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?

Just got checked in at the Marriott, surgery in the morning! I know I get two free bottles of water every day while I'm here, but I was wondering if people found that sufficient? I'm by myself, so I have to check out tomorrow when I go to OCC & I don't want to have to lug a bunch of stuff from Wal-Mart around with me, you know?

OMG Kindle you posted that postop plan and it brought back memories. I would say the last days of the full liquid diet are a beast to get through!! I never was able to get my water in because the restriction is no joke. It took at least a year my sleeve is so tight. But I'm thankful and would do it 10 times over to be where I am now wearing these clothes and people who don't know that I had WLS calling me teensy. Congrats to the new sleevers and the new ones to come!! I'm 18 months post, down 173lbs, and an official gym rat!! Awesome

Just got checked in at the Marriott, surgery in the morning! I know I get two free bottles of water every day while I'm here, but I was wondering if people found that sufficient? I'm by myself, so I have to check out tomorrow when I go to OCC & I don't want to have to lug a bunch of stuff from Wal-Mart around with me, you know?

Lady VSG I wouldn't go buy any water. I bought water and Gatorade and took most of it home including hotel waters I wasn't able to drink. If you need more the hotels got it. They actually gave me and my parents extra bottles anyway. You don't want to waste money or take anything heavy home when you leave. I overpacked and my mom had to drag my heavy luggage while I handled her small one which was fine for me.

OMG Kindle you posted that postop plan and it brought back memories. I would say the last days of the full liquid diet are a beast to get through!! I never was able to get my water in because the restriction is no joke. It took at least a year my sleeve is so tight. But I'm thankful and would do it 10 times over to be where I am now wearing these clothes and people who don't know that I had WLS calling me teensy. Congrats to the new sleevers and the new ones to come!! I'm 18 months post, down 173lbs, and an official gym rat!! Awesome

That is SO Awesome! 173 pounds is amazing!

Just checking in! Surgery went GREAT this morning! Dr. Ortiz came in to do the pre-op spiel and I was completely unprepared for how attractive that man is in real life! Granted, all the staff here seem to be beautiful, so I guess I should have expected that. I got a breathing treatment before the surgery, and another afterwards once I was back in my room. When I went into the OR & got on the table, the anesthesiologist put something in my IV he said would make me groggy, and boy did it ever! As soon as he put the face ask on me I was out like a light, he didn't even get a chance to tell me to count backwards. I woke up in the recovery room around 1, I think. Dozed off and on until 2:30 or so, when I asked if I could go to the bathroom. They sat me on the edge of the bed for 10 minutes first to try & let me adjust, and then one of the nurses helped walk me to the bathroom. Went back to bed and woke up around 4:30. So far not having any pain really, my incisions are sore and tight, my throat is sore and raspy, mostly I just feel wiped out. But so far, so good! Oh, and the IV antibiotics the nurse gave me before the surgery seems to helped clear up whatever was making my sinuses hate me, so yay!!

@@LadyVSG Glad everything is going well so far. Liquids, liquids, liquids. I found that marching in place helped a lot once I was back at the hotel.

@@JamieLogical Thanks! That's good to know! I walked up to WalMart on Sunday, but that incline was enough to get me wheezing & reaching for my inhaler, so I'll probably be sticking around the hotel instead today at least.

One thing I did was walk the circular halls and stairwells at the Marriott. I was on the 6th floor and everytime I went down to the lobby I circled the 6th floor, went down the steps, circled the 5th floor, went down the steps, circled the 4th floor, etc. Took the elevator back up to my room, though ????. You can also wander out to the pool and back to get some fresh air. Glad you're doing well!

Hey everyone! Hope you are all well.

Days are counting down so fast, May 5 is right around the corner! This is worse that being little and waiting for Christmas!

Can we go over money needed to while there again? My husband and I are going I don't really want to bring more cash then necessary and if you could let me know what you all did for tipping that would be excellent! Also I Assume you all took US funds?

Also did any of you get headAches on the preop? Or sick from the multivitamin?

Thanks again!

@@hthr I got headaches in the early days of the pre-op diet. That's common at the start of any low-carb diet as the body goes into ketosis.

 

As for cash, I think I brought around $200. I got in in smaller bills for tipping and I didn't even use half of it while I was there.

As far as cash, I think we took about $300 US. We tipped the usual rates for drivers, restaurant service, hotel staff, etc. I brought enough to pay cash for my OCC meds, which I think were $180... if I'm remembering correctly. We came home with money, so $300 was more than enough.

Edited April 17, 201511 yr by sprocket

I'm 90% sure I'll be there (unless my employers change to insurers who will cover it).

 

I'm pretty sure I'll be going alone, though.  

I saw plenty of people that were there alone, you will be fine. Bring som cash you can trade for pesos at the hotel, you are pretty much expected to tip everywhere. Also, everyone knows about the gasx strips- but the best thing I ever had post surgery was coconut water. I wouldn't of gotten fluids in without it.

I'm scheduled with Dr. Elias Ortiz, but mine is on Monday, April 20th so you will be getting there just as I'm leaving

I'm scheduled with Dr. Elias Ortiz, but mine is on Monday, April 20th so you will be getting there just as I'm leaving

Please keep me updated? I am stressing about money exchange and tipping and the IV... LOL Pretty much anything I can worry about I am!