Hello, My name is Kristie, I am 28 and I am considering a GSP through OCC in Tijuana Mexico. The prospect of surgery alone is both terrifying and exhilarating( because, god-willing, I will finally have a shot at the life I have dreamed of for so long). I settled on the sleeve because it seems to be the safest option for me, because there is no cutting, no rearranging (or removal of a portion) of my intestines, no chance of leaks, dumping syndrome as with bypass or slippage as with the band. The idea of permanently removing a portion of my stomach kinda gives me the willies, I am not at all comfortable with that idea. I considered it for about a day because of the speedier weight loss and such but couldn't MAKE myself be okay with idea of cutting up my stomach. The one semi-major downfall I have read about it is that the thing that produces grehlin remains intact so you still feel hungry. I had an experience like what I imagine the person posting that went through when I was pregnant. I was hungry constantly and even if I did manage to get satiated within and hour I was hungry again... I don't know how I feel about reliving that since I hated it so much the first time around, and this time I may deal with it for the rest of my life. On the flip side I don't generally eat unless I feel hungry, so maybe its a good thing, I am not really sure.

My reason for posting today is to get some feedback on having the surgery abroad. I will probably never be able to afford it in the US since my insurance won't touch it and my credit is non-existent, so I feel like surgery abroad is my only real option. My family thinks I am insane, and sometime I wonder myself, but I see it as my only option. Can you please fill me in on your experiences? The more detailed the better. How long where you gone? What happened when you got there? Was the staff professional and knowledgeable? What happened after surgery? Would you do it again? If not, is that because of the facility or the procedure itself? If you believe it was the procedure do you believe you would have had better outcome in the states?

Thanks in advance!

ETA: Oop's I think I put this in the wrong place. Sorry!! Feel free to move it if you can.

Oh No..... I gotta get a handle on this now while my BMI is 38 and not wait till I am 58. Hunger is my issue.... S

Well Dr. Ortiz does the sleeve also, if you do more research and decide to change I'm sure he won't mind.

I changed my mind as they were pushing my bed down to the operating room.....

ci

I am signed up at the OCC with DR Ortiz in MEX. I am in CA and have an easy time flying out of RENO NEVADA into SAN DIEGO. I can get a cheap flight. $132 home as it is one more day. I am dealing with the Patient advocate Carolyn and chatted with her this am. Researched flights and can get a great flight home on the 31st which is one Xtra day that is needed for the sleeve...... UGH. U only have to commit to one more day I am told.....

SUrgery set for 12/27/11...Had to get a passport and have a business and cannot leave till then....

That's why I'm not revising the stomach. The hunger issue will come back eventually. I'm close to getting the DS, at least with that you eat high protein and full fat food (still low carbs though). It is a complicated surgery and you need to stick to taking your vitamins and getting in 100g protein per day (possibly more for guys, I'm not sure). If you're interested there's more info on http://www.dsfacts.com/

Oh No..... I gotta get a handle on this now while my BMI is 38 and not wait till I am 58. Hunger is my issue.... S

I had mine done in TJ with Dr. Corvala at Hospital Angeles. So far at 6 weeks or so I am down about 34 pounds. My starting weight was 250 and I am 5'6" so I have 100+ lbs to lose.. I had a great hospital experience and little to no bruising. I had a fast recovery and and am extremely happy with my results. Now to be fair I have had other surgerys and I recover quickly and I am a healthy person, no HBP or DB.

I had mine done in TJ with Dr. Corvala at Hospital Angeles. So far at 6 weeks or so I am down about 34 pounds. My starting weight was 250 and I am 5'6" so I have 100+ lbs to lose.. I had a great hospital experience and little to no bruising. I had a fast recovery and and am extremely happy with my results. Now to be fair I have had other surgerys and I recover quickly and I am a healthy person, no HBP or DB.

I sure appreciate all the contacts from all both on the Net and personally by email. I have given this alot of thought and the Roux en Y was just not something I wanted to do. The band was not either. I wanted the Plication and after working with alot of U all on info given to me, this website and some other research, I am opting for the Sleeve Plication (Cutting excess stomach off after stapling).

U know U guys, I am 50, service retired from my career, and in my 2nd passion of Breeding, raising and showing standard Poodles. Check out my website if U get a chance sometime, www.MarquisDiamondStandardPoodles.com

The last year, I had some depression issues that came following the care of my Mom and I ate myself to this disgusting weight...

Crept up on me it seems.

I am so fat and my knees are so shot, I was at a dog show this last weekend and on SUN nite, I crawled around the house and was not able to move easily on my feet for 2 days. That is flat disgusting for a 50 year old female that always lead an active life.

I blew out my knees sky diving in my 30's and now need rebuilds but my ortho Dr that is a GREAT guy said I am too fat.

UGH

It sounds as though I am close in weight and height (5'7" and 245/38 BMI) as alot of U that have stepped up to answer me so I know I am doing the right thing while my size is what it is.

I have now ordered all the Bariatric foods and Vitamins needed for Pre Op diet and Post op follow up

I got my passport ordered, surgery set at OCC for Dec 27, 2011 with Dr Ortiz and SET for the Sleeve, Plane Tickets ordered and I wait.

I am so hopeful I make it down and back without a hitch. As with Lauraleigh and Darlis, it sounds as though both have done well and are glad to have had the experience and are loosing

I wish I could have had my Blue Cross cover the bill but after 2 times of DENIALS as I am not FAT ENOUGH, I guess walking is not important, I gotta do something. I cannot live like this U guys.

