Mexico Surgery

[GeezerSue 7]

Zoe,

I've been banded almost two years. There were far fewer band doctors, and the few who were in the area were not willing to do adjustments on someone else's patients. Maybe some would have done emergency work, but not routine stuff.

I live in So. Calif and have gone to Tijuana. I tried twice to go to local doctors. One knew VERY little about the band and wanted an endoscopy just to protect himself before any adjustment. The other wanted an endoscopy before he'd see me. Seemed like unnecessary expenses, so I went to Tijuana.< /p>

If you can find an EXPERIENCED doctor in the Chicago area for $12,900, I'd seriously consider seeing that doctor. (Don't tell Rumbaut I said that, because I adore the guy and he IS a teriffic surgeon.) But, right out the door, to Rumbaut's fee, you have to add in airfare and hotel and taxi back to the airport and meals--if any--for your family. Then, the fills will cost arount $300 for the surgeon, BUT, in many cases, there are extra charges for the flouroscopy and the radiologist...bringing the fills to about a grand a pop. And an "outside" doctor is more likely to want an endoscopy. I dunno, experience is my #1 consideration, but easy access is #2.

Sue

[DeLarla 22]

I'm glad I got my band, too. I'm worrying right now that something might be wrong with it. I worry all the time that it's not working, and I worry that I'll have to get it removed one awful day. But guess what? Before my band I worried about my high blood pressure, high cholesterol, borderline diabetes, etc. So looks like I'm doing just fine except for all these warts from worrying too much!

[Neicy 0]

Yes Sue, I agree with you there, I would have definitely gone to him if it had been available at that time. I think it's a prudent thing to check with your local surgeons, maybe they are becoming a little more willing to barter, after all this is elective surgery.

[Neicy 0]

Lisa, I am a bigtime worrier too. But I bet you just pulled a muscle while you were getting your ribs massaged! How long do they want you to wait before they replace your port?

[DeLarla 22]

Neicy, I don't think I'm ever getting another port. Today is the first day that my incision isn't leaking. It's still really tender and might open again. I've had an open incision since May 5. Nearly three full months. So if I had such a bad infection from the port, then the removal got infected and still hasn't healed, what's a girl to think? They originally told me 3-4 months. In my dreams they'll come up with a way to fill without a port in the next couple months. Come on, why not just stick a needle through my skin into the band? Sounds like a plan to me!

[Neicy 0]

Also, back to follow up, I should add that when I had the surgery with Dr, Rumbaut, they gave me a packet to give to my doctor, and it was re-cruitment offer to train doctors to do band fills under fluoroscope. ( this came from Belighter and Co.) My internal medicine doc seemed real interested, and I'm sure he checked it out, but when I called to see if he would do the fill, his nurse practicioner said it did not work out. I'll have to get the skinny on that story next time I see him.

[Neicy 0]

You poor girl, no wonder you worry all the time. Does your doctor think the infection is resolved? If not , have they considered culturing the exudate so they can nail it? You've got so much at stake here. I know you were considering seeing a gastro. doctor, are they interested in your case?

[DeLarla 22]

When my infection was really bad, I went to Urgent Care and they lanced and packed the wound. They told me to come back 3 days in a row to be re-packed. It wasn't till the 3rd day that my surgeon asked if they did a culture. So I went back to Urgent Care and asked them to do a culture without having to see the doctor again, considering they should have done it on one of my 3 visits, which each cost me $35.00. But she said I'd have to pay a 4th co-payment to get the culture.

The whole medical world is whacked out. I hate it!

Oh, and my wound opened up again this morning. It's very small compared to how it used to be, but it's still leaking so I have to constantly keep it bandaged, and I'm allergic to bandages! I use the fabric tape, which only leaves a small pink mark instead of huge red welts.

I have an appointment with my Gastroenterologist on August 26. I hope he cares enough to help me. If not, I'll see my primary again and see if she can refer me to someone else.

Thanks for caring.. it truly does suck trying to find follow up. It's non-existent.

