loosechange

My husband and I are Board Certified Family Practice physicians. We researched surgeons meticulously. We asked to see the CV's (resumes). Obesity Control Center has 2 surgeons, 1 Internal Medicine/Critical Care physician, Dr. Miranda is a physician/nutritionist, and 2 anesthesiologists. We both selected Obesity Control Center. We elected to have the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. The surgery was literally the easiest thing I have ever done. The pain was minimal. I had no nausea. We were very satisfied with our care. Dr. Ortiz has preformed hundreds of these surgeries. Our daughter had the sleeve in Michigan by a highly recommended and she much more pain/nausea than we had. I would suggest that you look closely at OCC. The decision is yours. You must select a surgeon that you have full confidence in and then proceed. Good luck Let us know where you decide to go and how your experience was.

I have had (thankfully) few episodes of sliming. It happens when I am distracted, talking,not focusing on eating slowly and chewing thoroughly. It is very unpleasant and a rude message that I have exceeded my limit. It is unpleasant enough to make me want to never have that again!

ATX Girl, my husband and I were very pleased with our experience at the OCC. Read my above post for more detail. The day after surgery we felt well enough to walk and found a little store up the street i block, cross at the light that had fabulous mango, watermelon, and lemon-lime popsicles. We loved the hotel and met really interesting people that were having the same surgery. Good luck, you will do fine.

My husband and I had surgery in Tijuana at the Obesity Control Clinic. We are both Board Certified Family Practice physicians in the US. We were very pleased with all aspects of our care. We did meticulous research and sent for their C.V's (resumes) to look at the education and training of the physicians involved. We felt their credentials were excellent. We then were very comfortable traveling to Mexico for our care. We flew into San Diego, were met at baggage claim at the airport and then transferred to the clinic via van. The clinic is a full service surgical center. This appealed to us because they only did bariatric surgery and plastic surgery which then prevented exposure to infection from "dirty" cases. This dramatically decreases antibiotic resistant infections. We spent one night inpatient and then were transferred to a wonderful Marriott Hotel. We had the physicians cellphone numbers and were brought back to the clinic daily for reevaluation. The postop recovery was easy and the pain involved very minor. Good luck with your surgery.

Hi Bos123, sorry it took so long to answer. I was in Mexico while my husband had the sleeve by Dr. Ortiz. I will be glad to answer your question. I chose the sleeve because it was very well tolerated and has the least long term complications. I avoided the Gastric Plication because it is very new without a multiyear tract record. I also like the idea of simply removing the remainder of the stomach because once removed it can not possibly cause complications. i knew that there was zero chance of me deciding to go back and have it reversed. My son-in-law is a radiologist and can tell you that there are some horrific complications from the roux in Y. The lap band has a long history of complications and failure. George and I ran into a women in november at OCC that was there for a redo of her Gastric Plication. We also encountered many (6) nurses there for the same thing. There was also a 3rd year veterinary student fro London England. Everyone did well including my husband. The Marriott Hotel is very pleasant. They will serve you chicken broth and homemade popsicles but the really good popsicles come from up one block and across the street in a little storefront that has lemon/lime and mango. You will feel like a little walk on day two anyway. If you think of any other questions send me an email at mjpram@aol.com. Do not stress about the surgery all that we encountered thought it was pretty easy. You will have some belly tenderness for 2 or 3 days.

I am 69.5 years old. I was sleeved in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz May 28,2012. I have lost 53pounds since surgery. I had a badly broken ankle so spent the summer in a wheelchair at my sisters house ( our home has 35 stairs down form the road to the house.) I was unable to exercise at all until the last part of August and then not much or for long. That being said, I am happy with my 53 lbs weight loss. The surgery was the remarkably easy. My recovery was the same. I am thrilled with my decision to have the surgery. I loved my surgeon and the weight loss clinic. I am a Board Certified Family Practice Physician so am was able to evaluate my care on many levels. My husband, also a physician, is scheduled for his Vertical Sleeve Nov. 12,2012. My motivation to have surgery was driven by a desire to be as active as possible throughout the later decades of life. Overweight people have more musculoskeletal issues than those who are a more normal weight. Those unfortunate to have a stroke, have severe problems transferring and moving around with extra weight. Walking with a cane,walker or even use of a wheelchair becomes more challenging. My starting weight was 225 lbs, I am not at goal but am determined to reach it. I hope this helps those still struggling with their decision.

Try "the World According to Eggface". She has been an amazing resource for ideas to vary your diet. She also has had weight loss surgery and her blog is upbeat, funny, and informative. She has lost over 100lbs and had plastic surgery to get rid of all that loose skin. I find her entertaining and uplifting. Good luck, ther have been several good ideas in this forum.

I also agree that the sleeve is an easier surgery with very little "down time". I was self pay so I researched my options in other countries. I settled on Obesity Control Center with Dr. Ortiz. It was the right choice for me. The surgery was the easiest thing I have ever done. The surgery was on a Monday and I was on my way home by Friday. The sleeve has only been available for a few years in the US. The surgeons in Mexico have been doing it for years. I am now 3 mos out and have lost 40 lbs. I take Prilosec OTC ( over the counter) once a day if I remember.My weight loss has been slowed by an ankle fracture( no weight bearing for 3 mos. I broke my ankle April 28 and had my sleeve May' 28,2012. I now have a swollen painful knee that occurred during rehab. I think it is a miracle that I lost as much as I have. My husband is having the sleeve in November in Mexico. We are both Certified Family Practice physicians. He was so impressed with my care that he chose to have it done in the same clinic. I wish you well on your weight loss journey. You will be so happy with your results.

I will look forward to seeing you there.

I am self pay. I do not meet criteria in the United States, further more Medicare will not pay for the sleeve, they consider it experimental. I carefully researched my options and selected OCC. The fact that they ar not a full service hospital was a plus. That means they will have no "dirty cases" such as large bowel or infectious cases to spread infection. They do have the necessary services, Anesthesia,Internal Medicine and 2 surgeons. I have read all of their C.V.s and they are all well trained. They are one of only two "Centers of Bariatric Surgery Excellence" in Mexico.

I am scheduled for a gastric sleeve with Dr. Ortiz at Obesity Control Center on May 28,2012.

Sleeve size I had a long talk with a bariatric surgeon about this topic. He replied that it really is not that simple. The surgeon that uses a 36 may sew tightly to the edge and the surgeon that uses a 32 may sew loosely. The 32 may end up larger than the 36 for that reason. I am a physician so the conversation in the context of a lecture at a Medical convention. The question of what size bougie he/she uses is the first question and how snufly does he sew/staple is the next.