Dr. Ortiz---the good and the bad

Smellycat asked if anyone had had a bad experience with Ortiz. That's why my post was negative.

Comparing the participation levels of someone who has been here since the beginning, and who occasionally takes time off to deal with life, to someone who has posted a total of two times in the three months s/he has been a member is a bit of a stretch.

And, preachy little platitutes are pretty banal to me, but we each get to choose how we express ourselves...at least until Alex locks the thread down.

ours was great

1) our ride was there on time to meet us (all five of us. Me - dear husband, three childen 3,2 & <1 at that point and my mother inlaw. Plenty of room in the vehicle for all of us, car seats and luggage (and we had loads). We came in on a Sunday (since we had so many stuff and at the peak of travel season I wanted extra time if flight cancel or sudh with the kids. Driver spoke minamal english- but he is polite and wonderful and was very gentlemanly. I also speak spanish (somewhat)

2) our hotel reservations were correct. 2 rooms, non smoking and all cribs and other items I requested throu the Dr. office were there!!!! Hotel was wonderful and doorman & office staff could not have been nicer. The hotel restaurant was wonderful and average priced for an american restaurant like applebee in cost. (Would have been nice if they had the Diney channel on there list of tv channels but oh well. The pool was fun- but you have to find someone to get towels (not a real problem)

Our only hotel problem was DH didn't like the margaritas & not enough high chairs at the restaurant (but it is small and I needed three )

I also was traveling with my children, two of which are adopted and are hispanic and have down syndrome- this is not always the most easily accepted thing in mexican culture (or most "non us/europe" cultures) and everyone at hotel treated my children wonderfully and I was listening to see if they said something different in Spanish. This was not the case out in public places however (store, mall, museum, and one taxi driver

3) Mrs. Ortiz met us when stated and went out of her way to help Eric with the kids when I was unvailable

4) They helped make it possible so I could return to the hotel the night of surgery, by accomadating me by letting me go first (for tests and surgery) and she returned late that evening of surgery to take me back. When they could have easily made me take a cab since I was doing something not normally done.

5) Our trip across the border was perfect and again the driver was on time and all went great.

6) I received phone numbers and cell number if a problem and my records were given to me and my mother in law as well as sent to our follow up person here.

7) All of my calls and emails have always been returned and I would let him operate on my child if necessary

8) They were wonderful when we returned for our fill in Sept. Same driver met us. Same great service, but only mom and me and my youngest (still nursing one went this time)

9) This is third person via me but- My mother in law had only one complaint. The nurse that drew her blood for her presurgery tests did not wear gloves. She washed her hands first though. I pointed out that in US gloves are for the nurses protection and that I remeber it not being done where till about 1985. It didnot bother me at all.

Mom also commented to me- she works at our small local hospital here in MO- and she stated that the surgical unit was much better equipped than hers. We were at the small same day care place they now use for those with out other issues (ie- heart, hbp and other issues)

So this was our great experieince. I know that all people usually love their choices, but I really have never heard anything negative about Dr. O (except from Sue) or Dr. Rumbalt (either) and they always seem to have glowing reviews.

We all have the right to our opinions. and how we feel. How we feel is not right or wrong it is just how we feel. Of course those of us who had good experiences with a certain Dr. will not like it when someone has negative things to say about him, that is just the nature of the game.... but none the less we all have the right to express ourselves. Just because Sue had a bad epxerience, she still has the right to come her and share her experiences. The question was asked so she answered it in her opinion and what she experienced with Dr. Ortiz... Also I hardly think the person who started this post is going to change her mind on her surgeon by what she has read here. I know for me once I completed all my research and made up my mind to go with Ortiz, nothing was stopping me. This is a place to share our stories , experiences, ups and downs with total honesty... and to support each other.
I love Dr. Ortiz and do not take offense to Sue's post, just as some love Lopez and some don't and just as some love Kuri and some dont...this is what makes us all individuals. Freedom of speech

Thanks, Michelle. And to smellycat and any others looking, I have NO PROBLEM with his proficiency at his craft. If the question had been, "Is there anyone who thinks he's not competent at placing the Lap Band?" I'd have had nothing to say.

