kristintaylor1

So I had my first fill about 5 days ago. As soon as my PA saw my incision she immediately knew I had Fluid built up around my port. She had to numb a huge area around my port and began suctioning old bloody fluid out from around my port. She was able to get 31 cc's of fluid!! She said don't be suprised if at your next fill we get more. Because of those pseudo pockets, it then made finding the center of my port extremely difficult. I walked out of there very sore with a bruise and lots of needle pokes. I know it had to be done but it just wasn't what I expected my fill appointment to be. Every night since my fill, I wake up in the middle of the night about 3-4am with extreme pain right about where an under wire bra sits. I have to get up and walk it out. I'm thinking its gas build up. Anyone experience this?

Yes I had that too! There were times were I had it 4x in an hour. I'm currently 10 days post op, it will get better. Once you get into the full liquids, pureed or mushy, your stool will tighten up. Just make sure your getting in enough water to counteract what your losing. Being 10 days post op I am back to my normal 1x day. It's still on the loose side but nothing like what your experiencing right now. Sorry for the details. Good Luck!!

Hey everyone, I had my surgery Tuesday afternoon. I was having lots of trouble urinating at the hospital after my surgery despite the fact that I was taking in lots of liquid. They used an ultra sound like machine to check the Fluid in my bladder to find out that I had 800 cc's just hanging out!! I had to have something called a straith cath done to relieve the urine. 6 hours later I had to have it done again this time 1100 cc's! Thats like an entire nalgene bottle full of Water in my bladder. I still could not urinate on my own. They sent me home with a permanet catheter. I go back in tomorrow to get the catheter removed, I'm just praying I can pee on my own. Did this happen to anyone else? How long did it take before your bladder started behaving in its own??

Thanks for all your words of encouragement. I went in to get the catheter removed, it was an amazing feeling. Unfortunately, I came home and still wasn't able to urinate on my own. I had to go back in again to get another one placed. I had that one for about 12 hours and then insisted the next morning I'm getting it out regardless. This time I felt different. I felt like I had more control. I had it taken out this morning and HOORAY I peed on my own. Hindsight, I think a huge factor for me was being on the pain medication. As soon as I was off that for 24 hours and moved to Tylenol, it happened. Thanks again for all your tips and encouragement!!

I know EXACTLY how you feel! I'm on my pre op diet right now as well. I have lost 7 lbs so far and it's scary. I think this is why previous diets never worked for me. It's all about the FEAR of being a different person. This is about the time that after losing a small amount of weight I automatically sabotage myself by allowing myself to cheat. I even did it today. I'm on my pre op diet and I took a couple bites of something not on the list. I don't understand why I can't allow myself to be successfull. I'm slowly mentally trying to work through this. I think once I see a significant amount of weight dropped that will be the true moment when I realize I really can do this and most importantly I deserve it. Don't do what I did today, just keep pushing through this pre op diet because eventually your mind will switch gears and become a believer instead of a wisher. :rolleyes2:

Hey Kels764, Has your pre-op diet been getting any easier now that your a few more days in?? I'm on day 1 today and it has been REALLY hard. I totally agree with Irishbookworm, the chicken broth or bouillon has saved me even on day 1. Any more pointers?

Just make sure your 6 month program is through a nutritionist where their tracking your weight, progress and exercise. You won't get submitted until your last visit with a nutritionist. Make sure included in there is a consultation with a nutritionist and then an additional 6 after that. After you finish number 6 you will then be submitted. Expect a couple bumps in the road. Cigna sometimes says they don't receive all the information, which you then need to be resubmitted. Once your resubmitted, expect your wait time to be about 30 days. It's a long progress. It will come quicker then you think!!

Hey, Hopefully your surgeons office has worked with Cigna before and should be able to guide you along as to what their looking for. Cigna no longer requires a 2 year weight loss history so not sure if that will helps you. Attached is an updated list of requirements that you have to meet, considering that your plan covers weight loss surgery. www.cigna.com/.../mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf

I have 1 more nutrition visit and then I wait for approval. During my 6 month nutritional meetings I cannot control what I eat. I don't know if I feel like this is my last chance or what!!! Did anyone else really struggle with their eating before getting approved? Once you get the band does your desire for sweets really decrease?? I really hope so, or I'm in trouble!!

I'm on Cigna PPO and there are some tough restrictions. I am currently going through my 6 month nutrition visits that they require. They did just review their latest requirements in June and changed some things. Here is a medical coverage policy for Cigna, however, I would verify whether this would be the same coverage that you're looking into. http://www.cigna.com/customer_care/healthcare_professional/coverage_positions/medical/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf

Thanks everyone for you comments! It puts things back in to perspective. I guess I was looking for someone else that could relate to how I was feeling, and I found a few people that do. As most of you know, going through the banding process is scary. Its a scary reality for me to think that maybe one day I might be a "normal" size. When my banding day comes, of course I'll take it serious and will be extremely motivated, but life as I know it will change and that's scary. So for now I'm enjoying myself a little more then I did before. All I was looking for was someone else to relate to and share a little of my guilt.

I will hopefully be getting banded in a few months. Did you choose the outpatient option where you went home same day? or would you recommend inpatient and why??

Why did you get denied at first? What made them change their minds? Since your BMI is below 40, did you have any co morbidities that approved you? What state are you located in?

Why did you get denied at first? What made them change their minds? Since your BMI is below 40, did you have any co morbidities that approved you? What state are you located in?