Chelley

I too had mixed feelings about having surgery in Mexico. I'm an RN at a hospital here in the USA. I was very impressed by the cleanliness of Dr. Ortiz's clinic. In fact, you don't get 4 steps into his surgical center before you have to don shoe covers! Being a nurse, I was very skeptical and researched Dr. Ortiz's background and found everything checked out. Dr. Ortiz is an expert in lap band surgery and you are in good hands under his care. But I urge you to do your own research, talk to former patients, and do whatever you need to satisfy your own curiosity. Best wishes! Chelley

Deb - Thanks for sharing your story. I'll be praying for you! Best wishes!!! Chelley

Sheila - The doctor who did my fill charged $350 for fill under fluroscopy. I'm not sure if the cost of your fill is the difference in living expenses compared to my fill. I had restriction after surgery from swelling. I have followed the diet. One thing I've learned is having surgery is only 1/2 the battle... getting the fill just right is the other 1/2! After my 1st fill, I had some minor restriction the 1st week or so then by July 1st I was eating normally without any restriction at all. I'd try to minimize my portions, but I would still feel hungry and as a result overeat. There is a marked difference in the way I feel immediately after this second fill. For the first time I can actually feel liquids passing through the banded area. Good luck to you! Let us know how your fill experience goes. P.S. - I you want to reply without including the quote, hit "add reply" at the bottom of the screen. If you want to reply with the quote in the text, hit "reply" at the end of the post you wish to reply to. It took me a while to figure it out too!

I was very impressed by the fill experience I had in Paris, TX yesterday at the Paris Immaging Center. Apparently, I did not have any restriction whatsoever. The radiologist could only withdraw 0.5cc fluid from my band and I had a 2.8cc fill on June 12th. I watched the first sips of barium just flow through the banded area like a commet speeding through space! As Dr. Clifford began placing saline in my band, he would have me take a sip of barium and we would watch the computer screen together. Finally, I took a sip and watched the commet speeding through space hit a brick wall! It was so cool to watch... as the barium hit the banded area it started to disperse backward into my pouch then began to trickle slowly through the banded area. To confirm the restriction, I took a few more sips of barium and the doc said this is what we wanted to see... barium still in the pouch, but seeping slowly through the banded area ... not passing directly through without any hesitation. Since I live 1 hour away, he gave me a great fill.... 2.5cc. He said if I lived further away he would have been more conservative and cautioned me with any trouble to please come back to the clinic immediately! It was a fantastic experience! Now, I know what restriction is! I can feel liquids passing through the banded area. I'm going to follow the instructions I got from Dr. Ortiz's office and stay on full liquids for a few days before graduating back to regular food. This yo-yo weight while I've been trying to hit my sweet spot is frustrating. I was back up to 215lbs yesterday. This morning, back down to 211lbs. I will be so glad to see the numbers on the scale going down, down, down, down!

Hi Rid - Bottled water is available everywhere. In fact, the water supplied to me at the OCC after surgery was bottled. The Lucerna uses bottled water, but I did order my last Coke over ice the day before surgery and since having gone back for a fill I had ice tea. The hotel uses a safe water source. Chelley

Laura - I am glad you are feeling better and I'm very thankful that your condition was not more serious. I would like to add so that anyone reading these posts will understand that Dr. Ortiz does indeed expect you to call his cell number. I have a story to share. Mom, sister and I were sitting in the OCC lobby waiting for our fills last month when several surgical patients for the day arrived ... so the lobby was full. Dr. Ortiz came in and greeted us all individually with a handshake and a big smile. As a nurse, I see doctors sneaking down back halls, stairwells, and backdoors to avoid their precious time getting snagged by patients or family members (sad but true). Anyway, when he found out we were there for a fill he told us that we should eat 1/3 of what we could eat before.. any trouble... call my cell. He said women are the worse because they are tough and think that it is nothing and they will end up loosing their bands. He said men... they call then next day and aren't shy about .. doc is this normal? He laughed and said CALL. Then he very graciously excused himself as he was in street clothes saying he needed to go look like a doctor (put his scrubs on) so he could started on all them! When I got stung by a wasp a few weeks ago and was unsure about the antibiotic prescribed, I called Dr. Ortiz's cell number and since he was in surgery, the cardiologist answered my call and was very helpful and never once made me feel bad for calling. Chelley

