Penni60

Donali: Ann Marie and I discussed this when we talked the other night. So time will tell.

Yeah it was a great relief to hear the news. I forgot to mention that I gave Dr. Lopez my resume for the US Liason position. He said he was going to talk with Ann Marie and discuss hiring me for the position. SO keep you fingers crossed. That office is run so unorganized and I took explicit notes while I was there so I have ammunition if I have a formal interview regarding making changes. I wished I had known which hospital Lisa was in I would have swung by and checked up on her. I hope she is doing well. I am keeping her in my prayers. By the way, Carmen was in the office as well today and I saw her BROKEN BUSTED DESTROYED cell phone. It was literally falling apart. I told them that was NO excuse for not returning emails or calling from a land line. I also have a list of LA doctors / surgeons that will take on Dr. Lopez' patients if there are emergencies or just for a consult or fills. I am willing to share that list. Also, I got personal emails, personal phone numbers for Carmen as well. And again I will be happy to share that info as well. Just email me and I will give you that info. I made Dr. Lopez and Carmen and Nora all aware that I was NOT happy of how long it took to get in touch with them and that it was unacceptable to go through that in the future. So, we will see what happens.

Hello: Anyone know of a group meeting? If so who do I contact? If no group is formed then anyone interested in helping to form one? I am willing to get one started but need to have help getting the meetings set up. Email me and I will provide my home phone so we can get one started if one is not already set up.

HI ya guys: Bet you are all surprised to be hearing from me at this time of day when I was supposed to be in surgery. Well I saw Dr. Lopez this morning and after he evaluated the port and the site he determined that I had NO infection and was NOT rejecting the port after all. IT was just being irritated from all the exercise and weight loss and the port was moving around. He predicts that once I lose some more weight say in about a month the port will reposition itself and the irritation will not be an issue. I told him that if this is not the case I would be calling him again to have the port removed. I also told him that there had to be a better communication on his end or I was going to find another doctor. He completely understood and agreed to stay in better contact. So, we will see. John and I are staying in San Diego for the night and relaxing after a much needed stressful past couple of weeks. We will take the train home tomorrow as planned. OH by the way, the redness, tenderness, heat, etc all disappeared yesterday morning. THank you for all your support. Penni

Teresa: The stitch type material is the glue as it hardens and breaks up. I noticed the same thing myself. Of course I am just guessing about this not having actually seen what you are referring to. Is the material black or is it light colored? Just to give everyone a heads up. I got a phone call from Ann Marie last night who runs the website www.belighter.com and schedules lots of patients for Dr. Lopez among other surgeons. She and I discussed the U.S. Liason position and she is talking to Dr. Lopez about hiring me. The person she had in mind declined the position. So, I will keep you guys posted on if I get the job or not. If so then things will get better or at least when someone has a problem or question it will get answered in a timely manner. SHESH!!! The redness isn't as bad this morning. The pain isn't as intense as it was yesterday. But the area that was protruding has returned and is more tender. SO it is a good thing I see Dr. Lopez tomorrow. I will have my laptop tonight but tomorrow I won't be online unless I am feeling better than I think I will. Chat later

Earthquake rattles Mexico City From Will Weissert in Mexico City June 15, 2004 AN EARTHQUAKE shook Mexico City today, swaying skyscrapers, panicking residents and temporarily knocking out power to some neighbourhoods. There have been no reports of injures or major damage. The tremor measured 5.8 on the Richter scale and was centred off the coast of southern Oaxaca state, about 530km southeast of Mexico City, according to the National Autonomous University of Mexico's earthquake centre. Authorities in the capital said they had received no reports of injures or major damage, but phone service near the epicentre was knocked out, making it difficult to know immediately the extent of the damage in that area. Brian Lassige, of the US Geological Survey in Golden, Colorado, said officials there registered the quake at 5.6-magnitude. He said the temblor probably felt worse than it actually was in Mexico City. "The city, it's like a bowl of Jell-O," he said. "It's built on a lake that has been filled in and it amplifies any movement." Hundreds of people in the capital spilled out of homes, stores and office buildings and congregated on streets beginning to fill up with rush hour traffic just before 6pm (9am AEST).

