Ok, so twice a year hubby and I get dolled up and go out to a nice restuarant for a romaintic dinner, for our anniversary and for Valentine's day...unfortunately between surgeries and post-ops + all of the complications we have missed the last 3 of each...so this year I no longer had a diaper on my abdomen (more romantic that way) and I could finally eat solid foods so....Sat. night I booked a really nice place in a beautiful hotel (yes, I had plans )and off we went..parked in the underground parking lot and grabbed the elevator up to ground...except that it went down to -6! (there is no -6 button!!!!) and it stopped !!!! The alarm did not work and we were stuck with another couple in a deserted parking lot elevator with no alarm and a garage attendant who informed us that it was not his job and he couldn't leave his booth!!!!! Got 911 who blew me off saying that it wasn't an emergency....I asked if homocide was cuz I was willing to try that to get out!
2hrs later I was near panic imagining a K pouch in an elevator for 4 (6ft square!) and what I was going to do if we had to spend the night (at least I hadn't eaten yet!!!!)..I have patches, tape, an empty water bottle, gauze and gobs of lube but absolutely no way to intubate/irrigate while standing up, wearing an evening gown, pantyhose, heels etc with 2 strangers and hubby within kissing distance...
I kept reminding myself that I had a tube of valium (20yrs old!) in my purse if it got real bad (I could always down the bottle and call back 911 reporting a suiside attempt!)
The elevator repairman arrived and then dissapeared for 1/2hr..to come back and tell us that he couldn't find the control box...he ended up forcing the door open (could he have started that way?) and got us out at 11pm on -6..a desserted parking garage unused since WWII...needless to say we took the stairs up to the hotel..the restuarant was closed and I was no longer in the mood....
So better luck next year...I have decided to no longer make plans but can't quite figure out what else I need to carry in my purse in the case of landslide, fire, flood or earthquake...seems like I am being stalked by fate
Sharon

Oh Sharon, how horrible!

I guess you can look at the positive side- you got to go on a historical tour of Paris! (How many people can say they have been where you were?)

I would tell you that maybe you should let your husband plan everything so you would have no idea where you were going or what you were doing (maybe fate couldn't find you) but the last time I tried that we enjoyed a very nice dinner and shortly into dancing started feeling funny. Two days later the food poisoning effects finally subsided.

At least your evening was memorable in one way or another!

You have now experienced and survived every pouchers' nightmare! Yikes!

My worst nightmare was a flight that was 'diverted' to Sophia, Bulgaria in mid winter 1995...We were 'held' in a blockhouse/airport under gunpoint for 12hrs...the 'restrooms' were a trough with dribbling green water, and 'stalls' that were holes in the ground divided by concrete seperations, obviously no paper...no doors and a soldier holding a machine gun at my head.
I just couldn't 'do it'...result? By the time I made it into an airplane headed to Paris it was too late...My valve was destroyed...couldn't get the tube in...bled all over the discusting Air Bulgaria toilet and knew that I was in trouble.
Now? I would intubate in front of the President of the Republic while the armed guards whistled Dixie if I had to....my valve is more precious than my dignity!
Sharon

Oh. My. Gosh.

I don't know whether to howl laughing or howl crying!

One thing is for sure, if I'm ever down your way or you're ever up my way, we need to hook up!

Gin

oh Yes!!!!!
My hubby says that I have a very interesting life...I say..just imagine what I would have been like If I had never been sick!!!!One thing for sure is that I never let it stop me from living!
(and laughing too!)
Sharon

Sharon, you sure seem to be a magnate for all sorts of weird stuff!!

Jan

OMG Poor you

Humm maybe go to a restaurant that has on street parking. I would be afraid of elevators after that.

Cant imagine what I would do with my pouch in a situation like that - just squat

Have not set foot in one since!
I am just starting to worry about the next trip to 'downtown' when I have an apt in a 39 storie tower! I guess that that is one way to get your daily quota of exercise...
sharon

Sharon....I look forward to each and every posting of yours! Have you ever traveled the Trans-Siberian Railway? I'm trying to plan a trip from London via Moscow to China. Wondering if my pouch and I will survive! Any advice?

Yes, Do not take me with you!
I am a magnet for bad luck!
But keep a full kit of all needs with you and a spare in your luggag including bottles of water, and those water purifying tablets...you do not want to catch anything microbial...tons of wipes for up and down there, and soft tp...I figure that I can buy clothes, shoes etc but there are just places that do not sell what I need for my pouch/stoma/intestinal comfort...Do not assume anything so if there are special dietary needs take food bars/fruit bars or anything in powder/concentrate that may be useful...pads etc help too..not all countries have them...I make sure that all of my drug/med needs are guaranteed too...me med kit includes:
1.4xs anything that I need for my pouch seperated into 4 different locations, fanny pack, purse and luggage. (you never know when your purse will be stolen!)
2.by the way photo copy all I.D and Credit card infor and hide it somewhere safe, so much easier to get a new one if you have copies! dito for plane train tickets and reservations!
3.Drugs! Anit-everything drugs: anti-biotic creams for those nasty cuts, anti-microbial for the gut, anti-nausea for the ride, anti-diareah for the ouppps!, bandages, steri-strips to close those deep cuts and anti-inflamatory for those sprains etc..plus I always keep a couple of valium for emergency situations, I never take them but I am happy to know that I can if I need to (see getting stuck in the elevator!). A dr friend of mine includes a wide spectrum anti-biotic and one for lung infections...never ever allow a dr to inject you with anything while away..(his rules!)
4. Compy shoes!
That is my basic list..for the rest..have fun, take loads of pictures and keep a blog going for us all!
Sharon

quote:

Yes, Do not take me with you! Big Grin
I am a magnet for bad luck!

ROFLMAO



Oh Sounds Great! My uncle & Aunt did it but they are healthy. They loved the trip.

Bring 2ce the amount of meds you will need
and separate them into different bags so if you loose one bag your not stuck.

Bring a copy of your prescription and letter from your GP so they know your not a junkie.

Have a Fab Time!