Summary
Ashley, a 34-year-old from Franklin, TN, Louisiana, couldn’t afford bariatric surgery through her health insurance. After conducting research, Ashley chose Elias Ortiz & Company (EOC) for the procedure due to positive patient experiences on their Facebook group. She had gastric sleeve surgery on January 31, 2023, performed by Dr. Elias Ortiz. Her advice to future patients is to mentally prepare for the lifestyle changes this surgery brings. Ashley recommends packing light for the procedure and appreciates the excellent care she received from the nurses, the positive and funny attitudes of the staff, and the professionalism of Dr. Ortiz. Since the surgery, Ashley has lost 92 pounds, experiencing improvements in both physical and mental health. Notably, she can now cross her legs and enjoys trying on new clothes in smaller sizes.
Transcript
Hello, my name is Ashley. I am 34 years old and I’m from Franklin, TN, Louisiana. So unfortunately, my health insurance does not cover bariatric surgery. So this led me to do research to find somewhere that I could go to have the procedure at an affordable cost. I did some research, came across EOC, read all of patient experiences on the Facebook group, and that led me to choose EOC. I came across EOC just by searching on Google. I came across EOC on Google and then became a Facebook group member. I had the gastric sleeve surgery by Dr. Elias Ortiz on January 31, 2023. My one piece of advice to someone who is about to have bariatric surgery is to prepare yourself mentally. This is a lifestyle change, and these surgeons are giving you a tool to help you change your life. And this tool will change your life, but you do have to prepare yourself mentally for this procedure. My advice is to pack light. Only bring your necessities. Comfy clothes, maybe a heating pad. Save room for some souvenirs. Everyone at EOC was great. I had a great experience. The nurses were great. I received excellent care. The surgeon, Dr. Elias Ortiz, is one of a kind. The drivers, everyone there, they were so polite and positive, funny. The drivers had us laughing so hard, but it really was a great experience. This procedure has definitely changed my life. I am currently down 92 pounds. Not only am I physically healthier, but I am mentally healthier. This has definitely changed my life for the better. I have lost 92 pounds since pre-op. I started at 255 and I am currently 162 pounds. Well, my first non-skill victory that I’ve enjoyed is crossing my legs because I could not cross them correctly at a bigger size. So now I can cross my legs, but I do enjoy also trying on new clothes in smaller sizes.
