New to Dr. Ortiz - Advice Please

[tami88]

Hi Everyone,

I am considering Dr. Ortiz for the sleeve. I am torn between him and Dr. Garcia in TJ.

Can anyone tell me what to expect? And how they liked the Dr. I have heard nothing but great things about him and his team.

I am waiting to hear back from Lori his coordinator for the official dates open.

In the meantime can you let me know the following: (pretty please:) )

How long were you there?

Does he use a drain?

Did you need a passort?

If self pay when was your final payment due?

Anything else you would like to share

Thank you!!

Tami

[Bella1980]

How long were you there?

Because where I live I flew in Sunday evening, surgery Monday morning one night stay at the clinic, and I flew home Thursday afternoon.

Does he use a drain? yes they use a drain. You have it in till the am you go home.

Did you need a passort?

Yes anytime you travel to Mexico and Canada a passport is required it is the law. I didn't want to risk it. Other might.

check out the rules for your self. http://www.dhs.gov/crossing-us-borders

Land/Sea Travel

Beginning June 1, 2009

• U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry are required to have documents that comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), most commonly a U.S. passport, a passport card, a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST, or an enhanced driver's license. See the complete list of WHTI-compliant documents.
  

If self pay when was your final payment due? they require you to email a copy of the cashiers check and bring it with you to your surgery date. I also had to pay a deposit. To hold my surgery date.

[Dolittle]

How long were you there?

Because where I live I flew in Sunday evening, surgery Monday morning one night stay at the clinic, and I flew home Thursday afternoon.

Does he use a drain? yes they use a drain. You have it in till the am you go home.

Did you need a passort?

Yes anytime you travel to Mexico and Canada a passport is required it is the law. I didn't want to risk it. Other might.

check out the rules for your self. http://www.dhs.gov/crossing-us-borders

Land/Sea Travel

Beginning June 1, 2009

• U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry are required to have documents that comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), most commonly a U.S. passport, a passport card, a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST, or an enhanced driver's license. See the complete list of WHTI-compliant documents.
  

If self pay when was your final payment due? they require you to email a copy of the cashiers check and bring it with you to your surgery date. I also had to pay a deposit. To hold my surgery date.

Good info,, Thanks Bella

[tami88]

THANK YOU!!!!

[AnaA]

Hi Tami,

I had the plication procedure with Dr. Ortiz and it was clearly the best decision I have ever made. In 4 months and 10 days I have lost 57 lbs and I look and feel great! The OCC is a state of the art high function facility, professional and caring. I feel really good about my decision and would do it all again.

How long were you there?

I was there for 4 days. I had to stay over 2 extra days because I thought my severe gas bloating was something else and the OCC does not take chances with your health if you come to them and say you are in pain. It turns out, severe gas is what it was, and I was fine to go home, but they really do take care to check you and make sure you are healthy and safe to leave before releasing you.

Does he use a drain?

I had the plication, not the sleeve, so no drains for me.

Did you need a passort?

Bella's information was perfect regarding passports. Though, I flew in from California, and when I did use my Interntional passport, they gave me grief at the border and said that my husband and I should have had a US Passport Card:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

If self pay when was your final payment due?

I put a deposit down and then paid the remainer before arriving at the OCC. I had to get a cashier's check and then fax a copy and bring the actual.

Anything else you would like to share

Just to reiterate again, I received great care at the OCC and when I was checking Dr.'s and Facilities out before making my decision, no one came close to Dr. Ortiz's qualifications and the reputation of the OCC.

Good Luck!

[Bella1980]

Hi Tami,

Did you need a passort?

Bella's information was perfect regarding passports. Though, I flew in from California, and when I did use my Interntional passport, they gave me grief at the border and said that my husband and I should have had a US Passport Card:

http://travel.state...._card_3926.html

I used my passport and they didn't say anything to me at all. I think because there is a lot of regular traffic at the Mexican border they do have special wait time lines for people who had a passport card. I did notice that as it just seems to be the borders preferred method.

[1dennis3]

Here is the story of my journey to The Obesity Control Center in Tijuana Mexico with Dr Ortiz for my sleeve procedure.

I arrived in San Diego on Tuesday, Nov 20^th about 3:00pm, the driver text me to let me know he was held up at the border. He did arrive and drove me to the hotel. I got to the hotel (Marriott), and it is a very nice hotel. I checked in and got to my room and ordered chicken broth and water. OCC guest are given 3 bowls of chicken broth and 2 bottles of water per day. They did not have any popsicles the whole time I was there, but I was told that I didn’t miss anything. I was told to be in the lobby at 6:40 the next morning to be picked up and taken to the clinic. They don’t tell you, but you have to go to the front desk and tell them you need a ride to OCC.

