DeLarla

Alex, I sure hope you're right because I'm so ready to put this surgery behind me and move on with life. I'm really angry today. I just got off the phone from leaving messages all over Mexico. I even talked to Dr. Ortiz's staff Friday to see if he'd consider taking me on as an aftercare patient. I also left a message with his assistant, Dr. Martinez. I'd have already made an appointment locally, but Dr. Teng's office number was busy all morning last week... what kind of luck is this? Why would a doctor's line be busy in this age of technology with voice mail, call waiting, multiple lines? I need a lap band surgeon immediately to give me information about my surgery to pass on the the Urgent Care doctor tomorrow. Today's doc doesn't work Sunday, and she said my problem was that she did what she could do, but she doesn't know how far or deep, or anything about my surgery to know how much farther in the infection can be. I have to see a different Urgent Care doc in the morning, who will only be able to repack the wound. I'm too scared to look at what else comes out. On the upside, I felt the damn break when they lanced me and it felt like a good pound of stuff that came out, so maybe I'll lose an ounce or two! But this bummer feeling of mine has me wanting to eat. I ate too many leftover tortilla chips from last night's party today and now I'm fighting the urge to eat even though my stomach isn't hungry. I'm having tea with honey to shut me up, but the night is young. At least I have this board to keep me occupied from time to time. And at least hubby is only making burgers on the grill, which aren't my big thing (instead of his usual buffet of my favorites.)

I didn't have to wait too long because Urgent Care wasn't opened till 8:00. I was the first one at the door at 7:30, so they saw me right away. What a nice, caring doctor, also. And I still have the nagging cough, so she said the antibiotics would kill 2 nastys at once. But now I've slept the day away and hope I can sleep tonight. So I'll probably post a hundred times tonight! Thanks again.

Thanks everyone, I knew I could count on you. I just woke up from a fat nap with my dogs and feeling a little less pathetic already. Yes, it's a huge relief knowing that disgustingness is out of me (hair standing up on back of neck.) I was shocked at the amount of stuff that was damned up inside. When I showed her the wound, I thought it was just the round pea-shaped thingy that needed to come out. She said, "no, no, no, this entire area needs to be released." I refused to watch, but I felt the pressure of her cutting me, then suddenly she scramble behind her for extra towels to absorb even more than she anticipated. I felt a waterfall go down my side. She massaged the entire area and went through quite a bit of gauze before packing the area. I have to go back tomorrow and Monday. Then she wants me to see my surgeon, but as always, Dr. Lopez's office never returns my calls. And of all things, it was my veterinarian who told me what was wrong, and she was 100% accurate. The hard ball pea-thingy was an infected pustual. I'm pretty mad because I called Dr. Carmen 2 weeks ago and described the hard bally thing and the swelling, and she told me not to worry. Then I e-mailed her the pics I posted last Monday and she promised she'd call me back after looking at them. Nothing. I planned on meeting Donali in Tijuana next Saturday for a fill and a wound check, but I'm not flying to Mexico till this wound heals because I won't spend all that money and get sent home without a fill. So I'm making an appointment with Dr. Teng, the expensive local guy on Monday to follow up on my wound. It's $150 just to get in the door, but it will be worth knowing I've established a local doctor for emergencies. Deep sigh... so glad you guys were all here for me. Knew you would be. Thanks

I really want to put my face up instead of the pink avatar. I used my photo software to make it 50x50 pixels, but that's not an option for my puter. I have the option of 37x50. I tried that but when I attached it, I got a message saying it was too large. Can I forward my pic to someone to put in the little square? I'm tired of the pink pig and think it's only fair to see me since I see you guys, right?

Vera, can you get here by Happy Hour time?? Get on down here, girl!

Voodoo is a living angel! No lie, the kindest, sweetest soul. Couldn't ask for a better dog. Never, ever bad other than some jealousy issues when food is around (he needs a band.) And when we walk in the front door, he runs to bring us his baby. But as sweet as he is, don't nobody mess with his mamma! He once dropped his baby out of his mouth and grabbed my friend's wrist as he tried to hi-five me!

My brown & white Pitbull is my Piglet. Voodoo is my Pony.

Wait, don't come on the 4th cuz hubby wants to go away that week. Go to my website www.bonesnanchor.com and click on Pet Accessories... scroll all the way down. Those aren't the best pictures of Voodoo, but looking at the picture you posted they look 100% identical. So cute!

Marsha, were you able to roll yours around? Did you see the pictures of my incision that I posted the other day? Did your incision look like that? Thanks for sharing... the whole area under my incision is hard so I wonder if it will break up over time. I hope mine goes away like yours did. Thanks again!

