Hope everyone is Having a great Labor Day............

I went for my follow up CT scan last week to make sure all is ok and that the infection didn't screw me up.....I haven't had any more fevers and feel great....so I am expecting an all clear from the Dr. tomm.....If that happens, I am expecting that he will do my first fill....so excited for that - because I have been able to eat much more than I'd like to....too many things came up this past 2 weeks...a wedding, bbq's.....I tried to make the right choices but there was always something that I had that I know I shouldn't have....at a stand still right now - I haven't lost any more but still down the 30 lbs (didn't gain anything - thank goodness LOL)...

After the fill..I am going to try to do protein shakes and softened foods again...and gradually work my way back to food...going to do some grocery shopping ad make sure I get all the good healthy foods in the house....

Hope everyone is doing well...

I am feeling so much better after last weeks ordeal.  I almost can't believe that I was dealing with that pain thinking that it was normal port pain....and not an infection that actually was the cause.  The inconvenience of the hospital stay and medicine seems to have really done the trick.........because the pain is completely gone and I am feeling sooooo much better.

I am off the liquids again and resumed the softened foods diet and that seems to be working out well too....I am never hungry...which I find amazing....and even better I am down 30 lbs...........

Things are starting to look up again and I am so happy.

I was just released from the hospital tonight after being there for 5 days...........I ended up with an infection and collection of fluid under the band.  I had several CT scans, an endoscopy, and a drain inserted to get all that crap out......The IV antibiotics helped a great deal because I was cleared today..........thank goodness.

The plan was to remove the band if I did not respond to the treatment......which would have been absolutely devastating......I told the surgeons....do everything you can to salvage this because if it had to come out I was done.....I would have had them remove it and not reinstall.

I was so excited about this whole process and now I am a little discouraged......all I can do is pray that the infection does not come back so I could pick up where I left off and start dropping the pounds again and get healthy.

Keeping my fingers crossed......I hope you all do the same.....

Thank you to all my friends for checking in and seeing how I have been doing......I really appreciate it.

Hello all......just checking in...had my one week post op visit with my Dr. yesterday and according to him all is going well.

I am still having some soreness - nothing more than feeling I had been kicked in the stomach.  The only real issues that I am exeriencing is a sort of reflux thing...at least that is what I think it is....(In addition to the band, I also had a hiatal hernia repaired and I get the sensation of my esophagus sliding and sometimes it makes me incredibly naseaus (needless to say the dry heaves are fun when that happens LOL) and the other thing is I am still feeling more weak than I thought I would...nothing terrible...I am attributing that to not getting in enough protein shakes and fluids...doing the best I can - but only so much will go down.

Overall, these things are so minor...I am still incredibly happy with my decision to be banded......I am already down 20 lbs (YAY).

My Realize Band surgery is scheduled for July 15, 2009 (less than 1 month away).  I can't believe that its finally here...I have had so many issues with insurance after losing my job - that I never thought that it was going to happen...I did all of the pre-testing (everything - endoscopy, dopplers, sleep study, endless doctor visits...only to find out that it would not be covered under my Cobra insurance policy)...my new insurance has been a pleasure...I have only been with them for a little over a month and my approval came in only days after the surgeons request....Whew...

If all had gone as I originally planned I would have had the Surgery back in February 09 - so it only put me back a few months.  I still consider myself to be extremely lucky and fortunate to be able to have this...I will be able to get my health and  my life back.

I am nervous but I am so excited