It's My Surgiversary> 1 yr post op RNY with Hiatal Hernia Repair, Thanks to Dr. Elias Ortiz

The time has come! A year ago today 6/16/22 I received my surgery for Gastric Bypass (RNY) with Hiatal Hernia repair. The whole process from finding and researching a doctor, to securing my down payment ($ 300), to paying all my payments to the day I was in Mexico for surgery, was a very short time.

I started my process in October of 2021. I knew that my insurance would not cover Hiatal Hernia repair. I was told that I would need weightloss surgery with the hiatal hernia repair due to corrosion in the area of the hernia. So I researched the info i had received since i never heard that before. Also to pay out of pocket, i was told that it would cost $20,000 - $30,000 in the state of my residence. I was absolutly not going to pay those fees on anything lol. So the researching began as I knew I needed the hernia fixed asap. I had the hernia for close to 10 years and it was really bothering me in my day to day life. I would struggle with continuous stomach pain anytime of the day, no matter what i was doing. it obstructed breathing and sleeping at times, and insurance still did not want to pay. My bmi was obese , but not morbidly obese enough for insurance to cover both procedures. They called it cosmetic even though it was not for cosmetic needs. It was doctor recommendations. I was scrolling on TikTok and all the TikToker's on #wls popped up since that's what I was researching. I had came across Dr. Elias Ortiz and Company's page. I continued to research this company inside and out, along with a few other places. They are a U.S. Based company that has a facility in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. I filled out the application on their site in December of 2021 after following them for 2 months. I went on reading their site over and over, preparing myself for this journey that I was about to embark. I received a reply from the application just in 3 days time ( it may take less or longer than others), I was shocked that my BMI at the time of 38-40 was approved with all of my medical history that was submitted. Here I was in the position to change my life. To hold my surgery spot and to start my journey I had to pay $300 down (that let's them know your serious and to start making payments). I paid the $300 in 3 days time right after Christmas of 2021. I was now able to select a surgery date/ dates and then pay as little or as much as I wanted too before my surgery day approached. They just ask that all payments are received and made 10 days prior to surgery date.

I continued to make payments and I set my surgery date for 6/16/2022. That gave me enough time to get my surgery fee of $ 5,750 for Rny ( I needed this surgery due to having acid reflux) (if you get gastric sleeve surgery it is cheaper) and $350 fee for hiatal hernia repair ( neede this to save my life and to stop most of my stomach issues). I joined E.O.C facebook group, I started gathering as much info and personal responses as possible on weightloss journey's, the do's and the dont's, etc..... I found out my surgery sisters and brothers ( other people having surgery the same day as me) and became a lifetime of friendships. I began saving up for items i would need for travel. I have never flown in an airplane at this point and I needed to take a plane ride for 5 hours to get to California for this trip. So i researched everyting that I needed to know about that as well. I even took the time to print each section on the E.O.C website eliasortiz.co and put it in a Pink binder, so I had continued reference on my whole journey. I measured myself, took before pictures and videos, got a shirt made pre-surgery and all.

Fast forward to 3.5 weeks prior to surgery. It was getting close to start my journey. I felt i was ready to start pre- op early and i wanted to see how much weight i would lose before getting the surgery. My highest weight was 248 lbs. I did the pre-op for 3.5 weeks instead of 2 weeks ( everyone pre-op length is different compared to your BMI). I dropped over 28 lbs and i had my 3 day liquid diet which was included in the pre-op days. I got ready for my flight. I had delays in my flight and cancellations. My flight experience was a mess due to a cancellation, but I still got my flight to California in the same day. I was a few hours late. E.O.C. has drivers that pick you up in San Diegp at the airport. I was lucky enough to still have E.O.C driver pick me up. It was past their driving time so they still picked me and my surgery companion up . We paid an after hours fee of $100. I was supposed to get bloodwork and an ekg the day before surgery. Since I arrived late the EKg was done, Bloodwork was done the next day before surgery. I got to stay in the 5 Star Grand hotel which was included in the surgery price, with 3 bariatric meals provided daily for myself. companion gets to come with you for free and they pay for their flight and meals plus spending money on trip only. The Grand hotel is simply amazing with a store inside, Casino, Salon, Restaurants, pool, hot tub and more.