I did a lot of research on Doctors and found this forum to be great in deciding which doctor to trust with my life. As a matter of fact, it was a question like smellycat that made me change docotors atthe last minute. I had initialy decided to go with belighter.com until I read all of the negative things regarding his honesty about using the inamed band. It was those posts that led me to make what I believe was athe best posible decision. I chose Dr. Ortiz and have not one regret in doing so. The man knows his stuff and what geezer calls ego to me comes off more as confidence in his work. I watched as one of the patients broke out a pad filled with questions and right there in the lobby proceeded to grill him with every question imaginable. She appologized for all the upcoming questions and he just chuckled and sat on the couch (he was on the arm of the couch) since it was going to be a while and told her not to worry, ask away. He never made her feel bad, hurried, or looked annoyed in any way. After all her questions, he still met with her privatly for another couple hours to answer more questions. He and his partner Dr. Martinez were great!! They both speak perfect english and are just great. I am no hard core fan of anyone! All I can speak of is my own experience. Dr. Ortiz is very competent and his equiptment is state of the art. You have your own clean hospital just for the three patients there with round the clock nurses at you call. I just got a call from his office thursday to check on me after my fill. They just wanted to make sure everything was good. I really appreciate that. I am torn between engaging in the battle over geezer's post, On the one hand I can see that as a person looking to get this surgury, I would want to be as well informed as posible. I would want to read her negative post and then as a big boy(or girl sorry), take all the information and make my own decision. I will say this about her post, she is falling back on the "negative experience with Dr. Ortiz" to rant and rave about how she doesn't like the guy. I think that smellycat wanted to read about problems with patients and they operations or complications due to the surgey, or coments along those lines. Not about a freaking wedding. Anyways, I think you would be making a great choice and feel that this Dr. is one of the best. You certainly cant't go wrong with him.
Oh and Geezer, I really do appreciate your post, I just think you should hold back on the personal vendeta against him and put more relative substance in you negative post. I am sure you are a smart person and can see what smellycat was looking for when she posted her question. I just feel you found a place to vent against the guy. You youself posted:

"And to smellycat and any others looking, I have NO PROBLEM with his proficiency at his craft. If the question had been, "Is there anyone who thinks he's not competent at placing the Lap Band?" I'd have had nothing to say."

The man is very competent and skilled, you are just scaring people because you hate the guy. Relax, let it go. Put some soft music on, chant, rub a couple smooth rocks together in your hand and just relax. Such anger will make you wrinkle faster and die young. I'll even send you the two soft rocks and a bottle of bubble bath. It's on me.

I really do appreciate you post geezer!

I am very happy with all of your opinions. Please do not limit them, just because someone doesn't like what is said...I like to hear all...the good, the bad and the ugly. I think it is important to know what a physicians character is and what their peers think about them. Keep up all the good opinions..




Tammy

Hemmerhead...I never said he doesn't know his stuff. NOR did I say--or should any uninformed person assume--that my reason for not going back there is that I hate the guy. That would be wrong. Although neither of us is crazy about the other.

And again, I said that I sent one person for surgery and she had complications and spent the better part of the week in-patient. And one person who went for a fill had to have another one within about a week. I also said that I had had a negative experience but didn't go into details.

But, "stroll around the grounds until you feel at home" and you may find that all the information you are seeking is right here on these pages. Or not. But your characterization of my opinion of Ortiz and my reasons for stating what I have stated, is about 180 degrees off base.

Now, what rumor are you repeating about belighter.com's lack of honesty about his (someone's) use of Inamed band? Is there a doctor you are charging with placing bands that are not as advertised? I don't know who belighter.com is...but HE/SHE/IT is NOT a surgeon. And the surgeons who ARE listed on that site (a site I haven't used and wouldn't recommend, because I just called the surgeons involved myself) are THE MOST RESPECTED Lap Band SURGEONS IN THE WORLD (except for whoever wrote all that glowing stuff about Ortiz. Oh, wait. That WAS Ortiz, wasn't it?) Most of those surgeons were implanting Lap-Bands, in real hospitals, YEARS before anyone in Tijuana got involved. They are located in "teaching hospitals" (not just a "clean room" in an "alternative cancer treatment center"--which I consider to be places which sell false hope to dying desperate people, but that's another rant--with a half-dozen doctors, max, involved) all over the world. I know that Favretti is in Italy (we've corresponded), and Cadiere is in Belgium and Himpens is in Germany (I've seen his procedure shown online for the last three years ar so).

So before someone reads your post and assumes that you are accusing all of these world-renowned physicians--all of whom I believe STILL have a business relationship with Inamed, so what IS the issue?--of some sort of fraud...can you make this charge more clear? Otherwise, it's too bad you missed out on seeing some of these guys...from what I've heard and read, a number of them (involved in the pre-FDA trials) are why we even have the Lap Band as an option...and we can't say that about any of the Tijuana surgeons.

(If I don't respond in a timely fashion, it may be because I am only four days post-op from other surgery.)

One of THE very BEST things about LBT IS that everyone has always been allowed and encouraged to give their opinion about any doctor. This is NOT true on every board - posts get deleted, or people get bashed into non-existence for expressing an opinion less than glowing of a certain doctor.

