Pretreatment- 3 days before mupriocin up both nares to kill any colonized MRSA. Took two Hibicliens showers like open heart patients do . Washed hair with it as well.

December 30th Day 1- Leaving for San Diego with Eric tonight. I took one of my sleeping pills for the ride and woke up in at San Diego Airport. We drove through the Badlands We were picked up in the hospital van and went to Hospital Vida. (See accompanying pictures)Jerusalem was not open yet. It was small, clean, and nice. Nothing big or special, but I felt comfortable and ready to get my surgery. Met Dr. Betancourt and Dr. Almanza and felt very happy with my decision to have my VSG with this team. My surgery friends Bill (Wingrider), Bernadette(FabBy50) and Clarissa (Running Mom 3)are here. I was surgery in with my gown and panties, got on the table and that?s all I remember. I woke up in recovery, slept then did some midnight walks with the group. I requested pain meds @ 6 p.m. By midnight I was lapping the halls.

December 31rst-Day 2 I can hear my stomach growling and making snap, crackle, pops. Pain feels like I have done many sit-ups. We got ice today at 4 pm! Changed into loungewear and wishing I brought more books and magazines. Cannot tolerate much liquid. I have great hope for the first time in my life as I am not hungry. Tonight my nurse and I had a communication breakdown. My friend and I wanted pain meds and she seemed to be saying no. I got on the phone to my coordinator Patti using the free phone they give us and in about 5 minutes we had the medicine. Dr. Betancourt also came in and gave me a booster pain shot in the am. I liked how that was handled. Also on the itinerary, walkin? with my pole?..

January 1, 2010-Day 3 Drank the blue liquid to test for leaks. Success! No blue in my jp drain. Now the swallow test in the x-ray machine. Also good! We all packed up and went over to the guest house. When we arrived we were shown around. Today I drank Gatorade and broth and kept it all down?.it?s difficult! I had a migraine all night and tossed and turned.-I think I am in a serious withdrawal from caffeine. In the evening, one of the patient?s husbands cooked a bacon burger. I barely noticed. It?s like the connection from my brain to my stomach has been rerouted. Every day of my life before this, I have woken up hungry and then proceeded to either fill or fight that need. It was a tiresome and consuming process and I am currently free from it-miraculous!

January 2- Day 4. The medical assistant Servetto took my drain out. It hurt, but now that it is out, I feel much freer and more human. Driven to border and then a 6 hour drive to Arizona! My bf took great care of me. If you go to Mexico, bring a best friend or husband to take care of you-it made all the difference. Mild soreness and some bruising at the five puncture sites. Sutures look good and not a sign of infection. I was worried before and the whole time I was never even approached without gloves! I slept well in my own bed tonight.