Panniculectomy and hernia repair approved
I just received the approval this week from my insurance company for my panniculectomy and hernia repair. Anyone out there had both done at the same time?
How long was your recovery?
What were your restrictions? How long?
What do I need to know?
Any advice?
The surgery is scheduled for January 30th and my preop with the surgeon is the 20th. Until then, I thought I would gather what info I could to get prepared.
Thanks in advance!
How long was your recovery?
What were your restrictions? How long?
What do I need to know?
Any advice?
The surgery is scheduled for January 30th and my preop with the surgeon is the 20th. Until then, I thought I would gather what info I could to get prepared.
Thanks in advance!
First off congrats on the weight loss that is ahuge accomplishment. Having lost 285lbs myself I can relate how much better you probably feel. Also getting your procedure approved is great, your one the few on here to get the insurance company to cough up some dough.
Anywho I had a Extended Tummy Tuck (Same as panniculectomy) Hernia repair & Gynecomastia about 4 1/2 months ago. My hernia for reference was an umbilical hernia and almost required mesh but, but got by with stitches luckily but lost the belly button in the process. I took six weeks to fully recover and had my last drained pulled at six weeks having 5 drains total, draining 1.32 gallons in the process to give you idea of how much fun that was for me.
I was not allowed to lift over 5 pounds first 2 weeks, then 10 at 4 weeks, then 15 at 6 weeks. After that it was like 20 pounds at 8 weeks then they told me to add 5 pounds every week going forward but still to be careful.
Having both done at same time is great saves down time and money. At times you will maybe sneeze or throw up occasionally, being a bariatric patient I'm sure you can relate. But whatever you do, DO NOT SNEEZE AT ALL if you can avoid it. I cannot stress this enough, I was brought to me knees twice when this happened to me (but I have been known to be full of hot air at times) several other times I took the hydrocodone they had prescribed to me just to kill the pain it was so bad. It feels like you got hit with a mack truck. Now 4 1/2 months out it's tolerable about 1/4-1/3 what it used to be. If you have allergies, catch a cold what have you, avoid sneezing if you can. Wearing the binders really helps to cushion the blow, I bought extra ones to have on hand, when I had to wash the ones I got after surgery. If you can get yourself a good abdominal binder beforehand it will be a lifesaver. I wore my binders for 7 weeks, after that I now wear the compression shirts like the football players wear, I just don't have the athleticism to go along with it.
Have some benadryl on hand for itching from binders.
Have someone you trust to be with you those first few days, they are pretty rough but you get through it.
Maybe get a rasied toilet seat I used it. Walmart 21 bucks best deal I found.
You probably will not have an appetite for a few days, if you can stromach it I drank the little protein tubes from walmart, gnc wherever to get my protein in. With the swelling from plastics, being a bariatric patient, and wearing binders you probaly won't be able to get much solid food down.
You'll walk hunched over for a while (3 weeks for me) just go with it and you'll eventually walk upright.
Milk of magnesia and stool softeners, talk to your surgeon but I wish I had started ahead of time. It was 8 days till natured called and I answered on the first ring. The pain killers will stop you up big time.
Get a recliner for recovery best thing in the world for you. Getting in and out bed is a bear and I could sleep on my side for 2 1/2 months that was rough.
Probably other stuff, just can't remember it all right now. Ask lots of ?'s this board is great for a resource.
I have pics in my profile in you want to see the results from my surgery. Overall I'm satisfied but not happy with my results but that's my burden. I had 15 pounds removed for just for reference.
Good luck,
Bubba
Anywho I had a Extended Tummy Tuck (Same as panniculectomy) Hernia repair & Gynecomastia about 4 1/2 months ago. My hernia for reference was an umbilical hernia and almost required mesh but, but got by with stitches luckily but lost the belly button in the process. I took six weeks to fully recover and had my last drained pulled at six weeks having 5 drains total, draining 1.32 gallons in the process to give you idea of how much fun that was for me.
I was not allowed to lift over 5 pounds first 2 weeks, then 10 at 4 weeks, then 15 at 6 weeks. After that it was like 20 pounds at 8 weeks then they told me to add 5 pounds every week going forward but still to be careful.