[Neicy 0]

Lisa, it's so unreal that this is still going on, it almost sounds like the wound is healing from the inside out. I hope it continues to heal for you without any more problems. August 26th is pretty far away, I just think it's crazy to make someone who is in need of healthcare wait that long to get help. Amazing! Our bodies do have the capacity to heal itself, I'm hoping that complete healing takes place for you. You deserve to have this go right.

I'm gonna put in a good word for you with the man upstairs!

[hagerteresa 3]

Lisa, you are definitely going to want to get another port sooner or later. Ask Dr. Kuri what he suggests you do before that surgery to boost your immune system. What about antibiotics prior to surgery, etc. Your healing situation sucks! Has your primary physician seen your incisions? Mine was the best when I was having leaking problems. I hate antibiotics overall and tossed the ones I got in mexico directly in the garbage as soon as I got home because they made me WANT to puke everytime I took them. I always heal good so I thought that was fine. I had that major leakage problem and went to my family practitioner and he instantly put me on another 2 weeks of a different antibiotic and best yet, it didn't taste like poop. I took those and everything healed fine after that. My doctor just did NOT want to take any chances with such deep wounds. Hope yours heal up soon. Teresa

[bushbaby 8]

Wow Delarla, There is nothing your hospital/dr. can do about your wound... Are we in the year 2004? I am so sorry that you have to go through this. I hope that soon you will have someone that can resolve you wound issue. I know there are opened wound specialist. Maybe you could do some internet research...

[DeLarla 22]

Neicy, first can I say that with a name like Neicy you must be cute as pie? I think you hit the nail on the head with my wound healing from the inside out. That's what I've been trying to explain in my own little words. I thought I had a pound of rock-hard scar tissue under the wound. But now the lump is down the size of a small grape, as if it's breaking down and coming to the surface. The wound heals over flat, but then as the rock breaks down, it poofs out the incision and wants to drain. Does anyone know if this "healing from the inside out" theory holds Water?

Bushbaby (another name befitting a cookie), I've never heard of an open wound specialist. Had I known that, I'd have gone two months ago, but since the problem is much smaller, I'm hoping the grape will shrink to a pea and soon be gone. I just finished another round of really strong antibiotics. Funny, my pouch has been tender since Sunday, which was the first day off the antibiotics. They probably shredded the inside of my stomach, and now I have new problems!

As far as my Gastro making me wait so long, that's my fault. I had an appointment for next Friday, but I canceled it because I have to drive to California for the night to be in the audience when my friend tapes his Wheel of Fortune ... so exciting since I've been a Wheel Watcher over 20 years... and I can't envy him cuz he's one of my best buds. So I had to re-schedule and that's why I'm waiting so long now. Blah blah, sure, my health is most important, but I figure I've waited this long so a couple more weeks certainly can't hurt, right? I'm talking Wheel!

Thanks guys... keeping all that info in my head.

[Neicy 0]

I don't know if I'm cute as pie, but I like pie! Many times when there is a deep wound they will try to heal it from the inside out.

That's why they have you come back over and over to have it packed. Sounds like it is doing it's thing and healing on it's own.

Now that the grape has become a pea, then the pea will become a BB, then the BB, well you got the picture!

WHEEL OF FORTUNE That's great, sounds like fun! Have a great time.

I want to post some pictures, but I can't get them reduced. What is a good picture editing software? Any suggestions from all you picture posters.

[DeLarla 22]

I don't do anything to adjust my pics. I attach them, and that's how big they come out. You reminded me of a joke I told a thousand times in junior high.

A poor mom is making Soup and accidentally knocks her husband's box of BBs off the shelf into the Soup. She doesn't want to waste the soup, so she drains the BBs off and serves dinner.

Later, her horrified daughter yelled, "Mommy, Mommy, I was going pee and a BB came out!" The mom calmed her and told her not to worry since the BB has passed.

Later, her other daughter yelled the same thing, so again, mom said, "don't worry, the BB passed."

Then her son came running, "Momma, Momma!!" And the mother interrupted, "I know, son, you were going pee and a BB came out." He said, "NO, I was jacking off and I shot the dog."

SORRY!!!! Couldn't resist.

[Janie Jackson 0]

Lisa thats terrible but funny...Janie