Donna08

Jarrett, I am a nurse in an Endoscopy unit in Thunder Bay (Canada). The OCC in Tijuana is an excellent clinic. I had no problems- follow all orders and you should have a good outcome. They are all very experienced and have been doing this for a good while. Dr. Ortiz is very dedicated. Hope this helps. Donna08

Good Afternoon All,

It is 26 days until the big sleeve day with Dr. Ortiz. What are the must have items to bring besides the obvious tolietries and clothes. I am staying at the Marriott and I am unsure if they have a microwave or refrigerator, does anyone know? I am unsure if I should bring my own soups, etc.. What did you find you could tolerate the days after surgery? Getting a little nervous as I will be by myself and want to stock up on everything so I am not running around TJ to get all my supplies.

Also I am a wuss with pain, what pain meds do they give you via IV and after?

This site has been so helpful and I thank you for your replies.

Sleevester73

De ar Sleevester73, The price of your surgery includes a clear liquid diet. The Marriott has a delicious chicken broth, apple juice and popsicles and you just have to tell them you are with OCC when you check in, receive room service or eat[drink] in the dining room. The staff are used to us.You will only be on clear liquids for the first 2 days and then weight loss shakes and drinkable yogurt is added. You will get a diet plan from Dr. Miranda and you must follow it to the letter. I made homemade chicken and beef broth before I went to TJ and put them in small containers in the freezer.When I could be on full flds. I added carrots,celery and onions to the broth and after the veggies were cooked I pureed it.You won't have too much pain and they will give you some tablets to take for discomfort. I never used any of them. Don't worry--they know what they are doing there.

Please can anyone tell me about their experiences with Dr. Ortiz for a Gastric Sleeve.

I would like that someone contact me from Canada and let me know how it went.

Thanks a lot

Dear cawa5958, My name is Donna Frattaroli and I live in Thunder Bay Ont. I am a nurse and had my sleeve done in June this year. It was the best thing I've ever done and the facility is excellent. They are professional,efficient and experts at what they do. The driver was waiting at the airport to pick me up and take me across the border,the facility is clean, the staff are knowledgable and there is a driver to take you from the hotel to the facility everyday for dressing changes. The staff at the hotel are wonderful too and The Marriott is top rate and very clean. Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez are both excellent surgeons and pride themselves on doing good work. You will not be sorry. Save all your receipts if you are paying on your own--you can claim expenses-even air flights on your income tax. I hope this helps you. You can e-mail me directly at drcatsx2@shaw.ca if you want or call me direct at 807-344-9595 if you have more questions. Donna

Dear sleevester73, If you are lactose intolerant you can buy lactose free milk. There are also tablets you can buy to take before consuming dairy products. You might have to cut them in half depending on their size and there are protein drinks you can buy already prepared. Does this help you at all? Donna08[drcatsx2@shaw.ca]

Hi! I'm considering the sleeve and was wondering what the first month or so after the surgery was like. Also, since I work in remote areas of Alaska for months at a time, how much time I would need at home before I wouldn't really have to worry about complications. I don't have to go back to work until January (for crab season), but since I probably couldn't get everything in order for surgery for at least a month, I feel like I'm running out of time. Would 2 months of "learning the rules" be enough, do you think?

Dear Callmecrazy, My name is Donna and I am an R.N. If you follow the instructions you are given re; diet[a day by day schedule] is given to you at the OCC and you take your Iron, a Multivitamin, Vit B12, VitD and VitC you should be fine.I switched to oral meds after 2 weeks except for the B12 and Iron since I still had alot left from before the surgery. I was not on any solif food yet and couldn't take them all at once but took them everyday. I have had follow-up care once a month and my bloodwork has been fine. Gastric Sleeve patients shouldn't have malabsorption problems because nothing was done to our small bowel but because the volume of food we can eat is much less we need to compensate for this and because the B12 is made in our stomach which is 2/3 smaller we need to add this also and take it forever. The other thing you must be careful about is how fast you eat and how well you chew what you eat once you get on solid food. You don't want food getting stuck when you are far from help if you can't pass it or vomit it up. I only had trouble once and it was my own fault. I was thinking about something else and didn't chew a piece of meat well enough. I forgot, I also take Calcium Citrate everyday.It is a large pill so I break it in half. Your bowel schedule may change a bit butI find the Vit C helps that too. I went back to work after 2 weeks and was able to lift patients after 4 weeks. I hope this helps you