Got to the clinic and was the second person on the schedule for the day. I didn’t have to wait very long before they called me back and took blood and started my IV. The nurse was very good and was as painless as an IV can be. Then back to the waiting room. I was then called back to talk to Dr. Maranda the nutritionist, very nice. Then back to the waiting room and then called back to have my EKG done. Shortly after that I was escorted to my room. It was a small private room with a nice couch and comfortable chair. They ask me to strip down and put on a gown and some paper underwear. (One size does NOT fit all). The nurse started a drip in my IV and injected several syringes of medications into it. All painless. Then she administered a shot to my thigh which was also painless. Dr Ortiz came in to see me. He was not what I had expected. He is very young and not a trace of Spanish accent. He was like an old friend stopping by to visit me in the hospital. Very personable and down to earth. Ask if I had any questions and just visited for a few minutes like we were old friends. After a few minutes the nurses came back and ask if I was ready. She walked me into the OR. I walked in and there were 4 men in the room in scrubs all speaking Spanish. They ask me to lie down on the table and one of them put a mask on me. The next thing I knew I woke up back in my room. I didn’t have any pain, just felt bloated. I slept off and on throughout the day and night. I did get up once and set up my CPAP so I could sleep more comfortably and a couple of other times just to walk around a bit to help get rid of the gas causing the bloated feeling. (do this, it really does help) The nurse came in the next morning (Thursday) and gave me a small bottle of water and a couple of pills. You will learn VERY quickly to take small sips. The nurse checked my drain said that anytime I was ready I could get dressed and return to the hotel. I got dressed and was taken to the waiting room.

I was given my prescriptions, 1 bottle of an antibiotic, 1 box of pain pills, 2 boxes of anti nausea tablets and 1 box of anitacid. “Given” is a misnomer here, they charge you $125.00 for these medications that you have to pay for right then. I was then taken back to the hotel. You have to check in again at the hotel. They told me to come back to the clinic at 10:00 the next day.

I pretty much stayed in my room napping off and on and reading. Took a couple of walks around the halls but mostly stayed in my room. I thought I was hungry so I ordered 2 bowls of chicken broth. I could only eat about 5 or 6 spoonfuls and was full. A first in my life! Again, you learn very quickly to take small sips, If you try to eat the broth or drink like your used to it hurts, it feels like a large gas bubble in the gut, very uncomfortable. When you go down to the lobby the next morning, remember to let them know at the desk that you need a ride to OCC.

I was taken back to OCC and the drain was checked and bandage changed. Still feeling bloated. Very short stay at the clinic and then taken back to the hotel. I was told to return at 8:00 the next morning to have the drain removed. Returned the next morning and they did the barium check and all was good. You only have to take a couple of small sips of the barium so it’s not bad. You will see your “new “stomach on the screen. The doctor took me into the prep room and removed the drain, which was also painless.

I was then taken to the airport and flew home.

All in all it went pretty much as everyone said it would. I had the bloated feeling for a couple of days after returning home but it did pass. I still have trouble remembering to take small sips but am quickly reminded. But I do not have any pain. I did feel hungry though the first 5 days or so and I wasn’t expecting to. So now that its all done and over, I’m very pleased with everything.

[justjeannie]

Do they give you anything to help with the gas like those melt-away things you put on your tongue? Just wondering. I leave Sunday for surgery Monday. Would love to find others scheduled for Monday, but not sure where I might find them on here.

[Bella1980]

Do they give you anything to help with the gas like those melt-away things you put on your tongue? Just wondering. I leave Sunday for surgery Monday. Would love to find others scheduled for Monday, but not sure where I might find them on here.

No they do not. I brought some and shared mine.. I have seen them at Walgreens

[Dolittle]

No they do not. I brought some and shared mine.. I have seen them at Walgreens

I haven't yet to find proof that Gas X strips really do anything, I think it's mostly psychological. The gas they use is pumped into your body cavity to expand that area, which gives the surgeon more room to maneuver. Gas X strips are taken orally and digested,. I'm not understanding how something that's inside of your stomach can absorb something outside of the stomach? Most patients have reported pain in their joints after their surgery and have found heavy exercise help relieve that pain and dissapate the gas. Please let me know what works for you.

[caseybailey]

I recently joined this group and am trying to decide which surgeon Ortiz or Aceves. I started the pre op diet recommended and have found that if I limit my carbs to 20 or so I feel GREAT and am losing weight . Of course I have tried and failed a hundred times but am now am 2nd guessing having the surgery. Maybe this IS the the way I need to eat now that will be successful without surgery/ I would have to travel alone which I am fine with just worried if complications arise . I am most worried about taking my perfectly healthy and well working digestive system and making it unhealthy. other forums talk about daily antacids and GERD meds I have NEVER had any acid or heartburn issues and DO NOT WANT any. I might want to be fat more than I want to have constant ongoing heartburn.. I also notice that I am enjoying the volume of food I am now eating and still losing. and not having any sugar carb cravings. As I chug my protein drinks and water and diet soda I wonder if I can be satisfied sipping and taking all day chewing each bite 30 times to get my protein in......and I love carbonation which I know will no longer be an option with the sleeve. That's what going through my head right now....what do you think? I also wonder how many people are on this list serve because some of the dates from posts are super old. any thoughts

[Bella1980]

weather you chose to change your diet or get VSG these are both life changing things. You have to chose what is right for you. PPI's that are taken after surgery are to help with reflux not heart burn. I did have issues prior so I still need to take a PPI but has to take them in the past. VSG sometimes even fixes reflux in some people and not in other. You won't know what you will end up in the end but as for staying overweight and not having acid reflux I would chose reflux because that does not cause heart disease, diabetes.......