smiseel

Lap Band Surgery date: 7/12/07 at New York University Hospital Office visit to discuss healing: 8/06/07 The area around the port was brown- one stitch protruding from site. The nurse practitioner tapped the area (10 cc's old blood removed) and prescribed Augmentin. I was told the site might ooze for up to 2 weeks. After one week the site is now red, hot an oozing. I don't have a fever, but am very concerned. Did anyone have a similar problem? I'm not even sure what "Keep it clean" means. I am using peroxide on the oozing parts and neosporin on the red part which pinches. I put gauze on it, but can't today because the tape is hurting the area. Is the if the medicine is too stong? Should I keep the area wet or dry? I am now waiting for a callback, but am very frightened. Please help. Thanks, Jane

I had pain in my left shoulder for 3 months. It drove me crazy! Thankfully it is now ok. jane

I want to thank everyone for their concern. Presently I am doing well and all is cleared up! Good luck to everyone and have a Happy Halloween!

In my opinion, you need to let the doctor look at it. I was on antibiotis for 2.5 months and am fine now. They wouldn't even give me a fill until the infection cleared. I'm the person who started this thread, so you can see from my pictures what it looked like. Let us know what happens... jane

I just got my band a couple of months ago, but I've been lurking here for a long time. Some of the things I've read by people suggest that before eating you try drinking something hot- like tea, to loosen the band. However, if your symptoms continue, you may just need to get a little saline removed from your band. You are not a failure, none of us are, you just need a little help to get to the right fill spot. Let us know how things work out.. Jane

I would like to know if the port where we get the fills is stitched in place or does it float around. Sometimes I think it's in one place and other times I feel it in another. Thanks, Jane

I had my first fill 4 days ago. Since that time, I've noticed a pain under my left rib which radiates into my back. I'm pretty sure it's gas because I had the same pain for a couple of weeks after surgery and it went away. I'd like to know if this is fairly common after a fill. Does the stomach need to get "acclimated" to the restriction for a few days? I'm eating mushy foods until tomorrow - I don't really feel any restriction, but am careful about the amount I eat because I don't want to vomit or hurt myself in any way. I'm just wondering about the pain and if it's just part of the process. Thanks in advance for any help you can give to me. Jane

Hi, I just had my first fill today. I was told I had 3.5 cc's in my band and it's a small AP band. I was so unprepared for a fill (due to a skin infection near the port area that I've been fighting for the last month) that I was dumbstruck and forgot to ask what a small AP band holds. I see that some people have a VG band - I don't know what that is either. I feel fine but am curious as to what I have inside of me. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer me. Jane

<p>All I can say is that I started liquids for 2 days after the fill and the gassiness returned. I always get this great big gas pocket in my back. The only physical difference I feel is the gas, so I think I am drinking too fast and there must be some sort of reestriction going on. I'll let you if I feel more of a restriction after eating some mushy foods this day. </p> I found this information on the Obesity Help website: Allergan/Inamed has a new band in the US called the AP band. There are a couple of differences in this band and the previous ones: 1. Cuff - the cuff on the AP band is 360 degrees around, as opposed to about 300 degrees on the prior bands (there was no cuff around the buckle on the old ones) 2. Cuff length - the cuff on the AP band is 18mm longer/taller than on the previous bands, so the surface area in contact with the stomach is much greater, hopefully increasing the speed of weight loss and maybe reducing the risk of slips 3. Cuff volume - the AP small holds 10cc, the AP large holds 14cc Note that we do not believe that AP patients will lose MORE weight, just possibly faster. So those of you with the older models, it would definitely not be to your benefit to think about having your band swapped out! <LI class=MsoNormal>They are either APS (small, 10cc) or APL (large, 14cc). <LI class=MsoNormal>They are considered by some to be "the next generation in AGBs". <LI class=MsoNormal>They are considered less likely to cause blockage or obstruction than other AGP types. <LI class=MsoNormal>They are considered less likely to slip than other AGP types. <LI class=MsoNormal>They are considered to be less likely to cause band erosion than other AGP types. <LI class=MsoNormal>Like the VG band it is "Omniform" technology - i.e. the balloon has ribs or baffles and the band itself is curved. <LI class=MsoNormal>The AP has more of a 360 inflation around the stomach as opposed to the 10cm or 9.75cm (4cc) bands, which have more like 260 or 280 degrees inflation (the rest being the buckle), and the VG which has more like 280 or 300. It is understood that this was simply an upgrade to the existing band to make it easier and less traumatic to remove. <LI class=MsoNormal>The silicone material is much softer than other AGP types. <LI class=MsoNormal>They are more concentric (rounded) when inflated than other AGB types. <LI class=MsoNormal>The balloon is pleated to 'grip' the stomach better. <LI class=MsoNormal>The balloon goes all the way around the inner surface of the band, rather than missing a piece at the locking mechanism. <LI class=MsoNormal>The balloon is wider. A sideview of the band shows the balloon protruding top & bottom rather than sitting flush. <LI class=MsoNormal>They have an easier release mechanism to remove the band if need be. <LI class=MsoNormal>They have the locking mechanism isolated from the stomach. <LI class=MsoNormal>AP type bands have been FDA approved for the US, but will not be available until the summer at the earliest. <LI class=MsoNormal>We understand that there are NO plans at this time to discontinue any of the bands Allergan already makes. They still plan to manufacture and offer the 10cm and the 9.75cm (the 4cc) bands as well as the VG band. <LI class=MsoNormal>new : AP ( Advanced Platform ): APS ( small) <p>Jane</p>

