mom2babyrose97

Please forgive me for copy and pasting this from another site I post on. I was referred here by someone at obesityhelp.com. I hope to find support and shared experiences on this site! Sorry this first post is SO long!! On day 7 post op 3 of my incisions started oozing Fluid. I went into the Dr. and he opened up my port incision so that the fluid would have somewhere to drain (a whole other story here. I had no idea what he was doing until it was done. Only that it hurt a tremendous amount). I now have a 'wound' about 3-4 inches across and maybe 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep. Seems huge in person. I have been packing my wound faithfully 2 times/day over the last 12 days. It actually began looking like it was starting to heal a little about 3 days ago and I've been VERY excited about that. Then 2 days ago I started hurting. REALLY hurting. Not the wound itself, but the area around it. I couldn't sit, stand, put my hands above my head, bend, NOTHING without hurting. Heck, it hurt bad just to pass gas! (sorry, TMI!) I called the Dr. and they told me to take Tylenol and apply wet heat 4 times/day. Well, yesterday morning it wasn't any better, and the swelling was obvious so I called again. They worked me in. First off, I told the Dr. that I like to be a part of my own medical care vs along for the ride. I feel like he should have talked to me more at my last appointment about what he was going to do, said things like 'this might hurt' (in warning), and just explained more to me about what was happening to my body. I had no idea how deep this thing was until I got home and changed the dressing the next day and I was shocked. SO... before I even let him look at it yesterday I told him how I felt. Told him the only thing I fear is ignorance, and I don't want to be ignorant when it comes to my own body. Told him I don't mind pain, but would like him to let me know BEFORE he starts cutting into me, that I'm going to feel some. KWIM? He was very receptive and apologized several times. Then he told me he was going to poke around a little and it might hurt. Well, he poked (with the long Q-tip thing) inside the wound and must have punctured through some of the new tissue and darned if a bunch of fluid didn't come pouring out again. I don't know if he was surprised, but I was. So, my pain must have been from a build up of fluid again, with nowhere to go. He laid me down again and told me he was going to reopen it. That the inside was kind of shaped like an hourglass b/c of all the new tissue inside, and he wanted more of a trough so it could drain better. In the end, I don't hurt too much anymore, which is great. I'm frustrated, b/c I was really thinking that I was doing well, when in actuality I still have fluid building up inside my abdomen. He was much more compassionate today though, and I feel more like it's a team effort to get me healed up vs me just being a chart or file. I don't know if it's a bad sign that even though he opened me up 2 weeks ago it's still building up, or if there was as much chance of that happening as not, KWIM? I just want to be better!!! Anyway, not looking for anything other than to vent, although if someone has been through this, your experience would be invaluable to me! Best case scenario, I heal up (although he said it will take weeks) worst case I end up having my port removed, let my body heal, and have a new port implanted in the future. Grim, grim, grim Thanks for listening! Erin

Who've had problems? It's just nice to know that you're not alone sometimes! Please email or respond to this thread. I've written about my experience in detail at the website listed in my siggy. Hoping I'm not alone. Erin

It's not 'common', but my 2 port infections consumed my whole band experience. I have written a very detailed (with current pics) journal of my experience if you follow the link in my siggy. Erin

Hello, I think I've seen you at the meetings before! I have a ton of clothes that I had folded and gotten ready to bring in before I ended up losing my band. I would still like to give them to people, but don't necessarily know that I belong at a Band support meeting when I ended up having to have mine removed. :cry Would you like me to drop them by your home? Thanks! Erin

