Along The Amazon

Trip to Monterry Revised 1/18/02 additions 5/26/2006

My trip to Monterrey Mexico. 2/24/01 - 3/3/01

The Airlines:
Flew out of Seattle at 11:55 pm 2/24
I went American Airlines for three reasons, price they have a good history dealing with people of size. I have to ask for a seatbelt extender and I didn't want it to be a humiliating experience. And their website shows the configuration of each type of plane that they use. A real bonanza when plotting seating strategy.

I flew from Seattle to Dallas/Forth Worth then from Dallas/Forth Worth to Monterrey Mexico.

At each stop I would go up to the boarding counter with my ticket and ask if the flight was full. They said no. Thank the Goddess! I then asked to be seated next to an empty seat, which I was during each leg of the journey. All airplanes that I took had the two seats on the left and three seats on the right configuration, so I tried to sit on the left when ever I could.

As I was boarding I would tell the attendent that I would need an extender after the demonstration.
Each time they brought it too me with a comendable amount of descretion.

Comfort:
I am too wide for the seats so I got extra pillows and made myself as comfortable as possilble. I don't usually ride first class even when it is offered to me because the arms don't go up on the seats and the seat is only an inch wider. I took a 11:55 red eye down because I wanted to sleep through it as much as possible and I figured it would be less crowded. I brought eye shades and ear plugs and a bucky neck pillow combined with a couple of airline blankets it was ok but not really restful. Ended up with a mild headache by the time I got to Monterrey.

Airline Food:
No problem on the way down. On the way back I passed on the meal of course but I did drink V8 juice and bloody mary mix. Spicy and rather tasty. I had brought some carrot juice with me from the hotel (more about that later) that fill me up so I was not hungery on the flight just thirsty.

Dallas/Forth Worth Airport:
They have little carts that run through the airport, all you have to do, after coming off the plane is to request one at the boarding desk. They are linked via two way radio. One will be there in just a few minutes. I had a 3 hour layover on the way down so I walked between gates and I stopped at Starbucks (yes they are everywhere now) and had a cup of coffee at 5.38am. The airport was not very busy at that time of day. But I was spotted by a chubby chaser, one of the cart drivers. Chatted me up when he first spotted me,then every time he went by he would stop to talk to me some more. Finally he asked me how much I weighed and if he could write to me........I get them when I ride the bus too. He shared his dream of marrying his Samoan pen pal. Harmless but.....one more thing I am leaving behind with weightloss.

Customs Entering Mexico:
You need positive ID showing citizenship which means a Photo ID. Passport,or Voters Registration, Certified Birth Certificate with a drivers license.

Your luggage is off loaded from the plane in Monterrey, you show your papers to a customs officer and then you collect your luggage and show the customs form you were given to fill out on the plane to a different customs officer. Then you press a large button at the head of a a conveyer belt, if it is green you go thorough without even opening your luggage if it is red you lift it on to the conveyer belt and they open it and look at EVERYTHING. I had the pleasure of watching that happen to the person who bulled his way in front of me.

Customs Re Entering the US:
On the plane you are given a customs declaration to fill out requesting that you list everything that you bought in Mexico. Since I knew that was coming I put everything in one bag with all the receipts and hand carried that on to the plane. At Dallas/Forth Worth you go through customs where an Official looks at your papers
then your are "guided" to an area where you pick up your luggage. Then another official tells you to go left or right. One way you go on to your connection and check your luggage back in. The other you get everything inspected.



Hotel: The Hampton Inn Arrived 11am 2/25
I contacted Dorlisa Martinez (email address: dorlisam@hotmail.com), Dr. Rumbaut's patient rep. via email and she arranged my hotel reservation. I did not have to pay for the hotel until I checked out on March 2nd. Not even a deposit. Having her do it also guranteed the correct room rate. Dr. Rumbaut is a friend of the owner so he gets a rate that is $40 less than the going rate. I think this is called "Networking". I orginally tried calling and was quoted the posted rate of $150 per night even when I mentioned I was Dr. Rumbauts patient.

Contact Doralisa. It goes alot easier. Check with Doralisa about double occupancy I think it is the same rate.

I was picked up at the airport by a private driver from Suburban Transportation. This was arranged by Dr. Rumbauts office. He didn't speak english but was standing outside the sliding glass door outside of customs holding a sign with my name on it. Even though he was paid for ride, there is the expectation that you will tip when you arrive at the hotel. I brought along 20 peso notes for that purpose. That equals about $2 US.

Carla one of the assistants at the Hotel front desk speaks the best English, ask for her when you check in. Dr. Rumbaut arranges to have a basket for you that contains juices, soups, tea, a real cup and a spoon. You have to ask for it, the people at the front desk don't automatically give it to you. You will also be given a fax from Dr. Rumbaut detailing when to come into his office.

