aussie jedi

Yeah the scars do itch a bit, try not to scratch them. I also had a clear waterproof dressing over the top of my steri strips(opsite/tegaderm type) that I had a mild allergy to, and all around where the adhesive touched the skin it went red, swollen and then the skin peeled off. And that was really itchy - and I scratched at it - now paying the price - the skin is still red and peeling more than 3 weeks post op. Looks worse that the actual scar site. The one wound that I couldnt see or reach easily, that I didnt scratch, looks great, you really have to look hard to see there was ever a cut there.

I have private health insurance, hence my hospital bill was fully covered. I was about $3000 out of pocket for the surgeon and $700 out of pocket for the anaesthetist Have to pay for consults with Surgeon - $120 initial - got $90 back from medicare Subsequent consults - $50, get $35 back from medicare Fills - $125, get $108 back from medicare

The Australian system seems a little different to the US. (all figures are quoted in Australian Dollars. Roughly AU$1.00 = US$0.90) If you have private health insurance (optional system, you choose to have it if you want it, and pay a fee to have it - approx $60-$140 a month) it may or may not cover it depending on your plan. (alot of plans exclude expensive stuff like hip replacements, pregnancy, cardiac intensive care, laser eye surgery etc). If you dont have private cover, it costs about $12,000 out of pocket. My private insurance covered it - which means they pay the hospital bill and the cost of the band itself. You are then out of pocket for the Surgeons bill ($3000) and the anaesthetist ($1000) Australia's free public health system - Medicare, gives you a small refund on your out of pocket expenses - about $400. Consults with the surgeon cost $50, and Medicare gives you $35 back. Fills cost $125, and Medicare gives you $108 back. (so very little out of pocket cost) You can choose to have your surgery done as a public patient, and get Medicare to cover it entirely, but there is waiting lists, and you will wait about 4-5 years. (cannot choose your doctor or hospital) You can also claim a tax rebate - if you have medical expenses of any sort over $1500 per year, you can claim anything above this and get 20 cents in the dollar back for every dollar over $1500. (you can include dentist bills, chemist bills, doctors bills optometrist, etc)

I must have been lucky, I had no pain at all. Just a little discomfort on getting up, rolling on side. And that funny shoulder ache - just a dull annoying sensation - not pain. Was up and walking around 2 hours post op and went home that same day about 8 hours post op. Was on oral codeine and paracetamol for about 3 days to keep any pain from happening, and then weened off it (I think your equivelant in the US is Tylenol 3?) I too had the sensation that I wanted to burp, but couldn't, which went away on about day 4. What is Gas X ? Is it for that pain that the air in the abdominal cavity causes (like the shoulder ache) or is it for gas - as in wind/flatulance/burping?

Yep, same here, only now, 3 weeks post op can I sleep on my side, still a little discomfort around the port. In Australia they tend to now place the port in the centre of the chest, just below where your bra line is - which is where mine is. Wondering if the pain is different for those that have their port lower down on the side of their abdomen.

Wow, its amazing to see the difference among surgeons. My doctors regime: 2 weeks Pre Op - very low calorie diet - Meal Replacement drinks/bars and low carb veggies, lean meat. liquids week 1 and 2 (thin veggie soup ok) mushy/pureed weeks 3 and 4 (where I am at now - its amazing what you can puree! baked Beans, eggs, lentils, hot dogs (the low fat type of course!)) Full diet week 5 onwards - anything you want. However he did say most of his patients find fresh white bread and Steak hard to digest. I found I got really bored and hungry on liquids, so I started added flavour where I could (I love chilli, garlic, spice etc) So I used tabasco sauce, wasabi, liquid garlic etc to make it interesting. Surgeon said this was ok, if I tolerated it ok pre op, no problem doing it post op. Looking forward to toast! I am craving toast (with vegemite of course - that salty brown spread the only Australian's love!)