Lisa: I am like you. I am concerned about the earthquake and making sure the clinic is still standing. I want this port OUT. I can't stand it if I have to wait another day. I really hope that no one was hurt or any structures were destroyed or damaged. I guess I better watch the news and see what is happening.

amen Kathy. Good thing I was a nurse otherwise I would not have been so aggressive or understood what was going on. It just boggles my mind that they are so matter of fact about everything. It is beginning to be painful now. It feels like the port is gonna fall out of my abdomen. I know it won't but it feels like that. I am finding myself holding my abdomen when I go to stand or walk now. There are sharp pains running through the left side down passed my waist so I am concerned what that means. It could be that the muscle is affected now which would NOT be good. Will only know after the port is taken out. At this point I am just ready to have it out. They are gonna do a fill before it comes out so that is good. Will keep you posted and have more pics after the surgery and when I get home.

Here is a pic of me now down 37.5 lbs and 21 inches.

Lisa: I can relate to the walking thing. I was up to 45 min of walking and 15 min of weight bench before I had to stop because of the port rejection. IT really frustrates me that I will have to start at square one when I get home. I will even have to wait awhile to start exercising to allow the incision to heal. This just suxs doesn't it? Oh well what doesn't kill us will make us stronger. That is what my grandmother used to say. Good luck on your surgery. Hope to see you Thursday. When are you getting there? Here is a pic of me before surgery. I weighed 296 lbs

Thanks Michelle and all the rest for the good thoughts. I am attaching the pic of my abdomen showing the redness around the port site. That way if anyone else experiences this they will know what it is.

Here are pics of my port rejection. Notice the redness around the port site. That is all tender and hot to touch.

My girlfriend and I go to Jamaica every year around this time. Alas I will not be joining her this trip. We are planning on going in Sept together. I wanna go to Cancun or Belize next for a vacation. Would love to see some pics of your trip.

what liquid vitamins are out there? which ones have the highest concentration of vitamins and minerals? I am crushing my vitamins right now and boy it is not only a pain but they really really taste bad. YUK!!!

Lisa: I hear what you are saying. I just dealt with it for a week and I got extremely pissed off myself. It is ridiculous what we have to go through to get in touch with someone. It shouldn't be that difficult. I just hope they do find someone to be the liason. They truly need someone. I will still offer my services and if they are rejected then hey no harm done.

OK to answer all your questions. I was banded in April 6, 2004 at Sanoviv Medical Institute and I am so NOT worried about the sterility of the procedure in regards to their techniques. I watched them like a hawk prior to being put out. Being a nurse I watched them with everything and asked all kinds of questions and was satisfied they were up to speed. Sanoviv is a GREAT facility and really prides itself on a healthy environment including the Water which I drank while I was there and did not get sick at all. You guys should check it out www.sanoviv.com. I am going to talk to Dr. Lopez at great length regarding his after care and how it can be improved. I would be very interested in being a U.S. liasion for his office and all of us in the states. This is what I will discuss with him while I am there. As far as how common this is. I agree that it should not be that common. But everyone must understand this is still a relatively new procedure and for this banding to be fool proof is unrealistic at this point. I believe it is in the make up of the port itself that is causing all the problems. Either it is the plastique, an adhesive, or what the filter is made out of that is causing the problems. INAMED is supposed to be the BEST band out there. SO something is wrong with the design or make up for all the rejection numbers. I plan on doing an extensive research on this when I return. I also plan on keeping the port that is taken out of me to use as an example so I can have it looked at to see what is wrong with it. That is if they will give it back to me. LOL!!! The reason all of my incisions leaked was because they were not stitched up but glued together. I was not told they would be glued and I am very allergic to adhesive. So needless to say I was a hurting and itching momma after the surgery. That could have been my cause for the leakage. But it was still pretty unsettling to see all 5 incisions leaking and with bandages on them twice a day (more adhesive by the way). SIGH!! It was a good thing I had some heavy duty steroid cream I could apply to keep the skin break down under control. It is things like this that need to be addressed and discussed during after care. And it is NOT. Just so many things could be done that would make the after care easier and less stressful. Lisa the email I sent to Darcy was meant for you. I just hit the wrong button. Thanks Darcy for forwarding the email. I get to the clinic on June 17th at 11am. My surgery is at 1pm according to Nora. We will see. Ask for me when you get there Lisa. I would love to meet you. By the way, where are those pics I keep hearing about?