Breakfast:
The hotel offers a free continental breakfast every morning. I took more advantage of this after the surgery than before. They had fresh carrot juice one of my favorites and country style cottage cheese or yogart. The cottage cheese was in its whey. I would dish me up a bowl of whey. Very refreshing and I enjoyed the slightly sour taste. They also had yogart. Not the firm stuff sold in the US but the liquid kind that the rest of the world calls yogart. Throughout my stay I used one of the small empty water bottles to take carrot juice with me during the day. It was tasty and kept me regular (Thanks Wayne for the tip!)

Bottled Water: Aqua Purifida
Everyday the maid leave 2 bottles in the room. Each bottle is about 10oz. If you want more all you have to do is ask at the front desk. Or put the unused bottles in your dresser draw and they will give you 2 more. But it is good to remember that water in Monterrey is from deep wells and is generally very good. All the water in the hotel goes through a purification system so even the ice cubes are safe. But water will taste different than what you may be use to. The tase of water is important to me. I tasted the water before I bought my house....

Hotel Room:
Room reminded me of a stay at Ramada Inn or Marriot. Some rooms have recliners which some people find are more comfortable to sleep in after the surgery. Ask at the front desk when you are checking in for a room with a recliner if you want one. I prefered the bed. (more about this later)

Locks:
The rooms are opened with a magnetic card. The cards are programed for the length of your stay. I found that I had demagnitized it twice and had to go to the front desk to get it reprogramed.
No big deal but it does happen. I do that to watches too.

TV:
Shows in Spanish and English. HBO in English as well as other stations in English.CNN in English, that is where I found out about the Seattle Earthquake the day after my surgery. I enjoyed watching Mexican Music Videos the most.

Telephone:
I bought a telephone card online before I left Seattle. foneworld.net. It cost me 85cents per minute to call Seattle and since it had a local access number in Monterrey it was considered a local call by the hotel. And local calls are FREE.

Remember long distant calls are subject to surcharges by the hotel. I could not figure out how much that would be so I considered myself lucky to have gotten the foneworld card. It real was not a card per se. It was a piece of paper with my code on it and the local number I could call while in Mexico. I only got one for $20 but they offer it in denominations of $20, $40, or $60. I have heard horror stories of $11 per minute surcharges from other travelers so phone cards are the way to go.

Cell Phone:
Brought my Sprint cell phone but it could not connect to any service provider. Which I found very strange considering that so many people had a cell phone attached to their ear.
When I called Sprint before I left the states they couldn't even tell me if there was a provider .... it remains a mystery. Buy a phone card.

Taxi and Van:
The hotel provides van transport to anywhere within 5 miles free. You have to book the van ride atleast 30 minutes in advance.

When I used it for a little sightseeing on Monday I requested that the Van driver pick me up in the same place that he dropped me off in an hour "una Hora". Went off without a hitch.

One thing that I did do is write down the places I wanted to go on separate 3 x 5 card so I could show the address to the driver. I did this for the sightseeing spots, the clinic, Dr. Rumbaut's office and for the Hospital. I usually tipped the driver 20 pesos. I also carried a hotel business card just in case I had to get back via a taxi.
The Van begins running at 7:am. So for an early surgery at the hospital order a taxi the night before from Carla.

Don't take a taxi that is shaped like a Volks Wagon beetle.......I was amazed at the driving tricks of those taxis. Remember Herbie from the Disney movies, I think he retired to Mexico and had a batch of little green taxi's.

For your ride back to the airport you will be using a taxi. Have the hotel call you one. It will cost about $21 US. My ride to the hospital cost me $4 US.

Daily Schedule:
The work day in Monterrey is really divided in two. People get to the office beteen 8 and 9 (rush hour traffic). They go home for lunch, the main meal of the day at 1 or 2 (rush hour traffic) get back to the office at 4 (rush hour traffic) and go home at the end of the day around 8pm (rush hour traffic). Don't even consider driving there unless you have a death wish.

Seattle fancys itself as having bad traffic problems, it is as nothing to rush hour traffic in Monterrey. Bumper to Bumper, cell phone glued to the ear and the concept of turn signals is something unheard of.
Merging is a exercise of pure faith.
I did see traffic cops pull people over but for the life of me I could not figure out why that car instead of the one that made the u-turn amid six lanes of traffic.
Picture 3 marked lanes on one side of a cement meridian, but with 5 cars abreast.....on both sides of the divder, it was an experience.

Clinic: 9am 2/26
I had an additional blood test and EKG while I was down there. Dr. Rumbaut arrange for it. This was Monday at 9am. I had the van take me there and I began noticeing that just about every public place had beautiful marble floors...local industry.

The Doctor's offic was very unassuming. The receptionest/nurse drew my blood and did the EKG using a machine with little suction bulbs. The Doctor knew more English than the nurse but the nurse did try out her English on me. She called the hotel and arranged for the van to come get me, then walked me down to where I should wait for the van.