There is no call for that kind of behaviour to migrate onto this board, IMHO. I have always prided this board on the level-headed members and the openness of sharing. Not that I don't enjoy the occasional cat fight, but I've always preferred to go to some other board to get it. ;)

Whether or not anyone agrees with Sue's opinions based on her experiences (first and second hand) is not important. What IS important is that she is allowed to express them - just as all who have positive experiences are allowed to express them.

I personally do NOT need or WANT any kind of censored opinions. If I cut myself off from one side, how on earth can I make any kind of informed decision?

I think this board would be done a great disservice if people started to feel they could only post rosy/glowing reports. It is unlikely that any newbies are going to have read Sue's previous posts, so it is right that she posts again in response to these newbie questions. Just like we continue to explain what a PB is, over and over and over again. THAT comes up waaaaay more often than Ortiz, and yet no one ever complains about that.

Rock on, Sue - and anyone else who hasn't had the most positive experience with a popular surgeon - don't be afraid to post about your experiences here. This board has ALWAYS been a safe place for the truth. I have faith it will stay that way.

The reality is, surgeons are human, and they make mistakes. The most highly recommended surgeon could have at least one very bad outcome - there are NO guarantees, only probabilities. Remember that when you are recommending your surgeon, whoever they may be. Surgery is always a risk. Period.

ERRRRR, I'm worried this is turning into a Yahoo bash. We've always been so pleasant to each other. Everyone on this is entitled to an opinion. Bottom line, lets just be nice and not throw unnecessary punches. It's ok if you want to share a bad experience, just be polite, it keeps LBT a step above the other boards, just my opinion.

Yay everybody! Respect opinions, say what you know, put it out there and let the information flow...no censorship! Well posted, Donali, I agree with everything you said. I always knew you were smart, and now, thanks to your post on Before and After, I know your'e pretty too! Good combination. Listen to her ya'll...in my opinion. Hehe.

Holy cow. You folks are nothing if not passionate. After drinking in all of your responses, I am feeling more confident about my decision to have this surgery. Thank you all for your candor!

--Smellycat (by the way, I'm a woman :-)

Many people think arguing is "bad":pirate or harmful:ninja . But to me arguing is essential when discussing opposing points of view. As long as the participants avoid name calling, threats, and harming the other person-I believe it is healthy indeed!:laugh Especially on this board. I say this because it is much better for those of us considering using the Lap Band, or are currently using the Lap Band-to know as much information as possible about our potential choices. I say argue away! It not only helps you express your feelings, thoughts, and opinions, it too helps me and many others make more informaed choices.

Peace out,
Joan

errrrr, so what was the topic again?? :P Lets just stop bumping up this thread, we can always make a new topic discussing "the good and the bad of arguing"

(I hope everyone sees the humor is this post)

Can we argue about your suggestion, Leo?? :D lol

I have to side with Penni on this one. The thread was opened asking for negative experiences. I've have extremely ugly experiences with several Band doctors, so I think we all have the right to question bad and good. Dr. Ortiz didn't do my surgery, Lopez did. But Ortiz was in the hospital with his own patients that day and he was kind enough to talk to me and ask me how I was doing. I was pretty impressed with him because when Lopez's office ignored me, Ortiz took my calls and was more than willing to help me. He was kind and professional.

However, I was very disappointed by the book Ortiz recently put on the market; it has so many embarrassing typos that I was literally baffled that such a highly respected surgeon would allow anyone to read it, let alone sell it and make money off of it. In my opinion, he offers too much information but very little factual proof. He tends to speak his opinion rather than fact, which leads the reader to believe it's all factual. One small example is on the cover of the book, where he self-proclaims himself as Northern America's top Lap Band surgeon but it doesn't explain whose opinion that is. An Inamed representative personally told me they consider Lopez to be their top surgeon. Maybe that's the kind of arrogance Sue was trying to describe? In my opinion, the book has too many misrepresentations just based on my own private Band experience. But does his book make him a bad surgeon? That's for everyone to decide for themselves. If I personally had to base my decision on a surgeon after reading that book, I'd run for the hills! I really like Ortiz, so I hope that book got published by accident. I hope he's in the process of recalling it and rewriting it to save face. It's that bad.

Now this part is pure RUMOR, so please don't get bent out of shape till we have answers, but I heard that Ortiz spoke at a seminar in favor of "placebo fills." He thinks giving us fake fills will make us "believe we had a fill." Can anyone shed light on this... does he really favor this? Because if it's true then I'd have a really bad, bad opinion of him. If any doctor charged me for a fill but just pretended to tighten me, I'd be one livid bitch! Again, it's just a rumor but I'd like to know if there's any truth behind it.

I think Sue has been absent due to a couple surgeries.