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For those already banded - what is your response to this???


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Roo (and you too Rid - listen up) -

Before you start chasing rumors, you need to look at the source of the information. After weeding through your posts, I realized that none of the information you "heard" or was given was FIRST-HAND information. Now the sources may have some merit, but when I look for information, I go to sources I TRUST, such as my doctor (and my cousin, the doctor at UCLA), and while its possible my first choice of information may not have what I need, I DO rely heavily on another source - patients first-hand accounts.

None of the "I heard" or "A friend heard" crap is valuable...it just causes more stress on someone with a life-threatening problem. We are here to support, and lie waste to the fears that come with this life-changing experience.

If you don't like my choice of doctor, then make your OWN choice...its YOUR life.

And in closing, I would like to invite ANYONE who have PERSONALLY had a problem with Dr. Ortiz, his facility, or the lapband in general to speak up.

As Rid says, this board may be a lot of PR... but if all you hear from patients is good responses, doesn't that say something? Maybe there aren't any negative things to say about him.

Darrin

Current Weight 295

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I am joining a little late here, but please remember that everyone has not just the right, but really the responsibility to thoroughly research their medical providers.

I think that rather than treating Littleroo's questions as attacks, take them in the context she presented them in. Some of the responses I have seen look like someone personally insulted your mother. Relax! If you think Dr. Ortiz is great, great. I have found my experience with him and his staff to be good.

No need to be defensive.

___________________________________________________________________________

"The unexamined life is not worth living"

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None of the "I heard" or "A friend heard" crap is valuable...it just causes more stress on someone with a life-threatening problem. We are here to support, and lie waste to the fears that come with this life-changing experience.

...

As Rid says, this board may be a lot of PR... but if all you hear from patients is good responses, doesn't that say something? Maybe there aren't any negative things to say about him.

Darrin

Current Weight 295

Darrin, I appreciate your opinion. I disagree with it, however. The whole purpose of ANY forum is to "hear" from other people what their experiences are. When someone is trying to find info on a doctor from another country who is going to cut into their body and implant a foreign device, they can only rely on what they "hear" about the doc.

Also, I think some people have interpreted her comments to question lap band in general. The bottom line is that getting this procedure with ANY competent doctor is going to be a life-changing, and possibly life saving experience. That is not unique to Ortiz. I'm sure the guy is great, but he is not the only one who can provide this wonderful experience.

If someone is doing research, and if someone has heard something negative about his surgical skills, WHERE ELSE should she look for answers than here? Where else than a forum where everyone who visits and posts has had first hand experience with him?

Frankly, if I had seen her post without the other comments, I probably would have responded that regardless of Ortiz's training, anyone who has done a few thousand lap bands and has had this many loyal patients has to be a good guy to do the job. But I sure would not have slammed her for asking the question. I searched all over the internet to find ANYTHING negative about Ortiz, and if I had found something, I would have asked you guys about it. I sure as hell wouldn't have expected to get flamed for asking a perfectly reasonable question about a rumor that I had heard.

Plus, it's not like she was flaming Ortiz. She asked a question, and was VERY reasonable in her responses. I just hate the forum's responses to her.

Love and kisses,

Rid

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I have to echo these sentiments. I came upon this forum considering Dr. Ortiz and wanting to hear people's experiences, good and not-so-good. I read Littleroo's posts for exactly what they were, questions and concerns about the doctor. I applaud her following through and emailing the university for clarification. I think it is great that she posted the letter. This is the kind of thing you WANT to read about when you are researching a surgeon. However, I am so turned off by some of the rabid 'fans' of Dr. Ortiz. Why shoot the messenger? She is asking legitimate questions and then posting the evidence to support her research. I have read all kinds of bad feedback on various surgeons that is complete hearsay. "I heard he is bad" type stuff with no personal experiences , or even links to a specific bandster, to back it up. And I agree, that type of 'feedback' is so useless. I would even take "check out this forum and read XYZ's posts" as feedback. But some people are just down on certain doctors for whatever reason and jump in to say something vaguely bad without any evidence. That simply is not what happened here.

