Dolittle

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of March. Posting in this topic gives you the chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month. So lets hear from the soon to be Lap Band patients

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of Febuary. Posting in this topic gives you the chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month. So lets hear from the soon to be Lap Band patients

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of January. Posting in this topic gives you the chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month. So lets hear from the soon to be Lap Band patients

Thanks....really appreciate the feedback! The more YouTube videos I see from Dr. Ortiz, the more Impressed I become. All my interactions with his Patient Coordinator Lori have been great.

Lori,, she's pretty good,, maybe awesome. LOL

While I am in the final stages of being denied by my insurance company, I've had the opportunity to research surgery options in Mexico. I've traveled across the US/Mexico border and I am not nervous about that...I've had abdominal surgery and I am not nervous about that....however I would love to hear from others - Is the Obesity Control Center and Dr Ortiz the "real deal"?

1. What was the pre-op surgery testing like?

2. Did you feel the team had your best interest in mind?

3. How was your follow up care? Especially recovery in a hotel?

4. Any issues with discomfort traveling home by plane?

5. Did you ever have to call Dr. Ortiz needing post surgical support? I guess for infection or other?

THANKS!

Yep, he's the real deal. I was lap banded in March 2007 and have never regreted it for a minute. I can't tell you what it's like to have the Gastric Sleeve surgery, but I remember the band surgery was very easy and I remember walking all around TJ the next day and I felt great. Dr. Ortiz is probably one of the top WLS surgeons in the world. Is he perfect? I can't answer that, I guess the saying goes that no one is perfect. Does he live on his reputation? Yes, All WLS surgeons do, otherwise no one would go to them. With the power of the Internet, if Dr. Ortiz ran a fly by night operation, he'd be out of business in a matter of days. I never had any issues post surgery, but when I had a question, I always got a quick response from either Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Martinez or Dr. So. My best advise would be for you to try contacting members here on the OCC forum and see what they have to say.

Hi I am really considering the Gastric Sleeve. I am 22 and my weight is 315 I am well aware that it is unhealthy to be this much overweight. But I am a little afraid that about having the surgery in mexico. I am also afraid that something will go wrong with the during the sugery and I am afraid that there might be complications with the sleeve. Are these concerns normal. I really want to have the surgery because I want to live a happy healthy life and I have so much that I want to do. If there is anyone who could help me ease my concern and help me make up my mind I would appriciate it.

Thank you so much!!

Mishell

Call Lori the OCC surgery coordinator, she had lap band to the sleeve and has had great results. I know there are others that have had it done too. So, can any of you give this girl some advice?

I'm looking to have the sleeve procedure done but my insurance denied me. So I have decided that I am going to go the self-pay route. I have been checking prices all over the US and the best I found was $10,400 in Vegas. But the pricing in Mexico blows that away. So I have been reading and researching A LOT for several days now. I have not been able to find one bad experience. My doctor tells me that if I have surgery in Mexico, that no doctor in my area ( St. Louis) will touch me for any follow up or complications.

My concern is, what if any follow ups are needed?

I'm looking at a late Jan 2013 date.

I'm going on a cruise the 1st weekend of Jan and think it would be best to wait until after that.

I'd wait till after the cruise too. For any WLS, you have to go on a presurgery diet. I'd contact Lori, the OCC surgery coordinator, at least 6 months ago she had the sleeve surgery done and has been very successful. She could give you the info your looking for. Call her at 1-866-376-7849 ext 81

I am sitting here with my mind backing out I have lost 25 lbs on my own this month. That is great but I keep telling myself I can do this on my own without the costly surgery. BUT if I could have done this on my own, I would have already....right? I am gettting nervous, Sugery date is coming so fast!!! Nov 5th !!!

Everyone goes through this feeling. Don't feel like your all by yourself. You won't regret going through with the surgery. I don't know which surgery you have decided on, but I was lap banded back in 2007 and haven't regreted it. I just wish I would have done it back in 2000 when I first looked into it.

In October I had to make another trip back to Cosmed to have a deep suture removed. This is the third time this has happened. It's getting to be a big "pain in the butt" and a major inconvenience. I'm thinking I would have been money and time ahead if I would have went with a plastic surgeon closer to home. But, back when I decided to have the lower body lift, not many surgeons had any experience with WLS patients. Times are changing, with lap-banding, gastric by-pass surgery and other WLS's more common in the USA, plastic surgeons in the USA are more experienced. I have come to the conclusion that unless you live close to or in Southern California and can come and go to TJ, I suggest finding a plastic surgeon closer to your home. Time and travel expenses can eat up any savings you'll get if you have any complications from the plastic surgery.