Hello Everyone my name is Ruth and I was Banded by Dr. Ortiz March 2008. I lost 55 pounds thus far and feel as if I'm stuck. Why do I say that? I say that because no matter what I do, I can't loose weight. At least not as fast as I think I should be. With this in mind, I've decided to go ahead with the Sleeve surgery. Like with any other surgery I'm nervous, anxious and scared. However very determined to overcome obesity.

I am 5'4" and currently at 215lbs. I have a bad back due to Disk Degenerative Disease and had a Spinal Fusion done in July 2009. The symptoms have subsided but due to the excessive weight I still experience pain. With all this being said, I have several questions for those who have had the sleeve surgery and those contemplating it.

How is your quality of life, now that you've had the sleeve?

How fast are you or did you loose the weight?

How much did you weigh prior to the sleeve surgery?

What are some of the reoccurring symptoms you are experiencing? ie: Gas, Constipation, Bloating, Mood-swings?

Has the surgery helped eliminate snoring?

Are the scars left behind from the surgery unsightly?

Have you experienced any hair loss?

What are some of the meals you eat that you've found to help you along the way?

Has anyone ever tried isopure plus protein drinks?

What liquid vitamins do you currently take? How do they taste? ie: B12, Calcium, Iron

Has anyone had Disk Degenerative Disease? Has this surgery alleviated the symptoms due to weight loss?

I have TONS of Concerns and Questions.

Thanks

Ruth

Dear Ruth, I had my sleeve done in June this year. I started at 258lbs., got to Tijuana at 226lbs. left there at the same weight but arrived back in Thunder Bay Ont. the next day at 216lbs. Since then I have lost about 5 lbs. at a time with about 2 wks. in between so now I am 187lbs. I am a nurse and also have aback problem. I was seeing the Chiropractor 3 times a week--even on my way to the airport. My back has been fine since surgery and I'm back to my regular 5wk. maintenance appt. I am 65 yrs. old--I am not short of breath anymore,my ankles don't swell, my knees don't hurt,I can walk like I used to 25 years ago, I can paint my toenails without any trouble and pick up things much easier. I have so much more energy and I'm off my blood pressure pills. I used chewable Iron and the Calcium Citrate logenges and B12 sublingually until I started on soft foods then went to oral pills except for the B12. I added Vit C because it helps to prevent constpation which can be aggravated by the Iron.You will not be having anything done to your small bowel so you will absorb all the nutrients you get from foods only smaller amts.so it's important to eat things that are good for you.The Vit B12 is made in your stomach and since 2/3 of your stomach will be gone, it's important to stay on it.I am not having any problems with gas,bloating,constipation or mood swings. If I forget and try to eat too fast, I get alot of burping.If anything--I am euphoric at the way my health has improved in such ashort time. I use a CPAP machine to sleep.You should not have hair loss because of the surgery unless you lose a bit because of the anaesthetic but it should correct itself soon after unless you aren't getting enough vitamins and minerals. The discomfort is minimal. I was discharged to the hotel 24hrs. after my surgery and never took a pain pill. I walked down to the shopping center 1 day after that and felt great. I hope this helps you a bit. Don't hesitate to e-mail me again. Donna at drcatsx2@shaw.ca

Hi anybody being sleeved

how are you doing on your pre-op diets?

Shari?

Shari, I had a sleeve done in June. I chose the 2nd diet option but couldn't stand the Slim Fast shakes so I modified the diet. I ate weight watchers toast with no butter or margarine and put slices of tomatoes on it. I did the same for lunch and had a salad[large] with cucumbers, mushrooms and tomatoes with Wishbone Spritzer drsg. a Lean Cuisine or Weight Watchers meal and any green veggie with spray Becel which was 0 calories. I also started the diet 3 weeks before my surgery and lost 30 lbs. There was no way they were sending me home! Hope this helps. Donna at drcatsx2@shaw.ca