I had that happen with my first wound. Actually, I don't know that it tunneled. New tissue grew too far up, closing over the top of a hole/tunnel. My Dr. had to re-cut through this tissue inside my wound 2 times b/c of this. The nursing service that comes to my house during the week sends a wound specialist every Friday to take care of me. His expertise has been wonderful to have and it seems that I have questions for him almost every week. He (and other nurses) have said that abdominal wounds just tend to take longer to heal. I know I'm just getting impatient, but I really am! I think it was easier to be on the wound vac with my first wound b/c there was a light at the end of the tunnel. A new port once my hole closed up. Now there's nothing to look forward to. No light, only weight gain :cry I know I will pull myself out of this, but it's been a hell of a long, trying almost 6 months. I never thought I would be here on my 6 month 'Band-anniversary'. I have a LOT of pictures on the OH website if you click on the link in my siggy, if anyone's interested. They're pretty graphic though, so consider yourself warned! I've gained 5 lbs in the last 6 weeks or so. I have just GOT to stop gaining! My Dr. prescribed Xenical last week to help me lose, but I haven't noticed anything yet (weight related anyway, BM's are another story!) I'm not eating like I used to, but still more than I did while banded. Hunger sucks!!! Anyone have any experience with Xenical (my Insurance doesn't cover it and it was $215 out of pocket :omg: ) or any other pill that seemed to help at all? Also, I know we've all dieted like crazy (and failed) or we wouldn't have had or be looking into surgery, but did anyone ever do something that really did work? Non surgical obviously. TIA!!!

A wound vac is literally a vacuum. Because my ports were infected, he wasn't able to just stitch them up and call them good. I had/have a big, deep, hole all the way to where the port was stitched in and where he removed all the infected tissue around it. My first one was like 4 inches deep and the 2nd was only a little over 2 inches. That's still a long way when you're watching something disappear into you! Anyway, they cut this foam stuff into the same rough dimensions as the hole and pack it into the hole using a Qtip. Then they attach a vacuum type thing on top. All of the drainage is sucked through the foam and into a canister through about 3-4 feet of tubing (which I keep shoved into my pocket). The vac itself weighs about 10 lbs and I'm just growing to loath it after 5 months of it!! I can't even get up to pee in the middle of the night without unplugging it from the wall and taking it with me. I asked my Dr. yesterday if I could just get rid of the vac and pack my wound. It's supposed to help wounds heal up to 1/3 faster than just packing, but at least for me it's still a very long, slow process. I just want to be able to move around freely again, even if I do have a hole, KWIM? Yes, I've been billed for the 3 follow-up surgeries. Actually, my Insurance has been billed. The wound vac, supplies, and nurses who come to my home 3X/week runs about $9000/month. With the 4 surgeries, labs, wound vac, etc etc my Insurance has been billed over $150,000 and counting:faint: I'm SO grateful for Insurance, and can't imagine where I would be if I DIDN'T have it!

I had a post op port infection and had my band removed on day 5 after I got my port. I was hospitalized and on IV antibiotics Sunday night, found out Monday morning that I would have surgery on Monday afternoon. It ended up being Monday night at around 7pm, so I ended up having to stay overnight. I think the reason that people 'bounced back' so quickly after having it removed is b/c you have nothing foreign anymore. No port pain, no stomach pain (at least I didn't) etc etc. Of course, after both of my port infection surgeries and band removal I ended up with big holes in my abdomen that I've had the wound vac on, so it's not like everything was miraculously better for me upon removal. First hole took 3 months on the vac and this one is a month and a half and counting. Second hole was on the opposite side of my abdomen and a much smaller hole, so I don't know why it's taking so darn long! The depth is almost the same as it was 6 weeks ago :welldone2:

I was told that I would still have some restriction for a while, b/c of scar tissue from the band, but I haven't noticed ANY restriction. I WISH I had some!!!

