thenewkatio

I had surgery at Texarkana Surgery Center in July 2008. I was told my copay was $40, but when I arrived the morning of the procedure, they told me I would have to pay $1240 for the band itself! I had to make a $400 downpayment that day and then pay the rest by automatic withdrawal each month. When I first called BCBS they said the band should have been covered, and that the hospital should not require prepayment of anyting other than copay. I contacted the surgery center and they denied knowing that. When I called BCBS back I was told that the band WAS NOT covered! I am still trying to get this straightened out, in addition to another surgery in September 2008 and they want to do another one but I can't afford the $900 that Wadley Hospital is requiring up front!

I know this is a little late, but I am new to the group. I had my surgery in July of this year. About a week after the surgery a lump developed near the port site. It was very painful but not infected. As soon as I removed the last steri-strip, a FLOOD of Fluid gushed out and it lasted for days. The pain finally subsided but because of the hole I couldn't get my fill as scheduled. While I was waiting for my appointment, I still had drainage. One morning I woke up and the white tubing was sticking out of the incision! I immediately went to my doctor and she said the port had healed like a bridge over the muscle instead of flat against it. Needless to say, on September 11th I had a second procedure to have the port repositioned and stitched back down. I had no problems with the second surgery until a week or so ago when I noticed a fluid pocket near the site again. A few days ago the incision site became very thin. I made an appointment to have it checked out just in case, but the next morning I woke up in a puddle! Sometime in the night the incision burst open and drained. When I sat up in bed it actually squirted out (gross, I know...but the info might be helpful to someone!) It drained farily quickly through that day and night. Now the lump is gone but I still have some drainage. Not clear like before, but no smell (I know gross again, sorry) so she says no infection. I am taking Bactim just in case! There is a tiny hole over the port, so I am staying bandaged up and taped down, sure don't want a repeat surgery to replaced the port and tubing! No visible drainage now, just yellowish gook on bandage when I change it. I have not had any fills yet, actually had the small amount that was in the band when it was placed removed a few weeks after the first surgery because I couldn't even swallow watee comfortably. So right now my band is flat and I am really looking forward to my first fill, which was supposed to be October 29th but may be postponed if this little hole doesn't seal up, or an infection occurs. Keeping my fingers crossed! At any rate, I am down over 50 lbs! Just proves what the doctors say, the band is only a tool. I know that I will plateau soon so I am ready to get the first fill so I can stay on course. Congrats to all of you that have had the procedure and are losing! For those future Banders, good luck! Even with the second surgery, and the overall yuckiness of the drainage, I still feel good about my decision to have the Lap Band.