Spanish/English:
My grammer school Spanish has long since left me but I did get a Latin American Spanish Phrase book for my trip. What I found out is the most of the people I interacted with spoke English. And whats more they were eager to try it out on me! Many were young professionals who in addition to their day jobs took language courses in the evenings.

Monterrey is a business center and knowing English is a plus. People were extremely patience with my bad pronunciation and that took a lot of the stress out of the interactions. They seems pleased that I was atleast trying their language.

Dr. Rumbauts office: 4pm 2/26
My appointment was at 4pm on Monday. The Van took me and I had no trouble finding his office in the building. One thing I noticed is that the directory in the lobby listed by first name, Since so many people shared the same last name. Roberto Rumbaut Diaz was easy to find.

Once again there were beautiful marble floors in the lobby. His office is located off a central atrium but it is small in comparison to what you find in the states. I met Lydia, even got her picture. Lydia is Dr. Rumbaut's secretary. She does speak limited English. I asked if Doralisa worked there as well and Lydia said she worked at home and came in once a week. I had brought a little thank you gift for Doralisa some Applets & Cotlets and a package of smoked salmon, a couple of local treats from the Pacific NorthWet. One thing at the front desk was a color broschure about the BioE lap-band in English, I picked up a few of these and Dr. Rumbauts card.

I had a list of questions for Dr. Rumbaut.
Why did you chose this specialty?(Laproscopic surgery is exactly what he wanted to do) Do you do other wls surgeries? (Yes but Lap-band is the most popular) etc. He showed me his port; he reviewed my medical records; I asked him for a fill tape and a huber needle both of which he gave me. I also asked him about getting a tape of my surgery. He said if the video recorder is set up in my operation room he could do it. It moves from operatory to operatory. (It was not set up for my room---no tape).

He outlined what would be done and he changed my surgery time from 9am to 7am. He was concerned that my weight might make my surgery more difficult so he wanted to do me first. He explained that he might have to switch from a lap to an open if my liver was too large and asked if I still wanted the operation. I said yes! He said that he has had patients that were adament that if he couldn't to it as a LAP procedure they didn't want it done. He also said he would repair my hernia while he was in there and if my gallbladder look bad he would take that too if I wanted it done. (He asked that because he is aware of Dr. Fox's famous TT). I said take it if it is bad. He also said this was the perfect wls for volume eaters.....I am one of those. He showed me the band, explained how it worked and told me that there were 3 sizes and he wouldn't know which one he would be placing until he got in there. He explained to me how I was to go from liquid to solid food again. It was a shorter schedule that what was outlined by Dr. Fox, he did conside that Dr. Fox had a better weightloss with his schedule.
I did mention to him I was disappointed that Dr. Fox didn't have a AGB advocate and better support for AGB patients. He also told me the hospital was paid for and if I was sent to the cashier to refer them to him.

I found him very warm and informative. He answered my questions directly and completly. I enjoyed his company tremendously. I felt he was responding to me as a person. A very rare feeling when dealing with the medical profession. He also reminded me nothing to eat or drink after Midnight. While leaving I met the other person from the Seattle area who was down there for the surgery Elma and her traveling companion Carol. I waited in the waiting room while Elma had her appointment with Dr. Rumbaut.

Carol is a wonderfully outgoing person and had struck up a conversation on another young woman in the waiting area who had already had the surgery and was down 100lbs. She told us how much it had changed her life and how good she felt. When we were out on the street waiting for the van she even showed us her incisons. Not bad at all.

When I got back to the hotel I arranged for a taxi to pick me up at 6:15am. Prompted Elma to ask for her basket which was in the back room and spent some time with her and Carol visiting in there room. She also gave me a couple of baggies with protein powder in them for after the surgery.

Then I went out for my FINAL MEAL. The night before I walked over to the major restaurant on the other side of the busy street near the hotel and had the local specialty...Goat. I had the combination plate. It was very tasty but not a dish I would have every night. Goat houses, Cabaritos, restaurants that feature goat are thorughout the city. Back to the FINAL MEAL.

Macro McPollo. When I heard that there was a McDonald's right in front of the Hampton Inn I was sure I would not go to it but by that evening all I wanted was a chicken sandwich. So I walked over there and ordered two Macro McPollo. Much much better than the ones found in the states. The chicken was not greased to death and the lettucue was crisp and fresh. I did get to practice my Spanish while there ....I think they were being kind but I did get what I ordered.

After my McPollo I packed for the hospital. Pj's robe, lip balm reading material t shirt to be used instead of a bra after surgery( Thanks Linda!)clean undies, arnica montana 30 etc. I had heard from others that the port area might be a little tender and that a bra would not be comfortable. But a snug t shirt would tuck under and be held by the weight of my breasts and keep me from bouncing. (got big ones so it worked).

I locked everything that I was not going to bring to the hospital in my luggage in my hotel room. Took a long shower, did a through cleaning with Hyberclen to make sure I didn't have anything on my skin that could cause an infection. Washed my hair and settled back and read for most of the evening.