I have written on this site a few times, but am looking for support during this time of depression, frustration and defeat. In a nutshell, I was banded last September and only 7 short days after being banded I started having drainage from my port incision. The next day it was confirmed that my port area was infected. My Dr. cut open my port incision to allow the area to drain better (I packed it twice/day) and I was put on antibiobics. Three weeks later it was no better, and I had surgery to remove my port. Three VERY long months of using a wound vac 24/7 and having nurses come 3 times a week to treat me later, I was finally off the wound vac and my hole was closed!! This was on January 2nd of this year. January 11th I had a new port placed. January 15th my new port incision started draining and I was hospitalized. The next day my Dr. confirmed that my NEW port was infected and I had surgery (my 4th band related surgery in less than 5 months) to remove both the port as well as the band that same day.:faint: My Dr. said that he checked the band when he was replacing my 2nd port, and it looked 'prestine'. No errosion, or slippage. He said it looked perfect even as he was removing it. Of course, there is much more to the story, but I have journaled it all on the website at the bottom of my signature if you would really like to see exactly what took place during my band journey the last 5 months. I have many pictures too, so consider yourself warned. I am currently back on a wound vac :cry for this newest hole left by my port infection. Also, during this last surgery my Dr. (I had no idea he was going to do it) opened up my HEALED port scar and fixed it so that it wouldn't be such a big divot (which I could have cared less about). Nine days later, this new incision is still draining and I'm more than a little paranoid that it will become infected again and I might end up with multiple wound vac sites. God, I sure hope not! So, here I am. I have lost 46 lbs since September. It's not really been the result of the band though, as I've never had a port to get fills with and have had very little restriction during the entire 5 months. I am, however, deathly afraid of gaining back the weight I've gone through hell to lose. I would be SO happy if I could lose another 50 lbs, but right now I'm more concerned with not sabotaging myself and gaining weight back. We all know how easy it is to do! I feel very alone. I am not banded anymore, and feel uncomfortable visiting some of the message boards I have frequented for years. This is all so new still that it's hard for me to hear others' victories when I feel like I had just lost the battle. It took me 4 long years to be able to be banded, and I WAS banded for 5 months. It has consumed my life for almost 4 1/2 years and now I am left with nothing but scars and a wound vac. I hope this makes sense? I was very happy (although it makes me feel bad to even admit!) to see that this site has a forum for those of us who've had complications. They DO happen as much as people want to believe that the band is perfect and simple. Sorry this is so long, but as you might expect my emotions are running high. I have more to say, but will save it for another time. Thank you for your support! Erin

I wish she had told us if she was a diabetic. I have my own little list here to see if my dr. is right on some of his hunches on port infections and diabetics getting them more commonly Yes, I am a Diabetic, although it's diet controlled, and my AC1 is actually below 7 which it's my understanding technically makes me NOT Diabetic anymore. I test my sugars daily still, but they're all within normal range. I have been told that having Diabetes makes you heal more slowly, but not that it makes you more likely to suffer from an infection (unless it's a Diabetic ulcer or something similar). I tested positive for Staph during my port removals. My Mom is Diabetic and has suffered numerous foot/ulcer infections which eventually led to various foot amputations and finally a below the knee amputation. This surgery (Band) was one way for me to get healthy and NOT follow in her footsteps!! My Dr. told me that I was not more or less likely than any other patient to get a repeat infection, especially b/c he was placing the new port in a totally different area. He said I had the same chance as everyone else...which is minimal. I think less than 2%. I hope he wasn't misleading me?

Thank you guys so much for all of your responses. I have had an awful week. The 'Depression Demons' are coming on strong, and I haven't been able to work through it yet. Part of my problem is that I NEED to know that the worst is behind me...and I don't believe it really is yet. The nurse came to change the wound vac packing on Friday and the nurse before (on Wed) hadn't done everything right (kind of complicated so I'll spare you) and my skin around the 'hole' is blistered, red and raw. It's so bad that they couldn't even put the wound vac back on, so I'm packing it this weekend, which sucks b/c it still hurts so bad. With the wound vac once it's done it's done for a couple of days. Packing it twice/day hurts though. I don't remember the hole from my other port infection hurting this bad, even though it was a much bigger hole. Also, my incision (where the Dr. cut open the HEALED scar from my 1st port infection and tried to make it look better...which I didn't give a dang about and had no idea he was going to do until I woke up from surgery) has started draining pus. It's been draining for almost 2 weeks now, but it's always been a bloody type drainage. Now there's no blood, it's just yellow pus. I'm SO depressed about this. I don't know what he'll do. It he'll re open it and have me pack it, have another surgery where he can re open it and I'll have a 2nd wound vac site...I just don't know. I know this is pretty technical, but in the end 1)my 2nd port infection site doesn't look good and 2)the site that HAD been healed from my 1st port infection is infected again. As bad as it's been the last 5 months, I just want it to start getting better!!! I can't tell you how much all of your messages mean to me. When I'm feeling my lowest, I read them all...over and over and over. To have this bond with strangers is truly amazing, and is a source of inspiration to me. I do not feel strong right now. I feel as though I've been kicked in the stomach, and everytime I think it's going to be done I see the foot chamber back to kick again. Enough is enough!!! I'm ready to heal up and be 'normal' again, whatever that means. Thank you for caring!!!

