I tried to contact Sandy. Mostly got voice-mail or answering machine. Then I got a call from Melissa, she said she would explain everything to Dr. Benacourt and let me know. She called me back and said to come back and they would remove my band for either $600 or $800. They wanted me to come back immediately. After paying out the original money I cannot afford it right now. I was never given an answer from them about my band serial number.

Thanks for all the support from EVERYONE!

I have been doing really well with my weight loss. I am down 39 pounds in 9 weeks. I have lost a total of 2.5 inches. I went for a fill but because I can only hold 2-3 ounces in my stomach, I did not need one. (I have a 10cc band.)

I have had some complications with everything. When I got home from Mexico, I got my first infection. It was a small staph infection at my port site. Antibiotics cleared it up. Two weeks later another staph infection, it started at the port site and spread to underneath my breasts. Again, antibiotics and steroids this time and it cleared up. At the beginning of March another infection, this time it started on the right side of my abdomen and spread to the port site, more antibiotics and steroids to clear it up. Sunday another infection started at the port site, spread from under my breasts, down my abdomen, in my belly button, and then down to my groin area. Again more antibiotics, steroids, pain meds (it is extremely painful), and drainage tubes to help drain the infection. If the antibiotics do not work, I will have to go in for IV antibiotics.

I constantly cry because of the pain and smell that comes from the infection. I have missed a lot of work and have fallen behind in school (working on my Bachelor’s Degree) and to be honest have become very depressed. I have had one doctor tell me my body is rejecting the band. Another has told me it was something that happened during surgery, and another one says I need more vitamins.

I am only eating what does not upset my stomach. I am taking daily vitamins, cut back on my sugar, have been tested for diabetes, eat yogurt, and still I get these damn infections. I have called the doctor in Mexico and he says just to come back and have the band removed. I am at my wits end here. Oh and to add the cherry to my cake, when I tried to register my band with Lap-Band®, they said my number does not exist.

Any thoughts on any of this……..

So I tried calling Shirley from Dr. Almanza's office today and they told me she doesn't work then anymore!!! Does anyone know what is up????

I left on Jan 26, 2010 and flew into San Diego. Stayed the night there and then was picked up in the morning from the airport. Our first stop was to have our lab work done. From there we were taken to the clinic where we met all the staff. Everyone is so friendly there and do there best to communicate with you. There is a lot of waiting at the clinic. They get everyone ready and then take you back when it is your turn.

I was put in a room with a gal who had plastic surgery and she was eating Cheetos when I walked in. That was torture, seeing how I had been on a liquid diet and knew I wouldn't be eating for quite a while. I was second to have my surgery done. 45 minutes after surgery I was up walking around. Can you believe it? I didn't get the chills like I have read others have gotten. A couple hours later I was taken to the recovery house.

I didn't sleep much that night, I was afraid of pulling out my stitches ( I still am). The next morning I got up and was taken for my xray. I only had to drink one liquid and it was cool because I got to see everything on the xray. From there we headed back to the recovery house.

Later that day, they offered to take anyone who wanted to go, shopping. I was feeling pretty good, so I went. They took us to a place called Revolution Street where we learned real quick how to bargain with the shops. We had two people with us that were along for support and on our way back, they did a drive-thru at Carl's Jr for them to eat. The smell really got to me but I didn't feel like eating. Back at the recovery house the plastic surgery sisters had ordered pizza, but again I didn't really crave it. It was hard for some of the other people there.

Friday morning I was up at 4am to leave. Going across the border only took a few minutes. Our border agent was happy as the driver explained and just let us through. The plane ride home was a little hard. Not much room to move around and the gas build up from surgery was worse on the plane.

The only real problems I have had since being home is the gas and the port site for the Lap-Band is really painful. I am at work today and have been up and moving around most of the weekend. I still cannot sleep laying down, so I sleep in my recliner. Overall it was a good experience.

I am going to have my surgery done on The 27th of Jan with  Dr. Mario Almanza, was wondering if anyone else is going that day. Let me know. Thanks