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?

I am very new to this board and I'm schedule to be sleeved on February 28th with Dr. Elias Ortiz. I would like to speak to anyone who has undergone this surgery with Dr. Ortiz just to get an idea of what to expect from the patient's point of view. I'm extremely nervous...and excited, but more curious than anything else. Also, if anyone will be getting their procedure done there at the same time, please let me know.

I am in TJ now and headed home today. My surgery was Friday 1/31 with Dr Elias Ortiz. I am very pleased with him, his staff, the hospital, etc

I had no complications. Only pain I felt wS from the CO2 that is put into the abdomen for laparoscopic surgery. It is normal, pain in left shoulder area.

I came alone, also. Have no fear, you will be well taken care of. Unlike hospital stays in the states, I never had to ask for pain meds. The nurses came in on schedule delivering anti nausea, antibx, and pain meds (non narcotic) round the clock.

The hospital is small but clean and has everything necessary. ALM also pays for their own private nurse to be at the hospital for night shift to oversee Dr Ortiz' patients. This is in addition to the hospital paid nurses.

My best to you!

 

Melissa

I am in TJ now and headed home today. My surgery was Friday 1/31 with Dr Elias Ortiz. I am very pleased with him, his staff, the hospital, etc I had no complications. Only pain I felt wS from the CO2 that is put into the abdomen for laparoscopic surgery. It is normal, pain in left shoulder area. I came alone, also. Have no fear, you will be well taken care of. Unlike hospital stays in the states, I never had to ask for pain meds. The nurses came in on schedule delivering anti nausea, antibx, and pain meds (non narcotic) round the clock. The hospital is small but clean and has everything necessary. ALM also pays for their own private nurse to be at the hospital for night shift to oversee Dr Ortiz' patients. This is in addition to the hospital paid nurses. My best to you! Melissa

Oh wow! Thank you so much. So far all your responses have been great, and you guys really put me at ease. @mmhutch. Congratulations to you. I do wish you success and health throughout your journey.

 

 

How has your progress been so far?@shungsleeve

 

Ok so I'm super curious if anyone does the Enspira shakes. I have a large supply but I can't get it to mix properly in a shaker bottle and so I do not like it! Chunky grainy water! Help! Lol

I mixed mine with light almond milk. I would freeze almond milk ice cubes and do half frozen half poured almond milk in my ninja blender. I could only drink it super cold because if it isn't, it's disgusting. I would also put 2 Enspira vits in it. Then I poured it in a blender bottle so I could shake it since the vitamin ends up on the bottom.

Thanks! I will trying this as soon as I can get into town for almond milk!

 

<p>Hi Moite, I've already responded to this thread, but again, Dr Ortiz and the ALM crew are wonderful. They'll take great care of you. Also, ALM is adding a lot to their services in terms of support and after care.</p>

 

Thank you @BelindaK. Other than my service Cordinator, I haven't spoken to anyone who's actually dealt with ALM. This is a huge step for me, and I'm going alone, so you can understand basically a bunch of nerves right now. But thank you for your input. I'm going to scroll up to look at your post.

I also went alone and in a way I'm glad I did. Abraham and Eduardo take you through everything step by step...from the airport to the hotel to the hospital. They tell you everything that's going on, check on you frequently and if there are any issues at all, are your liasons with the hospital and surgeons. Also, you'll find you get much more attention from your doctors than you ever will in the US.

 

I am in TJ now and headed home today. My surgery was Friday 1/31 with Dr Elias Ortiz. I am very pleased with him, his staff, the hospital, etc I had no complications. Only pain I felt wS from the CO2 that is put into the abdomen for laparoscopic surgery. It is normal, pain in left shoulder area. I came alone, also. Have no fear, you will be well taken care of. Unlike hospital stays in the states, I never had to ask for pain meds. The nurses came in on schedule delivering anti nausea, antibx, and pain meds (non narcotic) round the clock. The hospital is small but clean and has everything necessary. ALM also pays for their own private nurse to be at the hospital for night shift to oversee Dr Ortiz' patients. This is in addition to the hospital paid nurses. My best to you! Melissa

Oh wow! Thank you so much. So far all your responses have been great, and you guys really put me at ease. @mmhutch. Congratulations to you. I do wish you success and health throughout your journey.

 

 

How has your progress been so far?@shungsleeve

I've been great. Down a total of 33 from highest weight and a total of 29 pound since the day I was released from the hospital 01-08-14. Yesterday marks 4 weeks for me.

I love my sleeve and certainly love the A lighter Me team ❤️ Feel free to message me with questions!

Thanks, Hoosier, I'm trying. Today was a hard first day! I have a headache now because I didn't drink enough water! And when I went out to dinner tonight, I ordered a side of steamed broccoli and a mixed greens salad with fresh sliced tomatoes. But since I didn't have my calorie free dressing I used 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinaigrette So tomorrow I will try better not to have extras that I'm not supposed to have. How did you do on your pre-op when you did it? Did you stick perfectly? How much did you use in your pre-op?.

While I didn't do Enspira shakes, I did two shakes a day and the chicken/fish with veggies for dinner. I didn't vary at all from the program because I was determined to meet the requirements for surgery. I lost 12 lbs in two weeks. Was I hungry? Yes. It was a meal by meal decision to stick to the plan.

