mileend

So I thought I should give an update. First, thank-you everyone for your good thoughts and sharing your experiences! I did indeed have my port removed on April 4th, one month after having it "installed". There was a large lump between the port site and another laporoscopic incision which was a pus-filled abcess. they removed the port and left that site open and also opened the other laporscopic incision site to the left of that. I had to see a nurse to get the bandages changed daily for about 3 weeks, then every second or third day for another two weeks until finally my wounds are closed and mosty healed. My port site is an ugly, ugly sunken scar which looks almost like another belly button. Not nice at all. I don't feel as if I have the same restriction as before the removal of the port, although the surgeons in my team sometimes clip the tube to keep the saline in and I am not sure if that was done or not (yes, i've been asking! My main surgeon did not do the surgery as it was considered an emergency so it has been hard to find out!). I don't think so however since I don't feel the same restriction at all. I've only lost 2-3 lbs since the removal of the port. I'm down 28 lbs total since the start of the pre-op diet, which puts my weight now at about 170 and my bmi at about 30. I'd like to lose more but I think it will be tough from here on in. I'm hungrier! I'm also being checked for an erosion -like I need another complication - because I have pain that comes and goes in my left side, like a stitch. I've had a CT scan and a barium swallow. I see my surgeon again tomorrow morning. It's frustrating but that's how it is! My surgeon wants to replace the port, ideally in the fall. I want to lose more but I'm also quite nervous about another surgery with even more complications. I have two young kids and it's a month of illness and recovery and being off of work after each surgery. If I am able to lose more over the summer I may just forego the second surgery altogether. It's all starting to feel very risky. Although I am delighted to b 28 lbs down, bp more normal, heart rate down, and just generally feeling better in my body. Phew! What an update!

So I was banded on March 4th and when they removed the staples my port incision came open. It has been a roller coaster since then but now a month later the port site is clearly infected and I have surgery scheduled tomorrow to remove the port and part of the tube. I am wondering if the tube will just be "open" to my insides or sealed, i.e., will the saline currently in my lapband (3 ml) leak out or will I lose all restriction? Also, since there is infection at the port site, will they leave the wound open to drain or close it up with staples or stitches? Im supposed to travel which they told me I could do but I don't want to travel with an open gaping wound! I just want to know as much as possible what to expect. It is of course possible they will remove the entire lap band tomorrow depending on what they find when they open me up. We will see. Thanks!

Yup so now it's a confirmed infection and I am having my port and a part of the tube removed tomorrow. They will try to preserve the ring but it depends on what they find when the open me up. It's so incredibly frustrating but I hope now it will resolve and I will finally feel better!

the bump is not at the port site but starts about 2" away and is about 4" wide now... so it's bigger than just how the port is stitched in

Saw my nurse for wound care today, she felt confident it was infected & sent me to emergency for IV antibiotics. Receiving some now & more in the am. Should see a surgeon from my team in the am. I'm pissed and annoyed. Surgeon said yesterday lump was just "inflammation" which sounded insane to me, I've done lots of research on gastric bands and "inflammation" of the tube is something I have never heard of except with an infection. Nurse & ER doc today both said clearly infected. So what gives? Plus I am supposed to go on vacation to Florida starting Saturday! Clearly that is not going to happen. It was my first trip to Disney with my kids (2 and 5) and I am devastated. It just sucks so bad.

There is a version of metamucil called "metamucil clear" which has the same ingredient as benefiber that will not clump. Its not made of psyllium Fiber as regular clumping metamucil is. Benefiber isn't being made anymore & is getting hard to find, so you may have an easier time finding the metamucil clear.

I'm hoping the group wisdom can reassure me here.... I have a site to the left of my port that started today being super, super swollen. I had surgery on March 4th, so this is about a month later, and I have not had this issue previously. It is raised like a hard lump and around it is tender. I have had complications with the incision over my port (it opened when they took out the staples) and am very nervous, so I saw a member of my surgical team today. The surgeon was not worried about the swelling at all and thought it was an inflammatory response just to the tube from the silicon ring to the port. The surgeon examined my incision which is slowly healing and felt it was still infection-free, which is good news. I have an apt to see him again in three weeks. For reference my port is at the bottom of my sternum, about 1/3 of the way down from my bra line to my belly button. I am kind of freaking out about this, it hurts and is so swollen! The surgeon told me not to worry but I am very worried. An ideas? Can anyone help me feel better? Or do you want to tell me you had something similar and it was a disaster, ha ha? (ok not really ha ha...) Part of the freaking is that I am supposed to travel to the USA (I am in Canada) this Saturday for two weeks, and I really don't want to have a problem while away from home... Thanks!