I knew that I could repack everything, check out for the night, leave me luggage at the desk and check back in after the surgery thus saving one nights hotel fees, but I like to nest and I had
everything the way I wanted it. I didn't know how I would feel after the surgery, I didn't want one more thing to deal with. For me it was worth the $96. This decision was covered by the 10% Rule.


10% Rule:
When traveling figure an additional 10% in over all cost. That usually covers surprises, luxuries, convenience and most everything that you didn't plan on.

The Hospital: 6:30am 2/27
I got up at 5 am showered again with hyperclens. Brushed my teeth really good and rolled up my hair so it would be near the top of my head. I didn't want to wake up with hair in my mouth. The taxi was there at 6:15 and it was a 10min drive to the hospital. He charged me 20 pesos and I gave him a 20 peso tip. Total $4 US. I walked into the main lobby (those beautiful marble floors again) and found admissions right in front of me. It was only 6:30 but I went in and sat down. A young man dress in a suit sat down across from me and the first thing I said was "Habla Espanol muy poco", and showed him Dr. Rumbaut's card and said surgery. He knew enough English to help me fill out the admission form and he gave me a hospital bag with slippers tooth brush and paste.

After filling out the form a young woman came for me and escorted me to the cashiers. She didn't speak English and I tried to explain that everything was already paid for via Dr. Rumbaut. After a few minutes of this lack of communication she escorted me back to admissions. A few minutes later a different young man came out who did speak English and escorted me back to the cashier's window. I explained that all the hospital charges were paid thorough Dr. Rumbaut. And He explained that I was being brought to the cashier to check in any valuables I had. I had brought my passport and wallet. The light went on!

That cashiers window had not opened yet so he escorted me through a section of hospital, beautify and modern I might add, to another cashiers office where he helped me check everything in and get an itemized receipt.

On the way to the window he tested out his English on me and said how much he wanted to visit the state of Mass. since so much American history took place there. We had a nice little chat. He was very proud of the hospital and told me alot about the variety of people who come there for treatment from all over the world.

FASHION DETAIL:
All the men that I saw in Monterrey who were not working in construction or maintanance or in uniform were exquisitely dressed. Suits, shoes ties.....they looked gooooooood. Well dressed men are great eye candy.
END of FASHION MOMENT:

After the cashiers he escorted me to the pre-op prep room where he introduced me to my nurse and she directed me to a room to change out of my cloths. She asked if Dr. Rumbaut had given me a gown during my office visit? I said no. It seems he does and you wear that in pre op instead of the ones there. I was able to fit into the gowns
in the changing room I put the 1st one one with the opening in the back and a second one on with the opening in the front. I didn't know if I would have to walk anywhere...it turns out I didn't. The arm holes were a bit snug but ok. When I was done changing the nurse escorted me to a gurney and she took charge of my hospital bag with my clothes in it and the bag I brought from the hotel that had all my "stuff" in it.

She had me lay down on the gurney and gave me a "happy pill" that began relaxing me in just a few minutes. I watched her insert an IV into my right hand and after a few more momment felt more relaxed. Right about that time another young woman came in in scrubs and she introduced herself as my anethesia resident and said she would be helping with my surgery. She asked if I was comfortable and she when over what would be happening and asked if I had any questions. It was very reassureing.
She told me about her family home near Tijuna and looking out her living room window and watching the whales migrate...
I was very very relaxed at this time. She told me it was time and she and the nurse wheeled me into the operatory.
I have been in the operatories at the UW Med Center and they looked exactly the same.
She parked my gurney next to a operating table that had arms and asked be to help move my self to it after they raised the gurney to the tables height. Easy with so many helping hands. Then they put a large sponge head rest under my neck and asked me if I was comfortable. The anethesiologist introduced himself, asked me how I felt "floaty" I replyed, and he told me that he would be putting the mask on and I would be out in a few minutes.

They were a little surprised that I had two gowns on when the went to take my left arm out. The last thing I remember was being on the table, feeling comfortable, my arms on the table arms and seeing people in green scrubs... then the green tinged mask.........bye, bye.

Recovery Room:
The first thing I remember is a baby screaming. I had had a headache since arriving in Monterrey. I chalked it up to the air pollution. Monterrey is an industrial city without EPA standards. The headache didn't really go away until the rains came later that day and cleared the air. But that first momment on awaking my head hurt like hell.

The people to my left had just been delivered of a baby, that was obvious from the screaming baby. The mother was singing a lullaby in spanish and and the father was making soothing noises as the baby screammed at the top of it's very health lungs. My first thought was "we are the only two people recovering in the recovery room and they had to put them next to me.."
My next thought was "Aside from the headache I feel ok" "I Made IT".
I moved a little bit and felt a tightness in my belly. I had the IV still in my hand so I could not move to my right. The nurse came over to me and I asked in English when will I be going to my room??? The baby is still screaming mind you. "In a little while". I knew that I could be in recovery from 1 to 3 hours so they could be sure that I had come out of the operation ok.

