peaceandlove

Awesome, I just placed an order for some new ones. Buy 1 Get 1, I just couldn't pass up. That is what I did for my original order when the bullet first came out.

Do you have this site , please?

Heather, my dear, I'M SURE TO COME!

I'm so excited about the whole experiece and the possibilities to come, nothing can stop me now

I will arrive before you, not sure which hotel. I have yet to decide after I check them both, but I know for sure that I will like to connect with you before Monday.

This forum is great , everybody so willing to share their experiences and that helps people like us to be better prepared. Thank you all.

"the Canuk" - I really like this name

Update: I will be staying at the Marriott also ,

Heather, my dear, I'M SURE TO COME!

I'm so excited about the whole experiece and the possibilities to come, nothing can stop me now

I will arrive before you, not sure which hotel. I have yet to decide after I check them both, but I know for sure that I will like to connect with you before Monday.

This forum is great , everybody so willing to share their experiences and that helps people like us to be better prepared. Thank you all.

"the Canuk" - I really like this name

Update: Great news Heather: I also will be staying at the Marriott.

I've only heard negative feedback regarding Fill Center's USA -

It seems to the same issues, regardless to which centre & city you visit.

What a beyond terrible thing to go through.

I hope new banders are keeping this mind, prior to making the decision of getting banded 'over the boarder' - please track down a fill doctor, who has a great reputation, PRIOR to the surgery.

No doctor will touch me in Canada, either.

It's a lot harder than it sounds.

It's because of stories like this one that i might decide to go with the sleeve plication , rather than the lapband which was my original choice.

In tryng to find a reliable and experienced fill doctor, before I get banded in Tijuana by dr. Ortiz, I experinced the same thing in Canada:nobody want's to do fills for people who after careful research decide to have the operation in a modern facility , surrounded by friendly , helpful staff, to be operated a highly experienced doctor that taught many other doctors how to do the operation and ...here it comes: at 1/3 of the cost (aproximately)

If I were you I would just keep looking for a fill center that will do fills reasonably. I will also need to travel 3 hours (over a mountain pass) to get to a fill center that is reasonable but also does fills under fluoroscopy and that alone makes the drive worthwhile. I am hoping not to need to do the drive in winter

Thanks for the advice. It's not been easy to find the two fill centres , but unfortunately none of the two uses fluoroscopy to do the fills. So i'm still looking , or maybe I choose the sleeve plication operation and don't have to worry about fills at all .

Hello peaceandlove,

I had the sleeve (no plication) with Dr. Ortiz this past July. Like you, I started off thinking about the lapband, but after hours and hours of research, I determined that there were too many complications with the band and a significant number of people had to get them removed after a couple of years. The idea of continual fills and unfills was also a turn-off as were the many side effects I saw posted on this and other WLS forums. I am thoroughly pleased with my decision. I had one surgery that had immediate impact and have lost most of the weight I needed to lose within 3 months (46 out of about 60 pounds). While I have had to learn to eat slower, chew more, and listen to my body more than my mind to determine how much to eat, the adjustment has been fairly smooth. I have no foods that I'm unable to tolerate and am easily able to go to restaurants, parties, etc. I was not at all concerned about the fact that the surgery was not reversible; years ago, I maintained a very low weight by eating just enough to get the necessary nutrients - with this surgery, I will have no problem doing that for the rest of my life. With the sleeve from Dr. Ortiz, I am now thin again and will be able to stay that way forever.

Lisa

Thank you so much Lisa for sharing such a great, incouraging and uplifting story.

I'm truly happy for your amazing and wonderful results, sincere koodos to you ! Most of all congraz on how well you ajusted your attitude towards food and that will ensure your success for ever. I will remember your words about learnig to eat slower , chew more and listen to my body rather than my mind to determine how much I eat. You truly hit the nail on the head with this words and it resonates with me and i feel better prepared for the big changes to come in my life. It's about time!

Thanks again!

I'll keep you updated , just to share with you or more likely: to be inspired by you

Dear Canuk,

I am from Houston, Texas. However because of work I am only there less than 4 months out of the year.

I too am still undecided between plication and the regular sleeve, so do not be worried there.

I have done a ton of research and am very confident of the decision to go with OCC and Dr. Ortiz.

I am excited that I may have someone there. I arrive at 3:30pm on October 31st and am staying at the Marriott.

What is good about the plication is just like the lapband it is somewhat reversible.Some people do not decide until after they have spoken with Dr. Ortiz.

Please stay in touch and let me know if you are coming.

Heather

Heather, my dear, I'M SURE TO COME!

I'm so excited about the whole experiece and the possibilities to come, nothing can stop me now

I will arrive before you, not sure which hotel. I have yet to decide after I check them both, but I know for sure that I will like to connect with you before Monday.

This forum is great , everybody so willing to share their experiences and that helps people like us to be better prepared. Thank you all.

"the Canuk" - I really like this name

Thank you for all the tips, sounds like I should not worry about bringing anything from home.

I am getting a little anxious as I have not found anyone on any forum having surgery on my date, it would be nice to have a sleeve friend. OF COURSE I have many sleeve friends here on the forum and it is a great comfort.

Again thank you all for the above advice.

Hello Sleevester,

Guess what? I might be your sleeve friend, I'm also scheduled for Nov.1 .

Here is my story : I started by looking for a lapband procedure and after reading great feedback anywhere on the OCC place I decided I will go with dr. Ortiz. I'm from Toronto, Canada and wanted to have my aftercare (fills and everything) here in Toronto . To my surprize none of the clinics here want to do fills for patients that did the surgery in Mexico, or they ask some ridiculous price ($10,000.00) so as to discurage you to do the surgery in Mexico, because of the price difference .

That's why i start looking into getting a Gastric Sleeve Plication instead of the Lapband.

Then i read some posts on other forums and there were a lot of positive feedback, like with everything else , there some complications for some people and I got a bit scared , so I went back to the ideea of a lapband.

I start looking again for aftercare (fills centres) in other cities in Canada and found one in Montreal and one in Ottawa .

Both these cities are 4 and 6 hours drive from Toronto and depending how many times you have to do the fills/defills and can became a bit of a pain in the butt. So now i'mthinking again about the Sleeve Plication.

Here I am , a week away from surgery and I have not made up my mind...I'm asking for guidance but still continue to do research.

So now you see why i'm saying I might be your sleeve friend on Nov.1 .

Where are you from ?