I've read mostly positive posts about Dr. Ortiz and OCC on this and other forums. A few people don't seem to like his "celebrity" status and I did find some older complaints about their bands. Anyone out there with bad experiences or complications with their sleeves from him?

@@mkw10 Lucia gave me two target weights for my surgery. She said at a minimum, I needed to lose 13, but wanted me to aim for 25. I ended up losing 16.

Edited January 13, 201511 yr by JamieLogical

Unfortunately I have one goal that's to get my bmi under 50 which is 270-272 I weigh 293

Unfortunately I have one goal that's to get my bmi under 50 which is 270-272 I weigh 293

Lucia also checked in on me via email during my pre-op diet. You may want to go ahead and contact her and tell her about your concerns and see what she has to say about it.

@@mkw10 - you should certainly

Contact Lucia and let her know what's happening. She is full of experience and will want to be in the loop, so she can help surgery happen when it should. I cut back to 2 shakes and 60oz of water to loose a little faster towards the end. Make SURE your water intake happens. It's vital to your body losing fat. Also make sure your taking all supplements and your lypo solve or lots of green tea ( fat burners!)

Surgery completed!!! YAY??? No pain, no nausea, great care all the way. Still groggy from the anesthesia buy that's all! Up and walking about and sipping on juice and water! No pain at all with that!

Congrats and welcome to the losers bench

So happy to have this thread back! I wanted to post a quick update. I had my 5 month surgeversary on Feb.1 and so far I am down 43 pounds post-op. Almost 70 pounds since I started losing pre-op!

I feel great and I'm working on increasing the intensity of my workouts. Still trying to figure out how to get in some more calories, as I'm worried that I'm not eating enough to sustain the level of exercise I want to be doing. I want to do Couch to 5k.

Congrats Jamie!! I'm 1 week post op today !! So glad to see this topic back also.. I felt so lost got my first call today from the OCC asking how I am.. I'm doing great event went back to work today( non physical) went thru 2 days with severe allowed abdominal pain before bowel movements.. Thought I was going to deliver something lol.. Got thru it and now I feel fantastic! Still doing the liquid but Sunday I will start with cream soups etc.. Little struggle getting in the liquids however I'm still working on it.. Just the sipping I find very hard as I want to gulp..

@@Andrea Barnes Douglas Glad you are doing so well. Be sure to post any questions and concerns as you go through your recovery. We've all been there!

Has anyone use y his doctor in Mexico? Can you give me prices and recommendations in Mexico. Thanks

There are too fairly popular doctor's by the name "Ortiz", so can you be more specific? Dr. Ariel Ortiz with the Obesity Control Center was my surgeon, but there is also a popular doctor by the name of Elias Ortiz.

Yay, the thread is back!! Got my surgery coming up on April 6th. Starting weight was 301, and as of Sunday I am down to 290! I was really worried that I wouldn't lose the 5-10% pre-op weight, but I'm almost to my 5% goal!

 

I also haven't told many people about my choice to have surgery. In fact, the only ones I've told are people who live out of state, lol! After I'm back and post-op, I plan to be very open and honest with my decision to have surgery. I just think that for me, with my family and friends, this is going to be one of those "easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" situations. Although really, I'm not asking for forgiveness OR permission! I am a grown woman, and this is my choice. I just don't want to deal with all the drama and lectures beforehand. In the same vein, once I really started focusing on eating the nutritionist-recommended low-carb diet, I told my local friends and family that my doctor and nutritionist collaborated and put me on this diet. It's the truth, I just don't correct their assumptions that my *local* doctor and nutritionist are the prescribers.

@@LadyVSG Awesome you are doing so well losing weight pre-op and you aren't even on the liquid diet yet! I lost 24 pounds total pre-op. Something like 13 pounds in the 5 weeks before my liquid diet and 11 pounds in the 2 weeks of the liquid diet. As long as you are in that 5-10% range, Lucia will be really happy.

I had my sleeve surgery on OCT 01 and so far I am down 82 pounds. Started at 285 and I am now 203 and I am still losing! I have gone from size 42 waist to size 36, from 2XL to LG shirts. I no long take cholesterol meds, triglyceride meds, and I've just came off my blood pressure meds. I am only taking vitamins. I am a happy camper!!! I'm getting lots of compliments and I feel so much better physically & mentally. Physical chores and even exercise are so much easier. VSG was a great decision for me. I have so many plans for my life and now I think I will actually live long enough to enjoy those plans. Best wishes to all...

Well I was doing awesome!! As far as surgery goes I think I still am.. HOWEVER these loose bowels are getting the better of me. Yes I got Imodium and gastralite ( spelling) everything is fine till I move around then OMG I hardly every get to the washroom in time ???? I'm day 8 post op. It didn't start till day 4. It's literally made me house bound, not to mention hemroids TMI I know.. I called the surgeon he said it will pass.. I started yogurt in the mornings an I will be starting cream soups tomorrow. I'm getting at least 1 protein shake in a day along with broth and Popsicles. And water.. It's just everything I consume is coming out as fast as it goes in!!! Please help!! Has anyone experienced this? I wrote on a few other forums but not getting any replies... #housebound