Yes yes, come to Vegas... be here by 5 p.m. tonight and you can come to my Mexican Soirez! Tonight is my pre-summer Happy Hour by the pool... Ole'

I'm laughing so hard about the bra that I'm crying! I can't believe I even posted it, but I was so very much concentrating on my bad incision that it never occured to me. Plus, I thought it would come out small like an Avatar. Thank GOD I didn't post the bottom underwear... that's where the real honesty hides! These posts are breathing life right into my previously empty soul.

I'm cracking up, cause honestly, that's just a really, really good pic of me. I don't think I really look like that. It's the way Donali shrunk it down or the coloring or something. It's the only pic I actually like of myself! But if I keep losing.... maybe some day!

Vera, you doll! And you remember the blue pig, too? Thank you, crying again here. But I love emotional tears... feels so good. Big warm (sappy) smile to you.

It's a slow day here in Band Land! Does this mean we're all feeling great today? I hope that's why there aren't many posts, but don't you guys know I'm trying to avoid work? Post babies, post! Thanks to Donali for my picture!

Just for sport I'm gonna check flight prices for the morn of 6/19/04 with a return flight in the afternoon. If Lopez is available, I may book it. I'm letting the wind take me where I'm supposed to be, and the local doc's number has been busy all morning... the universe knows what it's doing.

All I can do is laugh in response to that one. One Tequila, two tequla, three tequila, floor!

Shel, not only do you look 100% FAB, but that's my boy dog! He's the spitting image of Voodoo (a.ka. Pony.) I have the Pony and The Piglet. I had to shake my head because I'm talking they are exact twins! Good work... LOVE the furbabies!

discloated? Try dislocated. Geeze, get some sleep, Lis!

When my precious angle Pitbull (Sachi a.k.a. Piglett) got sick once, they put her on the same stomach meds I was on at the time. Then she had a discloated knee repaired, which left her with a hard little pea under the skin, aka "seroma." Now we have matching seromas. She came from my womb, ya know.

Donoli: From Weight Loss Center of Nevada (I used lap band seroma as my search): Wound infection and seroma are not serious problems, but they are a major hassle for the patient. They often lead to wound hernias however, which need a further operation to correct them. Recently, laparoscopic repair has been shown to be a better way to fix these. Some patients opt to have these fixed when they have the excess skin removed, an abdominal wall reconstruction, or "Tummy Tuck".

Donali, next week is my 6 wk post op. Isn't that when they say I can get a fill? I ask this because I'm torn between consulting with my local doc ($150 consult) or flying to San Diego next week. Darn, wouldn't that be a hoot to see Lopez together? All my options are up in the air now. My horoscope said to think before I act. Maybe you guys can help thing for me today. Any suggestions? I'm waiting for Teng's office (local) to open... if their schedule permits me to see them today, I may just go in. But first have to read up on the vet link. Doing that as soon as I'm done reading new posts.

Donali, get the heck out of my head! I'm torn between seeing my local doc and flying to Mexico to have it checked out. Meanwhile, the wheels upstairs are spinning for a quicker fix. I need to make an appointment for my cat, who has a growth on his eye. I figured if I could get in the vet tomorrow, I could casually ask about pea-sized rolly polly's under incisions. My Pitbull had knee surgery last year and has a rolly thingy under the incision. Great minds think alike! Why pay a doctor when I can see my local vet. And thanks for always being willing to do the research. I'm searching the web now for the same info you found lickity split. Gonna go read your link now. Send the your bill to me at........... hee hee

I'm trying to eat 2 Flintstone chewables each day. I'm eating flaxseed pills because I can finish the bottle before getting a fill. But I never thought of grinding my Vitamin in a shake. Hey, for anyone Iron deficient like me, raisins are a great source. Today I put a handful with a banana in my milk with 2 scoops chocolate Protein powder in the blender. Pretty good... not bad at all!

Bravo! Where's that book we discussed? I have a somewhat related comment about Vitamins. I've learned from reliable sources (my doc & 2 pharmacists) to never take vitamins on an empty stomach. First, they can cause upset stomach/nausea. But more important (to me anyway) is vitamins need to bind to a Protein in order to be absorbed into our systems. Otherwise they pass right through, rendering them useless. Years ago I was viewing my abdominal x-ray with my doctor and I freaked cuz I thought I saw cancer. He laughed and told me those spots were just my vitamins. I could see them clear as day, fully intact hours after I'd taken them. That's when he explained I need to take them with protein. I didn't believe him so I talked to 2 pharmacists, who confirmed his explanation. Just thought I'd throw that in.

I had a Bailies with coffee and whipped cream this evening. Then I felt like I had a price to pay, so I drank an extra liter of water afterwards. Well, now it's bed time. I'll be up all night going tinkle. I need to hire a life-manager to follow me around and do my thinking. What possessed me to drink a bucket of water before bed, let alone a thousand calorie drink?