Patty - I've posted my detailed experience under "Newly Banded" heading "Banded April 2006". I'd be glad to answer any questions you have. Chelley

Laura - I would still like to caution you to please use the cell number Dr. Ortiz gave you and talk to him or one of the other DOCTORS. Lung congestion is not a thing to blow off after surgery and is one of the REASONS Dr. Ortiz gave you his cell number!!! Rene is a sweetheart, but he is not medically trained and sometimes there is a communication barrier. If you are not feeling better by Monday, please (and I don't mean to scare the crap out of you) .... GO TO A DOCTOR! That's from NURSE CHELLEY! Okay??? Please!

I only wanted to add that I used dollars and had no trouble. At the Lucerna hotel the resturant calculates your bill in both peso's and dollars. All shops I encountered at the mall just down the street from the Lucerna and the shops on Revolution Ave all took dollars. The taxi drivers all took dollars. An easy way to make the conversion is just drop a decimal point. If something is listed at 70 pesos just know it should be around $7. All the shop keepers on Revolution Ave. bartered in dollars. If you like silver jewlery, you can find some really great bargins! I got several very nice heavy silver bracelets for $10 each that would have retailed in the US for over $50. Be a smart shopper tho ... real silver is stamped and does not adhere to a magnet. If you are shopping for gold.. just beware a lot of it is sterling with gold overlay. The bargins are so fabulous, I spent all my trinket money on nice jewlery and hand tooled leather items. Chelley

Hello everyone! Thanks for your continued support and helpful information on flight deals and such, but at this point I'm not willing to drive 2 hours, catch a plane and ride 3 hrs then back into TJ for a 15 min procedure. I'm not a fan of flying... LOL! I did find a Radiology group in Paris, TX and have scheduled my next fill Monday, July 10th. Paris, TX is about an hour away and the town is easier to get around in than Dallas! So, some of you might be wondering why I want a fill after just having been to TJ on June 12 for my 1st fill. Well, I think the restriction I had initially after my first fill was swelling. As that resolved, I've found myself being able to eat more than 1/3 of what I could pre-surgery. So, the next logical step is to get another fill. I'm not discouraged though because I know because I have the VG 13cc band and my BMI isn't all that bad, this could be a drawn out process hitting my "sweet spot". I'll let you all know how the 2nd fill goes.

Lin - In order to do laproscopic surgery, the doctor inflates your abdomen with gas to make your tummy rise like a tent to give them enough room to visualize your abdominal cavity and to use their instruments safely. Once the procedure is complete, some of this gas may remain in the abdominal cavity and is absorbed by the body. As a result, some people have shoulder pain or pains in the trunk of their body not to mention the discomfort of having had surgery. Walking is really the only effective way to help the body get rid of the excess gas. It's not a time to be shy about tooting in public... let it go because gas pains can hurt worse than the actual incisions. Many of us have found that the Gas X strips that melt on your tongue help combate gas. You can find these Gas X strips at most Wal-Mart Super Centers. Congratulations on your decision to have the band. Carolyn, Dr. Ortiz's patient coordinator, may be able to give you a list of doctors in your area that perform fills for Mexico patients. Also Dr. Ortiz is accociated with Fill USA which are centers that are just up and comming dedicated to fills and follow up care for lap band patients. There may be one in your area! Best wishes! Chelley

Call Dr. Ortiz! Chest congestion could be a complication of surgery such as the start of pneumonia. Chelley

When I was at the OCC, there were maps on the counter of TJ. Revolution Ave isn't that far away. Each time I've been to TJ we've taken a taxi over there without any problem. Hint: The red and white taxi's you can hail at curbside are $3.00 vs. the higher rate of the blue and white parked in the Lucerna parking lot. Just close your eyes because driving in Mexico is like demolition derby. My imaginary brake just didn't work!

Hi! Congratulations on your decision to have the Lap-Band! In addtion to the comments that Lori made, I'd like to add that the pain I had was minor and I brought along adult liquid Tylenol. I did use the pain medication given to me when I was very uncomfortable, but most of the time Tylenol worked just fine and I wasn't sleepy which is a side effect I experienced with the dispensed med. Most definately bring comfy loose clothes. Another thing to consider is what kind of bra to bring. My uppermost incision is 1/2" below my bra line. I and was so glad I packed sport bras because there was no way the girls were going into an underwire after surgery! Best wishes to you! You'll find lots of helpful info on this site and Dr. Ortiz and his staff are always so accomodating when it comes to answering any questions you may have.

