sgc

I had gout prior to surgery. After surgery it would flare up something fierce. Whenever I felt an attack coming on, I would just take my medication. The key is to get out in front of it. My doctor gave me a little supply of indomathecin. If I waited too long to take it, it would be too late. At the first hint of a flare up I took it. Now 1.5 years out I never get any gout attacks.

The surgery went well. Still have some swelling. It looks more like a little pouch in my stomach. Doctor seems confident it will go away. No pain really. Didn't use all my pain meds. Worst thing were these plastic strips around the incision. The caused skin irritation and some itching. My Fluid drains were slow to come out. Took 30 days before the last one was removed.

The surgeon recommended I gain a little weight. I went from 170 to 172 but then today dropped to 168. I haven't noticed much reduction in swelling but perhaps I am losing Fluid I was retaining post surgery.

6 weeks and there still seems to be some swelling. It's almost like a little pouch. Its bee nearly two weeks since the last drain was taken out. I was averaging over 150cc of Fluid when it was taken out and so far no seroma.

5 weeks out and still some swelling. Last drain was out Monday and I was still putting out 150cc of Fluid. No seroma yet.

36 minutes ago, jess9395 said:

Reach Arm Slimming Sleeve Shaper - SlimMe by MeMoi - Shaping Shrug https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EDSXEE4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nzQ3zb1QNKB2B

I ended up ordering some sleeves for covering up tattoos. I'm not sure what size for these I would need? Looks like they go around the shoulders so I'm not sure if I would need to go one size up since they are for women?

Turns out it's 19 shirts and 8 pants. A few of the shirts were cheap T shirts with clever slogans on them. Always wanted to wear graphic Tees. Problem is my arms show a lot in short sleeves. I wear a long sleev underneath and have sort of a Sheldon Cooper look. Trying to maybe find some flesh tone arm sleeves to come down to my elbows or even use an ace bandage. Doesn't really matter I guess if the sleeves are for women.

My doctor said I can wear a compression shirt instead of the binder. With no drains and no binder, I'm finally able to wear normal clothes. I did go a little nuts accumulating clothes. I bought about 13 shirts and 9 pair of pants along with 3 belts, 2 pair of shoes, new socks, and even a new wristband for my watch. Once I bought one color I needed another matching color and of course shoes and a belt to go with it. I'm still going to wear the binder when I'm not going out. It's only day two since the drain has been out and no seroma yet.

I went for the waist and mid section first. Now I can find nice fitting clothes that show off my new slender shape. I could never find pants that fit and would always be pulling them up. As a guy I chose not to do a breast lift or implants as I thought that wouldn't be a good look. Next would definitely be arms. I'm down to wearing long sleeve or 3/4 sleeve shirts to hide the arm skin. With the thighs I can wear shorts that cover much of it.

3 hours ago, Stella S said:

Sounds rough. How are you feeling? Can you do most things yet?

I feel like I can do everything. Last drain was removed today. Still putting out way too much Fluid so doctor seems to think a seroma is guaranteed. The stomach swelling is down. Nothing really wrong with it other than a have a bigger belly when it was nearly flat after surgery.

The swelling seems worse than right after surgery. I figured four weeks out it would be going down not up. It is down some from a couple days ago.

On the antibiotic and the Fluid output is down but still a lot. It's also back to being red. The odor is gone from the fluid and the swelling from the stomach is down. It almost seems like I'm starting the recovery process all over again.

I found my waist moved up. My stomach hung over so I always wore my pants low. Now I can actually pull them up to may waist so I need pants with a longer inseam.

54 minutes ago, Sosewsue61 said:

What documentation did you need for ins to cover it?

I didn't need to provide anything. My doctor just submitted it. This is just for the panniculectomy which was about $3,500. I still had to pay the rest.

1 hour ago, Back2fit said:

Do you mind if I ask what insurance was it?
How is the insurance approval process?
I guess it was n the US?

Thanks

It is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The process was pretty seamless. Doctor submitted the request after the procedure and BCBSM approved it right away. Within a matter of about 2-3 weeks.

The way the doctor was talking, it almost seems a given I will have a seroma.

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Not much happened today. The drain needs to be within 30 days which is Sunday. I go back Monday morning to get it out. Leaving it in since I'm going through so much Fluid. Hopefully the antibiotics will slow it down. I do not have a seroma and I'm just extremely swollen for some reason. Apparently it will go away.

3 hours ago, woo woo said:

Have you called back to let them know that it is growing larger? Maybe they can fit you in today?

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I did call back. The surgeon is only in Monday's and Thursday's. I was also running a little fever. Since it isn't an emergency, we're going for tomorrow morning.

This seroma is getting huge. I hope it didn't ruin my progress.

I am certain I have a seroma. My stomach from the belly button down has gotten huge. I'm hoping the doctor can drain it tomorrow. This last drain has to come out no matter what apparently and I'm still putting out a lot of Fluid plus a possible seroma. Not sure how this is going to work.

I called the doctor and I go in Thursday. I spoke to the assistant or nurse practitioner and she said the drain needs to be removed regardless because I can't have it in for more than a month. In the meantime she gave me an antibiotic prescription.

Now I noticed an odor from the Fluid I never noticed before. Definitely going to call.

I am still churning out a lot of Fluid. More than ever before. I'm wondering if I should ask my doctor about this?

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After 3.5 hours, I needed to empty the drain again. 60 cc in 3.5 hours. It does seem to have slowed down some. It's now a yellowish/clear Fluid so I think I'm getting near the end.

The lump is gone now. I placed my binder nice and tight over the lump and I really pumped out a lot of Fluid. 190 cc in the past 24 hours. I'm guessing it was a buildup of fluid that I forced out.