I think all of the good feedback completely eclipses anything uncovered in L'Roo's research. However, I think those of you who responded so defensively did Dr. Ortiz a tremendous disservice by alienating prospective patients who are just here asking questions.

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Geezzz... I'm going back on what I said I wouldn't do which is waste another nanosecond of my time on this topic. :P

I just want to point out that there are two threads to this topic on this forum that were posted and perhaps if both threads were combined, one would get a clearer picture of what has been posted all the way around. Certainly anyone can ask questions but these these questions came across strongly as allegations. You have to understand that many of Dr. Ortiz's patients feel like he SAVED THEIR LIVES and that denotes a powerful loyalty. Every patient has the responsibility to verify their physicians credentials and that wasn't done before heresay was posted on this site. As a result, responses were posted in defense of a beloved doctor.

With all has been said, can we now get back discussing the lapband rather than fingerpointing? If anyone is still in doubt about Dr. Ortiz's credentials here is some information I found helpful when I was researching the Obesity Control Center and Dr. Ortiz.

Links to research Dr. Ortiz's credentials:

www.obesitycontrolcenter.com - click on the link to left of the page "Who Is Dr. Ortiz"

www.fasc.org

www.asbs.org

The above organizations verify that Dr. Ortiz is a surgeon.

Also check out the newly banded topic for experiences of those who have recently been banded. Particularly look at "My looonnggg journey" which is an experience posted by a lapbander who was turned away initially for health reasons. These doctors are not in this just to make a buck, but they really seem to care about you as a person.

www.lapbandtalk.com is another forum where you can participate that includes patients from all parts of the world and who have used varius bariatric surgeons.

Dr. Ortiz's book which is objective and contains chapters written by other bariatric surgeons "Lapband for Life".

If you have any unresolved questions, I know Dr. Ortiz was willing to speak to me via telephone before I committed to having the procedure.

Chelley

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I think that Chelley's list of resources are very helpful. Also, for those of you who want to see the research that Roo did regarding Harvard and Yale, check this thread:

http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=632

I would add to Chelley's list a few more:

Obesity Help is a very objective site with testimonials and stats on the surgeon:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/b...ardere+glh.html

Dr. Ortiz's credentials are discussed, and they are great.

I've also found some additional information on the Yahoo Message Boards when I search for Lap Band.

I'm posting this info because I spent dozens of hours looking for something "objective". That doesn't mean that I don't trust the members of this site, but I'm a skeptical guy, and I wanted to see something on sites that are not directly affiliated with Ortiz's office.

Having said that, even after looking ALL OVER the internet, I barely found any criticism of Ortiz anywhere. I am personally not having my surgery with him because I found a doctor 10 miles from my house in Southern California that has a lot of experience and is offering patients a huge reduced rate. I trust Dr. Ortiz and all those who have selected him. I just have a great opportunity to have a US doctor do my procedure REALLY close to home. This is better than the 4 hour drive across the border to see Ortiz.

Again, a PERSONAL decision, and not based on any doubt of Ortiz's ability and credentials.

Have we beaten this dead horse enough yet? :)

Rid

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Wait, I want to take one more swing!!

Seriously, you guys offer a lot of great info - thank you.

:)

*pokes post* Go away! *DELETE* *DELETE*

Maaaaannnn!!!! I'm sorry I ever started this monster!

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I have a Live Journal account and have been posting updates on my journey through the lap-band red tape fairly often.

One of my friends goes to college in Chula Vista (southern San Diego County), CA and her family lives in TJ.

She has two family members that are in the medical community and offered to ask them about Dr. Ortiz. Of course I said YES!

This is her response, and it just seems backwards from everything I've read about him. But then I went and looked through his credentials and I DON'T see any listings for surgical training in Mexico, so I don't know what to think...

