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Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the OCC



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Remind me again - i may have asked this, but I can't remember. If any of you traveled alone, when you were in the hospital that night, who watched your purse/luggage? was it locked up somewhere while you were in surgery and recovery?

 

Hi, I'm new - still in contemplation phase after getting bounced from the program in the province of Ontario, Canada.

 

I will be totally on my own doing this and would like to know the answer to this question, too, please.  So many of you are talking about bringing rather large amounts of cash with you.

 

Thank you.

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There was one gal in our group that travelled there alone. Not sure what she did with her valuables. You do get your own private room, so keeping your luggage there isn't a problem, and the clinic itself is very secure... Enter through a locked underground garage, then up a secure elevator where a key is required and then another locked, coded door to get into the surgical area and patient rooms. If you are going down the day before and staying at the Marriott, they may have a place you can store your luggage for one night since you will be back the next day. As for your $$$$, I guess I'd ask your coordinator (Lori or Carolyn) what your options are.

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I went alone. Had my surgery on Nov. 21st. I brought a combination lock for my suitcase & locked it before I went into surgery. I removed some clothing so my purse would fit. In the hotel rooms there is a safe in each room.

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Oh yeah, I forgot about the safe in the room. I put my extra cash, passport and ipad in the safe when we went out.

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I got out of the hospital yesterday and to the Marriott. I can say my experience so far has been great. No complications. I will say you have to walk alot. Walk walk walk. I asked Dr. Ortiz when I first met him, what can I do to get the drain out as soon as possible. He said a few things... eat the ice chips, walk as much as you can, and drink when you get done with leak test. I walked my butt off and had drain and IV removed the morning I left the hospital. I've walked to Walmart twice now and today was much easier than yesterday. Fantastic experience for surgery and recovery. I'll have to write up my experience in a full post soon.

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If memory suits me well, if traveling alone, the night you stay at OCC after surgery you need to ring all your belongings with you. Do not leave them in the hotel room because when you come back they may be putting you in a different room. I never feared the safety of my belongings personally.

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I traveled alone, Dec 17 - 22, 2013. When you go to the hospital, you take your luggage with you. I put my purse in my suitcase under my clothes and just zipped it up. I had other stuff on top of my suitcase. I was very concerned about this before traveling. No one bothered anything. You and your possessions are very safe!

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Hi, I'm new - still in contemplation phase after getting bounced from the program in the province of Ontario, Canada.

I will be totally on my own doing this and would like to know the answer to this question, too, please. So many of you are talking about bringing rather large amounts of cash with you.

Thank you.

I brought 450$ that was way more than enough. Just get lots of ones and 5s for tipping. I'm three days out still here. I would come alone in a heartbeat.between OCC and Marriott they petty much hold your hand through the whole process.

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I got out of the hospital yesterday and to the Marriott. I can say my experience so far has been great. No complications. I will say you have to walk alot. Walk walk walk. I asked Dr. Ortiz when I first met him, what can I do to get the drain out as soon as possible. He said a few things... eat the ice chips, walk as much as you can, and drink when you get done with leak test. I walked my butt off and had drain and IV removed the morning I left the hospital. I've walked to Walmart twice now and today was much easier than yesterday. Fantastic experience for surgery and recovery. I'll have to write up my experience in a full post soon.

I hope you are feeling well. I will arrive on Sunday.

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Congrats Mazzers!! Glad all went well.

 

Happy New Year everyone! I can't even tell you all how excited about this year- vacations, horseback riding, and zip lining are all on my to-do list. So many changes with my body so fast is overwhelming but definitely welcome. Yay 2014!!!

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Congrats Mazzers!! Glad all went well.

Happy New Year everyone! I can't even tell you all how excited about this year- vacations, horseback riding, and zip lining are all on my to-do list. So many changes with my body so fast is overwhelming but definitely welcome. Yay 2014!!!

Glad to hear from you and that things are going well. I made my mom read this thread before I had surgery and she now asks me "how's that barb2 gal doing?" :)

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Today start my 3 day clear liquids only. My surgery is Monday. I will arrive on Sunday afternoon.

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Today start my 3 day Clear Liquids only. My surgery is Monday. I will arrive on Sunday afternoon.

Good luck .... You are 3 days closer!! I'm a week away!

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Good luck .... You are 3 days closer!! I'm a week away!

I can't wait. I leave out on Sunday.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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