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Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the OCC



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So I have spent the past few months researching this surgery and several different doctors. I can honestly say that this website and all of the AMAZING people on this particular thread have helped me with this decision. That being said... I have paid my deposit!!! I am going to the amazing OCC!! The deposit is nonrefundable so it looks like I’m going through with it! The reality of it hasn’t really hit yet. This is literally life changing. But to be honest I’m terrified. I’m not scared of the surgery. That doesn’t bother me at all. It’s life after the surgery that scares me. How do I do “thin” or smaller in general? I’ve always been the thick or big girl. I know how to act and how to expect others to act when I'm big. So after this surgery when I lose a bunch of this excess baggage how do I adjust? Is anyone else scared of who you’ll become after surgery?

Cassie congrats on your decision! I think you're right- the surgery is the easier part and the aftermath is a lot harder mentally to deal with. People do treat you different and you have to mentally maintain a sense of self constantly in those situations. I'm the same person whether I'm my size now or over 300lbs. It seems like people have a harder time adjusting to being around you than you have adjusting to the new you. I admit I'm sure it is a shock when you look totally different than you ever have, but some of the comments are annoying. My mom said to me "don't act a b!&$h now that you look good" the other day when I went to visit my father and all I said was that I didn't want to hear his nurses personal problems that day I just wanted to visit with my dad. I listen to his nurse talk nonstop regularly but I just didn't want to hear it that day but I'm still trying to figure out what that has to do with how I look. I'm going to let it go, but things like that where people treat you different and make reference to your loss or your look will happen all the time. Im no different than I was 10 months ago and I wouldn't have wanted to hear his nurse talk whether I was fat or thin or somewhere in between. I just think it's important to be yourself and remain aware of that through the process.

Edited by back2barb78

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I just sent you a PM. And be sure to read the "Dr. Ariel Ortiz and Obesity Control Center" thread on here...very long but informative.

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Hey Kindle, Can you please PM me also.  I value your opinion and am seriously considering Dr. Elias Ortiz. 

 

Thanks.

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Cassie congrats on your decision! I think you're right- the surgery is the easier part and the aftermath is a lot harder mentally to deal with. People do treat you different and you have to mentally maintain a sense of self constantly in those situations. I'm the same person whether I'm my size now or over 300lbs. It seems like people have a harder time adjusting to being around you than you have adjusting to the new you. I admit I'm sure it is a shock when you look totally different than you ever have, but some of the comments are annoying. My mom said to me "don't act a b!&$h now that you look good" the other day when I went to visit my father and all I said was that I didn't want to hear his nurses personal problems that day I just wanted to visit with my dad. I listen to his nurse talk nonstop regularly but I just didn't want to hear it that day but I'm still trying to figure out what that has to do with how I look. I'm going to let it go, but things like that where people treat you different and make reference to your loss or your look will happen all the time. Im no different than I was 10 months ago and I wouldn't have wanted to hear his nurse talk whether I was fat or thin or somewhere in between. I just think it's important to be yourself and remain aware of that through the process.

I agree, don't let anybody tell you it's cause of the way you look, that's silly, sometimes it is better to listen then try to fight it though.. I've learned the hard way! Lol

 

I got measured for new uniforms today at work which we are not getting for at least a month after my surgery, to be honest I was happy because I was thinking by the time I get them I'll be at least 4 weeks post op and they will be big on me :) the girl there was kinda annoying, I really hate when skinny people use their size as a way to measure you. She looked at me said she's a medium so I must at least be an XL, when I told her my pant size she insist I try something 2-4 sizes bigger. A

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Hey Kindle, Can you please PM me also.  I value your opinion and am seriously considering Dr. Elias Ortiz. 

 

Thanks.

Will do, but I had surgery with Dr. Ariel Ortiz and Dr. Martinez at OCC, not Dr. Elias Ortiz.< /p>

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I used Dr. Ariel Ortiz at OCC last December, not one single regret.  Fantastic experience all the way around.  I would not hesitate to recommend OCC.

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I will contact OCC and see if I can get things rolling! Thanks for the feedback! Very helpful.

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@@mmhutch was it with Dr. E. Ortiz or the other one?

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@@mmhutch was it with Dr. E. Ortiz or the other one?

It was Elias Ortiz.

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Dr. Elias Ortiz on November 6, 2014. Can't wait.

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Well I hope our paths cross. It would be nice to know someone who is on the same journey :)

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It depends on how experienced a surgeon you want. I just had surgery with Dr Wilhemy in Mexicali and previously my mom had had surgery with Dr. Aceves. Both very good experiences and great results so far. We preferred to pay more once to reduce our chances of a complication being at a better hospital and also having senior surgeon with more experience. There are always risks but a 25 year surgeon vs a young surgeon is always better in my book. That was my personal choice. I had surgery to be healthy and be around for my kids for a long long time so I spent more to be safer and ensure better results long term.

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Hi TexasJess,

Apparently they have been sending me emails and I am not getting them, I added them to my contact list and asked them to send a test email and have heard nothing further from them. Dr. So did contact me, and made some recommendation for the reflux, including the possible need for another test. We shall see. I am on the newest latest and greatest reflux medication and drinking gavascon straight from the bottle... LMAO. Yes the stalls cause me terrible anxiety, because you don't want to be the person that spent all the money and FAILED! but in those times I come on here read about how peculiarly normal I am and then remember to trust the program and my tool. I did measurements and I am due to measure again September 1st. I am noticing a huge difference in my clothes :) Back down to a size 11!! Excited for the day the single digits are back, and I will be starting back at  cross fit next week. Cant wait to be FIT :) I hope all is well with you, have you started any physical activity greater than walking yet?

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Leaving this afternoon for my surgery at OCC tomorrow! I'll be sure to post ASAP after the surgery to let you all know how it went.

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
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    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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