LoveMyWorld

I guess I assumed it was ok as the person above shared there Dr's FB page.... their comment has not been taken down.

Ya it's weird I had posted those 2 dr's info and their fb support group info as well last night and when I got up this morning my comments were gone but other people's replies remained! Seams fishy to me!

What happend to my replies?? I had just recommend thet look into Dr. Ariel Ortiz and Dr. Illan.

LoveMyWorld - Glad to help! (This is what I would have typed to you in a PM, so apologies if anyone is offended, but these are my thoughts/opinions.) Choosing a surgeon in Mexico is HARD! There is a reason you are having sleepless nights -you are literally having most of your stomach removed in a foreign country...its kind of a big deal! Kudos to you for doing research.

Here is what I know...Dr. Aceves is a VERY good surgeon. What you mention about the days in the hospital and leak tests are very valid reasons to choose him. He is also very experienced and was on my personal short list of surgeons in Mexico. There were two reasons I personally didn't choose him 1) he was located in a part of Mexico that had a travel warning from the US State Department (unsure if that is still the case) 2) couldn't personally justify the cost difference. AmandaRaeLeo on this board used Dr. Aceves this year and is having great success with her sleeve. She would be a great resource to get information from. The other reason for choosing Dr. Oritz (besides what I have on my blog) was all the YouTube videos of him, his facility and staff. The information made me feel very comfortable and confident about where I was going and who would be taking care of me. When I finally got comfortable, my massive worry eased.....a bit!

With regard to surgeon claims of % weight loss....to me, those are meaningless. Since the patient is in control of what is eaten or exercised, the surgeon really has nothing to do with your personal percent of weight loss. The bottom line is that it's YOUR sleeve and YOUR choice what to put into it. If you don't follow the nutritional and exercise guidelines, the surgeon's patient's success rates are really meaningless. But, this is your choice and you need to choose criterion that are important to you. If this is a big deal to you, go with your gut. Ultimately, the % of weight loss is up to you. Personally, I have lost well over 100% of my excess weight and I believe it's due to my choices after surgery, not the surgeon's expertise.

In my research, both doctors use the same size bougie so the sleeve size is the same. The part of the stomach you are left with is not very stretchy, so there is not a great likelihood of stretching the sleeve, again, unless you don't follow the rules. Like you, I was and continue to be TERRIFIED of failing after weight loss surgery. So, I follow all the nutrition and exercise rules to be sure I am successful.. I try to do everything I didn't do when I was fat - track my food in MyFitnessPal, exercise 5 days a week, and weigh every day. These are my personal changes and they are working - so I am responsible for my success. Sounds like you are doing a very good job at making good lifestyle changes. The sleeve will help you continue those good choices. In the past 20 years, I have not been below 170 lbs. Right now I am 149. This surgery will help you achieve a healthy weight for you.

I will be 11 months out January 4. Dr. Ortiz set my goal weight at 155. I asked before surgery if I could go for 145. They said yes, with additional effort. The weight is coming off much more slowly now, but I know I will get to 145. Not sure if I will choose to stay there as I am getting a lot of comments that I look "too thin". (And it's a WONDERFUL problem to have!!! LOL). I definitely still have restriction. When I eat lean Protein, or really any protein, I am full and stay that way for hours. Over the past weeks of holiday treats, I have found that I can really eat the Christmas Cookies and other high carb junk with no feeling of restriction. So, I shouldn't be eating it! (And maybe why I am having such trouble with these last few pounds?! Silly me...)

As for how much I can currently eat - today, I had two scrambled eggs for breakfast and was full. If I have 3-5 ounces of fish or chicken or pork roast, I am full. The other day I went to Hardees and had a low-carb thick burger and was able to eat about 3/4 - 7/8 of it and was very full. But carbs leave me no feeling of fullness and just slide through my sleeve. So I really need to be aware and avoid the junk!

In the paperwork Dr. Ortiz gives before surgery, he says to email his office a couple weeks after surgery to get the surgery report. I emailed him two weeks after and got the report via email. I faxed it to my Family Doctor so she could have a copy.

Overall, I don't think you could go wrong with Aceves or Ortiz. There are others who I feel very confident about in Tijuana too. Just keep doing your research and go with your gut. When you are sold on your surgeon, your worry will be less and you can focus on healing.

If you have not purchased it, Dr. Alvarez has an eBook called "The Gastric Sleeve". I think it cost $9.95 and is downloadable. It's been a very valuable resource for me all through this process. Everything he said in the book is right on the money. Would highly recommend it as I had more pre-surgery questions after reading it and felt like a more educated patient. Plus, a handy resource after surgery too.

