clg8579

Yup, just went through this - scared the hell out of me! All the glue came off my port incision on my 6th day and the port incision spread apart. Went to an urgent care cause I started leaking the same day. Was told to wash 3 times a day, keep dry and bandaged. No matter what I did it seemed my clothes kept irrating it and it wasn't getting any better. This past weekend I finally took the bandages off for good so it could get some air. I spent the entire weekend almost naked and it finally started drying up and closing nicely. I was on an antibotic though to make sure it wasn't infected. You'll need to watch it closely. Good luck Chris

ps sinderala, band leakage is common and in most cases I believe is a good thing. Keep it clean, dry and keep an eye on it to watch for infection.

DeLarla, you are such a sweetie - your posts have helped me alot! Yesterday, I finally quit bandaging my port incision because it didn't seem to be healing enough. I spent all day in my zip up robe with it unzipped so the incision could get air. This morning it looks MUCH better. I think I was keeping it too moist. Anyway, I'm glad you mentioned advil as I am confused about what we are supposed to use. Tylenol, advil, motrin, aleve, bayer???? My cardio wanted me to stop taking one of my medicines as an experiment. I have but now I'm getting headaches and I'm not sure what to take for them. Any advice? Chris

I'll Succeed, How did your surgery go with Dr. Pleatman? I was banded by Dr. Ortiz 5/26 but will be using Dr. Pleatman for aftercare. I called the office to arrange my first fill appt and they scheduled it for 6/29. That's only 5 weeks after surgery which makes me a little nervous. Has he mentioned if he does fills under fluoro? Hope everything went well! Chris

Hi Krystal, Just went through someting similar - Was banded on 5/26. 5 days later the pain on my left (my incision is on my left) was absolutely unbearable. I was ok to sit down but try standing and I would double over. Was petrified the tubing had wrapped around some organ or the port was pulling away from my skin because it hurt so bad. After many comments from this group I finally called doctor on Friday night (Dr Ortiz). He told me this is because of the muscle - it's not used to the foreign object. He suggested Advil, heating pad three times a day and very minor stretching exercises. Low and behold Saturday I was 98% better! Amazing!!!!! Other than a little soreness around the port incision things feel great and I am down 14 1/2 lbs in 12 days!!!!! Feel better soon Chris

Well, I sure screwed up. I did a ton of research on the procedure but neglected to research a local aftercare facility or doctor. Had the surgery done in Mexico on Thursday and now have a slight problem with my incision that needs looking after. Does anyone know of a Michigan doctor that will perform aftercare if you've had the surgery done in Mexico, preferrably in Grand Rapids or Holland? Thanks Chris

Thank you everyone for your responses. I have talked with Dr. Pleatman's office in Bloomfield Hills and they will provide aftercare for patients who have had surgery anywhere. None of the Grand Rapids doctors would as they have little experience. I truly appreciate all of your information. I'm on the way to recovery and feeling great! Chris

Thank you everyone for your responses - I can't tell you how much it meant to me to have you there! I did talk with Dr. Ortiz last night - thank goodness! I swear I love that man He calmed me right down. The leaking is normal and has just about stopped. He also told me the sharp stinging pain is from the muscle they sew the port tubing to. He knew exactly what I was talking about, he's had a number of patients go through it and he knew how to treat it right away. He said the muscle is just trying to get used to a foreign object and will eventually become similar to callused. Take advil, heating pad and slowly do little stretching exercises and it will be fine. I was so freaked out! I asked if he was sure the port wasn't separating from my skin (amazing what our imaginations do isn't it?). He said absolutely he was sure! So I did what he said and what do you know, I am feeling much better! Once I knew it wasn't life threatening ( ) I was able to relax a little and do what he said. It made perfect sense. Very little stinging now, with just a little tightness. Thank heaven for a doctor like Dr. Ortiz and a support group like this one! Chris

Thank you everyone for your responses. I did email Dr. Ortiz and am waiting for a response. The leakage isn't bad now but the burning/stinging is very bad. I'm wondering if perhaps the tubing is twisted or kinked as it feels like something is pulling the port from the inside. I'm ok when I sit down but as soon as I stand I almost double over. It eases if I take my left hand and hold up the lower part of my belly, and if I can stand it, stay upright for awhile and then the stinging goes away. Freaked myself out last night thinking I will have to go back to Mexico and have some type of surgery again. This morning I woke up feeling better but this afternoon it is back again big time. I finally got in touch with Dr. Pleatman's office and have appt set up for Tuesday. Karen at the doctor's office suggested I email him as well to see if he wants me to come to the hospital there. I think his office is about 2 hours away from me so not so bad. I'll keep you posted - thanks again for all of your help Chris

Holy smokes! You've certainly had enough stuff happen already! Thank you very much for the information. No, the incision is not red, hot or smelling bad. If I sit down and then stand it burns. After walking around for a little bit it will quit, until I sit down again and then stand up. But it burns/stings bad when I stand up so I bend over somewhat. Did you put anything on the incision before you rebandaged it? I put Neosporin on it but the urgent care doctor said not to, that he would put different stuff on it. But he didn't give me anything to bring home. I'm not feverish or nauseated just alittle frustrated. Thanks again

Mine too, started leaking 6 days after surgery. It's like a watery blood. It's not a lot but it stings too. That's the worst part of it. I spoke to the doctor that did the surgery and he suggested I have it looked at to make sure it wasn't infected. So I went to an urgent care place last night, got yelled at for not having a doctor lined up and was prescribed some antibotics. The nurse put a bandage on it and said it didn't look infected. How long did your wound leak? What did you do once it started? How bad is it if it gets infected? Mine is not tender to touch just the stinging is bugging the heck out of me. I'm such a baby when it comes to stuff like this Thanks for the welcome and response. I feel better knowing someone else has gone through this too. Chris

Thank you everyone - I will try the doctors listed below for aftercare. I did speak to the doctor in Mexico and he said it is probably ok but to have someone look at it to make sure it wasn't infected. It started leaking a little watery blood 6 days after surgery and it stings, but it's not tender to touch. I went to an urgent care place last night, got yelled at for not having an aftercare doctor, and he prescribed an antibotic. The nurse looked at it and said it didn't look infected to her. The stinging bothers me the most. Thanks again, Chris