There were a couple of times during that hour or so all I wanted to do was to scream at the top of my lungs "Shut that Kid UP" but I didn't .... this was a happy occasion for them and I didn't want to cast a pale over it. It was very clear that they were trying to quiet the baby. And time and time again I realized the only thing that really hurt was my headache.

Finally about 40 minutes later the baby was gone,I must of dozed off during that time, and I realized I had to go to the toliet........I asked the nurse again when would I be going to my room...."Soon" they didn't have a room for me yet. Other than the headache and the full bladder I felt pretty good. About a half hour after that I was wheeled to my room. On getting there while transfering to the bed I got to really feel my belly.

Whoa! Mama! stiff, tight and stinging. Before I let them lower me to the bed I got them to let me get my PJ's and roll over to the bathroom with the IV trailing along. At this point I was so releaved to use the toliet I really didn't care what was hanging out. Got my pj bottoms on and half of my top, the nurse disconnected the IV further up in the line and threaded it thorough my sleave and reconnected it. The nurse showed me the bed controls and the call button; she helped me into bed and I curled up on my left side with the head of the bed up and a pillow on my tummy. She put up the safety sides and I fell asleep. Still had the headache....

Hospital Room:
My hospital room was a medium sized room. Modern with a built in vanity with full mirror and half closet and dresser attached.
There was a recliner and small couch, the size of a love seat in the room. I was told that people could sleep on the couch. I found that hard to believe unless it unfolded to a bed. There was enough room in front of it to do that but since I went down there alone I didn't check it out first hand.

There was a TV in the room hanging at ceiling height and a small utility table next to the adjustable bed. I found the bed comfortable and easy to adjust. I let it do the work for me when I wanted to change positions between naps.

There was a private bathroom with toilet and large shower. The shower had a very very low lip on the floor to make it easy to get into but it did flood the room when I showered. There is a resin chair ( white lawn chair) in the shower and a hand held shower spray as well as the one on the wall. I have one at home and love it. ( I also brought one along that snapped over the tub facet at the hotel).

They also provided a gallon jug of purified water. I didn't use it all in the hospital and took the rest back to the hotel. I liked the taste of it.

The room was comprable to hospital rooms I have seen in the Seattle area at Stevens, UW Med Center, Nortwest, or Swedish Ballard hospitals.
Dr. Rumbaut later told me that this was considered the "older" wing and it would be torn down in a year or so and a modern wing would be built. Could have fooled me.

My Hospital Stay:
I didn't take much advantage of the TV or the reading material I brought. I napped. Got up, un plugged my IV tower from the wall and rolled to the bathroom. Rolled back, pluged in my IV tower and napped some more.

About an hour or so after getting to my room I awoked took a roll to the restroom and while sitting there started to retch. Big rolling cramps. I sat there with the waste basket on my knees hugging it with both arms, tears streaming down my face. Spitting up gobs of white mucus. While I was doing that I was thinking I was sure glad I was on pain meds!!!.

It lasted only a few minutes but I was sure I had disloged my band! When Dr. Rumbaut visited me later in the day I told him of the event. He explain that that ofter happened, that I was just clearing the mucus from my throat and that the band was just fine.

The Nurses:
Quiet, efficient, very professional. They don't speak English but the sheet of translations that Dr. Rumbaut provides works just fine. The nurses seem very familer with it and refer to it if they have a question. The one big difference was the took my temperature by putting the thermamator in my armpit and not in my mouth. More accurate so I was impressed. They also waited until I was a wake to take my temp rather that wake me up to do it. I appreciated that.

There was one momment when I was awaken by a very loud beeping that I could not figure out where it was comming from and what it was for. It sounded like a van backing up. That did not help my head ache at all! The nurse came in a apologied for the loudness and fixed it. My IV drip needed a refill.

Dr. Rumbaut's 1st visit:
About the middle of the afternoon Dr. Rumbaut came by. He ask how I was feeling, he checked my IV, and incisions. Told me my operation went perfectly. Asked him about my gallbladder, Did I still have one? Yes I did. It was not inflamed and had excellent color but it did have several adhesions around it.( I had 2 abdominal surgeries in the 70's, and was not surprised by this) Since it was healthy color, the stone in it was not in danger of block a duct it would have taken a lot of digging around to get it out so he left it. He did repair my heria. And the band went in with out a problem.

He explained to me that he would be back later and that he would order a totally liquid dinner for me . I went back to napping when he left.

Around 8 dinner came, broth, jello and juice. Must of taken me an hour or so to eat it all. Some time after dinner Dr. Rumbaut returned and introduced me to my resident Edwardo. Edwardo I was told would look in on me later and If I had any questions he would call Dr. Rumbaut for me.

The night went well, good drugs.

After Surgery

The Day After:

Woke up feeling really good the brought a break fast of jello juice and a mexican corn porrage. The Maziana was a little too thick and tasted to rich so I didnt eat that.

