DeLarla

HERE HERE, Thank God for Dr. Billy.

DDflinn, if you "had" redness and soreness, was it directly after surgery during the healing phase? Or did this spring up after you had completely recovered? That might be normal during the recovery period, but no doctor should ever put you on antibiotics for a port infection. They won't cure it. The ONLY cure for an infected port is to have it surgically removed. Look at Penni, for example. Her symptoms came and went, yet she eventually eroded just like the rest of the people I know who had port-site redness and irritation. I'm currently recovering from band removal surgery. I had no signs of erosion when they first detected the infection, and I still had no signs of erosion 8 months later. But I did eventually erode, and the band removal process was NO picnic. As far as having your port removed if it's infected, this isn't my opinion. When I was told my infected port needed to be removed, I refused. Instead I got on the phone and spoke with as many band surgeons that would take my call, and every single one of them agreed that an infected port had to be removed. Here's the list of very popular and experienced band surgeons who personally told me that antibiotics might temporarily relieve port-infection symptoms but the port MUST be removed: Dr. Lopez, Tijuana, MX Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, MX Dr. Kuri, Tijuana, MX Dr. Martinez, Tijuana MX Dr. Rumbah, Monterey, MX Dr. Teng, Las Vegas, NV Dr. Fischer, Las Vegas, NV Dr. Billy, Ventura, CA As you can see, I did my homework before getting my first port removed. Please get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinion immediately. Good luck, I'll be thinking of you.

Port infections lead to erosion, and "maybe" vice versa. My port was infected the same week of my original surgery. They removed the port and did and endoscopy, which revealed no erosion. Eight months later I had another endoscopy that came back clean, so they gave me a 2nd port. The 2nd port immediately became infected and had to be removed. At that time, I had an endoscopy, a stomach biopsy and a laproscopy. All test results were negative for erosion. As far losing restriction being one of the symptoms of erosion, so far I don't know anybody that's eroded who will agree. I have 8 friends who have had their bands removed due to erosion (in the last year.) We all had decent restriction. I had a couple PBs last week because my restriction was still working like a charm. I even tried to enjoy a "Last Supper" of pizza before having my band removed, but I couldn't even finish one piece - and they were small slices.

What Penni said! Billy did the same to me. He removed the band then sewed up the holes. He also said he'd heard of tube sticking to the colon but those holes are very easy to fix as well.

Please read all my posts on port infections. Antibiotics will NOT cure a port infection. If your port was actually infected, you need to have it removed immediately. Maybe you just bruised the area, but if it was truly infected, that can lead to erosion but no doctor will be able to detect that so soon. Stay off the antibiotics and see if the redness comes back. If it does, then get your port removed ASAP.

It took me awhile to respond because I've been fine tuning my resolutions. I refuse to make the same ones every year that I've never been able to stick to before. So: (This first one is a direct order from my surgeon.) No more low-fat, non-fat, Diet, sugarfree foods/drinks whatsoever. They're crap that do nothing but cause crash and burn symtoms that make us eat, and they don't help you lose weight. Instead of giving up booze, I'm giving up beer & cocktails. I'm allowed 2 glasses of wine with a large glass of ice. This way it will last longer and hydrate me at the same time. I'm giving up (sniff) White Zinfendel (candy pants wine) for something grown up with less sugar & taking suggestions. Red wine is gross, so I'll compromise somewhere in the middle. Never miss a straight-Protein Breakfast. I can have salad with protein and real dressing for lunch. dinner will be whatever hubby is having, but only one salad plate. No snacking except on raw fruits & veggies with the exception of movie popcorn 1-2 times a month only - no butter. Be nicer.

If Party is a state of mind, then how come you're not all here dancing in your pajamas in my living room? I'm too sick to go onto the roof to watch fireworks. That's the part I really miss. Maybe Chris can drive me somewhere in my jammies to watch the sky. I simply adore fireworks Corinne, thank all your friends for me! For 2006 I give up beer & coctails. My new plan allows me to order 2 glasses of wine with a tall glass of ice. That's it for the entire week. I'm taking off more weight, and that's that.

"P.S. You definately were not your usual spunky self when you called Wednesday night..I can attest to you being not much for words..could of been al lthe good drugs they gave you though" Michelle, there were NO such drugs good enough. That was some f-d up surgery. Vera, thanks for making my guts hurt from laughing! You're so silly! Hi everyone, I'm too sick (flu crap) to clean but have slept to much to lay around. All I can do is post, post, post. I'm walking upright and get in and out of bed pretty easily, which is a huge, HUGE improvement. So painwise I'm good, but I keep breaking out in shivers that start inside my guts and make my whole bod convulse. I've got my famous bronchial infection, but I'm not sure why the shivers come from my sore belly. I'll call Billy in a few hours and see if I should be on more antibiotics. So surgery-wise, I'm much better, but isn't 5 days too long for a fever? I'm okay as long as I take the liquid Vicodin/Tylenol, but like clockwork, the minute the stuff wears off, there's my 101 fever. Anyone know a good Exorcist that's open on weekends?

I was reading some famous person's interview who had just lost 35 pounds. I can't even remember who it was, but he said he'd been restricting his intake for a really, really long time with no results. Then suddenly he got on the scale one day and was down 35 pounds without realizing it. His comment made me think of you, "It was like my metabolism finally admitted defeat and said 'FINE ALREADY' and let go of the weight."

What Penni said, something like: I would NOT go to Mexico I would fight my insurance co tooth and nail to get them to cover. I would find a US doc that would place the band and let me do it in payments. I would NOT go to Mexico I would NOT go to Mexico Are you getting the picture? Add one: Not if I had to travel more than an hour for band maintenance, complications, fills, etc.