There was a gal on my surgery day at OCC to have the poi cation. She hadn't lost the recommended sight and she was ultimately allowed to have surgery, but almost didn't! Scared me! Lol

Going to OCC March 6th and surgery March 7th there out of the Enspira multi vitamins so do u guys think that these would work? Folic acid calcium one a day women's and iron I'm excited I need to know if I continur these or stop and start something else. Surgery in exactly a month and 3 days.

 

Thanks, Hoosier, I'm trying. Today was a hard first day! I have a headache now because I didn't drink enough water! And when I went out to dinner tonight, I ordered a side of steamed broccoli and a mixed greens salad with fresh sliced tomatoes. But since I didn't have my calorie free dressing I used 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinaigrette So tomorrow I will try better not to have extras that I'm not supposed to have. How did you do on your pre-op when you did it? Did you stick perfectly? How much did you use in your pre-op?.

While I didn't do Enspira shakes, I did two shakes a day and the chicken/fish with veggies for dinner. I didn't vary at all from the program because I was determined to meet the requirements for surgery. I lost 12 lbs in two weeks. Was I hungry? Yes. It was a meal by meal decision to stick to the plan.

 

There was a gal on my surgery day at OCC to have the poi cation. She hadn't lost the recommended sight and she was ultimately allowed to have surgery, but almost didn't! Scared me! Lol

Ahh, you are lucky, your pre op diet included chicken or fish?! I would kill for a piece of chicken right now LOL Mine is just 2-3 shakes a day and leafy greens or other green vegetables and fresh tomatoes. Probably cause my starting weight is higher than yours. My goal is to lose 13lbs on my pre-up, so my surgery weight will be 260.

I've been great. Down a total of 33 from highest weight and a total of 29 pound since the day I was released from the hospital 01-08-14. Yesterday marks 4 weeks for me.

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you not as happy as you are for yourself I'm sure LOL. So I have to ask, now that you've hit the 30 day mark, what has been the hardest thing to adjust to? Does it affect your family? Friends? Are they all aware that you had the procedure? I'm asking because I haven't told anyone. Including my family. I know for sure some of them will notice a difference. And at work, definitely. I work with a bunch of women who habitually feed each other. Is going to look a little strange when I don't partake in meals with them anymore. I'm trying to figure out how to break it to them... Without the world knowing my business since I am militant about my privacy. Sorry from bombarding you with questions, but I really want your point of view on this.

 

I've been great. Down a total of 33 from highest weight and a total of 29 pound since the day I was released from the hospital 01-08-14. Yesterday marks 4 weeks for me.

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you not as happy as you are for yourself I'm sure LOL. So I have to ask, now that you've hit the 30 day mark, what has been the hardest thing to adjust to? Does it affect your family? Friends? Are they all aware that you had the procedure? I'm asking because I haven't told anyone. Including my family. I know for sure some of them will notice a difference. And at work, definitely. I work with a bunch of women who habitually feed each other. Is going to look a little strange when I don't partake in meals with them anymore. I'm trying to figure out how to break it to them... Without the world knowing my business since I am militant about my privacy. Sorry from bombarding you with questions, but I really want your point of view on this.

Thank you. The hardest thing for me is not eating and drinking at the same time. I know it sounds crazy but if you knew me before the surgery drinking was a must have while I ate.

 

My husband is the only person that knows about the surgery. Everyone else believes I went to mexico with a girlfriend. Which was not all the way false. I end up meeting an awesome person there and we have grown really close in such a short time.

 

All of my friends and family have noticed the weight loss. I tell them I eat healthy and control my portion size. Which they noticed during my pre op diet. So they think I'm sticking to it. Which I am I have no choice. I also walk 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. I will up that when my 6 weeks have passed.

Thank you. The hardest thing for me is not eating and drinking at the same time. I know it sounds crazy but if you knew me before the surgery drinking was a must have while I ate. My husband is the only person that knows about the surgery. Everyone else believes I went to mexico with a girlfriend. Which was not all the way false. I end up meeting an awesome person there and we have grown really close in such a short time. All of my friends and family have noticed the weight loss. I tell them I eat healthy and control my portion size. Which they noticed during my pre op diet. So they think I'm sticking to it. Which I am I have no choice. I also walk 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. I will up that when my 6 weeks have passed.

Whew! Ok. I thought I was weird for not wanting to publicize this. Thanks a bunch!

So close to my pre-op goal of 260. I'm 264 right now, I've lost about 10lbs since last Monday but now I've kinda stalled. I think I'm eating too few calories. In the beginning of last week I was eating about 1000 calories but I'm not that hungry anymore and only eat about 600. Gonna add the greens back in my diet for the next few days and see if that helps lose the last few. I fly out on Saturday for San Diego and surgery is on Monday. Can't believe it's finally here!

I'm questioning my sanity right now...just booked my sleeve surgery for March 10! So excited and nervous all at once, but I know I need this, and more importantly, my three sweet girls and husband need this. I want to be my best for them!! HoosierGirl & backtobarb78 have been a driving force behind my committing to this surgery. Thank you so much for all of the useful and encouraging information! All of you have really inspired me...ready or not, here I come OCC! Lol anyone who will be having surgery the same day, it would be awesome to have a buddy

Edited February 12, 201412 yr by Ellie-0312

I posted another thread but thought I'd ask here as well...

has anyone done Plastic Surgery at the Ariel Center at OCC? I scheduled a couple of procedures there based upon the good sleeve experience I had, but haven't seen much as far as feedback for the plastics part of the practice. I did have Juvederm with Dr. So while I was there in December and he was great but that doesn't tell me about his surgical skill.

Thanks!!!