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?

Nice summary...my experience, exactly (except I didn't see the beggars) and I gotta add Dr. Jimenez's name to my list of fav OCC docs.

Nice summary...my experience, exactly (except I didn't see the beggars) and I gotta add Dr. Jimenez's name to my list of fav OCC docs.

OMG. I can't believe I forgot to mention Dr Jimenez. Love him too. I would love to have any one of them for a primary care doctor. You just don't get that kind of care in the US usually.

Also, in addition to the Newsweek article, here is a link listing Mexico as one of the top 5 countries for health care.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/internationallivingcom/best-countries-for-health-care_b_4773837.html

If anyone else wants a PDF of the Newsweek article, email me at briangie@ymail.com and ask. I'll send it to you.

I would love to have the article & I did have my sleeve in Mexico with Dr, Ortiz & had no complications at all & a very good experience.

My email is lpatrnc@gmail.com. Thank you

A great big THANK YOU to Briangie!

For all the great info on OCC

I feel so prepared now for my surgery

Leysi, hope you enjoyed the Newsweek article. I bought the magazine from amazon, just to have something for the Mexico haters. Dr Ortiz has way more experience than anyone else on that list!<br><br> Are any of you all members of FB groups like "THE GASTRIC SLEEVE SUPPORT GROUP", "THE GASTRIC SLEEVE GANG", or "THE SASSY SLEEVERS"? I am and they have lots of discussion there, but I want to know if there is a group about Mexico sleevers? Or better yet, one about Dr Ortiz patients specifically? On these other groups there are sometimes some Mexico haters. Like "I would never go to a foreign country and have surgery by choice..."<br><br> Let me know if you know of a FB group for Ortiz patients.

While I'm not on Facebook, I find that funny because I wouldn't want to go to a surgeon having no true idea how often they've done the procedure just because I'm in America and can sue later if something goes wrong. But at the same time I understand the trepidation that people have about going to other countries and on top of that it's our nature as Americans for some reason to think that our country is so much better than others in all realms for some reason. Stupid Americans we are!! I thought similarly and now am a convert. I want new boobs from Brazil now!!

Ha! B2B you are funny! But I agree with you completely.

Mexico seems like it should be scary or the price "too" affordable. Having my sleeve at OCC opened my mind to question how "great" our US medical system really is. Expensive YES, efficient and patient focused...hmmmm... Not sure about that.

I am planning on heading back to TJ in December for plastics. More experienced and less expensive surgeons...why go anywhere else?

While I'm not on Facebook, I find that funny because I wouldn't want to go to a surgeon having no true idea how often they've done the procedure just because I'm in America and can sue later if something goes wrong. But at the same time I understand the trepidation that people have about going to other countries and on top of that it's our nature as Americans for some reason to think that our country is so much better than others in all realms for some reason. Stupid Americans we are!! I thought similarly and now am a convert. I want new boobs from Brazil now!!

My friend just had her VSG done here in the states, at a hospital SHE works at! The nurses treated her like she was an annoyance! They had her so doped up on pain meds it was insane. She asked them to pull back her meds and they rolled their eyes. Eventually she turned off the pain pumps herself! They didn't bother to have her move for close to 36 HOURS! I'm pretty sure had she not walked around herself, they wouldn't have done anything about it.

I'm having my surgery at OCC with Dr O on Friday and I can't wait to see the difference! It's almost laughable how arrogant we Americans can be in regards to what we think is the superiority of our hospitals. I really believe the haters are just speaking from fear and ignorance!

I went through all of the paperwork my friend was given for her surgery and just don't see anything that makes it superior. It's all pretty much the same information!

I'm actually happy my insurance won't cover VSG... otherwise I'd never have found Dr O and all of the team at OCC!

My friend just had her VSG done here in the states, at a hospital SHE works at! The nurses treated her like she was an annoyance! They had her so doped up on pain meds it was insane. She asked them to pull back her meds and they rolled their eyes. Eventually she turned off the pain pumps herself! They didn't bother to have her move for close to 36 HOURS! I'm pretty sure had she not walked around herself, they wouldn't have done anything about it. I'm having my surgery at OCC with Dr O on Friday and I can't wait to see the difference! It's almost laughable how arrogant we Americans can be in regards to what we think is the superiority of our hospitals. I really believe the haters are just speaking from fear and ignorance! I went through all of the paperwork my friend was given for her surgery and just don't see anything that makes it superior. It's all pretty much the same information! I'm actually happy my insurance won't cover VSG... otherwise I'd never have found Dr O and all of the team at OCC!

I can't imagine why the friend that had her surgery in the states was so sedated & why she was there for 36 hours???? I had my VSG in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz along with three other surgery "partners" we were only in the hospital one night & not sedated except for a light narcotic under the tongue which did not make me sedated. I did not have much pain & was up walking within hours. OCC was fantastic, care was excellent, staff friendly & efficient. The Marriott Hotel was also fabulous , staff friendly & very accommodating. A Van picked us up at San Diego airport & we breezed through the border both coming & going.

Can't believe it's exactly a week till Surg, pre/op diet is going ok... Constipated already on the protein shakes I hate them.... I think I am reacting to Splenda ( which I never use, but it's in EVERYTHING bariatric)

Trying to keep fear at bay, but can't help worrying that I'll somehow be that one in a million...

I completely trust the surgical team, but being in healthcare I know that accidents can happen to anyone... I'm praying

I hope I am able to connect with at least one or two to stay in contact with post Surg.

Love the people on this forum that freely give advise and support.

I can't imagine why the friend that had her surgery in the states was so sedated & why she was there for 36 hours???? I had my VSG in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz along with three other surgery "partners" we were only in the hospital one night & not sedated except for a light narcotic under the tongue which did not make me sedated. I did not have much pain & was up walking within hours. OCC was fantastic, care was excellent, staff friendly & efficient. The Marriott Hotel was also fabulous , staff friendly & very accommodating. A Van picked us up at San Diego airport & we breezed through the border both coming & going.

Sedation and pain meds are two different things. She was heavily medicated with pain meds, not sedated. The pain meds were because they didn't want her in any pain whatsoever and (having had a c-section at this same hospital) it's my experience that they see a big woman and they overestimate the amount of pain meds necessary. American nurses don't want to deal with grumpy patients, so they give them lots of pain meds. I don't feel that does anyone any favors.

Just an FYI for OCC patients... the new Vitaleph site is up. I know I held off buying different bariatric vitamins and shakes, because they told me the new "brand" was coming soon. Vitaleph is replacing the Enspira stuff they used to sell.

www.vitaleph.com

Hey folks!! Wanted to let you know yesterday at 6mos post (on my bday no less), I met my first goal!! Wonderful!! Also I don't know how it came to mind, but I did the math on how much money the doctors make down there. I looked at their fees and did the math with them doing approximately 4 surgeries daily only 4 days a week for approximately 40 weeks a year (accounting for more vacation/travel than they probably actually do). Let's just say they make a LOT of money and deserve every penny for their amazing work. Uhhh... which ones are single again?

Wow Barb! First goal gratz! What was it if you font mind sharing, was it a personal goal or the goal the NUT set for you?

Wow Barb! First goal gratz! What was it if you font mind sharing, was it a personal goal or the goal the NUT set for you?

It was my 1st personal goal I set and I never thought I would get here that fast. My nut goal is 177lbs. I would be happy if I make it there by my surgiversary but I won't fret about it since I'm happy where I am in the time frame it's happened in. It's 43 more lbs and I'm assuming my weight loss will start to slow down soon too