About a year ago I had a tooth #30 just go to crap. It must be an age thing. When I was in TJ in October, I decided to go with a implant to replace it. I made my appointment with Dent-Art and made it a 3 in 1 trip to TJ from Illinois. #1, have my band checked by Dr. So, #2, have a deep suture removed by Dr. Quiroz at Cosmed, #3, get the dental implant. I go back in January to get the implant crowned. So far Dr. Lugo and his staff have been great. He was running a special on his website for implants, $1100 for the implant and crown. Which here in Illinois would have been over $3000. I'll keep you posted on the crowning trip. This time I have scheduled the trip to include some free time and might get to actually see something in San Diego.

I just got this email from Melody, she was Dr. Watkins surgery coordinator and assitant. Dr. Watkins left the Chicago area and went back to Cinn Ohio to teach. Now Melody has went out on her own. Read the following email I recieved yesterday.

Im very happy to announce that effective immediately, I am available for appointment for band adjustments (fills/unfills) in my new Hinsdale location at:

120 E. Ogden, Suite 120

Hinsdale, 60521

If you are interested, either email or call me to set up a date and time, by appointment only. No walk-ins, please, as I will only be there, when I have appointments scheduled.

I will not be available on Wednesdays or Thursdays between 9am-5pm, but if you email or call and leave a message, I will respond as soon as I can.

Evenings and weekends are also available.

The fee is $100 and cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are all accepted.

Im looking forward to seeing all of you!

Melody Kodis

Owner

Certified Wellness Coach

Certified Food Coach

Bottom Line Weight Loss

-Weight Loss Catalysts-

Office: 630-360-BAND (2263)

Website: www.BottomLineWeightLoss.net

I had my lap band put on in April of 2012 and have lost 50lbs but haven't lost anymore, i think i'm due for an adjustment but since i had my surgery done in TJ i am having difficulties finding a fill center in NOrthwest INdiana or Chicago that will be willing to do it for an out of country patient. What is the average cost of a fill? I'm getting price ranges of $500 +. I was hoping for adjustments costing me less. Please advise. Thank you

I just got this email from Melody this week. I've had fills done by her in the past and will in the future.

I’m very happy to announce that effective immediately, I am available for appointment for band adjustments (fills/unfills) in my new Hinsdale location at:

120 E. Ogden, Suite 120

Hinsdale, 60521

If you are interested, either email or call me to set up a date and time, by appointment only. No walk-ins, please, as I will only be there, when I have appointments scheduled.

I will not be available on Wednesdays or Thursdays between 9am-5pm, but if you email or call and leave a message, I will respond as soon as I can.

Evenings and weekends are also available.

The fee is $100 and cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are all accepted.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of you!

Melody Kodis

Owner

Certified Wellness Coach

Certified Food Coach

Bottom Line Weight Loss

-Weight Loss Catalysts-

Office: 630-360-BAND (2263)

Website: www.BottomLineWeightLoss.

I was just in TJ this week and the OCC clinic is still a busy place. Dr. So checked my band and everything looks great, even after almost 6 years (March 3 2007 band date). We decided I needed a little more resrtiction and he added 2 tenths. Back in the fall of 2008 when I had my LBL plastic surgery, everyone thought it would be a good idea to have an unfill before the plastic surgery. I went 5 months with no restriction and gained 20 lbs, I've never been able to get it back off, I wish I'd never had done the unfill. LOL. We'll see how things go.

Many thanks to the OCC staff for their great hospitality. Gloria is the best, Dr. So does great fills and he's a great guy.

The above hyerlinks give you very good instructions on how to take the bus/trolley to the border and cross the foot bridges.

Dan did a damn good job on this presentation,, Thanks Dan

I haven't done the crossing by foot for a long time. To my understanding, things change and the USA is rebuilding the whole bordering crossing. So these instructions may not be accuate any longer. In January of 2013, I will be doing the crossing by foot and will up date this topic. If anyone between now and January does this by foot, please send me or post the changes.

Thanks

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of December. Posting in this topic gives you the chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month. So lets hear from the soon to be Lap Band patients

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of November. Posting in this topic gives you the chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month. So lets hear from the soon to be Lap Band patients

I too have been resarching this ... for almost a full year now.

And pretty much determined is worth the few extra $$ to stay close to home, due to follow up, which is guaranteed ... the extra expense(d) you will end up paying, should you need to return to an international doctor are ones a lot of people don't pretict or plan for.

Just keep this in mind, if you're getting any kind of invasive cosmetic surgery done.

