Hi all, new here. I am 34, mother of 4, and from Kansas. I am scheduled for the week of Thanksgiving in Mexico with Dr. Ariel Ortiz. My insurance has a complete exclusion from weight loss anything. I am a public health nurse and it is really difficult to advise people how to be healthy when I'm not myself. I am really excited about having this TOOL that will help me to make better decisions when it comes to food, and hopefully the activity will follow.

My oldest daughter is a senior this year. At my current weight I am never in pictures and when I am, I'm so embarrassed of how I look. So one of my motivators is that I can take pictures with my daughter at her graduation in May 2013 and feel good about it!

I see very few posts about Dr Ortiz on this board. Does anybody have experience with him? Any advise on Mexico & surgery would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all, look forward to getting to know you and your stories of how you made the sleeve work for you. I really want this to work!

Hello! I've looked into Dr. Ortiz also. I haven't made up my mind and picked a surgeon yet, but I've heard good things about him. I'm like you though, I haven't ran across too many people that have used him. I was very impressed with his website and credentials. He works in a Center of Excellence and he's a member of the FACS, which is wonderful. Ive watched a lot of his YouTube videos, he speaks plain English so no worries about the language barrier. you're in good hands! I can't wait to get the money and book my surgery!! I just have to make up my mind on the surgeon! Haha

I was sleeved by Dr Ortiz 4/24/12. When researching I did not find a lot on information on here about him either but there were sure a lot of people being seen at his clinic when I arrived there. All of us did great and never had any pain or complications. I was very satisfied with my surgery.

I was sleeved by Ortiz on 9/10/12. When I was researching surgeons I, like you, could not find many posts on Dr Ortiz. If you search Ortiz my post should come up in the "Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Story" forum. I had an excellent experience - Dr Ortiz is a great surgeon and has great bedside manner. I really loved Dr Martinez who is another surgeon who assists Ortiz - and the anesthesiologist too was fantastic when I had a melt down just before surgery. Everyone speaks perfect English (except the nurses, but they know enough). I am a nurse and can tell you that the care I received was exceptional, the clinic is up to date, and the skill of Dr Ortiz in unparalleled to any of the bariatric surgeons in the large teaching/research university hospital where I work.

 

I would be happy to answer any questions you might have - just message me.

I just got the sleeve from Dr Ortiz a week ago. I highly recommend him. I was a little nervous about going to Mexico, but everything went great!

HI

I am scheduled for Sept 24 with Dr. Ortiz., I am a bit nervous as well. Will let you know how it goes. Msg me if you need any info. on details of how it goes. My flight arrives home on the night of the 27th so I will check my computer on the 28th.

HI

I am scheduled for Sept 24 with Dr. Ortiz., I am a bit nervous as well. Will let you know how it goes. Msg me if you need any info. on details of how it goes. My flight arrives home on the night of the 27th so I will check my computer on the 28th.

 

Don't be nervous - you will be fine. I wrote about my experience in "tell your story" forum. You can message me if you have any questions. As a plus, Dr Ortiz and Martinez are very easy on the eyes!

Thanks

I was sleeved by Dr Ortiz (5/28/12)... Wonderful experience!!

U should be able to search, I told my sleeve story and it is posted on this forum /sub forum.

sorry it took so long for me to respond -- my ipad lost its log in informationand I could not remember it.

 

I was sleeved by Dr. Ortiz on 8/13; experience went very smoothly. I found another patient on the same day on OCC's forums and we have become friends. I traveled alone and she had daughter who had VSG in February in Canada and her husband with her, so I had company during the days I was there in Mexico.

 

Nursing staff was wonderful. First time ever that someone got a IV in the first time without hurting me....they were very attentive. Dr. Ortiz was informative and great to talk with. I have had a couple occasions to call them and have spoken with Dr. Soo, who is very nice.

 

I think folks go with cheaper and there's a lot of talk about the other docs (and Ortiz is definitely not cheaper). His coordinator doesn't seem to be as involved as the other TJ docs, but then again, I didn't need her to be. I will be going back there in a year for the plastics and that was one of the reasons I chose OCC --- to establish a relationship for the next surgery to be done as well.

 

Good luck!!

I also am seeing dr. ortiz, hd was in newsweek for being a top bariatric surgeon, im super excited! my sleeve date is next wed. oct. 3!

