all the way!!!!

Dr. Ortiz performed my sleeve surgery April 16th 2012 and I can't say enough about my experience!! 5 STARS alllllll the way!! LOVE HIM!!! Best decision I have EVER made!!!

I hit my goal of 200lbs about a week before my year anniversary!! I am now sitting at 193 and couldn't be happier!!! YAY!!!!

You are going to do great!!!! Just keep positive!!! This may be hard to believe but I wasn't nervous a single second!!! Clear up when they wheeled me into the OR and the Anesthesiologist told me he was about to give me the best margarita of my life!!! LOL I was so in "the zone" that nothing was going to stop me from being successful! I firmly believe that a positive mental mindset is one if not THE KEY to a successful surgery, recovery and overall weight loss!! Just understand that stalls will happen and don't be hard on yourself when you see the scale at the same weight for a month. I lost the majority of my weight in first 7 months. The last 6 months I have lost 25 lbs.. Everyone's journey is different so just enjoy the ride and try not to compare yourself with others.. Best of Luck!!!!