Lanie - I didn't bring anything of value with me except for my cell phone. I have Cingular service nation wide calling and luckily with TJ being a border-town there were no roaming fees or extra charges. Calls were made with ease, just like they are in the USA. I arrived on a Monday and was escorted straight from the airport to the clinic where I was asked to leave my suitcase in the lobby. I'm not sure if they realize how concerned Americans are about leaving their personal belongings behind like that ... out in a open lobby ... but it really was fine and no one moved or touched my things. I saw the same shocked looks on others faces when I returned to get a fill. They were in a quandry as to actually leave their bag in a room of strangers. On the day of surgery, I checked out of the hotel and arrived at the clinic with my belongings. Once assigned a room, my suitcase was stored in a corner of the room. There was also a night stand where you can place items as well. The actual hospital area is a secure and not like hospitals here in the USA where visitors are comming and going constantly. Hope this helps ease your concerns.

Hi Rid - Liquid adult Tylenol just works faster, zips right through the banded area so you can get relief. Dr. Ortiz told my mom, sister and I that medications any larger than a round little Advil should be taken with caution. By the way, Advil and any other drug in its category called NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin) are not recommended because they can cause stomach upset and lead to possible band errosion. Since being banded, I've taken capsules like Benadryl and such and have even used the small round white Tylenol tablets. Anything larger than that, I just check to make sure it can be crushed (if you don't know ask your pharmacist) and I usually mix it with a bite of sugar free pudding or applesauce. Recently, I had to be on antibiotics because of an allergic reaction to a wasp sting and asked the physician for a liquid version of the medication and a medication that wasn't irritating to the stomach. We all know how big some antibiotic tablets or capsules can be and some of them do cause stomach upset... and I didn't want any chances ... so I got the bubble gum flavored (man that's a joke..tasted like.. well that's another story) version of Keflex. Hope this answers your question. Take care! Chelley

Elizabeth - Call Carolyn and she can give you a list of doctors in your area that perform fills under fluroscopy. I did and was able to find a radiology group in Paris, TX which is closer to me than Dallas, but there were several she mentioned in the DFW area. She was careful to explain that this was just a list of physicians who are willing to do fills for patients having had surgery in Mexico and are not endorsed by Dr. Ortiz. It is up to us to research qualifications. Chelley

Lori - Thanks! As for an update on Mom and Sister - they are doing great. They both have good restriction after the first fill. Sister is down 30lbs and Mom is down 18lbs. I am loosing inches, but no pounds. My starting weight was 227 and Dr. Ortiz opted to put the larger VG band in because I am largest in my middle and had a lot of fatty tissue around my stomach. I'm the classic apple shape, carrying all my weight in my trunk. Since I can eat more than 1/3 of what I could previously, I am going to schedule a fill in the next few weeks. Congratulations on your job with the clinic.... I read your signature line... tell us more!

I've read a lot of posts expressing concern about anticipated discomfort. The unknown is pretty scary and comparing experiences certainly gives you an idea of what to expect, but everyone experiences pain differently. What is hurts for some doesn't hurt at all for others. The best way to anticipate the level of discomfort you might have is to think about the times you've experienced pain. Does a headache send you to the Tylenol bottle ASAP or do you get busy, push through it and go about your day? When you have the flu do you lie in bed next to death or do you rest, take care of yourself and get back to life? If you'd had surgery in the past, how much pain did you have? There is no norm for pain ... it's totally subjective and an individual experience. I've read posts from people who have slept on their abdomen the day after surgery and was astounded because I couldn't lie on my left side for several weeks and then I had to have a comfy little pillow tucked between my tummy and the mattress! I didn't have a problem with the CO2 and took the Gas X strips just to make sure I didn't. On the day of discharge from the clinic, we went shopping and walked, walked, tooted, giggled, and walked some more! The pain medication does help with the discomfort and liquid adult Tylenol is a good alternative.

