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Michelle,
Welcome to the PA Board. If you're in the 'abington area' there are a lot of support options open to you, both pre- and post-surgery and I'd recommend taking advantage of them. The more support you can build for yourself prior to surgery, the better your experience will be. You'll be more informed, more prepared, and have more people to call on when you have the inevitable question, panic, or whatever. I have not been to a meeting at Abington, but I know they have them. Barix has pre-op meetings on the second Tuesday night and the first Saturday of every month. You're also welcome to come to post-surg meeting on the third Wednesday night if you want to hear the "post-surg" side of things.
Liz (on this board) also hosts a monthly "cooking class/support group" meeting at her house. It's on a Saturday and is a ton of fun, plus a great way to meet people from all over the region, learn to handle post-op cooking and eating, and ask questions in a very casual, relaxed atmosphere.
And, of course, there's this board, where you'll get a ton of great advice. You can ask us anything... literally. No embarassment here, we've discussed it all on this board at some point!
Welcome again, and congratulations on taking such a positive step for yourself.
Karen
Welcome to the PA Board. If you're in the 'abington area' there are a lot of support options open to you, both pre- and post-surgery and I'd recommend taking advantage of them. The more support you can build for yourself prior to surgery, the better your experience will be. You'll be more informed, more prepared, and have more people to call on when you have the inevitable question, panic, or whatever. I have not been to a meeting at Abington, but I know they have them. Barix has pre-op meetings on the second Tuesday night and the first Saturday of every month. You're also welcome to come to post-surg meeting on the third Wednesday night if you want to hear the "post-surg" side of things.
Liz (on this board) also hosts a monthly "cooking class/support group" meeting at her house. It's on a Saturday and is a ton of fun, plus a great way to meet people from all over the region, learn to handle post-op cooking and eating, and ask questions in a very casual, relaxed atmosphere.
And, of course, there's this board, where you'll get a ton of great advice. You can ask us anything... literally. No embarassment here, we've discussed it all on this board at some point!
Welcome again, and congratulations on taking such a positive step for yourself.
Karen
Hi Michelle,
Welcome, you will never find a more supportive group of people than this Pa. group. I did have my surgery at AMH, and Dr B. was my surgeon. I will say that I think this surgery save me twice.
I went thru all the tests in late 2007 and early 2008. My last test was the stress test, I was called back in a couple days to be told I needed further testing. As it turned out I had two heart blockages which required me to have open heart surgery. (I had no symptoms, so I consider that all the testing I went thru at the time saved my life). In April of 2009 during a visit with the cardiologist, he suggested I go ahead with my WLS. I started the testing all over again, got a release from the cardiologist saying I was fit enough for the surgery, and had the surgery in November of 2009. I tell you all this not to scare you, but to let you know how thorough they were in the testing, and to let you know that they will take good care of you. Dr. B. is the best!!!! All other that I have come into contact with in his practice are good as well. The only thing I can say that they failed to do was give me instruction on how to care for my tube. It was in the written info, but they did fail to show me before I left the hospital. I am sure it will not happen again as I did mention it at the visit when I had it removed, and I am sure Dr B's staff was reminded about it. If you have any questions please feel free to ask, as I will answer any that I can. I have been to support group meetings, which are good, and give you the ability to ask any question then and there. I have not been to to many lately, and I take care of my grandchildren a couple days a week at nite, and it always seems to fall on meeting nite. They also have their own website, which has only been around a little over a year I guess, ask them about it when you arrive for an appointment, I think the info for it is right on the counter there. Again welcome, if you have any questions about AMH or Dr B feel free to ask me. Any other questions others on here can answer or give suggestions about the WLS they had, and their experience.
Good Luck, Ena
Welcome, you will never find a more supportive group of people than this Pa. group. I did have my surgery at AMH, and Dr B. was my surgeon. I will say that I think this surgery save me twice.
I went thru all the tests in late 2007 and early 2008. My last test was the stress test, I was called back in a couple days to be told I needed further testing. As it turned out I had two heart blockages which required me to have open heart surgery. (I had no symptoms, so I consider that all the testing I went thru at the time saved my life). In April of 2009 during a visit with the cardiologist, he suggested I go ahead with my WLS. I started the testing all over again, got a release from the cardiologist saying I was fit enough for the surgery, and had the surgery in November of 2009. I tell you all this not to scare you, but to let you know how thorough they were in the testing, and to let you know that they will take good care of you. Dr. B. is the best!!!! All other that I have come into contact with in his practice are good as well. The only thing I can say that they failed to do was give me instruction on how to care for my tube. It was in the written info, but they did fail to show me before I left the hospital. I am sure it will not happen again as I did mention it at the visit when I had it removed, and I am sure Dr B's staff was reminded about it. If you have any questions please feel free to ask, as I will answer any that I can. I have been to support group meetings, which are good, and give you the ability to ask any question then and there. I have not been to to many lately, and I take care of my grandchildren a couple days a week at nite, and it always seems to fall on meeting nite. They also have their own website, which has only been around a little over a year I guess, ask them about it when you arrive for an appointment, I think the info for it is right on the counter there. Again welcome, if you have any questions about AMH or Dr B feel free to ask me. Any other questions others on here can answer or give suggestions about the WLS they had, and their experience.
Good Luck, Ena
Michelle
I want to welcome you to the PA board, full of WLS experiences that people are willing to offer wonderful support, not too many on here who have had the surgery procedure you are having, at least not many I know of, but I can say I know of some folks that have had their surgery where you did, so long as you have confidence in your surgeon and follow directions, you should do well. As has been said, get plugged into support, it goes a long way towards helping aid us on our road, which thanks to WLS will be a healthier and more active one.
Best wishes, Laureen
I want to welcome you to the PA board, full of WLS experiences that people are willing to offer wonderful support, not too many on here who have had the surgery procedure you are having, at least not many I know of, but I can say I know of some folks that have had their surgery where you did, so long as you have confidence in your surgeon and follow directions, you should do well. As has been said, get plugged into support, it goes a long way towards helping aid us on our road, which thanks to WLS will be a healthier and more active one.
Best wishes, Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland