donali

You're absolutely right, Jeanie - I can never find the "real" adult liquid Tylenol, and always have to buy the sore throat version. The pharmacists have assured me it is the same thing, and doesn't include anything extra. Go figure...

Wow, Michelle - I'm jealous! The I-15 is packed from 7am to 9am from Valley Center to SD. I guess, though, once you get past the 8, it would be smooth sailing to the border, as most of that southbound traffic on the I-15 is stopping off by then. Like I said, Lisa, listening to me may get you waiting at the hospital for a couple of hours. Time enough to practice you pole dancing... lol

Kimber - Your experience is obvious proof that we must EAT to LOSE... lol

Is she/was she a Kuri patient???? Ole!

EEK is right. I'm with you, Lisa - I can't imagine having to warn a SURGEON who regularly implants foreign devices to be particularly careful about sanitation!!!!!!! I thought that was covered in bio 101. Even I as a child I knew I had to hold the needle in the flame until it glowed red before I tried to dig out a splinter so I wouldn't get germs from it....

Hi Lisa - Don't worry about the 8/805 instructions. Just stay on the I-15, and waaay lower down you'll be merged onto the I-5. I do it "all" the time.

Yeah, the I-15 turns into the I-5 waaaay south. Just stay the course, and eventually you will be merged onto the I-5. I think hitting La Madam on the way back would be a safer idea. (that's a FIGURATIVE "hitting"!! )

Donli - hmmm I like that! lol I don't WANT to think that these problems are more common then the oft repeated stats. But... Can it be that I just personally know a higher number of problem cases? I know my sampling is too small to be a good indication, but in the few people I have met personally, the stats are higher for everything. And they're not all one doc's patients, either. THAT part makes me feel better. :sick

The Mexicoach station where you can park and walk across is 4570 Camino de la Plaza San Ysidro, CA 92173 http://gototijuana.com/bsp/ http://www.bajalife.com/bordercrossing/ If you come south on the I-15, it eventually turns into the I-5 - you don't have to do anything fancy. Take the last exit before the border (LOTs of signs saying THIS IS THE LAST U.S. EXIT), and you will see the parking lot of the Mexicoach station at the end of the exit on the right. Mission Viejo is off the I-5, about 56 miles north of Escondido. I'm thinking it would be out of your way if you're coming down the I-15, but if you come down the I-5 you're still waaaay north of where traffic is going to get pretty nasty. What time does the restaurant open??

Babs - We all need a little wickedness in our lives... Welcome back, congrats on your wonderful vacation!! Getting back to a routine really helps all the other stuff fall into place, so I'm sure you'll meet your goals.

Sheka - I suppose there's no chance in getting another doctor who's willing to work your band? I really feel for you - hang in there!! And GRRRRRRR to your doc.

Penni - When did you have your surgery? I have not heard that port rejection is "common". I am so sorry to hear you're having problems as well. Is there something in the air?!?!?! I will miss you both - my appointment is Saturday at 9am. Barium swallow and endoscope. Hopefully everything is okay in there...

YEAH!!! Bailey, welcome back!!! Take it easy, go gently, and before you know it you'll feel like your old self again.

ACKKKKKK! OMG, Lisa, I would be SO freaking out if that was MY tube coming out of my tummy. Girl, you are one brave woman. Love the glove, by the way.... I am so glad you have the plan, and are getting this taken care of ASAP. Hopefully Dr. Kuri will find that the infection is all cleared up and that there is no need to remove the port, and he can stuff all that stuff back in where it belongs, and you never ever have to see it again. That is my fervent wish and hope for you!!! I wasn't paying attention so I didn't catch where La Madam's restaurant is, but just FYI - traffic on a workday morning around here sucks BIG time, and starts backing up as far north as Escondido on the I-15 by 7am. I'm not as familiar with the I-5 that time of day, but it also experiences hellacious backups (don't know if you're using the I-15 or the I-5 - probably the I-15, right?). I only mention this in case you might want to consider hitting Escondido no later than 7am on a work day - may take you almost 2 hours to get to the border from there. I really have no idea, I just know that the 16 miles from Escondido to Mira Mesa can take 30-45 minutes in congestion... Now watch you take my advice and hit the border at 8am with nothing to do for two hours... Drive safely, KEEP US POSTED, and keep looking for that purple bra... lol

What's a good name for your tubing? The Albino Eel? Al-EE for short? I know, not funny. What are we going to do with you?

Oh, and no, port revision surgery is not as bad as the whole band surgery. At least I didn't think it was. I had the revision on Saturday, back to work Monday. Don't recall any kind of recuperating time, just the damn leaking thing.

lol - Lisa, I can so hear his voice when you do that! I didn't have to have my port removed, because it wasn't infected. I'm a little surprised that he is sure your port needs to be removed without looking at it, but that may be SOP when there is an infection near/around the port. If it becomes contaminated, it can be near impossible to clear up. Don't ask me why the same problem doesn't apply to the tubing, which is also right there. Something to ask him. :(

Hey Lisa - I sent you my phone numbers. I'm still at work. Maybe we can meet up Friday night when you get in? I don't know when you have to stop eating for your surgery, but probably nothing after 9pm, I think that's what I was told for my original surgery. I can't believe they have to remove your port!! This so totally sucks. The good news is they'll probably give you a fill first, then, since you won't be able to get one without a port. Make sure you ask them. Chin up, girl....

Glad you're finally getting some responses from Dr. Lopez's office. I think that the problems we've all been having getting in touch with his office will be coming to a head very soon, and hopefully will be resolved for the better. Anne Marie said she was going to tell Dr. Lopez he needed to have a gal from our SD bandster group work in his office, and be the U.S. liason between his U.S. patients and him. Hopefully something like that will go into place. In the meantime, I'm sending good thoughts your way, and hoping you don't have to wait until this weekend to get fixed up.

Kathy, that's a beautiful analogy! Lisa, Girl - hope you're feeling better, and remember, as bad as it is at the moment, it IS only temporary. I know it doesn't feel temporary, but it is. Barbara, my heart goes out to you. You must be a truly amazing person to overcome your childhood and be able to accept love the way you have. Let's hope this Monday is the start of a good week for us all!

We're thinking of you, Michelle!!! Whoo hooo - you're a BANDSTER now!!!

Hey Lisa - I met Anne Marie today at our bandster support group. I told her about you and the problems you've been having getting in touch with Dr. Lopez. She took several items down to talk to him about - another Lopez patient was there who is having problems, and can't get them to return her calls. Anne Marie volunteered to help get hold of Dr. Lopez for you, if you want to contact her. I think she can be reached through http://www.belighter.com/ She has a personal interest in Dr. Lopez's follow-up or lack thereof, as he is one of the surgeons she refers patients to. I got the distinct impression that this is going to be a major topic between them when she meets with him tomorrow. Hope you're feeling better, girl!

Congrats on your first fill! You're on your way! Don't be surprised if it takes a few days/weeks for this fill to "kick in" - mine always showed up about 4 weeks later...

Alex, we can go huddle in a corner together... lol I won't regale all my fainting stories here, but let's suffice it to say, healthcare is NOT my area of strength... lol

Hi Barbara, and welcome. You will find that the docs vary widely in their requirements and rules. Some docs have no pre-surgery diet (I had no pre-surgery diet), some prescribe a pre-surgery liquid diet, some prescribe a low cal diet. The post-surgery diet varies as well. It is all very maddening. The best we can recommend is do what your doc tells you, and share our stories.