I laughingly joke that this is becoming my blog! Thanks for your concern, I actually have been getting over an allergic reaction to a nasty red wasp sting on my big toe .... OUCH! My foot was very swollen with hives all across the top. Was unable to wear a shoe and unable to work and as a result ate everthing not nailed down and as I approach my monthly cycle am up from 204lbs to 210. Argggggg!!! I'm not in the throws of dispair over it this time tho because I know this is just my pattern. I am considering another fill tho in the next few weeks. I have found a radiology group in Paris, TX that does fills for Mexico patients under fluro and that is within 75 miles of my itty bitty home town. They have a good reputation and I think it would be wise to use them in the event I might need an emergency unfill. Tickets are $400 round trip from Dallas to San Deigo and that flight and ride into and out of TJ is exhausting for a 15min procedure. Do you know what? I'm finding that having the surgery was the easy part of this journey. Dealing with head hunger and trying to hit the "sweet spot" on this fill business is the hard part. I am still very pleased to report my blood sugar levels are great. I did have to take a few doses of insulin since the reaction to the wasp sting shot my sugar over the moon ... but am back off of it now. Doing well today and plan to go back to work this week. Since I last posted here, I do have to tell you all that I have been feeling so good about myself and my weight loss. I've been buying some new clothes and going out with friends. For the first time in a long time ... gee... I'm turning red just sharing ..... men are starting to look! And wow... I don't know quite how to handle that after feeling invisible for sooooo long! Even got asked to dance at a club... Wooohooo! Okay.. enough sharing! My point is .......... I'm living my life and enjoying it. I came across a quote the other day that is my new mantra "Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away". Best wishes to all of you on this crazy, crazy journey!

I guess I am blessed... well, I know I am blessed. When I told my Mom about my sister and I wanting to have surgery in Mexico she was skeptical but kept commentary to herself then 2 days later (after she checked it out for herself) she was like, "Can I go too?" Sooooo ... sister, mom and I were all banded on the same day! It was a wonderful experience and according to the OCC we aren't the first family to get banded together! Dr. Ortiz and his entire staff of doctors and nurses are wonderful. The clinic's cleanliness far exceeds the standards of US hospitals (and I'm a nurse). The details of my experience are posted under the Newly Banded topic with the heading Banded In April if you like to read through what seems to have become my blog! Best wishes to you!

I take care of patients and lifting, stooping, pushing, pulling is a part of my daily activity. Dr. Martinez told me on the day of discharge not to lift greater than 12 lbs for 2 weeks. I returned to work 1 week after surgery on light duty and stayed on light duty for 2 weeks. Everyone heals at different rates. Just listen to your body and don't exhaust yourself. It sounds like you have a job where you can rely on others to help you through your transition and that's great! I'm not usually one to ask for help, but I did request the assistance of my co-workers when transferring or moving a patient in bed and since I told everyone about my surgery, they were more than willing to help.

I took insulin syringes and insulin vials with me in my purse, along with my Prozac. I was concerned too and called American Airlines and there are no restrictions for carrying your medications as long as they are in the original containers. My bag was not searched when it went through the security check at the airport in Dallas or the airport in San Deigo. I did not have to fill out any forms at the border. Truly, this is the least of your worries. Border crossing is boring because of the wait. You sail right through on your way into Mexico, but coming back to the USA is sometimes a 4 hour wait which is exhausting after surgery. We went back in a airport van and the driver would stop and kill the engine to conserve gas... we rolled down the windows, but with several of us in the van it was hot and uncomfortable. At the actual border check, a guard came to the van asked if we were all US citizens and if we had any fruit on board. There wasn't even a bag check nor did he ask for ID. Now on the way home from a fill, we were asked to get out and go through security in the building and had to walk across the border - which was faster - only a 20 min delay compared to the long wait we had to go through the line of cars. Want to talk about nerve racking! He didn't speak English and all we knew was we were being put out at the border and he was suppose to meet us where??? I was about to freak out... but it worked out ok.. but they could have let us know in ENGLISH before hand! LOL.

Dr. Ortiz dispenses a medication similar to Toradol here in the USA. I also have the same drug allergies you have and I did not have a problem taking this medication. I had no trouble getting my medication across the border or through airport security.

Sounds like a question for your specific health insurance provider since carriers vary on what is covered and what is not.