Next day was Surgery day. My companion and Myself grabbed all of our things and took the shuttle to the hospital. My bloodwork was preformed and we were sent up to my room that i shared with another Bariatric client. She was getting the sleeve surgery while i got RNY with Hiatal hernia repair. Our surgeon was The great Dr. Elias Ortiz. He does his surgeries later in the day around 12 pm-2 pm starting off. That day he had 20 some surgeries (sounds like alot but that man could do the surgery in his sleep lol) , he started at 2 pm and I was his 8 pm surgery ( i had been NPO nothing by mouth since 12 pm) 3 of is patients were wheeled up to the O.R. together, I was the 2nd one, I swear I waited 10-15 minutes and it was my time to go back for surgery. I got on the O.R. table and boom anesthia was given via I.V., as soon as i felt the anesthia hot my vein my eyes peeled back. It was night night time for me. I woke up a bit later. My companion said surgery was about 20-30 minutes for me. The nurse I had was a bit rude and tried to abruptly wake me up out of surgery so i could walk and get on my bed. I told her i could not walk and I woke up later in the bed. i was very groggy that night from anesthia and the next day i was nauseous and not able to walk like my sleeve sisters were able to. one of my surgery sisters had rny as well and she was in the same boat as me with the way we felt. which is normal since our surgery was more invasive than the sleeve. I got to go back to the hotel for a few days with after care nurse that came to our rooms for dressing changes etc.... We got to go to a nutrition class that was put on from the company and a tour as well for shopping and site seeing. they have ties to other companies for dental cleanings, teeth whitenings, nails, hair care and etc,, if you would like.

It was time to fly home. I flew home 2-3 days after procedure. I still had access for followup with a nurse from the facility for post op questions and etc... plus the website eliasortiz.co has plenty of resources to follow and recipes that are helpful. After landing I make it home to rest. My family was happy to see me after being gone 5 days. I was scheduled to go back to work the next day. I went to work. My stomach felt gumbly but I was able to work. I felt a little light headed one day and felt like I was going to pass out , so my boss made me go home that day. I continued to work and get better and heal. my healing process took awhile. I was on each stage of clear liquids, to puree's to soft foods to solids within a week of each or until my new pouch could handle it. I lost weight very rapidly. In my first 4-5 months I lost 107 lbs. It fell off of me very quick that people thought I was sick. I am officially 112 lbs down in the process of one full year and maintaining my weight loss.

I was only able to eat very small bites and some times I can only eat 2-3 bites or I can eat 5-6 times. It varies each day and time to time. I never lost my vision of life or changed who I was during this process. I'm still the sweet ol' Heather that would give the shirt off my back to help someone out and I still will do that.

My voice was very rough after surgery. i thought it was due to anesthia lingering in my body. My doctor i work for was concerned that my voice was still rough sounding after so long. she asked me to see a specialist about it. i scheduled an appt and was seen 3 days later. To my surprise I was told my right vocal cord was paralyzed due to the intubation tube placed during my weigthloss surgery. My vocal cord was knocked off it spot . SMH, it can happen to anyone so of course it happened to me. I had to get insurance to pay for this procedure since I definitely was not going back to Mexico to get that fixed. I had to wait a few months for surgery to pay for it and it was fixed with one day off of work to recover, Even with going through all of that, I was still pleased that I saved my life with WLS.

Another fast forward, I meet Bari friends along the way good ones and bad ones, built friendships and got guidance, I was able to build my tiktok, become an influencer, get deals and codes, be a sponser and more on this journey. I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. Here's to my 1 year in Post op. It's my surgiversary and Im happy to help anyone on this journey. Please feel free to reach out, follow me on TikTok, twitter , facebook or Instagram (my jam) . Let me know how I can be of assistance!

Sincerely,

Thick2slimbarbie, aka Heather, aka HRENEE

(picture below is before surgery, day of surgery, midway point after surgery, and now).

Surgiversary

After reading this would you go through what I went through?

• yes
• no
• undecided