I wish there WERE something to prevent them. During surgery when I was getting my 2nd port, I was told they did things to prevent infection above and beyond what they would normally have done. 4 days later, infection STILL set in. Not the best person to ask maybe, but would love to hear it if anyone has any ideas.

I am so sorry that you had to go thorough all of this. What does 'prestine' mean and why did he have to remove the band? I took prestine to mean that it looked perfect. Didn't look like there was, or had ever been infection by my band, no signs of erosion, no slippage...perfect. I had him remove the entire band. In my mind, the band does no good without a port to be able to do adjustments. You hear EVERYONE talk about finding the 'sweet spot' after 4-5 fills (usually). Well, without a port, there's no such thing. To remove a 2nd port implies that at some point I would have to have a 5th surgery to give me another new port, which would once again run the risk of infection. I've just gone through too much and my family is at the breaking point as well. I have 5 children and none of this has been fun for any of us. My youngest just turned 3 and my oldest is 15. They need me. They need me healthy, not battling infections and spending time in the hospital. My husband has had to take literally weeks off work to help me, and my insurance company has been billed over $150,000 for all of my surgeries, wound vac, specialized nursing visits etc, and I still have a wound vac (almost $9000/month). There comes a point when you just have to re-think what's important. While I wish with all my heart that the band had worked for me, MY reality is that it didn't. That for some reason it took 7 days the first time and only 4 days the 2nd, for an infection to form at my port site. How do I know it wouldn't have only taken 2 days with a 3rd port?! At first my Dr. didn't want to remove the band, but after thinking about it overnight and listening to my feelings about it, he agreed it was probably best. I am still grieving the loss though. Hope this makes sense?

] I don't know how common big problems are, but I've been struggling with an infection around my port area for over 3 months now (since day 7 post op). I've had a 2nd surgery to remove my port, and have had a wound vac and home nurses 3 times/week for over 5 weeks. Not the best way to start life as a bandster, but I'm sure hoping it gets better. I went into my Dr. last Thursday and got disappointing news. The nurses hadn't been sticking the foam in deep enough and I had new tissue grow OVER a large hollow area. It filled up with pus and became a problem. He had to re-cut through the tissue, and now I have a hole that's about 4 1/2 inches deep. He said it's possible that my tubing could have gotten contaminated from my infected port, and at some point if this doesn't heal, I might have to get my entire band removed. I certainly hope not. If I DO have to have it removed, I will not have another one placed. This last 3 months has just been too hard enotionally on my family and I. I have 3 children who don't understand why I would do this to myself, and 2 younger children who are afraid to hug me b/c they think they'll hurt me. I just want to be healthy...don't we all. Anyway, I've spoken to the director of the Home Health Company who takes care of the wound vac, and expressed my disappointment in basically losing 5 weeks of healing time b/c their nurses weren't doing my changes correctly. I don't think I'll have problems again. I really believe that when it all comes down to it, we are our own best advocates. Well, that's my story/update...and I'm stickin to it!! Thanks for reading if you still are. Erin

I do think it's true that no matter how much you research ANYTHING it's easy to get the idea in your head that the complications won't happen to YOU. I'm glad that you've researched enough to know what's best for you. I agree about the 'other' site (assuming we're all talking about the same one, although I could be way off). I get frustrated with a lot of them refusing to hear that things CAN go wrong, even when You have done everything right! I posted about getting my port removed (big deal to me) b/c of infection and received maybe 5-6 replies, but other people can post about a particular NSV and get 20+ posts. I think the support is there if you're doing well, but God forbid you have a problem. I'm hope that this next surgery will be the answer that you need. Erin