Lisa: I just sent you an email. I also have to leave for Tijuana tomorrow as a matter of fact to have my port removed. I am rejecting the port according to Dr. Lopez. I am a nurse so I agree with is diagnosis even though he has not seen me yet. LOL!!! This whole ordeal started with what appeared to be the tubing herniated through the muscle wall. Which tells me that there was either a part of the incision that did not heal or there was a weak area that allowed the tubing to herniate. Then a couple of days ago this 4 x 6 inch area became red, tender, and hot to touch. REJECTION big time. I am not running a fever but that will come next if this does not get taken care of. Dr. Lopez is a wonderful doctor and surgeon and I love his bedside manner. I like Dr. Carmen at first but trying to get in touch with her is like pulling teeth. The number I have for her is her cell phone which isn't working. The number I have for Nora is a cell phone which isn't working. I then call the office number and have my boyfriend get on the line and because he sounds so professional and maybe a lawyer they get Dr. Lopez on the line immediately. Go figure!!! I too and very disgusted and disappointed with the after care as well. I have been trying for over a week to get in touch with someone regarding this issue. I am rejecting my port and need to have it removed. My surgery will be Thursday the 17th of June. I am taking the train to San Diego then stay in a hotel. They are supposed to send a car for me on the 17th and then I will return to the hotel that evening of the surgery. Then take the train home the next day on the 18th. We will just miss each other. Bummer. Keep in touch please. I live in Van Nuys, CA which is 45 min north of Los Angeles. I also hear your frustration regarding the cost factor. I talked to Nora yesterday and she said she would call me with the cost. She finally told me that if we came with a cashier's check in the amount of $2000 that should cover the cost of the surgery. So that is what we are going to do. If it costs more then that is their problem. I will definitely give Dr. Lopez an ear full when I see him. I will also get a copy of my medical records while I am there so I don't have to go through what you guys are trying to get yours. Thanks for the info. I feel for you Lisa cause even though I did not have as much complications as you have I too had not one but all 5 of my incisions drain. None got infected though. I kept a close watch and kept them covered with neosporin and bandages. Changed them twice a day as a matter of fact. They all healed nicely. Being a nurse and seeing one OPEN was very unsettling to me. I knew that it would need to be packed. I then called and got through to Dr. Carmen (SHOCK SHOCK) and she said to just cover them and do what I was already doing. SIGH!! They eventually healed and closed up nicely. Now fast forward to present time. The port is being rejected and I am having it removed on Thursday. They are going to do a fill prior to removal. I can have another one placed in about three to four months on the other side but I wonder if that will be rejected as well and if so then why have another one placed. Maybe just have one put in to get a fill then take it out if I need it. Not sure about that just yet. I just wanna take care of this concern first. This is common to reject the port is what I understand. So it was not a surprise. I think I will talk to Dr. Lopez about being this liasion between US patients and his office. I would hope that I could do better than his office staff. AT least the phone would work. And you would get some answers FAST. Yup I will discuss that with him. Any suggestions or encouragment from you guys. Penni Merrick

Teresa: I have lost a total of 36 lbs and 13 inches since April 6. I am well pleased with my results thus far.

Penni, do you mean Dr. Lopez-Corvala? Just curious. Yes I do, I call him Corvala but everyone else uses Lopez. He is wonderful. I just love him. Penni

Michelle: I too had my surgery on April 6th, 2004 in Mexico. Where did you go? I went to a medical facility called Sanoviv Medical Institute located in Rosarita, Mexico. They were awesome. Dr. Corvala is the surgeon that goes to the states to proctor their doctors on this procedure. I had the best in my opinion. I am very pleased. I have lost 36 lbs and 13 inches so far. How are you doing? I have a website that has my journey listed. Just follow this link: Penni Merrick Keep in touch Penni