Hi Ksgirl...I'm scheduled with Dr Ortiz on Nov.19...hope to see you there!

 

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Thanks for the information everyone! Really getting excited/nervous. I need to email their nutritionist because that is the thing really making me nervous. The information thath I received is very vauge about pre-op diet and I didn't see anything about post-op diet. I would really like to have things on hand for when I get home. Can any of you that went to Dr Ortiz advise as to what you did preop and what they advise postop?

 

Hi Ksgirl...I'm scheduled with Dr Ortiz on Nov.19...hope to see you there!

 

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Yea bajanqueen70! Looking forward to seeing you there!

Hi

Just had my surgery with Dr Ortiz on Sept 24, when you arrive you will have a meeting with the nutritionist and she will give you all the post op diet information you need. They also sell protein and vitamins, however they dont push a particular brand, she just tells you how much protein and when to eat what.

They preop diet is actually 2 different diets one is liquids only that must be followed for 9 days the other is a 14 day diet that is partial liquid and partial food such as green salad only and diet dinner like smart choice or lean cuisine. I did the 14 day diet because I wanted to be able to eat something.

The last day is liquid only and then nothing 8-12 before surgery.

Hope this helps

Hi Jordan1923! So glad that you are doing well! Any advise you would give? Things that you were really glad you brought or wish you had? Was language a problem at all? Did you have to have a drain? Anything you could tell me would be great. As excited as I am I'm also pretty nervous.

Hi KSGirlmomo

 

Bring loose fitting clothes. I brought way to many clothes. I spent most of my time in my pjs in the room or wearing my most baggy capris and t-shirt.

Yes you will have a drain.

 

Sunday: I flew down to San Diego landed at 545pm driver picked me up outside rather than at the info desk as posted. His sign was taped to window of Van this was annoying because I was waiting inside and looking for a person holding a sign. Then I remembered to turn on my cell and he has sent me a msg telling me to come outside. He then drove us to Marriott where would be staying for 4 nights well me for 3 because I would spend 1 night at the clinic.

 

Monday:

Arrived at clinic about 7:15 am the hotel shuttle drove us there. Gloria at the front desk speaks perfect english and so do the doctors. Some of the nurses have a little trouble.

They had me meet with the nutritionist Dr. then the cardiologist for ekg. they weighed me, xray, asked more medical history, took a bunch of blood for lab work, then they took me to my private room which does not have a washroom, shared washroon down the hall a few feet. The rooms are pretty nice and the whole place is very clean. Nurse gave me a gown to wear and little slipper booties so no need to bring your own night stuff other than a tooth brush/paste. If you are bringing a friend they can wait in your room and reas while you have your surgery or go downstairs for a coffee. After I was dressed in gown the Nurse but in an IV and an IV port in my hand to administer drugs.

Then the two doctors Dr. Ortiz and Martinez who actuall do the surgery came and met me. Then the nurse took me into the operating room where a couple of anethesiologist were already prepping. They hooked me while introducing themselves and the next thing I remember I was back in my room and my sister was trying to wake me up. Throughout the rest of the day and night they come in and give you various types of medicine, pain, antibiotics etc. At one point they make you get up and walk around. I was fine so I just walked around to washroom and stuff on my own after that between nap. My sister returned to hotel about dinner time so she could eat there and spend the night. Hotel shuttle took her back.

Tuesday: Doctor comes around and gives you a prescription for various meds that costs about 156.00 us dollars which you must buy before you leave clinic to have at hotel and take home with you. Nurse shows you how to empty drain on your own at hotel. Its easy. Shuttle back to hotel.

Wednesday: Back to clinic to have dressing changed

Thursday: Back to clinic to have drain removed and xray and leak test. Then waited around for driving to take me back to San Diego airport.

The hotel gives you all the chicken broth and popsicles you want in room or in restaurant. I did some of both. They maids leave water for you although they forgot a couple of time but we called and they brought it right up. My sister enjoyed the food at the restaurant and room service and the prices are reasonable. My sister is a bit of a candy addict, they didnt have much in the little store so she walked about 3 blocks up the hill to walmart to stock up. The area around hotel seems pretty safe. The hotel has a nice pool area that we lyed around at for awhile but you cant swim with drain and the water is cold.

Any questions just ask.