gtmikki

Funny you should mention the bathroom.  I guess when I came to, I had to use the bathroom really bad.  I remember them telling me that I had to wait.  Like you, I insisted - got the bedpan LOL.

I have to agree with everyone, Dr. Ortiz and his staff are wonderful. When Dr Ortiz came into the room before surgery and talked to me, immediately all of the fear left. The first thing I see after surgery is Dr. Ortiz's beautiful smile telling me surgery is done.
 
Last night I had no pain or gas. I was released this morning and is back at the hotel resting. I can truly say the only regret I have is not having the surgery sooner.

See you there!! I'm scheduled the 12th ????

Final payment made today!!!!!!! Surgery 1/13!!! Super SUPER excited! SUPER nervous!!!! Pre op diet....ugh!!!!! ????. Down 6 lbs though! Only need to lose 10lbs! Oh well...I just keep pressing on! THANK YOU to all of you that take the time to document your experiences! You have all in outages SOOOOO many people, myself included! Not only did you guys take the time to document your experience but you continue to update us all on how you are doing, answer all of our questions no matter how many times you have been asked, and you continue to encourage all of us and inquire about how we are doing! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! A million times, Thank You!! You ladies are AMAZING!!

I had my surgery on Friday too with Dr. Ortiz and was released on Saturday morning. I agree he is amazing and his staff too! They never pushed me to walk because I was still pretty drugged, at some point they refused me going to the bathroom but I insisted to go lol. I didn't have any gas pain until I got home last night I know it will take some time. I even got up and cooked a full dinner for my family but left the cleaning for my hubby. Just struggling with the Fluid intake and will have to work on that.

I have to agree with everyone, Dr. Ortiz and his staff are wonderful. When Dr Ortiz came into the room before surgery and talked to me, immediately all of the fear left. The first thing I see after surgery is Dr. Ortiz's beautiful smile telling me surgery is done.
 
Last night I had no pain or gas. I was released this morning and is back at the hotel resting. I can truly say the only regret I have is not having the surgery sooner.

@@gtmikki good luck! I was exactly in your shoes this time last year. Travelled to San Diego on Thursday and had surgery the last Friday before Christmas. I was the last surgery before Dr. O left for vacation to Yellowstone National Park...glad he wasn't too distracted! It was kind of nice because OCC was closed the week of Christmas, so the 5 of us that had surgery on Friday had the place to ourselves over the weekend and on Monday. Just a nurse, Dr. So, and Joel (the driver). Gloria came in on Monday when we were getting our fluoroscopies to make sure our travel plans were all in order and made us chicken broth to sip on our way to the airport ????

Yeah!!! So glad all went well for you! Happy recovery!

Gtmikki glad everything went well. Covatila I'm glad to hear you're okay and so sorry to hear about your cancer. I would definitely not be hard on yourself- that is major and a priority and you can get back on track. 95lbs is amazing!! There's nothing you can't handle girl!!! I'm in the market now for plastics. Changing slowly but surely! Got a quote from Dr Medina at the Ariel center for lower body work and am strongly considering going back to the OCC. They are so wonderful. I'm not sure though because I would consider going by myself but the communication says they want you to bring someone with you and it's a whole week. I need to see if I could pay a private nurse to stay with me there!

I have to agree with everyone, Dr. Ortiz and his staff are wonderful. When Dr Ortiz came into the room before surgery and talked to me, immediately all of the fear left. The first thing I see after surgery is Dr. Ortiz's beautiful smile telling me surgery is done.
 
Last night I had no pain or gas. I was released this morning and is back at the hotel resting. I can truly say the only regret I have is not having the surgery sooner.

I have to agree with everyone, Dr. Ortiz and his staff are wonderful. When Dr Ortiz came into the room before surgery and talked to me, immediately all of the fear left. The first thing I see after surgery is Dr. Ortiz's beautiful smile telling me surgery is done.
 
Last night I had no pain or gas. I was released this morning and is back at the hotel resting. I can truly say the only regret I have is not having the surgery sooner.

I have to agree with everyone, Dr. Ortiz and his staff are wonderful. When Dr Ortiz came into the room before surgery and talked to me, immediately all of the fear left. The first thing I see after surgery is Dr. Ortiz's beautiful smile telling me surgery is done.
 
Last night I had no pain or gas. I was released this morning and is back at the hotel resting. I can truly say the only regret I have is not having the surgery sooner.

Thanks Kindle and jjinWA.  I guess I am getting nervous and had started packing to many clothes.  My flight leaves Atlanta in the morning around 11 and surgery is Friday.  I pray everything goes well.  
 