Got up and walked around some trailing the IV. Finally the nurse came in and detached me and said I could shower. I was read too by then. My hair was crawling.

This is where it gets interesting the lip of the shower shall was not very high in the course of my shower I flooded the bathroom. But my hair was clean. I felt much much better. I put all the towels down on the floor to soak up the water and moved along the wall with one hand so as not to fall. I just could see it, gringa dies in bathroom accident..

Got dressed while I was doing that the bed was made up and a nurse came in and said I could go... Frankly I thought my departure would be announced in a little more formal way but I packed everything up. Includeing the gallon of water, I liked the taste as you recall and the leg binders. They were paid for and they could not be used again I thought I might find a use for them.

After dressing and packing I made my way to Elma's room and waited there figuring she would get the word soon too. I was surprised at how well I felt. While waiting there Dr. Rumbaut came by. He said he had checked my room and missed me. He proceeded to say we were both doing well. He mentioned my surgery had gone easier then he had thought it would. I weighed more then Elma and originaly she had been scheduled 1st for her operation. He had change the order after the office visit on monday. He then got her ready to leave. She had had her gallbladder removed so she with a bit behind me being reading to leave.

Dr. Rumbaut in the course of this conversation memtioned that this situation was one of the reasons that the Global rate worked out so well. He thought that my surgery might have been more complecated and it turned out that the other surgery turned out to be more challenging. If each surgery was priced individually is would be hard on some patients cost wise but by charging the global rate all the little overages helped when a more challenging surgery came up. I am a great believer in "it all evens out in the end" If my surgery had be individually priced it may have been $300 less then I paid. By all of us paying the same $10,500( I am speaking about those of us who went through Dr. Fox)we keep the overall cost in a better range.

Carol arranged for the van and the three of us had a smooth ride to the hotel. Once back there I tried the recliner.....I have a long torso and my arms did not comfortable reach the chair arms so I made a nest on the bed. Made a long rol out of the coverlet and blanket, made another pad out of and extra blanket I asked for and comfortably curled up on my left side and napped.

Then I heard about the EarthQuake in Seattle. Using the last few minute on my phone card, since Carol used it to notify my partner and Elma's family we were ok after the surgery, I just had a couple of minutes left on the card..
_I just got the bills for the Seattle to Monterrey calls my partner made- Get a phone card! It is almost 10cents cheaper per minute...... great buy.

The lines were all busy. My orginal reason for staying from Saturday to Saturday was that I knew myself well enought to know that if I went right home I would feel I would have to "do" things instead of rest.....the EarthQuake really underlined that. After 2hours of worrying I let it go. The GDS would take care of things since I certainly could not. I had the usual fears of the house being gone my partner being injured etc etc. So I laid curled up on the bed watching CNN.... thinking the biggest think that hit Seattle in twenty years and I had missed it......

Frankly the operation is working into being the biggest event in my life so it will all worked out.

Dr. Rumbaut's Visit::::
Preparation for the Surgery::::::

Later in the evening Dr. Rumbaut came by to check on my incisions. All doing fine. I asked him what sized band he had implanted.....regular and did I still have my gall bladder.....yes. He mentioned that I had a lot of adheasions around my gall bladder but since it was not causing me problems he didnt "dig it out"....his words. It would have added an hour to my surgery.

He once again expressed his surprise at how well I had done, and how easy my surgery had been. Remember I weighted 404.3.....big. And how I didn't seem to be experiencing the soreness.

I told him I had prepared for the surgery. He asked me how I had done that? That surprised me. I have not had this sort of positive contact with a Doctor before. He was really interested.

Since the beginning of Feb ( my surgery was scheduled Feb 27) I had doubled up on my multivitimins and for the two weeks before surgery I had be taking 1500mg of Vitimin C which promotes healing. I figured that I would not be taking as much after my surgery so having it in my system would be good. I made sure my Multi did not include vit E. Vitmin E reduces clotting and during surgery I didn't want bleeders. I had gone off all my meds the preceeding thurdays so the hormones and antidepressent were lessened in my system. After the surgery I too Arnica Montana 30 to help with swelling and soreness.
I bruse easy....blood draws usually go through the whole rainbow be fore settleing down but with the Arnica only a little yellowing and no soreness. This was true of the lap incision sites.
The night before and the morning of the surgery I washed with Hyperclens.

I was alittle surprised by Dr. Rumbauts reaction. I am used to doctors poop pooping vitamin therapy and homeopathic methods. Dr. Rumbaut noted that it seemed to have worked in my case. I was obviously doing very well and the surgery went far easier than he expected for someone at my weight.

He then went one to talke about a Dr. that had gone through medical school and then went and trained as a naturopath and how he sends his surgery patients to him...Dr. Rumbaut. They are generally in better health and heal faster after surgery......

I thought I had hit the jackpot when I had a surgeon that had had the surgery that I would be having from him.......but after this conversation I realized he had an open mind too! I was stunned. It confirmed to me I had made the right choice.