"This is what I found out. My uncle knows a doctor who works in the same building, so this comes from him. They moved in about three months ago from Mexico DF, the capital. They are real doctors, but they are trained as general physicians and not specialized in the field you are looking at. actually, they are not specialized in surgery at all. They are the type you are supposed to go to when you have a cold or a general evaluation of your health. They came here and figured that because weight loss surgery is the latest fad in Tijuana, a border city, and they were doctors already, how hard would it be to become surgeons. They advertised in the internet to draw in US clients to get back all the money spent on the rent for the towers and the equipment, which belongs to the doctor that used the space before them, so it isn't exactly new or state of the art. My godmother recommends a Dr. Kuri, and my uncle recommends this one guy that he is planning to have the surgery done with."

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I've been offline for a month or so, but if it's not too late, may I add my own personal experience.

In late 2004, I was a candidate for gastric bypass with one of the hotshot surgeons in Charleston, SC...I went through all the psych meetings, the physicals, the dietician meetings, and was awaiting my time for scheduled surgery four months afterward. During the wait, I had a bout with congestive heart failure, spent a quick weekend in a local hospital having the fluids pulled from my body with massive doses of Lasix. I came close to going on out, or so my cardiologist said. In any event, the hotshot surgeon got the report and took me off his candidate list. He didn't want to spoil his success rates, I suppose.

I was distraught, and, frankly, by spring of 2005 had neared my end, I'm certain. I was 5'10" or so, 58 years old, a 2 or 3 injection a day insulin dependent diabetic, along with a wealth of other fat old man conditions, and my outlook was grim.

I had a close friend who had known of Dr. Ortiz, had had the band installed on a whim almost, and it worked. She was not totally dedicated to the regimen which is needed for optimum results, but her results were astounding anyway. I decided to seek out Dr. Ortiz, and give it my best, if not last, shot. What an amazing change has come into my life.

My first experience with the staff was with Sandy, by e-mail and phone. She was so encouraging and positive, and made my decision easy. I didn't want to fly from SC to San Diego...I would have preferred a local doctor, I thought. Boy, was I wrong!

Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Jimenez, Dr. Martinez...the whole staff....I firmly believe would perform their miracles for nothing. They are not in it for the money, but for the impact they can have on lives. Without a doubt, I'm living today because of them.

I'm a bit over 14 months post-op now, and although I'm not the poster child for the procedure, in my mind I've accomplished already much more than I dared dream. (Weight down from 337 to about 216, waist down from 60" to 44", suit size down from 60 Portly, to 48 regular, and they're a bit large. Shirt sizes down from 4xl (some), 3xl (most), to xl off-the-rack. Even my shoe size went down from 11 1/2 EEE, to 10 1/2 D, where it was 40 years ago. No insulin injections at all, no blood pressure meds at all ( first time in 28 years).

I'm losing about a pound a week, have lots of skin I don't need any more, that I hope to deal with in the winter, if my budget will allow.

My biggest change has been my outlook. I had let my small business wither, and nearly die, but not any longer. Times are difficult in my industry (trucking), but with a renewed effort enabled by the surgery, I feel that I could kill a bear with my hands, and love competition.

I know that the litigious society in which we live forces high insurance premiums for malpractice in the country. I also think that is why a US doctor will rarely make a life-changing decision without six or eight consults, spreading the exposure for lawsuit. But it is a refreshing and beautiful thing to find doctors such as Ortiz, Martinez, and Jimenez who practice pure medicine...and do it with flair and pride in jobs-well-done.

The lap-band is just a tool...it's not a cure-all. But it is amazing! I wish Dr. Ortiz would be my personal physician as I pass my 60th birthday. I bet I could make 90 then.

I can't wait 'til I get back to Tijuana in the winter to see my Saints...

Hope this helped...

Arnold Hall

abhall29@aol.com

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Everyone, please stop we are all looking for good and bad information on Dr Ortiz and others it is not wrong to ask a question about something you heard or saw. We have all been told "oh my gosh not dirty mexico" and we have all chosen to look anyway. Do not yell at someone for saying something you might not view the same way as others. I did not find these comments slanderous but simply a question.

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