Everyone please send up a prayer for me.

Thanks Kindle and jjinWA.  I guess I am getting nervous and had started packing to many clothes.  My flight leaves Atlanta in the morning around 11 and surgery is Friday.  I pray everything goes well.  
 
Everyone please send up a prayer for me.

Thanks Kindle and jjinWA.  I guess I am getting nervous and had started packing to many clothes.  My flight leaves Atlanta in the morning around 11 and surgery is Friday.  I pray everything goes well.  
 
Everyone please send up a prayer for me.

We just got back from there, having surgery the 8th of Dec. the weather was gorgeous! Ave of 75 degrees each day. The girls wore very lose exercise pants and t shirts. That with a light jacket and they were comfy for the 3 days they were there. It was fine for plane travel too. You certainly do not want anything tight around the tummy. A neck pillow for the plane trip was nice too!

I brought sweatpants, a couple short sleeve shirts and a couple long sleeve shirts and a light jacket for evenings. The pockets in my sweats worked great to hold the bulb of my drain, but I guess they're not doing drains anymore so any comfie elastic waisted pants would do. My belly was very swollen and stuck out like I was pregnant so regular pants would not have worked. I actually didn't fit in my jeans for 2 weeks. Several other ladies wore loose dresses. Slip on shoes that are also comfie to walk in (I walked to Walmart/Starbuck's like 5 times plus all over the avenude Revolucion area.). My Crocs were perfect. That's about it. Everything easily fit in my carryon. You should check the weather online to see what to expect. It rained the day before I got there but was nice while I was there....I think mid 60s during the day.

Kindle, what type clothing did you take to TJ in December? Not sure what the weather is like My surgery is Friday and I am trying to pack.
Again, thanks for the post.

Kindle, what type clothing did you take to TJ in December? Not sure what the weather is like My surgery is Friday and I am trying to pack.
Again, thanks for the post.

Because I had a higher BMI, the nutritionist had me start on a low carb diet when I signed up at the end of September.  I lost a few pounds in a month.  
 
I was diagnosed with diabetes (fasting glucose 94 but A1c 6.5) in October.  That scared me, so I really got serious. About 2-3 weeks ago, I began drinking 2 Protein Shakes, eating unlimited green vegetables or salad, and eating a low calorie meal for either lunch or dinner.  I also started taking the Vitaleph Vitamins around that time.  I believe the Lipo-Solve helps burn the fat.
 
Last Friday I started on the 2 week pre-op diet. I am still only doing 2 Premier Protein shakes a day.  Instead of drinking a 3rd shake, I substitute it for Unjury chicken broth with green vegetables (generally I add broccoli, baby spinach and/or mushrooms).  
 
I'd say I lost the bulk of the weight in the last 3 weeks - I still need to lose 10lbs before surgery.  I think my weight loss would be better if I could drink 8 glasses of Water a day.  Currently I am up to about 5 or 6 glasses from 2 to 3.  I will get there.  I have been incorporating small changes each week and that has helped me.  And I read this forum for motivation.

I am officially scheduled for vertical sleeve surgery on the 19th. I sent a copy of the certified check yesterday. I have lost 18lbs so far. The minimum was 14 but Lucia said it would be better if I lost 28-30lbs. I know I will lose more but not sure if I will be the 10. Hope it will not have an adverse affect on the duration or outcome of the surgery.
 
Like others on this forum, I would truly like to thank Kindle, Back2barb, Hoosier, and others for documenting the process. This forum is my support and it definitely help me make the decision to have surgery and to choose Dr. Ariel Ortiz. I will be going to Mexico alone. I have read the posts several times and I am not afraid of traveling alone. I have never had any type of surgery so I am a nervous, make that afraid, when it comes to IVs and being put under.
 
I just hope my surgery goes as well as it did for the folks on this forum (folks - yes I am a Georgia girl). Thank you all for your candidness.

Thanks for the responses regarding the flight. I am staying an extra day in Mexico and an additional day in San Diego. I also upgraded to comfort seating to give me more leg room. I got an aisle seat in order to do some walking.
@@newbiesleever, I am excited for you. I know your surgery will go well.
@@JamieLogical, how has your post-op been so far? How quick were you able to get back to your regular routines?

After reading this post, I have scheduled my surgery for 12/19/14 with Dr. Ortiz. I am nervous, scared, and everything in between. But I know that I am doing the best thing for me. Thank you all for posting such great information.

Congrats

I am glad your surgery went well.  I definitely agree with you about this post.  And your account of everything makes me feel so much better about my decision to have surgery at the OCC.