November 7, 2013 at Mi Doctor....Anyone else?

[Bob Barnett 34]

Is it a private group? I'm not telling most ppl.

[Phillygal64 10]

Is it a private group? I'm not telling most ppl.

Very much so Bob, I'm not telling anyone either. Nothing will show on your feed to your friends, only you and other members of the group can see posts.

[jenjo11072013 22]

Great Jenjo11072013, it's going to be great!! I had a great experience and still can't believe I'm still able to eat anything I want, but only 3-4 ounces!! Love it!! And you're going to to. Are you going through aligherme. If so, you're going to love Janese, Abraham and Eduardo!!! Tell them I said hi

YES! I am using alighterme.com! My friend referred me to them and they have been exceptional so far!! I am counting down the days!! I have 13 days until i start the pre-op diet!! The paperwork was super easy and fast! I have added Dr. Ortiz on Facebook, Abraham, Janese, and Eduardo....and talked to all of them many times except Dr. Ortiz. The only reason I haven't talked to him is because normally Janese or the guys can answer my questions and I don't want to bother him---he'll be seeing me soon enough! LOL! I am so glad your experience has been so great! That gives me great faith! I have dreamed of doing something about my weight since I was 10 years old, but never dreamed it would come true. I had tried every diet/exercise plan with failed attempts since I was little. I am so glad there is hope for me and that I can change my life! Keep in touch!! I know I have questions closer to time about what to take, etc.

[jenjo11072013 22]

I needed to read this so bad. My family is not supportive and think I'm going to end up butchered by going to Mexico. Is tough to not have support! This was great for me to read.

Bob- I have also had friends and family NOT approve of where I am going.....but really, what is the difference? More than likely in big cities, you don't know the operating surgeon on a personal level either. I had a car accident in 2009 which required lots of neck stuff..... I had to have a myelogram (prob spelled wrong) where they strapped me to this bed, I was wide awake on my stomach and they went in and injected large needles in my spinal cord filled with blue dye.... It was traumatic, horrid pain....I laid there and it was like a nightmare. They yelled one inch move would paralyze me... Once it was done, I was taken to recovery. I had to lay flat 24 hours so that the dye wouldnt get in my brain. They did tons of MRI's and catscans to see where the dye had travelled to depict nerve damage. I did NOT know any of those people. I was in a big city hospital and had never met any doctors, nurses, or ANYONE prior to being wheeled into that room. How is that experience any different than this one??? I was told it was a normal procedure (the myelogram) and that there are risks like everything. I didn't know the people and I just had to trust in faith that I was doing what was best. People are only afraid because it is a "foreign" country. There are plenty of mistakes made in the USA...this place isn't perfect either. I am 150% confident with my decision to go to Mexico. It has been hasslefree, a great experience so far, and I am confident in the medical team there...let's be honest, if Dr. Ortiz crossed the border line in the USA 15 miles into CA, people would be OK with him performing the surgeries because he is on USA Soil. It all comes down to him being from "out of the country" that scares people. In 28 years, I have had gallbladder surgery, a birth of a child, ankle surgery....and many other things and the only person I had even met beforehand was the OB Dr. who showed up in the room 2 minutes before my kid hatched out and to catch it. I can't even tell you any of the names of the surgeons, doctors, nurses, or "put you to sleep" people from any of my other surgeries/illnesses. Therefore, this will be JUST FINE. This man specializes in this and does several per day! He has seen several thousand stomachs and does the same procedure over and over versus a US Doctor who might do a vertical sleeve, but also do 10 other surgeries as well, which makes him not as "experienced" in the vertical sleeve operation because he does so many other things, too. I hope that makes sense and this message can reassure you that I believe everything will be just fine and that we ARE making a wise decision. Maybe this will help---- I was speaking to a preacher the other day who told me that God loves each of us. He wants us to take care of our temple (our body) and tat he wants us to live a healthy and happy life. And that if something is preventing us from living that, he would want us to change or get help to correct that issue. If being overweight is preventing us from that healthy happy lifestyle, he would WANT us to get help and change our life to live that life he had planned for us. An example... needing glasses... If you can't see, God wants to you to what you need to so that you can enjoy life and live it to the fullest. I know my God loves me and I know he will protect me and bless whatever doctor WHERE EVER he performs surgeries so that I may live a happier, HEALTHY life. I hope this helps you, Bob. Prayers your way as you reach for support and understanding from your close friends and family!

[jenjo11072013 22]

It's Nov 13th. I'm ready to go on with it.

I am going November 7th, so I will just miss seeing you there!! If you want, you can contact me while I am there.... Just message me if so....and I can give you my cell. They said its free WIFI, so calls to and from my phone should be free as well as text messages! I am all about documenting this journey and I would be happy to share!

[jenjo11072013 22]

Bob, I'm sure you will be fine. Mi Doctor is less than 3 miles from the border. As a matter of fact, I watched the traffic every morning I was there from my windown backed up to cross the border to California. I beleive the hotel (Hyatt) was less than 5 miles. Walmart was less than 1 mile from the hotel and my sister walked there several times by herself!! Other patients did too.

My sister insisted on going with me, but I was perfectly willing to go alone. She had a wonderful time and was really impressed with the hotel, Drs., MiDoctor and everything. We (or she rather) ate at the outdoor food trucks, we walked around Tijuana and made purchases and not once did we feel threatened. There was a lot of car and foot traffic. Dr. Ortiz was very friendly and information and there were 3 doctors in the operating room during my surgery. I felt safe and confident. As I said, I've had no pain from the surgery at all, no naseau, vomiting, nor gas. Thank God! I've been up and walking since the surgery and losing weight and inches.

When I was there, there were so many others there (coming and going) having the surgery. The day I was leaving, I met a husband, wife, mother and mother-in-law, who all had the surgery and were all doing fine.

Just keep researching, let them read the boards, veiw videos on youtube and ask questions of us (they can ask me anything), so that they will feel more comfortable with you going.

When is your surgery?!

Thanks so much for more reassuring words to make me glad I made this decision! Funny you mentioned families coming together for the surgery, as my mom and I will be travelling together and getting the surgery at the same time! We will be in the same hospital room, the same hotel room, etc. LOL! Nothing like some good mother/daughter bonding!! Forget mother daugther tattoos, we are going all out with the vertical sleeve!

[ChihuahuaMom 23]

We may see each other - my surgery date is November 5, I'll be at Hospital MI Doctor and the Marriott. Looks like I am going by myself, I'm a little scared but confident that I'll be well taken care of. My doctor is alejandro lopez. Have heard the assisting doc will probably be Dr. Cabrera.

And Jenjo - I had the horrid myelogram experience myself back in june. They told me the same thing! Don't jump or "there could be damage." Horrid nasty zinger all the way down to my foot - I screamed like a banshee but didn't move.

I'm so looking forward to having this done. Due to spine problems I can't exercise like I've done my whole life. I'm just dieting to gain back every pound I lost, and then more each time. Done with it, I'm making my bones & spine worse with the added weight.

Hey - we do have the same doc! His full name is Alejandro Lopez Ortega. Cool!

Edited October 14, 2013 by ChihuahuaMom