So I'm having surgery Jan 23 with Dr. Ortiz,. Does anyone have experiences to share about doctor ortiz or the OCC? Or any tips on items to bring?

It is a lot cheaper ($10k less than here, in Canada) and yes, US doctors will do the fills etc for cash. Anywhere from $50 to $150 per fill.

Glad everything went well for you today! I was thinking of you this morning. It looks like you do have wifi so I think I'll bring my IPad with me to keep in touch with my kids back home.

Keep posting on your recovery. I am going home the day after surgery myself.

Congrats on your success so far. You did it!

Safe travels home

Yup Lisa free wifi at the occ and hotel. Thanks for all the well wishes

I was banded by Dr Ortiz on 10/28, so about 3 months ago now! He, and his staff, are incredible! I love them all. The nurse doesn't really speak English, but she is extremely sweet and motherly, Dr Martinez and Dr Ortiz are both awesome, I woke up from surgery to Dr Ortiz standing over me, unstrapping my arms and I felt wonderful, I said "I love you" in my drugged stupor, and he said "I love you too" haha! Anyway, going back down there for my first fill in just a couple weeks, I waited longer than they say for the fill, but I felt fine and was still losing weight so... I did call them a couple of times with concerns after I got home, and they ALWAYS got back to me promptly and were extremely nice and concerned. I stayed in the hotel for 4 nights, three of them after the surgery, and the ride home still sucked (i'm in Vegas, so we drove). I would suggest staying a few nights at the very least. I'm flying back to San Diego for the fill. I just cannot say enough good things about Dr Ortiz, the lap band, and the entire experience so far.

P.S., the only thing I didn't like was not enough face time with Dr Ortiz, he came into the room and talked and joked with us for a minute, and that was it. I didn't see him after the surgery at all, and only for a few minutes before. I know he performed the surgery because I woke up and saw him as he was unstrapping me from the table, but that's it. Dr Martinez talked to us afterwards and gave us instructions, etc, and he's great, his is also the cell number they give you if you need to contact a doctor after surgery. Dr Ortiz seems very, very busy (to be expected, I guess)

Also, to those of us planning on flying quite a ways for fills, check-ups, etc, there is a REALLY CHEAP airline website I found. www.cheapoair.com

It always shows the cheapest flight available as being Spirit Airlines. I got a roundtrip ticket from Portland to San Diego for $174.

Shannalee, I'm so glad your surgery went well! Good energy being sent your way for a swift healing process!! <3

Thanks for keeping us posted! Rotten weather today. Supposed to get much better tomorrow! Glad you are doing well.

Hey everyone Im doing good! Wish they were a bit more forth coming with the pain meds! Last night was a bit rough! Lisa good luck, it will all go well:) Just so you know....its true the nurses really dont speak much english, sometimes I couldnt understand what they wanted and im in the profession. Some things I wish I brought...pain meds from canada, seriously comfort is everything, maybe go to a clinic tonight and explain the situation., a hot waterbottle, the port site is sore, hard candy, and a comfy bra...I dont own a comfy bra because the girls are quite large but the underwire rubs the top small incision. Best of luck Lisa!!! It will be all good... oh and to log on to the internet at OCC is code is tjsurgery...it took a really long time for the nurses to figure out what i was asking for.

Keep me updated:)

Thank you so much for the suggestions on what to bring from home. Im off to London drugs tonight!

Hope you are feeling more comfortable now and that the flight and drive back home wasn't too painful or troublesome for you.

Starting to really panic now but it's mind over matter I suppose. 24 hours from now I'll be there...changing my life forever in a positive way.

Please keep me posted on how you are doing!

Thinking of you!

Lisa

Ps. I'll be in Vancouver in march so maybe we could plan for a coffee and share our lapband stories.

I'm having a little trouble finding Doctors that will do fills if you had surgery in Mexico. Any suggestions for doctors in the Little Rock, Ar or Dallas, Tx area that take Mexico patients?

Pam,

The facility I had my done in gave me about 10 names of doctors who do fills for their patiences within an hour or two drive from where I live. Addionally, there was a company called FILLS USA (or something like it) whose doctors will do your fills, even though the company is no longer in existence.

Colin

Hi, you are probably already home, or on your way home, Shannalee, but just wanted to also tell you (regarding the pain meds) we went back to the clinic on the day we left and bought another round of them. The doc ok'd it, and we just took the shuttle there on the way back to the border. It was no problem at all. We also got some tylenol w/codiene from a pharmacy down there, which was expensive and we didn't end up using at all...anyway, if you guys are still in pain, just want to let you know Dr Ortiz and Martinez and So will approve more pain meds for you without any probs at all!

Just arrived at the Marriott hotel in Tijuana. Surgery tomorrow AM!

Very impressed with everything so far. The driver from OCC that picked us up in San diego and the hotel itself are just great.

Will post once I'm banded! See you all on the other side.

Lisa

Good luck Lisa:) thinking of you!