Late that night I finally got a call from Seattle.
Alot of shelves had coughed up their books but my partner and the cats were ok. The house was still on it's foundations. So I nested somemore. By Friday I was ready for some sightsee!

Sightseeing::::::

Carol had arranged for Carlos Villalobos to pick us up Friday morning around 9am. Since Elma and Carol had alread "done the town" on Monday we headed for the hills literally!

First to a small hill town called Santiago....real central Mexico. Church, city square, narrow streets and brightly painted houses. While on this trek I found out two very important things:
1st: beginning late June through August temps in that part of the country are in the 120 degree range...... Oh my Gawd! It was warm and muggy and in the 80's now!

2: Even out side of the city driving is a truely relgious experience.

In Monterrey there is construction going one nearly on every block. At first I thought it was just the boomtown atmosphere....some of the construction is simply yearly repairs because of the heat damage....

Friday it was raining, not really heavy but enought to get the muggness out of the air. We did a bit of walking around in Santiago, though the church and through a hacianda that was converted to a restaurant and to a look out point. I was surprised I could walk so much but figured I could always go back to the car if I got tired.

Next we made our way deeper into the mountains to Horsetail falls. The ride there was through houseing districts were the front doors butted up against the road. Beautiful metal grille work in the oddest places. And bougenvilla in several colors in full bloom. Delightful!

We passed one stand of trees that had several eagles perched in the top branches. When we got to the parking lot at the falls we took the buggy ride to the base of the falls. The cobble stone trail wound its way through a picnic camp grounds. It reminded me of 4th of July family picknic grounds. The falls were at the top of a rather gentle accent. Bridges over the flow from the falls. Remined me of the Hoh Rain Forrest here in Washington. To the right of the basin which the falls cascade down into is the gift shop.....tacky but ok. The falls were beautiful. When I figure out how to add photos to the site I will add one of the falls..

We headed back down the mountain......Carlos seemed to know everyone so we stopped and a lovely roadside restaurant and he arranged for Elma and i to have soup. .....
I love Mexican food.......Here I was in the heart of the cusine where they know how to make a chile relleano......and I had soup.......delecious soup by soup none the less.

We did some shopping at a couple of roadside shops. Pottery, hand carved and painted wood work was excellent. There was a painted wood patio set complete with glass topped table that was beautiful....I snapped picture of everyting that I liked and was too big to buy.

Thorough out this ride I had been sipping carrot juice that I had picked up at the contenental breakfest at the hotel and put in one of my empty water bottles. If was refreshing and helped with after surgery constipation.

More to Come

There is No Place Like Home

Dear friends put all the books back on the shelves from the earthquake. I have a lot of books. Shelves and stacks in every room. Even with their help the house was still and earthquake zone. Nothing dramatic, just a mess.

I arrived at SEA-TAC airport at around 10pm. My partner was there to meet me. He collected my luggage and out to the car. He had my coat waiting in the car. There was a 20 degree temp difference between Monterrey and Seattle.

I slept most of Sunday and Monday I went back to work. Late Tuesday afternoon I started getting a pain in my left shoulder. Gas migration from the belly expanding gas. Some people get it the day after surgery some people it takes a while to move around. Riding home on the bus that evening I was in PAIN. Took one of the pain pills gave me. Took a HOT shower and went to bed. Wedesday it was still there and worse. That was a long day at the office. When my partner picked me up after work I could not raise me left arm. That evening after a pain pill and a hot shower my partner worked on my shoulder with "The Thumper". After around 20min it felt much better. My theory was that the Thumper broke up the big bubbles and they passed out of my system easier. Thursday I was fine. Still went to bed early that evening and the same goes for Friday.

I realized how important staying on liquids was so I stocked up on broth and got generic protein powder to add to them and also a grape flavor protein mix to take twice a day.

I noticed that I was not hungery in the morning and knowing myself I could put off eatting all day just to binge in the evenings. To circumvent that I have a protein drink in the morning buy a cup of soup for lunch, add some protein powder to it, and when I get home have another protein drink. Dinner later and a jellow or pudding for afters. When I needed texture. Cottage cheese, well chewed, but even that seemed alittle painful some times. I was surprised how full I felt most of the time.

My belly was still tender and I found a bit of "fishline" sticking out of the port insertion incision. I emailed Dr. Rumbaut about the shoulder pain and the "fishline". He explained about gas migration and said that I could clip the "fishline" If I wanted but I desided to wait on that until my first follow dr's visit at Dr.Fox's. The only thing that really puzzled me was where was my port??? I could not seem to feel it. Dr. Rumbaut put my mind at rest about that as well. Once my belly tenderness and swelling goes down I would be able to locate it with no problem.

Changes::::
The first real change I noticed was that I was not ravenously hungry. Getting that 60 grams of protein in a day and the 72oz of water helped alot. I was not tired.