This sucks....I am trapped in a body that is killing me and Blue Cross that I have paid into FOREVER will not assist me? I filed good appeals too. All RED TAPE BS I guess. Who cares there as I am just a number.

Thank goodness I was able to find all of U to help me understand all this, talk thru this, find Carolyn Williamson the Patient Advocate at OCC AND the local lady Millie that had it done in Mexico and be patient with me to ease my mind on my choice to go forward.

I will keep up with all on this and let U know how all goes.....

Please email me personally if there is anything more I need to know.

Thank U all and I wish all a healing heart thru their journey and many more skinny clothes!

You will be at goal before U know it!!

Ms Lauraleigh, You will be at goal before U know it!!

You say "I am opting for the Sleeve Plication (Cutting excess stomach off after stapling)." That's the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) not the plication (very important when speaking to your surgeon/co-ordinator). Either way, you should lose more with that surgery.

Hopefully your knees will improve when you lose some weight. I know mine will get better when I lose some weight.

I sure appreciate all the contacts from all both on the Net and personally by email. I have given this alot of thought and the Roux en Y was just not something I wanted to do. The band was not either. I wanted the Plication and after working with alot of U all on info given to me, this website and some other research, I am opting for the Sleeve Plication (Cutting excess stomach off after stapling).

U know U guys, I am 50, service retired from my career, and in my 2nd passion of Breeding, raising and showing standard Poodles. Check out my website if U get a chance sometime, www.MarquisDiamondStandardPoodles.com

The last year, I had some depression issues that came following the care of my Mom and I ate myself to this disgusting weight...

Crept up on me it seems.

I am so fat and my knees are so shot, I was at a dog show this last weekend and on SUN nite, I crawled around the house and was not able to move easily on my feet for 2 days. That is flat disgusting for a 50 year old female that always lead an active life.

I blew out my knees sky diving in my 30's and now need rebuilds but my ortho Dr that is a GREAT guy said I am too fat.

UGH

It sounds as though I am close in weight and height (5'7" and 245/38 BMI) as alot of U that have stepped up to answer me so I know I am doing the right thing while my size is what it is.

I have now ordered all the Bariatric foods and Vitamins needed for Pre Op diet and Post op follow up

I got my passport ordered, surgery set at OCC for Dec 27, 2011 with Dr Ortiz and SET for the Sleeve, Plane Tickets ordered and I wait.

I am so hopeful I make it down and back without a hitch. As with Lauraleigh and Darlis, it sounds as though both have done well and are glad to have had the experience and are loosing

I wish I could have had my Blue Cross cover the bill but after 2 times of DENIALS as I am not FAT ENOUGH, I guess walking is not important, I gotta do something. I cannot live like this U guys.

This sucks....I am trapped in a body that is killing me and Blue Cross that I have paid into FOREVER will not assist me? I filed good appeals too. All RED TAPE BS I guess. Who cares there as I am just a number.

Thank goodness I was able to find all of U to help me understand all this, talk thru this, find Carolyn Williamson the Patient Advocate at OCC AND the local lady Millie that had it done in Mexico and be patient with me to ease my mind on my choice to go forward.

I will keep up with all on this and let U know how all goes.....

Please email me personally if there is anything more I need to know.

Thank U all and I wish all a healing heart thru their journey and many more skinny clothes!

Got it. VSG. I am still learning. I am hopeful this will all come together. I have a friend that told me there was a post about someone that got a leak in their stomach and their USA Dr would not assist them due to malpractice insurance issues and that the surgery was acheived in Mexico.

Any experience with this for anyone out there that has gone abroad for the surgery and had issues where repair was a problem country to country?

Got it. VSG. I am still learning. I am hopeful this will all come together. I have a friend that told me there was a post about someone that got a leak in their stomach and their USA Dr would not assist them due to malpractice insurance issues and that the surgery was acheived in Mexico.

Any experience with this for anyone out there that has gone abroad for the surgery and had issues where repair was a problem country to country?

Try searching EuroGirl's posts or try private mailing her.

Sounds like there is some info I may not want to get.....Or should and am scared to? Thank U for the lead. S

Sounds like there is some info I may not want to get.....Or should and am scared to? Thank U for the lead. S

It is going to be a roller coaster ride of emotions from now until your surgery, this is normal....and if you look hard enough you will always find something to be scared of, but this is the right decision for your health,...and everything will be just fine. Don't let your emotions get the best of you.

When I would get scared I would look at other peoples before and after pics, that always amazed me to think I could lose that much weight, and I am losing it , and I feel great.

The hardest part was making a decision and going for it.

I researched Dr. Ortiz alot before my surgery and he looks excellent, you are going to be in great hands, there is nothing to worry about.

Your whole life is about to change for the better, trust me.

_{I really am OK but I always am searching. I have had alot of surgeries before and have been under a few times. Mostly Knees, carpal tunnel, female stuff . I think Dr Ortiz had good reviews and I am commited. I am always thinking though. Thank U , S}

Mom2two, just wanted to let you know, as you're considering OCC, that both of my parents and myself had surgery there in the beginning of August. They both had plication and I had the sleeve. Everything went super smoothly for all 3 of us, zero complications. As far as weight loss, it's been about 10-11 weeks and my Dad has lost around 50 lbs., I've lost around 40 lbs., and my Mom's lost around 30 lbs. So, our weight loss seems more determined by how much we had to lose than by the type of surgery we had, as my Dad had the most to lose (BMI around 40), then me (BMI around 35), then my Mom (BMI around 30). Good luck on whatever decision you make. I feel very confident in my decision with Dr. Ortiz and would definitely recommend him.