Here here, let it be healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be doing lots less booze in 2006, so water is fine!

No matter what, there's no way Chris is gonna let me out of this house tonight. Not that I'm feeling well enough to go out, but missing New Year's Eve is like missing the birth of a child in some cultures (DeLarlaLand, for example.) So, tonight at midnight, would all my friends please raise their glasses twice and take a swig for me? Heck, go ahead and kiss a hot guy/girl/both? if you gotta. Let me know how it went, and have a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I am so, so, soooooooo looking forward to a new year. I think 2006 is gonna rock! Happy New Year back at you!

A Pet's Loss: In your heart, you probably realize that in time the sadness you're feeling will fade. For now, just know that it's all right to hurt... it's all right to cry... it's only throught cring you learn what it's like to laugh... only after feeling sadness can you really experience joy. So allow yourself to feel what is natural... but know that someday life will be better... It will be easier to smile.

Hi. These are the hardest threads for me. They render me speechless. He was lucky to have such a funny and loving mom in return.

I'm here for you with my big ol' heart, but since I left my zentner conversion chart at the spacelink craft center, I don't even know what you're talking about. Hey, someone's getting their spunk back

I carry a product that many women buy several tubes that contains Benzocaine (the stuff dentists swab on before giving injections.) It's good for plucking eyebrows, teething, bug bites. You might not like the name, so you could rub it off with nail polish remover or Sharpie. Or just go buy some Ambesol (mine has a higher concentration.) That's the stuff for toothaches, but it's got benzocaine in it, which will bring you great, great relief. Lazer hair removal is on my list of things that I want. Lucky you! I'm sure the pain will be worth it.

Can anyone explain what's up with me? I'm calling my surgeon in a few hours. The poor guy was up till 3:00 a.m. doing my surgery and was constantly in surgery the entire time I was there. I don't want to call him at 6:00 a.m. unless it's an emergency. I always get flu-like symptoms after major surgery that start from having the tube down my throat. I always wake up from anesthesia crying because I can't catch my breath since my chest hurts. I had my band removed 4 days ago. Today I'm getting up and down with minimal pain, and I was even able to sleep on my side last night, but I can't get rid of the fever. I'm fine as long as I take the liquid Vicodin (has Tylenol) but once the meds start wearing off the fever returns and I get the chills, that start inside my bruised belly. Last night I had to go potty at 2:00 a.m. and forgot a robe, and the chills came on so bad that they were like mini convulsions. I took the liquid medicine and was able to fall back asleep, but I'm awake now and I'm afraid I'll start shaking again if I don't take the meds. Also, everything I drink comes right out the back door. I'm having constant diareah. I'm coughing up green phlegm and also blowing it out my sinuses, so I hope it's just bronchial related, but shouldn't I be on antibitics? Thanks for any advice or info you might have.

Vera, it was two whole days without a word out of me other than a couple grunts. Chris should have enjoyed it while it lasted because I'm already getting "lippy" with him so I must be getting better Yep, he was there for me the entire time, but I kept sending the poor guy away. He fretted and stewed and chewed his nails off but I just needed to be quarantined and left alone. He went shopping and brought me back 3 new gold charms for my bracelet. Now you see why I keep the - what did you call him? Knucklehead! I'll be great pretty soon and maybe even better than before. It's so nice coming home to my very own Tin Man, Scare Crow and Auntie Em :mad:

Jack, you crack me up! Chris shoved the bib back at the waitress though. He likes to marinate in his meal. I asked for the Band, but Dr. Billy had no choice but to give it to Inamed. I don't know if there was any infection left - sure feels like there's infection even now. I feel really gross, but that's typical of me since my first band surgery. Those pics really did turn out amazing. Chris warned me to stay off boats, but that's like telling my dog to stay away from the garbage. Fact is I had an entire day to burn with nothing but anxiety in my belly, so my goal was to stay occupied.

He'd kill me if he knew I posted that! Here's a pic of Anacapa Island (view from our boat ride.)

One of my favorite dishes is Cioppino, which is really hard to find and takes too long to make. Here was Chris finishing off my "last meal." He couldn't even finish it!

I wasn't going to say it, but nothing's really sacred around here anyway. I could really do without the diarrhea. Geeeeezzzz, enough already! Prolly TMI, but I know you're all dying for details, right? I made a bad move by going on a 3 hour boat ride prior to surgery. Seasick, blah, crying on the boat, big baby. But we had 12 hours to waste, so we went on a whale watching cruise. The whales were nothing compared to the "country" of dolphin. My dad lives in Florida and has taken me dolphin watching many times, but I never saw them flying through the air in thousands, literally. Friggen amazing, even though I was quite green. You guys didn't think DeLarla wouldn't find a way to sqeeze in at least some adventure, did you?

My friend just came to visit. She asked to see my erosion pics cause she wanted to compare them to her Dad's recent horror story. He's a typical skinny guy who eats too fast. He was woofing down an apple that got stuck low in his esophagus. He freaked out and guzzled Water to push it through, but later almost bled to death. The ER surgeon, who had to repair his torn esophagus, said he would have been dead in one more hour if he didn't come in since he was literally bleeding to death. Now I have one more thing to nag at my husband for. He's 2 chews and a gulp, so either he slows down or I start blending his pizza. The stomach can be a very scary place.

Shelly, you're too funny! And I probably will take an extra nip of the liquid Lortab because staying home on New Year's Eve bites! I'm still running the fever and feeling quite poopy, but so thankful the creepy thing is out of my belly. Thanks everyone for your friendship. Happy New Year, and have a cocktail for me or a Jello shot, but don't tell anyone cause it's not like I ever did that!