angelia75

I was about to post this! I am 15 days out. Lost 125 lbs with band, gained most of it back, now have lost 21 lbs since sleeve surgery (which is great) but kinda nervous because I haven't seen the scale move in nearly a week! It's very hard to eat so little and not see the scale move.

Look up the "three week stall" Many get it. Mine lasted for over 3 weeks at started about 2 1/2 weeks out. Just do what your doing, and your body will start to let go again.

I have gas pains still if I eat or drink too quickly. I didn't have anesthesia gas pains that far out but still feel gas in my shoulders every now and again If I go to fast. I'm one month out. The burning in the esophagus does sound like reflux/ acid. Are you taking a daily ppi?

Yeah my body was getting rid of those toxis for at least 3 weeks, the gas, the anaesthesia, the pain meds, and oohwhee I stank! I had to be on a PPI immediately, some don't.

If there was to be a Class Action lawsuit against lap band and related companies, would you join it? My surgeon really believes its going to be yanked off for the market because as a medical device its failure rate is extremly high with high rate of complications that are way outside the margin of accepted standards for the FDA. I'm not sure I would though. I'm not the suing type.

my US fill Dr had told me back in February of this year that the lapband has a 50% success rate for people who lose HALF of what they want to lose before it fails.
Sign me up as well.
I have spent a small fortune on the lapband, fills, unfills, upper GIs, fluoroscopies and finally removal. I could have paid for the sleeve 4x

ONLY FOUR DAYS! I'm flying to San Diego Monday morning and being sleeved by Dr Garcia Monday afternoon ~ weird! A week from today we'll be DONE! In fact, I'll be back home by this time next Thursday...
Where are you being sleeved? Luck & blessings to y'all!
(^.^)

No, I will be starting my 14 day liquid pre op diet on the day you're getting sleeved. Good luck and best wishes!

Well i can tell you that i had Dr. Ortiz and he was awesome. The kind of first rate care i got was incredible.He spent more time answering my questions and talking with me about concerns than any dr or surgeon ive seen in canada.
By the way..just because he is not a "certified" bariatric surgeon..doesnt mean he wasnt taught by the best. Dr. Lopez taught Dr. Ortiz and a few other Drs. If he didnt know what he was doing then he wouldnt be allowed to perform surgeries. And trust me...he has done several. So dont get all freaked out

Angelia, just email them and they'll send you a quote. They are very non-high pressure, so you don't have to worry about getting barraged with emails and phone calls after you contact them. I've asked Carolyn (one of their coordinators) dozens of questions over the last 3 months and have never been pressured to "set a date".

I know that they promptly sent me price info when I emailed them when I first started the process. There's a disclosure document that you sign about discussing pricing and I don't want to be on the naughty list.
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Me, my sister and my sister in law all had surgery on May 10, 2013. We booked with Janese through ALighterme. We were booked with Dr. Lopez and told Dr. Ortiz would assist. The day of surgery we all met Dr. Lopez. He did my sister in laws surgery first. He was in scrubs. I was next. Before they wheeled me to surgery I saw Dr. Lopez in dress clothes as if he were leaving. Then my sister was last. Later that day as we were walking the halls, we saw the surgery board behind those double doors that said my sister in law- Dr. Lopez and me and my sister -Dr. Ortiz. After I got home, I emailed Janese to question this and she blew it off as Dr. Ortiz ALWAYS assist Dr. Lopez. Now after reading all of this, I really think Dr. Lopez wasn't even there! I feel we were lied to.
On a good note, Dr. Ortiz was very nice, professional, removed our drains and we had no problems and are all doing fabulous.

I would still contact Dr. Lopez to make sure!!!!!

http://specializedbariatrics.com/
I don't know the details but it would not be unusual for there to be a contract involved. Perhaps they went out on their own but are obligated until the end of the year. Who knows. But choose who you want. According to Lopezs website the price is about the same.

Use the contact information on the website I listed. They are very easy to get a hold of. I spoke with them briefly. I am still using Dr Ortiz bc I have never heard a bad word about him or a single issue. But that's me. Choose who you want.

I went thur Dr. Elias Ortiz on March 19th n I mus say dat his an excellent surgeon. He's young but he knowz his job. He also will make you feel very comfortable b4 n after da surgery. Da best decision I've ever made. Here's a pic of my results so far. I've lost a 119 pounds so far.

I had surgery with Dr. Elias Ortiz two months ago today. He is very professional and skilled. I never once felt insecure or uncomfortable with him. It is scary to pick a doctor. I honestly prayed over it and picked the one I felt most comfortable about. I researched him as much as I could, and didn't find a negative thing about him. He spent as much time as I needed with me. The whole ALighterMe team was professional and exactly where they said they would be. My driver and contacts there were always available. I went by myself and didn't once feel alone unless I chose to be in my room alone. There are other sleevers at the hospital and hotel to chat with and get to know. It was an all-around good experience for me. My recovery was easy. In fact, the day I got back to the hotel, I walked to Walmart and did some shopping.

I have Ortiz on Nov. 14

I am scheduled for Nov 13 with Elias Ortiz. I chose him BC I spoke to several people that have used him. He's newer but he does 600 of these a year so I know he is more experienced than nearly any sleeve surgeon in the US.
 
 

I'm considering getting sleeved by him as well

I had surgery with him on Jan. 17. Here is a link to the (long) post I wrote back then about my entire experience: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/65606-my-experience-so-farnow-with-details/
Short version: He's skilled and experienced and has a good beside manor and I recommend him.

I am going Nov 14 just paid deposit hour ago!!