OCC & Dr. Ariel Ortiz - My Story

[Patsyb98 13]

Thanks for the info. I have appt Monday with doc. I'm thinking if I have to go through a lot of time consuming classes etc. I'll be checking more on financing and Mexico.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

I can understand guys. It's really too bad when we pay for ins then they dictate to us and to doctors what we can do! Can u tell i hate them!

I too hate ins company's, I knew right off the bat that ins would deny me. My BMI was under 36 and I had NO heath issues. I was self pay, but I didn't pay 30k, I had it done in Dallas and it was 12,500 at that time and included 2 nights, before appts and all follow ups for the first year. You also got three nutrition classes and we have monthly support groups we can attend. If you have those available near you in KS, find one or two and go. It doesn't even have to be with your doctor, everyone is welcome at every one I attend monthly.....I have four! It's fun and informative!!! Good luck!

[Southern Oregon 30]

great post. My experience is similar to yours.....satisfied with the end result (lol...the difference between my story and yours is that I didn't meet Ortiz until AFTER the surgery....which was/is still annoying), but talked to him a bunch the next day. Are you thinking about going back for plastics when your weight stabilizes? Not much on this site about Ariel Center.....I know that the OCC had a relationship with a dentist which is no longer, but wondered, since Dr. Ortiz is also plastics, whether that was an option for you.

[gastricsleever 259]

Southern Oregon,

When did you have your surgery done? How has your weight loss been going?

[shalisa 0]

Trixie can u please email me at lisamelody01@yahoo.com. I need so much info. Lol I am looking into the sleeve with Dr Ariel Ortiz. Price? Thanks

Edited February 5, 2014 by shalisa

[shalisa 0]

Hi Trixie .. I am looking in to gastric sleeve with Dr Ariel Ortiz. Your exp sounds awesome. Can u email me with all the info as to pre op and post op. Price? Anything else? I know u were very detailed in this post I just still have so much more I wanna know thanks uuuu soooo much!

[nolagirl 36]

Hey Shalisa,

I'm not trix I but if she doesn't reply shoot me a msg. I had VSG at OCC a few weeks ago.

Awesome experience. I'm happy to answer any questions I can

[LocketLady 1]

@nolagirl...

I would love to hear your experience since you just went.

Thanks!

[nolagirl 36]

Hey girl I need to post my story.

The sleeve is awesome I love my sleeve. I had a few problems there pertaining to being left at the airport with no call for over an he when I arrived, finally got a call saying he's 30 min away then another two hrs and finally the OCC driver shows up acting like he's doing me a favor to pick me up. I thought he was a total dick.

On the way home they left me to wait with my mom in a wheelchair for over 5 hours before my flight and totally were ride when I asked if I could just pay the hotel 80 to go at a better time for me.

I also had bad problems with improperly administered Ivs. Even with all that I'm glad I went. I'm down 25 lbs in a month so I'm glad. I think dr O is a great surgeon. I'd be surprised if you could find better anywhere. My scars are almost non existent. Bring extra cash so you can leave when you want not the one or two trips a day Occ makes that's my advise. The hotel has someone that will take you fo 80 extra. Go that route .

[Kindle 8,667]

I was just there in December. In general, my experience was the same as the OP. My arrival was a bit hectic because my original flight was cancelled due to weather. Instead of getting to the Marriott the day before, I got in to San Diego at 1am day of surgery. It was too late for the OCC van to pick me up, so I had to stay at a hotel in San Diego. Another couple headed to OCC was on the same late flight, and Joel the driver picked us up at the airport at 7:30 that morning and took us straight to OCC. Since we were late, we were the last two surgeries of the day (#4 and #5). Meanwhile, my sister had arrived on time the day before and she stayed at the Marriott and met me at OCC that morning.

 

I met Dr. Martinez, Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Jimenez, the nutritionist, and the anesthesiologist before surgery. All my preop stuff was the same as OP and Surgery went by in a blink. I briefly remember talking to my sis when I was taken back to my room about 6pm. I slept until about 9pm and ended up Facetiming with my sister who had gone back at the Marriott. I really had no pain postop and my biggest complaint overnight was the volume on my TV remote didn't work. The nurse came in to adjust the volume for me . I was discharged the next morning and we walked to the Walmart twice that day. (It was great to walk, but really my sister just wanted her Starbucks fix) The staff at the Marriott were all really great. The next day, after making another trip to Walmart/Starbucks, we went back to OCC for drain check and dressing change. Afterwards, instead of going back to the Marriott, the OCC driver took 4 of us and our companions down to the Avenued Revolucion shopping area. Found a great little corner stand that sold yummy Popsicles and iced drinks. Took cabs back to the Marriott.

 

The last day we all got our drains removed and a barium swallow fluoroscopy before heading back to San Diego. Dr. So did all of our followup stuff. It was the Monday before Christmas and OCC was technically closed for the whole week. We basically had the place to ourselves. The office manager warmed up some chicken broth for all of us while waiting for our turn. We had one person leaving earlier than everyone else, and it didn't look like she would make it across the border in time for her plane. So Joel and the office manager got us a last minute medical pass so the border crossing only took 15 minutes. Of course that put the rest of us at the airport hours early. For me that worked out great because I was able to get on an earlier flight and get home 2 hours sooner.

 

Anyways, had a great experience and sounds like things are done pretty much the same as when the OP was there. Dr. So and the nutritionist have both been great with followup questions I've had via emails and phone calls.

Edited February 15, 2014 by Kindle