Having both done at same time is great saves down time and money. At times you will maybe sneeze or throw up occasionally, being a bariatric patient I'm sure you can relate. But whatever you do, DO NOT SNEEZE AT ALL if you can avoid it. I cannot stress this enough, I was brought to me knees twice when this happened to me (but I have been known to be full of hot air at times) several other times I took the hydrocodone they had prescribed to me just to kill the pain it was so bad. It feels like you got hit with a mack truck. Now 4 1/2 months out it's tolerable about 1/4-1/3 what it used to be. If you have allergies, catch a cold what have you, avoid sneezing if you can. Wearing the binders really helps to cushion the blow, I bought extra ones to have on hand, when I had to wash the ones I got after surgery. If you can get yourself a good abdominal binder beforehand it will be a lifesaver. I wore my binders for 7 weeks, after that I now wear the compression shirts like the football players wear, I just don't have the athleticism to go along with it.
Have some benadryl on hand for itching from binders.
Have someone you trust to be with you those first few days, they are pretty rough but you get through it.
Maybe get a rasied toilet seat I used it. Walmart 21 bucks best deal I found.
You probably will not have an appetite for a few days, if you can stromach it I drank the little protein tubes from walmart, gnc wherever to get my protein in. With the swelling from plastics, being a bariatric patient, and wearing binders you probaly won't be able to get much solid food down.
You'll walk hunched over for a while (3 weeks for me) just go with it and you'll eventually walk upright.
Milk of magnesia and stool softeners, talk to your surgeon but I wish I had started ahead of time. It was 8 days till natured called and I answered on the first ring. The pain killers will stop you up big time.
Get a recliner for recovery best thing in the world for you. Getting in and out bed is a bear and I could sleep on my side for 2 1/2 months that was rough.
Probably other stuff, just can't remember it all right now. Ask lots of ?'s this board is great for a resource.
I have pics in my profile in you want to see the results from my surgery. Overall I'm satisfied but not happy with my results but that's my burden. I had 15 pounds removed for just for reference.
Good luck,
Bubba
Thanks for the info.
Congrats to you as well. 285 pounds is quite an accomplishment. I think my insurance authorized payment for a couple of reasons.
My pannus, before surgery, hung down to my knees and while it did get smaller with the weight loss it still hangs halfway down my thighs and is quite heavy-causing chronic lower back pain amongst many other things, My surgeon believes that the size and weight of my pannus would compromise the hernia repair (incisional above my navel as well as 2 others lower in my abdomen) and I also wrote a very detailed letter explaining the impact on my daily life. It included everything from hygiene, movement/exercise, back pain, clothing issues to issues with intimacy with my husband. It was most definitely a difficult letter to write. I am not certain what tipped the scales for them; probably a combination of everything.
I am sure I will have many questions as I go through this process and I will most certainly post them on the forum. It is a great source of information and support!
Congrats to you as well. 285 pounds is quite an accomplishment. I think my insurance authorized payment for a couple of reasons.
My pannus, before surgery, hung down to my knees and while it did get smaller with the weight loss it still hangs halfway down my thighs and is quite heavy-causing chronic lower back pain amongst many other things, My surgeon believes that the size and weight of my pannus would compromise the hernia repair (incisional above my navel as well as 2 others lower in my abdomen) and I also wrote a very detailed letter explaining the impact on my daily life. It included everything from hygiene, movement/exercise, back pain, clothing issues to issues with intimacy with my husband. It was most definitely a difficult letter to write. I am not certain what tipped the scales for them; probably a combination of everything.
I am sure I will have many questions as I go through this process and I will most certainly post them on the forum. It is a great source of information and support!
After my experience with all of this, I wish I would have done a little more homework and tried harder to get insurance but I ran it by them 3 times and they let it keep running.
I think it's probably alot worse for women than men with all that extra skin in front like that. Mine was bad enough but I feel so much better now, hopefully can afford to get more done in future.
Best of luck in journey,
Bubba
I think it's probably alot worse for women than men with all that extra skin in front like that. Mine was bad enough but I feel so much better now, hopefully can afford to get more done in future.
Best of luck in journey,
Bubba
HW 304, SW 291, GW 160, CW 140 H-5'9.5"
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