Summer87

To give some history, Thursday the 6th I ended up in the ER when my surgeon got very concerned, because I called and told him that there was a large red circle around the port area, and the area was very hard and swollen. At the ER I had a CT scan and one round of IV antibiotics. No need to admit me at this point (so they thought), I was sent home on Bactrin Antibiotic for Cellulitis of the abdominal wall. Over the weekend I felt worse as if I was fighting a bad case of the flu. I went back to my surgeons office Monday the 10th, as the infection in the incision and port area did not get clear up while on the Bactrin antibiotic. By the 10th I had started to run a low temperature, and the redness on my stomach was spreading, and very hot to the touch. I also felt very sick like I had the flu and had chills. As I mentioned last week I feared this may be a port infection or even worse, however, they kept sending me home on antibiotics, pain killers, and told me at one point it was Hematoma! When I arrived at his office Monday the 10th he took one look at the incision area and admitted me directly to the hospital where I stayed for five days. It was a very scary, painful and depressing to be in the hospital and fighting this infection. I ran high fevers for two days, and was nauseated from the Clindomyicin & Vagomyicin antibotic that I was given via IV. That stuff burns like heck through your veins. I had a 2nd CT scan which revealed that the port did not appear to be infected, however, the infection is right near the port. AT one point the hospital infection disease specialist got involved because they were perplexed at what kind of infection? The surgeon also aspirated the site twice, and used local thank goodness! My surgeon was amazed how the port so far looks good. I was discharged a few hours ago on the same Antibiotics by mouth, and told return to his office Monday am. The mystery here is I am 8 weeks post, and had no issues with my incision or port, never had a fill, and had a simple recovery! I saw my surgeon Monday and he told me there is not much more they can do, other then put me back in the hospital for more IV antibiotics, however, he told me the port has to come out. I am not getting better and it is to risky to allow the infection to remain in my body. They are still perplexed as to how I got an infection because the cultures taken from the Fluid in my incision did not detect any infection. They are thinking the infection must be hiding down in the port somewhere! The port removal surgery went ok yesterday.... a bitter sweet experience. Yesterday I felt pretty depressed about being sick and then having the port removed. Good news is the surgery was about 30 minutes. I am in a lot more sore then from the initial surgery, and have to take pain medication every four hours. On one hand I am relieved that they got the infection out. I can feel the difference all ready because I can breath easier, and no longer feel feverish or pain internally. On the other hand I feel really down because it will be three-four months before they can try a new port. They sent the old port to the lab to get a culture because they still do not know what kind of infection. I do not mean to sound superficial, however, I am afraid of gaining back the 20 pounds I have lost. I feel like an emotional wreck right now, and probably drove my husband crazy yesterday because I cried like a baby when they told me the port has to come out. I think everything is catching up with me right now being sick, loosing the port and the surgery yesterday has taken a toll on me. I am trying to keep things in perspective, however, I feel down because I want to experience the band, and continue the journey. I am thinking what if my body has a reaction again, and I get an infection with the new port? Can anyone share their similar experiences? :help:

Anyone had surgery performed by these surgeons?

Who had port removal surgery, due to a complication, and eventually port replacement surgery? As some may know from my previous thread, I had my port removed at nine weeks post op after suffering from a nasty infection that put me in the hospital for a week. I am healed from the port removal surgery which occurred in Dec. 07, and scheduled for port replacement surgery March 12th. I am looking forward to finally having a port, and feeling some restriction! It has been totally will power since my initial band surgery in Oct. 07. Whew:mellow: I did not expect all this to happen but at least I am healthy and healed from the infection. If you experienced port replacement surgery do you have any suggestions or issues you could share with me? My surgery is going to be outpatient under general anesthesia, and my surgeon is placing the new port through one of the old incisions from the initial band surgery. He does not want to place a new port in the same place the old port was because of the risk of the infection developing again. How long was your recovery? and did anyone develop an infection after port replacement and or a complication again?

Thanks. I am very hopeful that the port replacement surgery will go well. I believe I will be fine..sometimes these things happen but it does not mean the band is not going to work...just a little glich in the process!

Thanks for your encouragement! Can I ask what low profile port is?

Will power will power that is all it has been since my port removal surgery! It has been very hard! I am looking forward to the port replacement in March. Surgeon said that he may add some saline during the surgery to give me some restriction. I am hoping that it all works out this time!