So true!

I just called the office and they gave me different information from what's been stated here. but i know this info was from a while ago. None of the people mention are at the office anymore. It's Dr. Shayani (I know my friend was banded by him when he was @ Day One). The fee has definitely changed 2. The lady that answered the phone said my 1st visit is $500 and then when I go back after it's $140. Not quite the $95 I had hoped for, but it's still cheaper from what I've found in the area. One place told me $575 for each visit. The lady that answered the phone said she's a band patient 2. I wasn't expecting that...but it was nice to talk to her. Well, I just thought I would update this for anyone else reading it. I did make an appointment. I'm hoping for the best because it's been a while since I have had a fill. Here's 2 getting back on the wagon.

The info I posted is very old, January 2009, since then Dr. Watkins has moved to Cinn OH and Dr. Shayani took over Synchrony. I haven't need a fill since 2009 and haven't needed their services. It's hard to find fill doctors that will take MX patients. I had found one in Galesburg IL, I think that post is somewhere here on the forum.

There is more detail in my Blog, so here is a mini briefing:

This is the end of week 7 for me. I lost 3 lbs!!!! At 185 I feel safely out of those nasty nines! It feels fantastic ALSO, today is VERY Special! I have now made it HALF WAY TO MY WEIGHT LOSS GOAL!!! WOOO HOOO!!! **victory dance** I have lost 36 lbs and have 36 lbs left TO GO.

My stomach has slimmed considerably! My jeans are roomie! I feel very Happy.

To Making it Half Way!

To another high loss week!

Cheers!

Any pictures of this? Maybe you could post them in the gallery. Show everyone the transformation. That would be cool!

Anyone have a good fill cneter in this area?

What part of Indiana?

Well. It was a frustrating week 5. I was severely constipated and gained 4 ozs.Grrr.

I don't normally track ounces, I just list the weight but for the sake of tracking, I gained 4 ozs. What is frustrating about that (more details in my blog) is that i not only went in the wrong direction, but also didn't lose anything during week 5. The abdominal distention wasn't fun either. Made it hard to feel good about losing weight because I couldn't feel the slimness.

I continue to drink 64 oz of water a day and follow the healthy eating habits and the 1 hour either side of meals before drinking.

I got some information from Dr. M about what to do for constipation so I am looking forward to implementing that solution. Well. Here's to hoping I have a better week!

Sheesh. :\

Milk of Mag,, works wonders and is fast. LOL

Yes, definitely Gas X strips or Papaya enzyme (for gas). I would also make sure that you stock your home pantry for the liquids etc. that you are going to need when you get home. You may not feel like running around and shopping for things after you get back.

Best of luck on your procedure! I look forward to following your great success.

I don't mean to mislead people or tell them certain products don't do anything. The gas that they pump into you to expand the organ cavity during surgery doesn't penetrate your organs. It will roam around your body and move into your joints causing some discomfort as it dissipates. Over the years, I've found that Gas-X really doesn't do much,, mostly it's a psychological thing. Walking and moving your joints really helps dissapate the trapped gas.

As for the Papaya enzyme, some patients say if you get food stuck, you can take the enzyme to help digest the food. I haven't seen the proof and I'm still leary of this, but, I've never had success with it.

Can anyone prove that this stuff works? Or is it just lap band wives tales?

Well, thanks for the heads-up! I didn't know we might have to walk across the border -- yuck!! But now I stand warned.

In reality, everyone walks across the border when leaving Mexico unless your in your personal car. The OCC van pulls up in the commercial lane and everyone and their luggage gets out and goes inside the US customs building via a side door to be screened. The commercial lane bypasses all the auto lanes and the mile long walking line. After the US customs and border personal check your passport and screen your luggage, you walk out the building on the USA side, with your own luggage and rejoin the OCC van to continue your trip to the San Diego airport. During this process, US border officers are screening the OCC van and driver, after the inspection they release the van and he drives to a secure parking lot just past the customs building and waits for the OCC patients.

Depending what time of the day it is and how you cross the border, wait time can be 20 minutes to hours. The fastest and safest is always with the OCC van.

Hi all:

Having surgery August 27, very excited! The only thing that concerns me is that I'm flying to San Diego alone, staying at the Marriott alone, and having surgery alone. Did anyone else do this? I would love to hear about it. Most concerned about the night in the hotel alone after surgery....

Blue

I've done it several times, the OCC shuttle picks you up at the airport and takes you to the OCC clinic or the hotel. Very easy and very safe.

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of November. Posting in this topic gives you the chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month. So lets hear from the soon to be Gastric Plication patients.