SElaine

neveragain, It's good to hear you are feeling better. Take care and I'm wishing you a speedy and healthy recovery.

Well, I guess this is the place for me, too! I've lost about 88 pounds so far. A lot in the beginning.... and not much through the holidays! I had a fill on Saturday, though, and I'm charged up for the new year. I'd like to lose another 30-40 pounds to be at my goal weight.

Wow, LKM. Good luck with your banding tomorrow. Be sure to check back and let us know how it goes! :Banane42:

Kbug, Please don't be sorry you posted. I'm so sorry for the loss of your mom. It is indeed a tragedy. (((Hugs))) I know it doesn't "fix" anything, but if you read my previous post you will see I had complications similar to your mom. I will admit that I was scared--really really scared for a period of time. The thought that I could have died... and that people have died from the same complications I had.... is terrifying. Even through everything I've been through, I would do it again. It was a chance I needed to take and I can only imagine your mom felt the same way. There comes a point where you just decide you can't live this way anymore. Period. (((More hugs))) Please feel free to PM me anytime you want to talk.

First of all, congrats on being approved for surgery. I went through a cycle of emotions before I had my surgery and I wasn't sure I could go through with it, either. I even cancelled once and rescheduled. Was it worth it? Absolutely. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself. I've got myself back; I've got my life back.

Tallywag, If you do come back and read the responses, I'd like you to know that I am sorry for what your wife went through, and yes, I did go through it. I had a suture pop causing a tear in my stomach. It became infected and leaked into my abdominal cavity. I had an emergency surgery to remove as much of the infection as possible. I had to have part of my liver removed as well because the infection spread to my liver. I had several blood transfusions and I spent two weeks in the hospital on IV antiobiotics and even after I left the hospital I still had a drain tube in my abdomen and continued to take more antiobiotics orally for several weeks. I was very sick for several months. It was awful and I wouldn't wish it on anybody. However, after everything is said and done I still believe that it was a surgical complication and not necessarily a band complication. There is a risk with any suregery. I was fortunate enough to be able to keep my band, and I'm not entirely certain how removing the band would have helped the infection. However, each case is unique and I'm sure that was what was in the best interest of your wife. I also don't think it matters who the surgeon was or where it happened. It could happen to anyone and I know it happened to me. My surgeon is posted in my signature line. However, I would like to specify that I have complete confidence in my surgeons and in no way do I feel they are at fault.

Hey, laurieloo! Welcome and congrats on having a date and getting everything in place. I'm also in Arizona. I hope to chat with you again!

Ann, You did it and it sounds like you are doing great! What a nice gift to yourself this time of year. Welcome to LBT!

Wow, Nancy! Congrats on your success thus far and welcome to LBT!:roll:

Ghost, ((Hugs)) Wishing you strength and peace to get through this holiday season with happiness and joy. Do your best to not let them get to you. I know... I know... Easier said than done. And I agree with the others. This is an extremely insensitive, rude, selfish act your sister is pulling. I'm so sorry.

I am so sorry for your loss. I can only imagine the pain and sorrow you are experiencing. Thank you for posting your experience and letting others know. I also had an abcess in my stomach. I was told it could have either been from a puncture wound during the original surgery or subsequently a stitch that tore through the stomach. I had to go in for re-surgery and I'm lucky I got to the doctor when I did. That said, I had four barium swallow tests over 11 days before I was allowed to leave the hospital. After reading your story, I'm glad my docs insisted on them.

Carol, I won't have much of a chance to visit the board during the next few days, but I wanted to say good luck with your appt. tomorrow. Please check back and let us know how it goes! :biggrin1:

Carol, I have experienced (and still do!) so many mixed feelings. I guess it's just part of the process. You are right, though; We must take care of ourselves and make that our priority. Hopefully, everything else falls into place. Only 2 days left until your appt. Are you getting excited?

Thanks, Carol, that's nice of you to say! (Now if only it were true.....) For what it's worth, I'm right there with you in the husband department. My husband was completely supportive before surgery, but has had a difficult time since. I'm not sure if he feels insecure, or upset by the financial burden this placed on our family, or both..... But, it would be nice to feel a little more support from the one person you count on more than anyone else. This is a difficult process and a difficult decision to make, and it only makes it that much more complex if your loved one isn't 100 percent by your side. I get it. It hurts. Congratulations on getting your first appointment scheduled. You are on your way! :biggrin1:

Diane, I hope all is well. I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know I was thinking of you and wishing you well. I hope you can stop by and give us an update when you feel up to it. Carol, Nice to see you on the AZ board. Did you go to the seminar on Sunday? How was it? Take care all!

Hi Jacole! Welcome to the AZ board. Congratulations on your success so far. You will do great. You are right about it not being easy, but it's worth it.

Congrats on your date, Melanie, and welcome to the forum!

Diane, Good luck tomorrow!!! I will be thinking of you and wishing you well. You'll do great and I'm happy you will be a fellow bander tomorrow! Take care!

Hi Grace! We have something in common; I relocated to AZ from Salt Lake City last year. I love it here! As far as housing goes, what do you consider cheap? Are you looking to rent an apartment or a house? Would you rather be in the city or out in the suburbs? As far as school districts, Gilbert Unified is one of the best in the state. (That's part of the reason we moved here). There are others that are good as well... Chandler and Paradise Valley have good reputations. I go to WLIAZ (Weight Loss Institute of Arizona) in Tempe and I've been very happy with the care that I have received. I have heard they do take new patients for fills, but I don't know the specifics. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I'm always happy to help if I can. I know moving to a new area is a trying process, especially with kids.

Nobody else has mentioned the breasts. Is it just me? The first place I really noticed (after the face) was the boobs. They disappeared! I needed new bras before I needed new clothing. Then went the butt.

Littlelove, I just noticed a previous post of yours and wanted to expand my comment. I don't know what other doctors in the area do, but at WLIAZ they DO use the ultrasound machine routinely with every fill. They use it to locate and check the status of the port, and make sure that the needle is going in exactly where it needs to so as to not puncture the tubing. Some places don't do this. And yes, I have heard of some people that have fills and the doctor "misses" by just a slight bit and punctures the tubing causing a leak. Where did you have your surgery done and how long has it been?

Hi littlelove, I go to WLIAZ in Tempe. They don't do Flouro routinely with every fill, but they do have it available. It's possible they may do it if you request it.

Diane, Congratulations! I'm sure you are so pleased now that you had everything taken care of beforehand. I'm glad to hear your pre-op diet is going well. That was one of the most difficult parts for me, but I stuck to it, also. Where are you having your surgery done?

Hey, neveragain! Let us know next time you are in town. Maybe we could plan a date in the future. :car:

Hi Diane! Thank you. I am also pleased with my weight loss thus far. Currently, I have no fill in my band and I've actually gained a few pounds over the past few weeks. No worries, though. I get a fill tomorrow!!! (I was ill for quite a while and had to have my fill removed.) Yes, when I have a fill in my band and I have restriction I do get full after just a small amount of food. And the best part, I have found, is that I don't have the cravings I used to have and I don't think about food all day long. I certainly have noticed the difference these past few weeks without having a fill. It makes the world of difference. Good luck to you. I hope we will be able to meet up at a support meeting when you get here. We have them once a month on Monday nights, and once a month on Saturday afternoon.