Before surgery, I worried about failure, had crazy dreams, what if I failed, what if this money was wasted, blah blah blah. But really, I should have been thinking what if I am wildly successful and this is the best gift I ever gave myself? The bottom line is that this surgery will change your life in ways you can't imagine now. Keep doing your research and get really comfortable and confident about your surgeon. If you continue to feel crazy, reach out to me because I sure get it! I was there at this time last year!

Hugs and well wishes! Shelley

Thanks so much Shelley (hoosiergirl) it helps to know that they are both a good choice! Now why cant I just pick up the phone and book the appointment! LOL! Every time I pick up the phone to call and think ok Im going to book with so and so then I stop and second guess myself oh wait maybe I should go with the other! seriously this kind of stress cant be good for me!! is there another way I could contact you since I can't message you on here? My e-mail is mistyabbott@rocketmail.com or you could find me on Facebook with that e-mail address as well! I really could use someone to talk to about this that has been through this, since I am not telling anyone other than my husband right now, and cant hash it out with the girl friends like i usually do concerning big decsions! My hubby is no help either he is fine with either, it is up to me and what I am comfortable with!

HAF - you are leaving on the biggest adventure of your life! Nerves are to be expected! Haha!

You are in very capable hands...looking forward to hearing all the details. Safe travel and safe surgery!

HoosierGirl I private messaged you but now I see that it is going to another hoosiergirl on here so I am not sure if you have received my message So Ill just post my questions here

please everyone reading this dont be offended by any of this I know people are defensive about their surgeon these are just my honest thoughts and fears right now and need some help!

HoosierGirl here is what I said in the message:

Hello I read your awesome blog and about choosing a surgeon. I am hoping you can help me as I am so stressed out and cant seem to come to a decision! its so stressful picking my surgeon that I cant sleep! I am having a really hard time deciding between Dr. A. Ortiz and Dr. Aceves I really like that Aceves you stay in the hospital for 3 days and have 3 leak tests, but I like that Dr. Ortiz has no complications and is a center of excellence! I also am stuck on the fact that Dr. Aceves coordinator claims that his patients loose 96% of their excess weight where as Ortiz claims that his patients loose 70% of their excess weight! People say Dr. Aceves is known for doing a "tight sleeve". I am 5'3 and 240lbs my goal is 135lbs, my biggest fear is that I will get down to like 170 and be stuck there and that I my sleeve will stretch back out and it wont be helpful to me anymore. know its up to me to make healthy life style changes, which I am already doing I have lost 25lbs in the last 2 months, but I am just afraid of failing. I have only ever been able to get down to 150lbs before putting it all back on. So I guess my two questions for you are why did you choose Dr. Ortiz over Aceves and now that you are getting close to a year out do you still feel like you have a lot of restriction, how much can you eat now? And was it hard towards the end to get the last bit of weight off to hit your goal? I am afraid if I go with Ortiz I wont have as great of success as if I go with Aceves Am I being crazy?!?! LOL!

Also does Ortiz send you home with your medical records from the surgery?

Thanks so much!

Totally right there with you! but then again I think of what kind of life I will have if I dont have the surgery, and the impact that has on my kids. i keep reminding myself that giving my children a happy healthy energetic mom who has the energy to play with them is something I want to do for them. I know that Dr. Ariel Ortiz and Dr. Aceves in Mexico both give Heprin or Lovenox injection to help with preventions of blood clots.

Hoosiergirl I sent you a private message just have some questions about you experience at OCC! And HAF you will do great I'll keep your in my prayers

I am trying to choose between Dr. Ariel Ortiz and Dr. Aceves? I am leaning toward Dr. Aceves because of his credentials and the fact that it seems his patients loose more of their excess weight than some of the others Dr's patients. But I am a bit nervous because his complication rate is a bit higher then Dr.Ortiz (Ortiz coordinator claims he has had 0 leaks or deaths with the VSG surgery) and Dr. Aceves lost a patient a few months ago. I just feel that I will be more successful with the weight loss with Aceves with what I have read and seen from his past patients but is it worth the risk with him having a higher complication rate, which is still less than 1%, but still freaks me out?!?!? Should I be concerned?!? I'm driving myself crazy trying to choose a Dr.!!!

Hi I am looking for people who have recently used Dr. Aceves for the VSG surgery! I am really nervous and it would be so nice to hear some people experiences with him! Also prayers for the courage to do this and for everything to go smoothly would be greatly appreciated!!

Who did your Surgery?!

Who Did your surgery? and what hospital? I am just researching Dr's in mexico now for my surgery

How are you feeling NoMoreCupcakes!? Excited to hear how it went! i am looking into having surgery with Dr. Aceves......

I would not go to a Surgeon who has not had specialized training in Bariatric Surgery, Like the previous poster stated there are many other highly qualified Bariatric surgeons in or near Egypt. I would NOT want to be the first person a surgeon has sleeve especially if he has to training or supervision!

Hi I am just looking for people who have used Dr. Joya and can tell me their experience