Bruce120

I had an issue, which I've written about here, that the tubing of my port was sticking out of my stomach in an extreme fashion, so I had to have an additional procedure done to fix that. After the second procedure, which was 16 days ago, I started having very strong pain at the port site, which I didn't have after my initial lap band surgery. It's not a steady constant pain, but it hurts badly when I touch it or something bumps into it, lay in bed on my stomach or my right side, and when I make certain movements like bending etc. The pain is very strong and stinging, and it's unlike anything I've experienced after my first surgery. I can only sleep on my left side, otherwise the pain is unbearable. It hasn't gotten any better in the last two weeks, it's been the same level pain since the procedure. I saw my surgeon today, and he said that the pain isn't something out of the ordinary, and since he has had to reposition the port and had to resurture the port to the abdominal wall, and he claims he made it tighter this time so the tubing wouldn't come out of place again, he claims that as far as the port site is concerned, it's as if I've had lap band surgery all over again and the pain is normal. But I'm very skeptical of him, and I have had too many issues already since surgery. So my question is, if it's normal to experience sharp pains at the port site for a prolonged period of time after surgery? And is it normal to go a few weeks without any reduction in said pain?

No I don't have fever, and as mentioned in my post, I was at my doctors yesterday, and he flatly ruled out an infection. And I happen to agree with him on this, because it doesn't look infected, and the pain is more of a localized touch pain, than the general pain I felt when I had infections.

So I'm almost 8 weeks out of surgery, and almost 40 lbs down. But I've been having pain at my port site for the last 2-3 weeks. Some times it's bearable, while at other times it's just excruciating. I went to my doctor two weeks ago, he told me that it looks like the incision site is infected and he prescribed me antibiotic, which I've taken religiously for 10 days. The redness and swelling had gone down, and for a few days the pain was almost completely gone. But in the last few days the pain has returned in extreme fashion, to the degree that I can barely stand or walk! I'm going back to see my doctor tomorrow, but I would love to hear some insight and experience from the experts here in this site. The pain is very external, meaning, it's not some deep internal organ pain, but rather the pain is very close to the skin, it feels like the port itself is causing the pain. That's besides the problem that I have a huge lump at the site of the port, which my doctor said can not be fixed. He said that I didn't have enough belly fat to begin with where to hide the port. Anyway I hope those problems go away very soon, I can't afford being in pain any much longer.

Ok guys you asked for it... It looks awful on pictures and in real life. I always thought that after my surgery and weight loss I'll feel more confident at the pool, beach, Water park etc. Meanwhile with this bulge I feel much worse now. I'm embarrassed to go with a bathing suit in public. That's why I'm opting for another procedure.

You mean the bulge? Not really. My doc said it happens sometimes, could be one of the stitches got loose or something, but it's definitely something that's fixable, he says. I was wondering, if I can post a picture of the bulge on here, or would that be too gross? I really wonder what people would say to it.

Just to update you guys, I took cipro and flagyl for a week, and thank god the pain is completely gone, and the skin is looking much better. I was able to avoid having a ct scan and endoscopy. About the bulge at my port site, my surgeon said that I'll need an additional short procedure to reposition the tubing of the port, as that's what bulging out. So I guess I'll be going under the knife again pretty soon!

I've read up on CT scans, and it seems to be linked to an increased risk of cancer later on in life. I'm not so sure that I should go get it. I'm thinking to wait a few days to see if the antibiotics work or not. In all likelihood the pain is caused by the band, so it's not like I need a CT scan to rule out a tumor or anything. Why put myself through massive doses of radiation, if I know the root cause of the pain?

I have considered it, but in my area the wait at the emergency room can extend for hours upon hours. I'm hoping that till Monday morning the pain won't get any worse. The gastroenterologist prescribed me two very strong antibiotics, which I've already started to take, so if there is indeed a massive infection, hopefully it won't spread in those few days. But if the pain will get any worse, I'll definitely consider going to the ER. It just becomes unbearable at times!

Now I'm really concerned. My surgeon sent me to a gastroenterologist, and he felt the area and immediately said that something feels and looks very wrong. He sent me to get a CT Scan with contrast first thing Monday morning. He sounded very concerned. It looked like he didn't wanna mention anything scary, but he said he can feel a hard mass that doesn't belong there, and is suspecting a massive infection caused by the port. The pain is getting stronger and stronger, and I'M FREAKING OUT!!

Thanks for the reply man. It doesn't really dim the success, 40 lbs is still 40 lbs. But it sure does put a damper on the euphoria I would be feeling otherwise based on my success. Just to update, I've seen my doctor today, and he took the matter very seriously. He sent me to get an endoscopy and a sonogram to make sure there's nothing going on internally. I'm so hoping to clear this mess up very soon, so that I can focus and enjoy my weight loss.

Thanks y'all for the replies, it doesn't seem to be infected and there isn't any puss coming out. Yet in my eyes it looks very similar to a cut that requires stitches. It's hard for me to explain, but basically the two sides of the cuts, i.e. the two pieces of skin, seem to be very far apart. It's hard for me to imagine how they will magically get back together without medical intervention. I wish I could post a picture, but that would be gross. I'll definitely try to squeeze in to my surgeon's schedule.