Yes I am relieved...how are you doing with the band and your fills? I am assuming your infection is still all cleared up?

Helllo all, Good news in my case...I just got confirmation that my port replacement surgery is March 12th! My port was removed Dec. 07 due to the infection which spread to the port area. My orginal band surgery was Oct. 24th and this has been a wild ride for me...I did not expect complications, however, like many things in life sometimes things happend beyond our control. I am blessed and happy to be among the healthy right now! Finally I will have a port and will know what real restriction feels like..

I have not seen any statistical data or studies soley on African Americans and the band. Maybe if you contact a African American bariatric surgeon...or practice. I attended Howard and I know Howard University Hospital spearheads a lot of medical research. For your leisure check out Ebony magazine (Nov. 07 issue with Alicia Keys on the cover) there is an interesting article on African Americans, and weight loss surgery. They profile African Americans who chose Weight Loss Surgery in their battle with obestiy, and it includes the band.

Hi, I had band surgery 10-24-07, and had no issues until 8 weeks post op when I developed an infection in the port area. My symptoms started out just like yours, and they got worse. I was on antibiotics by mouth for a few days, and the swelling/pain increased, and the red circle around my port area grew larger. After three days on antibiotics my fever spiked to 103.4. I was admitted to the hospital for a week on IV antibiotics, and then they eventually had to remove my port. My port was removed Dec. 17th, and the plan is to have it replaced in March. Do not panic will be ok....just get attention quickly. Like with any surgery infections can occur. Please let us know how are you doing.

I had lap band surgery Oct. 24th 07 and was fine no issues. Then on December 3rd right before I was to receive my first fill I developed a very bad infection in the port area. My port area and incision area were swollen, red, hot to the touch, and it hurt like heck! I had chills and fevers. After two ER visits, antibiotics by mouth, a CT Scan and high fevers I was hospitalized for a week and received very strong IV antibiotics. 24 hours after being discharged with antibiotics by mouth from the hospital my fever spiked again to 103.3, and I was back in the hospital. Since the infection did not go away after IV antibiotics my surgeon told me the port would have to come out. They did not want to remove the port, however, they did everything they could to treat the infection first. My infection was a general infection that happened to be in the port area, not a port infection. Lab tests indicated the port itself was not infected. Infection is one of the risk associated with any surgery. Two days later on December 18th I had port removal surgery. Due to the infection they could not suture the incision closed so I had an open wound. (yuck kind of gross looking). I found port removal surgery more painful then the lap band surgery! I was out from work again for two and half weeks, however, the infection cleared up. At that point I did not care whether I had a port or not I was just relieved to not feel sick. My surgeon plans to replace the port in early March and we will try this again! :welldoneclap: So yes infection is a small complication rate, however, it happens and it is part of the risk we take. It sounds like y our surgeon is doing a good job in taking care of you. Good luck and keep us posted!

My surgery was Oct. 24th, and I never got a period for October. Period came mid November and it was horrible. Very painful. I then I had a second surgery December 18th to remove my port due to serious infection and again no period came for December. I was told that surgery can throw your body off and affect your menstrual cycle.

I hope you feel better soon and I am sorry you are going through this. I had an infection two weeks ago and was hospitalized on IV antibiotics. Although I do not have the same infection, the infection disease specialist was consulted while I was in the hospital to find out what kind of the infection and what medicines I should be taking. So for you to consult with infection disease I think is a smart idea.

I am learning that infections with the band are not very uncommon as several people I have had them on this site. I choose the lap band due to the low complication rate versus the bypass! I guess we are the low percentage who have gotten infections! My wound is open is also, however, I did not have to go to a wound clinic they just checked it every week and I wore gauze over it. They closed it a bit last week with steri strips. My cultures tested negative for staph infection so that is probably why. I plan to return to work on Jan. 3rd which is almost a month since this whole ordeal started. I am terrified of getting a new port as I have never been this sick in my life. My fear is if mine was an allergic reaction that I will get sick again or get infected again. However, I have come this far and feel I should at least try in three months to have the port replaced or else I have to have the band removed and say goodbye to the whole the thing! How are U doing? Are you still hospitalized? Did they tell you how you got staph?

How was the surgery and recovery for you after you had your port replaced? Did you have your band replaced or just your port? Glad to learn you are ok..