I'm feeling VERY good right now. I had my port removal surgery last Friday (due to infection), and the weekend was tough emotionally. I'll admit it. I was able to get my wound vac yesterday and am very grateful for all of my blessings today. I'm grateful to live in a time where the LapBand is even an option. I'm grateful to live in a country where it's available. I'm grateful to have such a great insurance company (Cigna sucked for us, but United Healthcare has been wonderful) that will allow me to have these much needed surgeries and pay 100% for all of the nurses I've had coming into my home taking care of my 'wound' infection. I'm grateful to live in a Country where I'm not going to DIE from complications of untreated Diabetes, or lack of antibiotics, or clean, sterile supplies to treat my infection b/c things like that are just not available! I'm SOOOO grateful that all of my Daycare parents (I run a daycare out of my home and currently have 6 little ones enrolled) are as wonderful as they are. Nobody has questioned my husband stepping in and helping me out, rather they have all asked if there's anything they can do to help me. I don't know, I'm just feeling blessed today, as wierd as that may sound considering my luck the last 5 weeks! I'm VERY grateful, even if it took a surgery, to be off my 3 week plateau. I've lost 6 more lbs since Friday. 2 more lbs and I will be down 25 lbs from before my band! Thank you guys for all of the support you have been, too. I really feel hopeful that this wound vac will help me heal up quickly, and I can get another port installed ASAP. My Dr. said he hopes to have me all healed up and happy (with a new port) by Christmas. Anyway, enough rambling, but sometimes it's pretty easy to vent, but not necessarily to take time and be grateful. Gosh I hope this is the beginning of good things for me! Erin

Well, so far so good all things being relative. Dr. said it was exactly like he thought it would be. He removed the port, and cleaned out the infected tissue. He did it open vs lap, so to say my wound is bigger than I expected is an understatement. I had a home nurse come out this morning and change my dressing for the first time since surgery. She pulled out almost 5 yards of packed gauze. I was overwhelmed and completely shocked as it just kept coming and coming out. For the first time since my original surgery, I broke down. I couldn't/can't fathom having a hole in my stomach that deep. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and can't wait to figure out what God's got planned for me to learn through all of this. I also got a fill of 1.5 cc's during surgery. It's more than I was thinking he would give me, but so far so good. I'm drinking straight liquids. I'll be getting my wound vac on Tuesday and will have nurses pack it in the meantime. Once again, I'm just hoping this is a road bump (or a fallen tree) vs the beginning of the end!! Not that I recommend it, but I was stuck at the same weight for about 3 weeks, and have finally lost 3 more lbs. I guess surgery will do that, huh?! LOL Trying to be optomistic. Anyway, thank you so much for all the support I've gotten from you guys. Lisa, I would love to see your pictures, if you can figure out where they are, and talk to you more about your wound too. Thanks again.

Those of us who have had port infections/revisions (red, swollen, infected, warm) have a good chance of eroding within two years of banding. Could be more, could be less, or you could get ultra-lucky. I'm practically counting on erosion (I feel the vibe.) I've decided against a new port, and I'll keep my band till I lose restriction. Loss of restriction is a warning sign of erosion. I'm expecting the worse. Let's hope I'm wrong. No worries, life goes on. Now's the time to focus on gaining control over my eating disorders. Can't tell you how depressed this paragraph made me with my recent medical complications. It just doesn't seem fair that those who have the most problems, and yet remain dedicated are the same ones who ultimately end up losing their bands!!! Please PM me if you get a chance. I don't know that there's ever a great time to reach me, but I would love to ask you a couple questions. BTW, Dr. Billy called me on Thursday before my surgery on Friday and talked to me for about 20 minutes. I was very comforted by his concern, and the answers that he gave me. Also, I know you gave me your phone number, but I don't know how to access old PM's, if you can. Thanks!! Erin

