treappling

I was banded in June 2003. In January 2004 I began a long journey with my final diagnosis being SLE/Fibromyalgia/Panhypopituitarism. Yikes! Due to high dose steriods and polypharmacy my band was unfilled to 1cc which is minimal restriction. Over the past couple of months I am beginning to notice the area around my port is becoming hard and the area is slowly increasing in size. In April I was hospitalized for adrenal crisis due to gastroenteritis and a EGD was done and everything was ok. Due to steriods I had gained 50 pounds but now I am down 55 pounds but since April and the IV steriods I have the "moon face" starting and some thickening up in my waist area. I am definitely watching what I eat and I haven't gained any additional weight. Yeah! I am going into my doc about the hardening around the port. No pain or anything but I can honestly say if I had known what was before me I would have never been banded. I have enough to deal with. What do you think about this? The area is probably now about 5" from one side to the other. Thanks, Tre Appling

My port is moving around and I go into my dr. on Wednesday. The port has always been difficult to access for a fill and after several tries in the dr. office I am usually sent to the hospital for it to be done under flouro. The dr.'s nurse said that it would require surgery. Has anybody else have this happen and how did the surgery go?

Babs, This sounds like my story exactly. I did not receive any numbing agents at the hospital either but rest assured the doc hit the port on the first try. The fluoroscopy enables him to see exactly where the needle needs to go. I go in for my second fill this a.m. and am a little anxious because it is going to be done in the office. The doctor told me while he was doing it under fluoroscopy he knows exactly how to get to my port now because it was tilted. I guess I will see how good his memory is! I received 1.6 cc the first time and it did give me some restriction but I do need more. I was told by my doctor getting your fill under the fluoroscope will give you a better fill. Initially he put in 1cc and had me drink barium and it flowed through easily. Then he did 2cc and it barely went through. Then he backed me down to 1.6cc. It definitely did make a difference in how big of bites I take and how well I have to chew. I am getting hungry pretty quick after I eat so I believe I need a fill to help with that. Tremia