Next thing::
I could walk easier...that seemed to get better every day...At the office it had been a labor to get from the bus stop to the building just a few days before I left for surgery. a Month after I walk to the far end of the building to catch the bus and I get off the bus a few blocks early.. it is so much easier...

July 2001 5 Months after surgery

On the 27th it will be 5 months to the day since surgery. I have had 2 fills and I am at 3.2.
To date I have lost 80 lbs. bringing me down to 324. By no means thin. And I don't see any difference in my photos. BUT the pain in my feet is gone. I can walk 3 miles without being tired. I take that as improvement.

I waited this long to post about my progress because I wanted to be sure it was working. It is. I am still dumbfounded by that but very grateful.

I realize I need to see my chiropracter around every two weeks. The weigh shifts throw me off balance and my back aches. After an adjustment my posture is better and I feel so much better.

There has been a few bouts of emotional eating. But the band curtailed them. I realize I am leaving a land that I have lived in all my life and a part of me wonders about it even while other parts are thrilled. That is human. And I am not going for perfection, but an acceptance of a different way of living.

One way I have dealt with these feelings is to go with mini goals rather than the whole enchilada. That lets me reflect on where I am now and where I was at that weight on the way up.

I revel in how my body feel when I am in the pool twice a week. I feel like I am reclaiming it and making it truely mine. That feeling of ownership extends to paying for the surgery too. I am also paying off the surgery monthly since I charged it. I figure it will be paid off just about the time I have a new set point. I have come to feel I bought this for me and I am not beholding to anyone else for it. For me that is helping me regain my center. This is an attitude welling up from my personal need to reclaim my independance and has nothing to do with the self-pay vs insurance debate. Of all the things I ever bought for myself so much has been to cover up how bad I felt. This was "the pearl of great price" that I was willing to risk everything for. Doing that for myself has changed me... I think for the better. But it is not easy making the monthly bills. But I will do it.
I'll add to this post in a month or so.

Novemeber 2001:::
The months have flew by......to date I have lost 117 lbs. I have lost so much weight around the portsite that my port tipped steeply to the left. During my last fill they could not access my port and I think they punctured the triangular reservoir beneath the port. I have had two fills under fluroscope both at 4cc but with in days I have no restriction. No overt leak shows up on the radiograph.....slow leakd don't show up. But most slow leaks are in the port or line right beneath them.

On Nov 12 I called Dr. Rumbaut and arranged to go back to Monterrey and he will be replacing the port and reservoir. Why me????? Why not. 117 lbs in under 9 months. Not bad. And the leak is not an insurmountable problem. This problem has forced me to really look at how much I want this. The band has helped me so much that this is but a small (but damned annoying) lump in the road. I will let you know how it goes. Oh by the way I am up to 3 times a week in the pool now, its heaven.

Now I just have to find my passport........I put it in a "safe place" after my trip.

Flew out on the 3rd. Fit into the airline seat without any problem. The tray table even came down and needed a seat belt extender for only one leg of the flight...smaller plane.
The short version....
Dr. R didn't recognize me when we met at the hospital....nice. He walked me over to radiology office next to the hospital. Found the leak under floro.....leak at the reservoir as I thought.
Walked over to the Surgery suite another building on the other side of the hospital. The replacement of the port and reservoir took 40 min.
45 min after that the hotel van was there to pick me up. After I got back to the hotel I walked over to thenew HEB super market and got some yogart and had nice walk......noticed I had restriction again!!!!

Following day Dr. R came by to check the suture line. Love talking to the man.... Then I took a walk to the mall....last time I was here it was hard to walk to the McDonalds......it was a wonder ful walk. Bought a new swim cap at the mall and went window shopping. Walked back. Later in the evening went to Dr. Rumbauts office for a fill. 3.6. Gawd I have missed the restriction.....after I got back to the hotel took another walk to the supermarket......There is such a sence of freedow being able to walk anywhere I want to. No worrying about is there a bench will someone come in get me if my legs start cramping etc.
Following day I flew back to Seattle.

This has been the really short version. I will expand it. I am planning to re work this site and add more before and during pictures. As a matter of fact my computer is currectly in the shop gettng fitted with the where with all to do this very thing!

As of two weeks ago saturday my weight was 271. Down a total of 133lbs since I was banded. Even witht the leak....I am a happy camper!

5 years later

Thought it was time to update the website....

It is 5 years after the surgery and I am still thin! Imagine that. I have changed the picture. That was me in Naples. Living a life long dream to go to Italy. Something I would never do at 404 lbs.

Currently my weight is 178-184 and I am seriously thinking of aiming for 157.

I am trying to figure out how to put more pictures on this site.... do the whole before and after thing. But there is no real "after" it is just now. A "now" with the usual ups and downs but in a smaller clothing size. I teach a yoga class "Yoga for Round Bodies" at a local Seattle Yoga studio and I am trying to declutter my house. Usual normal things. All which would have never been possible with out the Band.

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Obesity History

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