raven123

I had a sleeve from Dr Ortiz in 2013. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. My life changed for the better. I am 70 so I don't need to be a size 2 but I am very lucky that I can eat what I want and maintain a reasonable weight. My numbers are all excellent and I like the way I look. My experience at OCC was very good. My sister and brother in law are both physicians and went there. We are all great

In some ways getting sleeved is like getting married or having a baby. Before the event all the attention is on the one day and making it as perfect as possible but the real concern is how are you going to live with this huge change in your life? 99.9% of the success or failure of the project is in our own hands.

No. You came with your mind made up and hoping to change other minds. it is evident from your posts that you already have an answer to everything. Fine Enjoy your life.

Of course you make your decisions on what is important to you. what was very important to me and to my sister and brother in law who are both doctors and both had sleeves with Dr Ortiz, was going to his clinic where there are never sick patients. that means a very low chance of infection. Going to a hospital seems much more dangerous to me.

Doctors can not endorse having surgery in another country with a doctor and setting they are not familiar with. stop asking them to do this. Just go after the surgery. Issues with the surgery are unlikely if you are going to OCC. When the girls are home, after a few months, doctors will not have a problem with them because they will be healthy. it's an insurance issue for them.

My sister is doctor. She had a sleeve at OCC. She told me not to talk to my own doctor before I had the sleeve. She said they cannot give permission to go to another country. But after the fact my doctor was delighted.

Have any of the OCC veterans had issues with gaining weight back? It seems to me the success rate is pretty high. I wonder if the size of the sleeve that is done there.

The reason for losing weight before the surgery is to shrink the liver which is in the way of reaching the stomach. I know they have refused to do the surgery for people who have not lost enough. They almost refused someone who had surgery the same day as me. He was the only one who had any trouble with the surgery. If your daughters drink the shakes and eat the salads they will lose.

The Vitaleph is a new brand but I expect it isn't too far from what they had last year. I hated it before surgery but after it ws better than anything else. The ready made ones were so sweet they made me sick. Your taste changes with the surgery.

It's been a year. I hope everyone is healthy and happy. I'm so glad I did this! Lori

Today is my one year anniversary. I'm 65 lbs down. Add that to the 60 lbs I lost and kept off years before the surgery and I'm pretty happy with myself. Best thing I ever did.

I only had to do a 2 week diet but I used diet shakes and a salad for dinner. I like the Premier Shakes that have 30grams of protein.

The reason you are getting headaches is your electrolytes are off from the radical diet. have something with salt or some broth it will help. You will be fine.

I had mine the same day back2barb had hers. My sister and brother in law both had their sleeves at OCC. They researched it and I went because of their success. They are both doctors. One of the reasons they liked OCC, after all the information about the skill and experience of the doctors and staff, was that it was a clinic and not a hospital. Dr Ortiz has complete control over how it is run. there do nothing else there so you are never exposed to sick people and the kinds of germs that are in hospitals. I had no problems at all. the surgery was the easiest part of the whole thing. learning to live with the sleeve is the real work. I have lost 70% of my excess weight and am wearing a size 12. best thing I ever did for myself.

You look great anyway! You have lost over 100 lbs! that is amazing! I joined weight watchers to get the last bit off. You could do atkins if you think the sweets are the problem. My doc said I would lose 60% of my excess weight easily. The rest I would have to work to get off. I don't know what your goal weight is so i can't do the math for you. Be proud of what you have done so far. Decide what is most important to you and work for that. You can do it.