barrbdoll

Oh.. and just a FYI.. total surgery price was $6995 and that included 4 night hotel stay at the Marriott for my Mother and myself. You only stay one night in his facility and then you are at the hotel the remainder of the time. The only thing you are responsible for is your airfare and your meds when you are discharged.... About $125.00

I also went to Dr. Ortiz at Obesity Control Center.. My surgery was April 16th and I feel fabulous!!! I was sooo impressed with Dr. Ortiz, his center, the staff, etc.... I was taken care of very well and so was my Mother who accompanied me on the trip. The surgery was a breeze and I had zero gas, no nausea and very little discomfort. I am definitely an advocate of Dr. Ortiz. He's been featured on Oprah, the Dr's and he was listed at one of the top 15 Bariatric Surgeons by Newsweek Magazine.. If you would like more info his website is www.obesitycontrolcenter.com. 85% of his patients are from the US and Canada. Best Of Luck!!

Hi Paula!! I too had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz and I was soooo impressed with him, the center, the staff, etc.... My surgery was on April 16th and I feel fantastic. I felt great the day after surgery too! I just adore Dr. Ortiz!!! I am planning on going back to support a friend that is having the surgery. I cannot wait to see everyone again!!! I am such an advocate of Dr. Ortiz and Obesity Control Center!! He changed my life!!

Ooops.... I failed to answer your question.... Yes. I told my boss that I needed to have surgery.. She didn't ask what kind and I didn't tell her...... So.... your call..... I have told very few people because the weight loss isn't dramatic.. I am losing slow which is what I wanted.. Losing 7-10 lbs per month is the pace that i want to keep. So far so good!!

Hi there! Congrats on your decision! I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz on April 16th and I could not be happier! I live in PA and flew in on Sunday. My surgery was the next day and I had no issues at all.. no gas, no nausea, very little pain, nada.. It was an amazing experience and you will be taken care of very well!! I flew home on Friday because I wanted to have an extra day in San Diego. Plus, I took a week off from work and was in no rush to get back. I work from home but I could have easily went in to work at an office.. I felt great after surgery and I still feel great today!! All the best!!

LOL!! @ the Sams Club comment... I thought about that too!! I could head over on a Sat. for free samples and get full!! Sounds good to me!!

I am almost 3 weeks out as well and as much as I would love a beer.... NO NO NO!! LOL Too Risky......

I'm 17 days post-op and I am getting between 600-800 calories in. I have no carb restrictions until I reach regular foods which is 2 more weeks out. It's hard to watch carbs when you are eating yogurts, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, yams, creamy soups etc... Once I am on a regular diet I was told to eat very little breads, pastas, etc.... the so called bad carbs... Moderation is the key!

I only had 3 incisions.... each about 3/4 of an inch long....... I'm 16 days post op and I would say mine were fully healed in 10 days and barely noticeable. Not sure of the others but mine were surgically glued shut....

didn't hurt me at all.. I had my drain for 3 days and when she took it out she asked me to take a deep breath and then exhale and just like that.. it was OUT! I will tell you this though.. I was shocked by how long that damn thing is!!!! Good Lord!!! LOL

It took me 9 days after surgery to have a bowel movement... and honestly.. I wouldn't call a "marble" a movement!! LOL BUT.... constipation was a problem and I had to take Milk of Magnesium to even get the party started.. I am 16 days post op and am pretty regular now. But the first and second time I went??? OMG..... I was strugglin..... OUCH... Good Luck!

I have Zumba for my Wii and I just started. I try to do 3-4 songs at a time. My surgery was April 16th.

I wish I could say the same... Mine was more like liquid in ROCKS out.... My God I was in pain.. LOL Took me 9 days post op and lemme tell you.... I'm glad it's over..... I am pretty much back to normal now.....

I sweat a lot when working out... Never stink though.... I use Secret Clinical strength and it works great!

I was able to add shakes and drinkable yogurt after day 4...and on day 7 I could add creamy Soups (no chunks). Each surgeon seems to have a different post-op diet.... I would check to see if you can have Protein shakes and start drinking at least 2 per day... Of course, check with you surgeon.. he may give you clearance to move to the next stage. Good Luck!

Have you tried a low carb diet? That is the only way weight will come off of me and I was able to drop 17lbs before my surgery. I did it in about 4-5 weeks.

Just be glad that you're going! LOL My surgery was the 16th and I didn't go for 9 days!!! I didn't feel bad physically but it was definitely NOT normal for me. I had to take Milk of Magnesium and really struggle to get it out of me. I'm still not as regular as I would like to be but I"m just glad that I'm going now....

