Penni60

The July 25th meeting will be cancelled as I am having surgery on July 23rd. So sorry but it is what it is.

I saved a pair of jeans from when I was in High school. BIG LEG jeans that had braiding around the top part of the back pockets. I had cut the hem out so the ends were frayed. They were the style then. I loved those jeans. They were a size 8 / 10. I was looking sharp in those jeans. Well over the years I decided that I needed to get rid of them. But they were still wearable. So I gave them to my size 8 - 19 yr old daughter. She fit them perfectly and wore them to college classes. Don't you know she was the hit of the college. Everyone wanted to know where she got those really cool jeans. When she told them her mom. They said oh wow too cool. You must have a really cool mom. She said (are you listening) "YES I DO." Kids you gotta love them.

Ginger: I noticed after my initial surgery and after my first fill that I was burping lots more than usual. I think it is the bands way of telling us that we are talking too much while trying to eat our SLOW meals. LOL!!!!!!

Frances: I was born and raised in Princeton, Kentucky. I know about the general area where Somerset is located. How close to Madisonville or Marion are you? Where are you having the surgery done? Who is your doctor? Glad to have you on board. Welcome. When is your surgery date?

Janis: WHOO HOO!!! Good for you. I am so happy for you. I will keep you in my prayers.

As a side note: After I heard from Sara Lee I got a personal phone call from Dr. Billy in regards to my pictures I sent him about the irritation around my fill site. Remember when I had that irritation when I thought it was rejection? Well this is just like that (looks like an allergic reaction actually) only on a smaller scale and locally to where the injection fill site was last Friday. He, Dr. Billy, called me (he is on vacation by the way) to discuss those pictures I sent him of the irritation at the site. Don't you just love him. The sweetie!!!!! Here is what he said could be causing the problem. I have already cried and got it out of my system and he assures me that this is probably NOT the case but it is a possibility. Can we say EROSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He said a POSSIBILITY of the cause for the irritation is that in the initial surgery a small area could have been compromised on the outer part of the stomach. This area was then covered by the band. It has allowed some stomach content to leak; then it migrates along the tubing and then sets up infection around or near the port. This could have been the initial redness I experienced. Then it, being the stomach content, subsided or collected or whatever and did not rear it's ugly head again till he accessed my port for a fill. As he inserted the needle it passed through this stomach content area / infected area and as he withdrew the needle it carried some of that Fluid to the surface and caused the irritation again. This ALL makes sense to me. So, that all said. Here is the plan. Still have the surgery to reposition the port and fix the tubing on Friday the 23rd as planned. He will insert a camera up to the stomach area and view the outer area and see what that looks like. If it is suspect then he will do a endoscopy after I heal from this surgery. I am gonna try to get him to do an endoscopy while I am under to get it over with and not have to wait. I will even pay for it myself just to get it done. He said if the stomach is looking fine then he will explore other options as to the cause of the redness. I will wake up Friday with a band still in place. He will NOT remove the band in that surgery. He said removing a band is not as simple as placing one especially if erosion is suspected. He said that is a decision that he and I need to discuss to infinitum. Also, we would discuss my other options for weight loss as well at that time. But he said that is only IF the band needs to be removed, which he doesn't think so at this point. We will know more after the surgery on Friday. He does suspect some kind of infection around the port though since I am presenting with this redness area after the fill. He said he has never had the redness happen unless it is an allergic reaction to betadine, latex etc. Neither of which I am allergic to. He sounded so concerned for me and wanted to make sure I had all my questions answered. He made it clear that we would find out what is causing this problem and fix it. I am just so impressed that he called me directly and did not have his nurse call me. And And And he called me on his vacation. I just love him. I should get a commission on his patient referrals. I have sent him I know 3 or 4 people now and they all have appointments with him. LOL!!!!!!!!

OK finally got a return call from Sara Lee ( she has been working on this for awhile). My surgery date is July 23, 11am at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, CA. It is so nice to get return phone calls. YEAH the protrusion thingy will be GONE after next Friday. She said the surgery will take about 45 min tops. I highly encourage anyone with this type of incidence to please seek a surgeon and get them to fix the problem. IT can cause major problems down the road. The tubing is NOT supposed to bunch up like this. I am just glad I am getting it taken care of now before it pops through the skin no thanks to Carmen, Lopez and staff. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Oh Inamed called me the other day and said I was the first case they had heard of that had this situation. Leave it to ME! LOL!!!!

Teresa: There is a link at the top of the page that says "CHAT" just click on that and you will be taken there.

YUP I am game. I wanna get into a miniskirt and gogo boots again. I was HOT in Jr. High. LOL!!!!

Prune Juice now why didn't I think of that. THat works wonders for me.

You can do the hot chocolate in the am that would help. Also, drink lots of water to help hydrate the feces. Sorry but the longer it stays in your bowels the less hydrated it can become and worsen the problem. There is a herbal tea you can get from any grocery store or RITE Aid carries it that will cleanse the colon. Juices for a day or fresh fruit for a day will usually fix that problem for me. FRESH CORN is another laxative for me as well. Not sure why but it does make me go. LOL!!! How long has it been since you had a normal bowel movement? Exlax is good to use for that as well. RITE AID also has a pill form of the Colon cleanse but pills are so hard for us to swallow at times. You might have to crush this pill. Hope some of this helps. I can relate to the constipation. I can get it on a regular basis sometimes. If it gets too bad go see your doctor. He might suggest a FLEET's enema which you can actually give yourself at home. I even think you can get them over the counter now. But talk to your Doctor before going out and buying one of them. Always, consult your docs prior to trying anything as drastic as an enema. My grandmother used to give us kids a tablespoon of white Karo corn syrup for our constipation. Not sure if it worked or not but it sure did taste good. LOL!!