I am learning that infections with the band are not very uncommon as several people I have had them on this site. I choose the lap band due to the low complication rate versus the bypass! I guess we are the low percentage who have gotten infections! My wound is open is also, however, I did not have to go to a wound clinic they just checked it every week and I wore gauze over it. They closed it a bit last week with steri strips. My cultures tested negative for staph infection so that is probably why. I plan to return to work on Jan. 3rd which is almost a month since this whole ordeal started. I am terrified of getting a new port as I have never been this sick in my life. My fear is if mine was an allergic reaction that I will get sick again or get infected again. However, I have come this far and feel I should at least try in three months to have the port replaced or else I have to have the band removed and say goodbye to the whole the thing! How are U doing? Are you still hospitalized? Did they tell you how you got staph?

All of my fears were confirmed!!!! They would listen to me...I told the ER doc and the surgeon twice that something was wrong! :think I ended going back to my surgeons office Monday morn. as the infection in the incision and port area did not get clear up while on the Bactrin antibiotic. By Monday I started to run a temperature, and the redness on my stomach was spreading and very hot to the touch. As I mentioned last week I feared this may be a port infection or even worse, however, they kept sending me home on antibiotics, pain killers, and told me at one point it was Hematoma! When I arrived at his office Monday the 10th he took one look at the incision area and admitted me directly to the hospital where I have been for five days! It was a very scary, painful and depressing to be in the hospital and fighting this infection. :whoo: I ran high fevers for two days, and was nauseated from the Clindomyicin & Vagomyicin antibotic that I was given via IV. That stuff burns like heck through your veins. The areas where I had the IV really hurt today and one forearm is swollen from the IV. They had to start IV lines three times at three different sites because eventually your veins get weak. I had a 2nd CT scan which revealed that the port did not appears to be infected, however, the infection is right near the port. AT one point the hospital infection disease specialist got involved because they were perplexed at what kind of infection? The surgeon also aspirated the site twice, and used local thank goodness!:sick My surgeon was amazed that the port so far looks good. I was discharged a few hours ago on the same Antibiotics by mouth, and told return to his office Monday am. If this all clears up then the port is saved if not they may have to remove the port. I am trying to stay positive, however, after this hospital stay, and fighting the infection now for two weeks, I am wiped out emotionally and physically. :bored Hopefully this will clear up for good. The mystery here is I am 8 weeks post, and had no issues with my incision or port, never had a fill, and had a simple recovery! All I know Is I am going to get good nights rest, and it was so great to feel the sunshine on my face and breath fresh air when I left the hospital!!

:help:I am five weeks post op and never had any pain or issues in my port area until this week. The port area is hot to the touch, a little swelling and it is sore and tender. I feel pain when I try to move in bed or sit up. When I bend over I feel pain in the port area and it hurts when I cough. I also feel pain in the areas surrounding the port. I never had these issues earlier in my post op...... No fever, however, I have slight chills... Anyone else experience this? Or maybe I did something to the port?:girl_hug:

Yes I am glad that it has been addressed, I do wish my surgeon had taken the shorter route for me and just prescribed antibiotics just in case on Monday when I pointed the out to him. Instead he waited until it was serious serious and sent me to the ER which is a 50.00 copay, I missed a half of day of work and spend 9 nine hours in the ER! Are you doing now?

:help:Infection In Port Area Nine Hour ER Visit! [Edit Post] I am truly surprised and a little discouraged. On Monday I went to see my surgeon because all ofa sudden my port area, and the skin around it was very hot to the touch, painful, swollen and there were red streaks. The pain was tolerable, however, this had been going on for a week and I had the chills!! I never had any issues with my port or incision, and barely noticed the port until last week when this pain started. I noticed it hurt in the port area to sit up and bend over or turn in bed. Dr. Tran told me not worry that it looked like Hematoma under the skin which is a pool of blood/ Fluid that can occur after surgery. I asked if I needed medication and he said no. I was not satisfied, however, left the office feeling he must be right, and that I over reacted. Thursday I woke up and I knew something was not right. My port area was enlarged and hard like a golf ball sticking out, more swollen, and the redness had spread into a huge circle. Tylenol was no longer working anymore for the pain so I called my surgeon on Thursday first thing in the am. Dr. Tran was in surgery so he did not get out into 2 and did not call me back until 4:00! Dr. Tran instructed me to go to the ER at Potomac ASAP that night (he met me there), and the ER Doc confirmed I had an infection. I was at the ER for nine hours, (all night until 5 AM) and put on an IV Antibiotic. My husband slept in the chair and to make it worse it was his birthday! A CT scan confirmed that the infection had not spread deep into my stomach, and that the infection was only under the skin area. Confirmed diagnosis is Cellulitis. ER doc said this is serious if not treated aggressively. So I was sent home on Bactrin antibiotic, and Vicodin for pain. All weekend I have felt like I have the flu and just really wiped out. Not much improvement, although the redness has gone down a bit I still feel pain, and the swelling has not changed much. I still have like an enlarged golf ball in my port area. I really need to listen to my body, and be assertive about this...surgeons can be egotistical, and may not hear you the first time when you say something is wrong!!! I am hoping this clears up very soon. I am fearful this might affect my port, and I am trying to stay positive. I was really looking forward to a first fill tomorrow, however, this may not happen due to the infection. My question is how did I get an infection seven weeks after surgery!#$?

