DeLarla

I'm the big drainer around here! Please let your surgeon know that your wound is "weeping." I've had 2 infected ports already, both came with a lot of leaking from the port site. Make sure the Fluid is clear or sligtly buttery, maybe a slight pinkish/orange tint. But if it's infected (green, foul odor, etc.) then you need to get to the surgeon A.S.A.P. They might give you more antibiotics. My story is long, but my port incision began leaking about a week after surgery. I called the surgeon, but they just kept telling me "that's normal." After a month, I went to Urgent Care and ended up back in Mexico having a 2nd surgery to remove the port, since the area became infected. The only treatment for a badly infected port is to remove the port. Once it's removed, the area has to be completely healed before they do a 3rd surgery to replace a new port. Let's hope your wound heals nicely now. Please keep a keen eye on the wound. If it's pink, warm, red, hot, inflammed or oozes infected fluid, get to your band doctor ASAP. Let me know how it goes. Good luck. If you want to talk on the phone, send me a PM and I'll give you my number. Keep in mind I was the "freak" patient where lots of stuff went wrong, so don't worry. Weeping wounds are not that uncommon.

There was a 13 year old getting banded when I did. She was probably 50-60 pounds overweight. Her aunt was also getting banded at the same time. At first I thought it was horrible to band a teen, but her mom had a Gastric Bypass the prior year. With a morbidly obese mom and aunt, an overweight teen probably doesn't have much of a chance. I wish they'd find LBT. We all exchanged e-mails but they never wrote back. I'd like to see that lil girl smile.

We are having a clothing swap at the Vegas bash in September. Dr. Kuri is also have a huge Las Vegas Bash where they have an enormous clothing exchange (I think his is in May.)

I believe the FDA requires you be at least 100 pounds overweight to get banded in the US, or you at least have to be significantly obese with co-morbities (weight related health risks such as diabetes, hypertension, high BMI etc.) Mexico has no such standards. They'll band anyone.

Some band surgeons are more strict with rules. My first surgeon specifically told me never to diet again. The key is to get enough Protein along with a variety of other foods. However, my current surgeon is strict and actually wants me on a diet. He said it's typical that most patients will lose about 1/2 their weight with just the band, but in order to lose the rest we have to count calories.

We have 2 Harleys. A big daddy new one and Shorty, my lil 1200 custom. Always wear a helmet with 1/2 face shield, but when summer hits I'll be sleeveless. Yes, I tood the safety course and the instructor grabbed my throttle and slammed me into the ground. She was suspended and now I see a chiropractor 3 times a week. No accidents... knocking... no, SLAMMING on wood. And YES, I'm horrified of having one.

Dr. Helmuth Billy in Ventura. Honest, fair, informative, dependable, flexible, and not too hard on the eyes.

I was so drunk in that 2nd pic - you can see how googly my eyes were... and we were all red & glowing. Please pass the pitcher...

My doc told me to ride my Harley home from the hospital. Then again he encouraged poll dancing. I'm thinking he was joking?

Thanks everyone. This info kinda pulls it all together now. Damn, today I'm gonna try to fly Pepsi-free. Then again it's Friday... shoot.

I'd be happy with over 11 pounds a month... hell yeah!

AWESOME! Back then we had more chins than a Chinese phone book!

Hmm, more good info. Can you slip your band by eating too much (stretching the pouch too full?)

Boo hoo, I want my own local doctor. A new band doc could make a killing in Vegas. Maybe I'll post an ad on E-bay for one.

What kind of pain are you talking about? I'm surprised that I had no pain. I had a lot of discomfort, but nothing really hurt, and all I took were some funky Mexican pills (I didn't get a good buzz with them like I do on Lortab.) You can ask for something stronger and crush it if the pharmacist says that's okay. And lay on a heating pad. Use it for your back or shoulders, which brought me huge comfort.

Finally, someone talks about stuff I understand considering I work for a construction defect firm and have my real estate license. WOO HOO, girl! I hate when cases have to go all the way to trial. It's such a waste of money. The amount in attorneys' fees alone could have paid the repairs. That should teach C-21 from messing with you! Congrads on getting rid of the headache of the century!

Thank you! That makes perfect sense. I'm able to eat much more if I sip a soda. I never drank Pepsi pre-band (everything was diet) but I got into a new Pepsi-at-2:00 habit. I read that one Pepsi a day for a whole year can add 30 pounds. Maybe they were talking about a Big Gulp. Either way, it's a nasty habit. I like the 2-hour wait rule, also. I stay full all afternoon if I avoid liquids, which is why I pound my Water all morning. Pea... hold on while I chug water for you... done. The only thing proven safe so far is Tylenol (as far as OTC pain meds.) NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like Motrin or Advil. Regular aspirin is bad, also. Betty, who is your doc? He sound very knowledgeable (unlike some others we all know and love... NOT.)

Go to USER CP at the top left of the screen, then click on EDIT SIGNATURE. Type your information in the box, then hit SAVE.

I've personally never heard of a slip fixing itself. Slips usually require surgery from what I understand. Maybe you could call another doc and get a second opinion? Good luck. Let us know the outcome.

Here's this huge link where they explain about voting for the worst, and it even has a picture of Scott's prison mug shot. They should all be sued and arrested... now THAT would make some great reality TV! ROCK ON, CONSTANTINE! XOXOXO http://search.aimhome.netscape.com/aim/boomframe.jsp?query=vote+for+the+worst+idol&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D3aff4f74b4c01041%26clickedItemRank%3D1%26userQuery%3Dvote%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Bworst%2Bidol%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.griffinity.com%252Fdave%252F%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DAIMToolbar%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.griffinity.com%2Fdave%2F

They always ask for people that need to preboard, like the elderly or women with small children. Just join that group and board before the rest of the people. They usually don't ask questions, but if they do you can tell them you are recovering from surgery. Then you'll have plenty of privacy and you can ask for the extension privately. You could even tell them you need an extension because of stitches or something.

Votetheworst.com makes sense. How sad that we have sucha screwed up society. I was relating this to when Richard Hatch won survivor. The world HATED him. He was obnoxious and a complete idiot, yet he won the million bucks. Same thing's going on here. I bet Scott wins. Poor guy, this is actually a huge slap in the face for him. He "thinks" he's hot based on votes, but he's just being made fun of.

Regardless of how bad Constantine's performance was on Tuesday, he's got more screaming fans than anyone else. There are message boards all over the internet, and he, Bo & Carrie are the most popular. There's no possible way America voted him out. It's all rigged. Everyone hates Scott except for a few ghetto-lovin' fools - he mumbles and acts like a wannabe gangsta. I was on a game show many years ago, and they manipulated the entire game to get better ratings. It's what TV does. Sad but true. And very dishonest.

I'm reading between the lines... Teresa, are YOU pregnant??????? TERESA IS PREGNANT, TERESA IS PREGNANT! Just kidding... couldn't resist.

All I can say is, "I'M JEALOUS." Can I borrow some of that willpower?