Hi, He gave me 2.5 cc's yesterday- He said they put 1cc in when I was banded. Luck to you too! Jane

!<p>I've felt this way many times. I've also had therapy 2x regarding the weight issue - it doesn't really help for long term weight results. I'm new to banding and have not gotten my first fill yet due to infection, but I was very well aware that surgery is only part of the solution. Two members of my family have vertical banded gastroplasty (the old banding operation) both are in Weight Watchers for 3 years and both stay in the gym (I do the same). One is at an ideal weight, the other is not. The WW helps because it's an anchor to knowing that what we really need is a healthy lifestyle. Another family member had the bypass with the duodonal switch. Initially she lost 150 lbs but has gained back more than 60. She thinks the doctor did something wrong. I think perhaps she relied on the procedure itself to take away her problem.</p> <p> All of us know the pain of eating the wrong thing and beating ourselves up after doing it. One thing I learned is that when I can't seem to stop myself from eating junk, I ask myself "What CAN I do today?" If it's only drink 8 glasses of water or not eat after 9pm, I will do it. I find this "can method" to often get me on track again. For the past 3 years I have been kind enough to myself to lose 40 lbs in Weight Watchers, although that is a drop in the bucket. I felt I needed something more. I'm feeling very down because of the infection and pinching in the area of the port. So for today the thing I can do is make sure that most, if not all, of what I eat is healthy and keep in mind that things that go wrong are only a bump in the road of my life. I remember that no matter how far down the wrong path I go I can always turn back. So, for me, I guess that not one single method works, but a combination approach is best and to be expected. </p> <p>Smile and take care of yourself today. Tomorrow things will look brighter. As far as exercise, I'm disabled and have a very hard time walking, so I do swimming. Get out the snorkel!</p> <p>Jane</p></p>

Hi, I have to take Vitamin supplements. One of them (glucosamine and msm) is in a capsule and I break it open and drink - yuck! The other is a large softgel cap (coq10). I cut it in 3 pieces and then the stuff bulges out. After swallowing it tastes horrible. I'm wondering if I am hurting myself by doing this and opening the pill. I mean, is the reason the meds are in the soft gel because it would burn the esopoghas going down? Thanks in advance for your reply. Jane

At present my port area is healing. It stopped draining 2 days ago. It's a light pinkish brown and the area the color cover is much smaller. I have an additional 10 days of antibiotics. After that a revisit to the doctor. depend on myself. One thing the doctor did was to outline the area that was infected so I could judge if it was getting smaller. I'm glad to say its about half the size it was originally. Look at my picture that started this thread and look at this new one. It's 3 weeks of antibiotics: The area underneath still pinches. I'm very sorry to hear about your troubles, Rebecca. Please just get to your doctor's office. Don't wait until they schedule an appointment for you. That's what I did. If you are scared and need help, as I was, depend only on your intuition and make them see you. I always feel it's easier to fight for someone other than yourself, but just do it. Better to feel foolish than sorry. Alternatively, if you far away, you might take a picture and fax or email it to the fill lady. I did that too. Jane

Hi, I'm one of the people with an infected port. I was banded on 7/12/07. My infection is healing, but it looks like it will take another couple of weeks. I'm taking penvk 500 mg 4x daily and levaquin 500mg 1x. I'm also taking acidophilis to counteract any vaginal infection. :faint:I never realized so many people could get infected and am praying for all of us! I would like to know how you/doctor determine if your port is flipped. Did you feel it? Or did they try to give you a fill and nothing worked? Thanks for your help in advance. Jane

I would really like some information on how people's ports appear to them. My port is located midway between my belly button and breasts. When I lie down on my side, or sit forward it appears sunken in- about an inch - inch and a half. I'm wondering if this is impeding my healing. Although I am responding to the antiobiotis, I'm oozing constantly. Every time a scab forms, it oozes from underneath. Then the scab falls off in the shower. Thanks again for any help you may give me. Jane

No, nothing about Neosporin. CHit, I just put it on the red skin around the area because it's so inflamed. Guess I will wash it off. Thanks for your quick response. Jane

I saw the doctor today. I was given 500 mg of pen-vk 4x daily along with levoquin 1x daily. Hopefully, this will quell the infection. I was due to get my first fill on Monday, but that won't happen. If things go wrong, I'm told they will remove the port, wait until it heals, and then replace it. Makes me feel so frightened... But, I'm determined to think positive, along with drinking acidophilis to counteract the effects of the anitbiotics... Thanks for being here, I really need this place. Jane

Thanks for the help. I heard from the doctor and made an appointment for tomorrow. I'll let you know the result. Jane