Congrats on your decision!! I just had my surgery on April 16th with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana and I feel fabulous!! His center is called Obesity Control Center and it's a state of the art facility that has been given the honor of being an "International Center of Excellence". He's been featured on Oprah, The Doctors and has even been named one of the top 15 Bariatric surgeons by Newsweek Magazine. When I first started researching WLS it was 7-8 years ago but the timing just wasn't right with work, personal relationships, etc.... I finally started to research again and after looking at other Doctors in Mexico (I'm was self pay too) I went right back to Dr. Ortiz. There are other surgeons to choose from and I implore you to do your research and due diligence before making your final selection. When choosing a surgeon you should focus on experience, facility, comfort for you and any guests, etc... and not just on price. I paid $6995 and that included all transportation from San Diego, 4 nights hotel stay at the Marriott in Tijuana for my mother and transportation back to San Diego. There are 6 private suites in his center that are very comfortable and you even have your own Direct TV.....PLUS you are surrounded by nothing but folks just like YOU and not in a hospital where God knows what types of diseases, infections, etc... are present. That was a HUGE deal for me. Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez speak perfect English and have an incredible bedside manner. My surgery was on Monday morning and I was discharged on Tuesday around noon. I was back at the hotel laying by the pool and getting some sun and on day 3 I was out shopping for 3-4 hours. Dr. Ortiz has an agreement with the Marriott and they will bring you broth, popsicles, etc.. all included in your price. Your guest (if you bring one) will be very well taken care of. I honestly believe that a good pre-op diet accompanied by a positive attitude truly helped me come out of this surgery with flying colors. A lot of this journey, especially in the beginning is all mental. Once you decide on a surgeon get into a ZONE and stay there!! Reach out for support (the forums are great) and find folks that are getting their surgeries around the same time. It really does help! I am definitely an advocate for Dr. Ortiz and Obesity Control Center... He has changed my life and I will be forever grateful! His website Obesity Control Center > Lap Band Surgery in Mexico is very informative and he even has his own YouTube channel where you can watch videos of testimonials, surgeries. etc... You are going to get a lot of responses from others promoting other surgeons.. Everyone's experience is different so be prepared to research, research RESEARCH!!!! Feel free to contact me directly if you have any other questions!! All The Best!!! Emily

I am one week post op and I was able to add creamed soups, shakes and drinkable yogurt after day 4. I buy the Activia drinkable yogurt cause lord knows I need the fiber... LOL I also buy the Campbells creamy tomato soup that comes in the sippable can. I feel fabulous!!!

I am one week post op and you may not believe me when I say this but I wasn't nervous a single second.... clear up to when I laid on the operating table. My surgery went great and I had no gas, no nausea and just a mild discomfort (like doing 100 crunches).... That's it! You will have pain meds through your IV so don't worry about pain.. Keeping a positive attitude is the key!!! You will do great!!

I am one week post op as well and I am definitely able to get 48-64 ozs in. At first I was having a hard time getting 3-4ozs at a time but each day has gotten better. I can do more than just "sip" too.... There is some miscommunication on your liquid intake cause 8ozs a day is definitely not enough!! How much are you getting in when you add everything together?? You should be getting at least 30g's of protein in as well.

Glad you are doing well!! I was sleeved exactly one week ago and I have felt pretty darn good.. if not fabulous ever since.. No issues with gas, nausea, nada... I have 3 small incisions that are maybe 1/2-3/4" long and they are healing very nicely! I am so grateful to have come through this surgery with flying colors!! YAY for us!!!

You made a great decision to have your surgery performed at OCC... The care is excellent and the rooms are very nice. I felt extremely safe and comfortable!!! Best of luck to you!!!

Hi Everyone... Just wanted to say that my surgery went great on Monday. I am so impressed with Dr. Ortiz and Obesity Control Center in Tijuana. I had no nausea, no gas and very little discomfort. Yesterday I relaxed by the pool and got a little sun. Today I went shopping with my mother for about 3 hours and all went well. I have been trying to get as much Fluid as I can but honestly, its hard to get anymore than about 4-5oz's down at a time. So, I am just sipping, sipping, SIPPING!!!! LOL It's funny though cause every time I sip it feels like my stomach is talking back to me with the gurgling noises. So, I just say "your welcome" LOL Anyway.... Thank you for your prayers!! I came through the surgery just as I thought I would....The best advice that I can give to anyone having this surgery is to stay positive and choose a surgeon that you can trust not just the one that gives you the cheapest price!! Dr. Ortiz and the entire staff at Obesity Control Center ROCK!!!! They have changed my life and I will be forever grateful!!!

Wonderful!! So glad you are feeling good!! My surgery is in 5 days and I am hoping to breeze through just like you!!! All the best!