It's because it's a big gaping incision wound. The incision opened when they removed the staples. It is nothing like changing a regular bandage. It has to be irrigated, necrotic (i.e. dead) tissue flushed out, packed with mesh, and then bandaged. Imagine if your incision had never closed and you had no stitches - the big hole has to slowly fill with new tissue. That's what I have. While it is healing the nurse fills the hole with this special mesh that is antibiotic and aids in healing. It's not simply changing a bandaid, which anyone could do .

Can you tell me what you mean by "nurse service"? That sounds like it would be great, but whom do I contact? My surgeon would certainly write a prescription - he has already for the care I receive here.

This is an odd question and not sure if this is the right place to put it on the forums but here goes! I was banded March 4th, and have had post surgical complications. The biggest incision over my port opened when they took the staples out and is now a very slowly healing open would. It IS healing, which is good, because if it wasn't they would have to take out my port. In any case my entire family (i.e. my husband and kids, but also my sisters and THEIR kids and my parents!) are scheduled to travel to Disney in the Orlando area and then to Sarasota in Florida in early April. I need to find nursing care there who can do the bandage changes on my incision, and of course I want to have it planned in advance. I may be a self-pay or my travel insurance may cover it, I don't know, but either way I need to have the care organized. Can anyone help??? If I don't have this organized before the vacation I can't go, and that is just not an option!!! Thanks so much!

Am I the only one who has had post-surgery complications? I tried to find the post-surgery thread but it appears to have disappeared!!! I ended up being re-hospitalized five days after my surgery because I had paralytic ileus - essentially my intestines just stopped moving entirely and nothing - including gas - could go anywhere. It was extremely painful. I was in hospital for four days. Now I am back home but I am having trouble with the incision over my port - it came partially open when they took the staples out and while it is not open all the way to the port (i.e. it is partially healed) it is an ugly mess. I have to go to the clinic every day to have my bandages changed and for it to be irrigated and checked, and it's going to heal into a massive, massive scar. One of the surgeons from the team who treated me reassured me that they could "revise" the scar later and right now we have to focus on saving the port - which of course makes sense - but after having so many complications it's hard not to be discouraged. I am on antibiotics for the open incision. At least I have not have any trouble swallowing at all. I am at the pureed foods stage and have had yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, and pureed sphagetti sauce (with meat in it) no problem. My stomach is so happy to have real food in it again! For lunch today I'm going to try scrambled eggs and for supper mashed potatoes with some pureed apple pork. I'm eating under 1000 calories a day and not having any trouble sticking with those portions - I already have 3 ml in my band. From when I started the pre-surgery diet I am down 20 lbs, 2 pants sizes, and my BMI is down almost 4 points. So it's working. But no more complications, please!!!

Yes! I was banded on Monday and the shoulder / chest pain really took me by surprise. The gas pain right under my diaphragm was so bad it was hard to talk or take deep breaths. I was definitely unprepared for that. Today (day 4) is the first day that feels substantially better. Gas x helped a bit but I think you just have to wait for the gas to work it's way out . Good luck everyone!

I wish I could burp! It's like the burp is stuck under the band - I feel it there and I try but it won't come out! This am I was finally able to rid myself of some gas the other way (ahem) and it was such a huge relief, I feel sooooo much better now! It's unbelieveable the difference! My left side is much more sore than my right side as well. Today I am still on clear liquids (broth, diluted juice, jello, with protein powder) but tomorrow I am allowed to start the "semi-liquid" phase so yogurt, milk, oatmeal, pureed fruit, etc. I am looking forward to some fruit smoothies! That will be so awesome! Although I am still not hungry at all, just thirsty.

This is my Day 3 (surgery was on Monday) and I am still pretty sore in my abs around my incisions and also in my shoulder and around my diaphragm (the muscle you use to breathe). My back is also sore from a lot of time in bed I think. I have tried to be up and about as much as possible and actually walked 30 min on the treadmill today - walked very slowly, but I did it! If anyone finds a magic cure for the gas pain please do let me know! My husband is picking me up some gas-x tonight so hopefully that will help. It's just miserable. I'm also having trouble drinking enough. I feel full so fast and I don't want to push things but I'm having trouble hitting the 6 cup minimum my doc recommends for liquids. A challenge!

Every day it gets easier. I know it seems as if it would get harder but it actually doesn't. The first day was the worst, by the 4th day I was ok. Stick with it!