John Dantzler

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My doctor and I decided to wait out the infection thing and continue the packing, redressing and antibiotics for at least another week.  That's good because I don't want to have to remove the port nor undergo another surgery to replace it later.  Hopefully, this wound will continue to heal and this will be behind me.

I've had a major setback with my Lap-band surgery. The fill port area has gotten infected. Over the weekend, the area became red, swollen and started draining fluid. Yesterday, I emailed a picture to the doctor's office and as a result had to make a quick trip to Little Rock so the doctor could drain the area, pack it with gauze and put me on some antibiotics. 

Nancy, bless her heart, is saddled with the task of removing the packing and placing fresh packing at least twice a day. I know this isn't easy for her and I know I'm a big baby when it comes to it, but it's got to be done. I know I don't always show it, but I appreciate everything she does for me.......even if it's not the most glamorous job in the world. She is really doing a good job on this, when most women would be puking all over the place. Believe me, if I could do it myself, I would.

If the infection isn't cleared up by Monday morning, I've got to go back to Little Rock and have the fill port surgically removed so the area can properly heal, then at a later time have the fill port surgically re-installed.

I had waited about 7 months to have this surgery and to have this complication arise, sure puts a damper on things. I know the doctor did everything he could and I still trust him implicitly. He said this is his 1st case of port infection on a patient in which he placed the lap band. I know things will work out and I'll be all better in no time.

My surgery date has been set: Oct 9th at 10:00 am.  I'm nervous, excited, starting to 2nd guess my decision; I guess all the normal feelings one goes through before surgery. This will be the first surgery I've had where I'll be under general anesthetic.  My other surgeries (cataract & LASIK) were all under local. 

I've been on the protein drink mix for a week and along with some light excercise, have lost 10 lb.  I know this will be good for my health so that I can see my sons grow up and have kids of their own.  That's really who I'm doing this for is them.