Soon-to-be bandster!

[sarahrnrx]

Hi Everyone...My name is Sarah. I first heard about Dr. Ortiz on the show "The Doctors" about 2 wks ago and I immediately decided that I am going to get banded (my main motive is that I hope by loosing wt, My husband and I will hopefull, finally, be able to conceive). My surgery date is Dec 3rd and I am very excited. I have been reading thru all your postings for the past wk, and you guys seem soo supportive & wonderful. It's been such a relief to find this site. I am a trauma ICU nurse. I havent told any of my friends at wk about having the surgery. We occassionally get patients that have had gastric bypass surgery and get really sick and are admitted into our unit. And, I always hear comments from the other nurses that you have to be a certain type of person & or have some major emotional/mental issues to have such a surgery. And I stand there thinking to myself, that no, its HARD to lose wt. Of coarse, with almost all of them being easily less than 150 lbs & have at least 1 child, how could they possibly understand what those patients or soon to be, me go thru?Therefore, unfortanately, I havent felt comfortable enough to share my exciting news with any of them. Therefore, I look forward to getting your support in the days to come. Can anyone tell me that has been to TJ recently, what the weather was like?Also, I was wondering on the day of surgery, the person that comes with you, do they go back to the hotel or do they stay at the hospital with you overnight? Do the drivers at the center give them a ride back to the hotel? How long of a drive is it from the center to the hotel?Look forward to reading any replys!

[tnm75]

Sarah,

Welcome! I can't answer your questions... but, I just wanted to say that I might see you in Mexico! I fly in my December 3 for the pre-op and have surgery on December 4. From what I have read... I think the hotel is only 5 or so blocks from the clinic.

Kristy

[MyNewLife]

Hey Sarah,

I was banded 10 days ago at the OCC. I can't believe it has already been over a week. When i arrived at the San Diego Airport, Fransico the driver was waiting on me and my guest with a sign with my name on it. I walked up to him and he introduced himself and told us where our lugguage was at. He carried the luggage to the van and then he drove us to Tj Mexico which is about 25 min or so from the airport. We were taken straight to the OCC where I met with Dr. Miranda. She is WONDERFUL. The reciptionist had pizza deilivered for my sis and brother in law from Dominoes. When I was done Francisco took us to the hotel which is only a couple of blocks. The hotel is AWESOME and the staff is GREAT. The next moring Fransico picked us up at the hotel. The band patients went first then Fransico returned to the hotel to pick up our guest. I was the first one banded that morning. The ENTIRE staff at the OCC is great. My guest was able to stay until around 4:00 I think and then Franscio took them back to the Hotel. The can not stay at the clinic. I did not do good and got sick with the anthesisa but my night doctor was GREAT. Saturday morning they took me and did an xray to make sure my band was ok and it was. I then had Zoom Whiting on my teeth at the OCC, which was Great. My teeth are MUCH whiter. Fransisco then took me back to Hotel where we stayed Saturday night. Sunday morning our driver arrived and took us back to the airport where we flew home. My expierence was Great and I can not speak Highly enough about the entire OCC Staff or the Hotel/Staff . I am so glad that I chose the right Doctor. Good luck and please keep us informed. If you have any further questions, I will be more than happy to answer the best I can. As far as the post op, I am still learning.

[yoyodieter]

Congratulations on your decision to be banded, you won't be dissapointed, there is alot of useful information throughout this forum

good luck

[jhawkchick75]

Congrats and welcome to the group! My mom came with and she just went back to the hotel. Didn't bother me a bit it was nice to relax and I was groggy for quite a bit anyway. That is so nice that your turnaround time is so quick. From decision time to surgery I had to wait about 4 mos, but that was the first time I could take off work for a week.

Good luck!!!!!

[Dontondan]

FYI it is a little on the chilly side in TJ in the evenings so you may want to take a sweater or light jacket. I went last year around this time and it was a bit too chilly to use the pool, but was sunny and pleasant enough to go without a jacket during the day.