Infection In Port Area Nine Hour ER Visit! [Edit Post] I am truly surprised and a little discouraged. On Monday I went to see my surgeon because all ofa sudden my port area, and the skin around it was very hot to the touch, painful, swollen and there were red streaks. The pain was tolerable, however, this had been going on for a week and I had the chills!! I never had any issues with my port or incision, and barely noticed the port until last week when this pain started. I noticed it hurt in the port area to sit up and bend over or turn in bed. Dr. Tran told me not worry that it looked like Hematoma under the skin which is a pool of blood/ Fluid that can occur after surgery. I asked if I needed medication and he said no. I was not satisfied, however, left the office feeling he must be right, and that I over reacted. Thursday I woke up and I knew something was not right. My port area was enlarged and hard like a golf ball sticking out, more swollen, and the redness had spread into a huge circle. Tylenol was no longer working anymore for the pain so I called my surgeon on Thursday first thing in the am. Dr. Tran was in surgery so he did not get out into 2 and did not call me back until 4:00! Dr. Tran instructed me to go to the ER at Potomac ASAP that night (he met me there), and the ER Doc confirmed I had an infection. I was at the ER for nine hours, (all night until 5 AM) and put on an IV Antibiotic. My husband slept in the chair and to make it worse it was his birthday! A CT scan confirmed that the infection had not spread deep into my stomach, and that the infection was only under the skin area. Confirmed diagnosis is Cellulitis. ER doc said this is serious if not treated aggressively. So I was sent home on Bactrin antibiotic, and Vicodin for pain. All weekend I have felt like I have the flu and just really wiped out. Not much improvement, although the redness has gone down a bit I still feel pain, and the swelling has not changed much. I still have like an enlarged golf ball in my port area. I really need to listen to my body, and be assertive about this...surgeons can be egotistical, and may not hear you the first time when you say something is wrong!!! I am hoping this clears up very soon. I am fearful this might affect my port, and I am trying to stay positive. I was really looking forward to a first fill tomorrow, however, this may not happen due to the infection. My question is how did I get an infection seven weeks after surgery!#$?

Hello, I had my surgery October 24th, and I am not scheduled for my first fill on 12-27! My surgeon likes patients to wait about eight weeks until the first fill. I am getting hungrier each day. I lost 15 pounds since the surgery, and worried I am will gain the weight back before the fill. Anyone else waiting for the first fill and getting hungrier each day and able to eat larger quantities of food!:whoo:

What your first symptoms of a port infection? I was banded five weeks ago and had have had no complications. Although I have no drainage, fever or extreme pain. My port is now very sore, tender and warm to the touch. Around the port area I have a small red blotch on top of the skin that was not there before and the area is also very sore to the touch. These symptoms are all new....I do not want to go the ER it is 50 bucks co pay...and in this area the ER means waiting for five hours. I am thinking to wait until Monday AM to call surgeon? I also took Tylenol last night, however, no change. I

I know it is hard hang in there and we can do it! I have discovered Fiber One Cereal. At Breakfast I have one egg and a half cup of Fiber One cereal with skim milk and splenda. I found that fiber and Protein will hold me longer...I try to fill up on protein and soft steamed veggies. This is a bit step for me...before surgery I hit McDonalds in the am on my way to work and had the Deluxe Breakfast.

I got a new appointment December 10th!! Good idea..