I need some help. I am so nervous about making this decision. I have been doing a lot of research and these are the 2 final places I have decided to have my procedure done. Can anyone give me some experience or advice for either place? I am the type of person that has to be 100% sure...I am just so nervous.

Thanks.

Hi - I'm 2 weeks out tomorrow (friday) having my sleeve surgery with Dr. Ortiz. I reasearched and researched and had it narrowed to Aceves, Kelly and Ortiz. I spoke with my bariatric surgeon here at home and he was aware that if I couldnt get insurance to pay for it here, that I was planning to go to MX to get it done. When they did refuse, before I could even show him my list, he said go to Dr. Ariel Ortiz.

My Experience with OCC has been really great. My patient coordinator was Carolyn and she was on top of everything, responded right away to all my questions and was very supportive. Not once did I feel like anything was a sales pitch as I had with another doctors coordinator who tried to make it sound like other doctors always had issues but hers never did.

Getting to the hospital was well coordinated. The driver called me when we landed in San DIego and told me where to meet him. The hospital was clean and well staffed. Lucia the nutritionist was nice and has answered several questons since i've been home. Dr. Jimenez the cardiologist answered all my husbands questions and was also very nice. Dr. Martinez who assisted Ortiz with the surgery has an amazing bedside manner. He checked on me and made sure I wasn't having any pain.

The post op stay at the Marriott was great. The hotel was really nice, updated and they are ready for the sleeve patients offering 3 bowls of broth each day along with bottled water and popcicles.

I personally have had very little pain and recovery has been a breeze. Worst part for me was the drain that you go to the hotel with; the stich was tight, and was little uncomfortable, but it comes out the day your going home. I've kept in contact with a few of the other patients who were sleeved on the same day and it seems we have all had a pretty easy recovery.

Happy to answer any questions, just reach out :-)

Cherbear,

I appreciate your response. As I was reading it I just felt like a lot more calm about a decision to use the OCC. I had a friend go there and had a good experience, but as I have researched there is just so much to consider and so many places. I just want to choose the right place for me and I think I am leaning more and more towards the OCC. Thank you so much.

I went with Dr. Aceves back in March and I couldn't be more pleased with my care.

Here is a link to my experience. Once I was home and settled I wanted to share every last detail.

I am not a coordinator. I do not get paid for referrals. I give you my word. I just put a lot of thought and time into sharing the details of my journey to pay it forward and helping others find peace of mind while making this decision.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/74149-dr-aceves-mexicali-and-me/

Good luck making your decision. :-)

I agree with everything Cherbear said! I was there June 10th and had a wonderful experience. I never had any pain or nauseousness and haven't had any issues at all. Dr. Ortiz and the whole staff are so nice, patient and will happily answer any questions you have. Far better care than I have ever gotten in the US.

I also went alone and it was heavenly. I'm a single mom to an 8 year old so the fact I could rest, nap and not have to answer any questions was awesome!

Best of luck with your decision!

I'm trying to decide between those two myself... I'm leaning towards OCC. have you scheduled a date yet?

I was sleeved in the US and my husband was sleeved 3 weeks later at the OCC by dr. Ortiz.

His experience was very similar to mine and he is very skeptical of doctors and said he was well taken care and recommends OCC an Dr. Ortiz any day.

I had Dr Ortiz at the Mi Hospital & Dr Lopez was in there to they were both VERY GOOD and they really care about there patients I seen them everyday even came to the Marriott to take out drain and to check up on me . I am very pleased I was sleeved on June 7th of this year and I feel GREAT !!! I'm down almost 90lbs