Leatha: You will be in my prayers tonight. And all day long tomorrow for a speedy and uneventful recovery time. Back on track is the work these days. And you will get there for sure. Take time to heal and destress over all this waiting. Best of luck

Best wishes and speedy recovery Nanny. Take it easy and don't overdo it.

When I was in Jr. High School the cartoon came out "Penelope Pitstop" (anyone remember that cartoon?). Penelope Pitsop wore mini skirts and go go boots. She was a racer and I think a private eye as well. I was forever teased about that the whole time I was in Jr. High School. Of course I wore mini skirts and go go boots then. I had to keep up appearances of my namesake. My real name is Penelope. I shortened it to Penni. When I get old and grey I will revert back to Penelope. I think it sounds like an old persons name. LOL!!

Lisa: You slay me. I laughed so hard at your last post. I am still laughing as I type this. I got a call from Craig at Inamed. THanks for that. He answered some questions for me and asked lots.

Dizzy: Welcome Welcome!! WOW!! You have done GREAT!! I can't "weight" to get to 90 lbs weight loss. I am at 42 lbs lost right now in three months. SO I have a "weighs" to go. LOL!! GOOD JOB!!

CONGRATS BABS!! WHOO HOO!! What an accomplishment. You must feel wonderful and so proud of yourself. GOOD JOB

Lori: Welcome Welcome. I second Alex's statement of wishing more young people would come to the band instead of bypass. Makes so much more sense to me anyway. LOL!! Anyway, welcome and visit often. Glad to have you aboard.

OK, I went to Inamed's site and looked at their page of risks. Here is what I found in relation to Infections and Erosions. "In a 3 year study, four out of 299 patients (1.3%) had their bands erode into their stomachs. Infection is possible. Also, the band can erode into the stomach. This can happen right after surgery or years later, although this rarely happens." So it is possible to develop erosion after surgery but it also says 'rarely happens.' FOCUS ON THAT!! Get an endoscopy to make sure if you are concerned.

Lisa: In my humble opinion I would expect the erosions and the port infections to be separate of each other and the fact that you have one would not necessarily mean you would have the other. It could have been a coincidence that they both had erosion with the infection. An infection can be caused by poor technique of accessing the port. It should be done under sterile technique. Ideally prep with Betadine and use sterile gloves when accessing the port. If this technique is not used then you open up the possibility of introducing normal bacteria that is present on the surface of the skin into the port reservoir, which is a nice warm wet environment that bacteria love. It can then migrate up to the band area and cause problems. But whether it ALWAYS causes band erosion I would be highly suspect of that word ALWAYS. It could cause erosion but not ALWAYS. In my limited understanding of the erosion process, and I am sure Donali can chime in here, it is over a long period of time that it can occur. IT won't happen overnite unless there is stomach irritation that is constant. This irritation could cause the lining of the stomach to be compromised and weak in areas that could cause the erosion. I will look into more research into this matter and see if what I am saying is really accurate. I don't wanna mislead anyone.

Lisa: I really doubt that you have erosion. It can take longer than you have had the band to see erosion. But if you are that concerned then get an Endoscopy and have your GP use a diagnosis that the insurance will cover. Looking for Ulcers, etc.

Yup one in the same. Hey email me Penni60@aol.com got some things to discuss with you about the recumbent bike and a couple other things. I am not a happy camper either. But I have made a decision to NOT go back to Lopez for any reason. I am really disgusted with his staff and how they treated me during the last visit. I know he is a decent surgeon and some people will still go to him and not have any problems but not getting in touch with me or you for our problems is UNEXCUSABLE in my book and just plain bad medicine. Thank God I had the presence of mind to ask for a list of Docs that take his patients. BILLY came highly recommended. He is a great guy and I think he is the sweetest thing. Very supportive and concerned that we get this taken care of soon. It was emergent but he did not want to wait till it popped through the skin. Which it would have done. I knew all this when I went to TJ last month. But I was apprehensive about Lopez touching me at that point. So I am glad that Billy is taking care of it for me. I feel better about him diong the surgery than Lopez at this point. And it will be covered by my insurance as well which is a HUGE plus.

PB = Productive Burping. Not necessarily throwing up but not exactly burping either. LOL!! When you burp some of the excess food that could not go through the opening in the upper pouch of the stomach will come out. I am sure someone can explain it better than I just did.

Vera: I think I mis read your post. I am not sure if he does or doesn't take other banded patients. You would have to call and ask his office nurse Sara Lee. 805-648-2227 I know he takes Inamed but not sure on other bands.

Vera: Who told you he doesn't service Inamed bands? That is not true. I have a Inamed and from what he and I discussed that is his predominate cases of patients. He gave me Inamed literature about the band. SO unless something has changed then the info you got is wrong or outdated. I filed my visit on the insurance so I don't know what he charged me but a friend of mine is going to see him in August and she asked him and he is charging her $300 for two fills. Oh and if you need an adjustment after the first fill he does not charge you for the adjustment. I would call his office again and double check on that info regarding Inamed cause that is just not accurate. Maybe they meant midband patients. But I even think he does those as well but then again I could be wrong. I am not wrong about the Inamed because that is what I have and he is certainly taking me as a patient. My friend is an Inamed patient as well and he is taking her as a patient.