Hi guys. I'm doing great thank god, lost almost 30 pounds already and feeling healthier than ever. One thing, the biggest incision on my stomach isn't healing properly. One side of the nearly two inch cut is closing up as expected, but the side is really an open wound. The two flaps of skin are very much separated, and it's hard for me to imagine it healing properly by itself. Now normally I would go back to my surgeon, but he only sees patients once a week and it's an extremely long wait to see him. So my question is should I go to a general doctor and make stitches if he recommends it? Is it a common thing to require post op stitches on any of the incisions? Thanks in advance.

So this has been happening on and off since I started the liquid diet, whereas I'm struggling to take a deep satisfying breath. I've brushed it of as nothing and as a possible minor side effect of not eating. But now it came back in a terrible fashion, I've been up almost the whole night tossing and turning struggling to get a good deep breath. As I've said my surgery is today 12:00 PM, and I really don't know what to do. Should I tell my surgeon about it? I'm afraid he'll push off the surgery, and my whole two weeks of liquid misery will have been in vain. Should I not tell him? Who knows what might happen during surgery! Please help me, I'm lost!

As you can see I'm getting banded on Monday, so it's a little odd to be asking this question now, but it's really something that I could never wrap my head around. I never clearly understood how exactly the band will work. I've heard and read hundred times how it works, but I could never really understand the next point. I know that a small pouch is created, and it can only hold around 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food depending on the fill level of the band. But other than that I'm not quite sure how it works. Will all my meals from now on consist from only a quarter to a half a cup of food, and then I'll feel full? If so, why all the emphasis on eating slow and chewing well? I might as well gobble up half a cup of food, get full and finished. If I have to eat slow in order to give food from inside the pouch time to go into the larger stomach (as one doctor put it to me), then what did I accomplish with the band? Hypothetically I can eat the same amounts as before simply by eating slower and giving the food time to move out of the pouch. Again, my question is, will my meals only be as large as my pouch is, and in that case I wonder why I must eat slow and chew well, or will my meals be bigger than the size of the pouch, and in that case I wonder how exactly the band will make me eat less, if I can simply eat slower and give the food time to move out of the pouch and continue to eat?

Thanks Lisa. This is the best explanation of how the band works that I've read to date! Great job!

I'm from Brooklyn, banded 7/14/2014. Looking for some support buddies to chat or meet with.

I have the same issue. My port bulges out quite a bit, I would say almost half an inch. I can feel it easily and clearly see it. I can even see the thin wire trailing away from it toward the band. I'm only a few days post op, so please tell me that this is normal, and that it'll eventually heal! It's getting me really concerned.

I was banded the same time as you, and I'm feeling much better already. I'm easily gulping down the protein shakes, warm tea, plus I'm taking the (chewable) vitamins as directed by my nutritionist. I still have a little bit of pain, especially when I move around in bed, or try to get up from the recliner etc. but overall the pain is much better and I'm feeling good, plus the weight keeps on coming off! So I just wanna tell you to hang in there, and keep strong! There are much better days ahead, and I'm sure one day we'll all be very glad that we did this!

I find it very interesting that my own surgeon would tell me something that is obsolete and not used anymore. Could it possibly be that he's still doing it the old fashioned way, and I'm actually going to have more risks than all of you here? I mean, this stuff just baffles me!

I had my surgery on the 14th too. Seems to be an inordinate amount of members here that were banded on the 14th! I wish we can all form a BOND and keep in touch and support each other. I'm having a lot of pain and discomfort as well, hope it goes away soon.

I asked my surgeon prior to surgery how he does it, and how the band will work on me, and he distinctly told me that the band will create a small 4-6 oz. pouch, and once that pouch fills up, my meal is done. In essence this means that I can only eat in one meal, the amount of food that fits in to the pouch. This is obviously completely different than what the doctor here says in the videos. My surgeon added, that there's only one way to do it and everybody does it this way, so now I'm really, really confused.

I had my band placed two days ago, not in May. The port is definitely placed directly under the skin, since I can easily feel it and clearly see its shape. I just thought that this is normal right after surgery, and it will eventually stabilize.

On a side note, is it normal for the port to stick out quite a bit after surgery? I could literally see the entire shape of the port, and completely feel it with my hand. It sticks out like a sore thumb on my stomach. I just hope that it's normal, and it'll get better.

I had the surgery the same exact time as you, and the gas pain is intolerable for me as well. I tried walikng, gas-x, and a heating pad but they only help so much. For me the worst pain is around the neck area and the abdominal area. Besides I have terrible pain in the incision areas and the general surgery area which I'm not sure if it's gas or just regular post-op pains.

Thanks for your interest and concern. I'm OK for the most part, I went home this morning. Just going through the usual 2-3 days of incision pain, gas pain etc. I found that laying on a recliner instead of laying in bed helps tremendously with the pain. As well as a heating pad helps a lot, like many have mentioned here, plus the pain killers my doc prescribed me. All in all I guess I'm going relatively well being only one day removed from surgery.