I'm having my port removed tomorrow due to an infection, but my Dr. said he could give me a fill during surgery and then cap off my tubing. I am VERY happy about this as I feel no restriction (have yet to have a fill) and haven't lost in about 2 1/2 weeks. This will hopefully give me a little bit of restriction while I'm healing and before I get my new port. That being said, if I happen to need an unfill my only option without a port is surgery again. Definitely don't want that to happen. My question is, about what percent of people end up needing an unfill? It seems to be pretty common...well, more common than a port infection anyway. Should I just trust that he knows what he's doing, and the ramifications of an unfill? Sometimes it seems that fills take a couple days to 'kick in'. Just want to know if I should worry or not. TIA!!! Erin

I don't know if you guys remember me or not, but I posted about my port problems about a week ago.Thank you for all of your wonderful responses. Just an update (and short re cap) and throwing myself a little pitty party. I'm VERY sad and feeling a little overwhelmed right now. I'll be 4 weeks post op tomorrow (Wed) and from day 7 on I've had problems with my port incision. I woke up day 7 with blood soaked through my pj's. Basically,my incision had gotten infected and the fluid was finding the easiest way out. The Dr. opened it up on day 8 so that fluid could have a place to drain (can you say ouch!!) I've been packing my 'wound' now (it started out about 3-4 inches long and maybe a couple inches deep when he first cut it open) for almost 3 weeks 2 times/day. I've been in pain pretty much the whole time (not the wound itself, but an area about 2-3 inches wide all around my incision), although the last 3 days I've felt relatively great, and was very hopeful that maybe I had turned the corner. I went in today and the Dr. pushed around on my stomach and pus started coming out. He said that I should be well past the infected stage now and just healing, but I'm obviously not. A little bit of good news though, I guess he can give me a fill during surgery Friday and then cap the end of the tube. I'm a little nervous about this b/c if it's too tight I can't have an unfill without surgery as I won't have a port for a while. I trust him, and hope that he can find the right fill level for me. He's going to have me use a wound vac which he said will help me heal faster than just packing my new wound. I've never used one before, and don't know what I'm in for, if anyone has any experience with this I would REALLY appreciate you sharing it with me. After this wound is healed, I'll have surgery to implant a new port. He said he hopes to have everything healed and me with a new port by Christmas. Seems SO far away, but I will do what I have to do. I don't mean to discourage any of you pre ops. There's just a limited audience that has any idea what I'm talking about IRL, so you guys get to hear it. Any advice or similar experiences would very much be appreciated. Thanks again. Erin

You are lucky to have a doc here. Hook me up with his number and give me a rating on him. I need a local guy! Actually, here's some info I found on obesityhelp.com. I've heard Dr. Fisher is an excellent surgeon (and he's been doing the lapband for at least 4 years) although his bedside manner isn't that great. I don't blame you for thinking twice about having another surgery in November. I'm not looking forward to mine either. Is there anyway to email each other without it going to the board? Not that I mind, but it would be nice to email as well. Thanks for everything, Lisa. Hope this copy and paste job works! Barry Fisher Las Vegas(702) 313-8446 Lap BandSurgical Weight Control Center 71 James D. AtkinsonLas Vegas(702) 313-8446 Lap BandSurgical Weight Control Center 13

Dr. Billy flat out REFUSED to give me even a drop of extra saline when he removed my last port. I practically begged, but that's why Billy has so many healthy Bandsters. WOW!!! You're a Dr. Billy Patient? I had my surgery scheduled with him in 5'02 and then found out I was pregnant 6 days before surgery!! By the time I had my baby and started reapplying for insurance approval, he was no longer contracted with my Insurance Company. I was VERY bummed, but Heather helped me choose my new Insurance Company and find Dr. Sasse in Reno. I'm not going to Mexico for surgery, I'm going to continue with Dr. Sasse. I have 5 children of my own and run a daycare out of my home so just having surgery in town is hard enough. You mentioned having your 'last port' removed. How many have you had removed?! I was told that just because my body responded this way this time, does NOT make me more at risk than anyone else when they put a new port in. Is that not your experience? The comments and info I've gotten from you guys has been tremendous. Thank you so much! I'm honestly more nervous about things after having READ it, but I appreciate it, LOL :ermm I know I'm not alone, even though most of you have never/will never have these particular problems. Thank you for continuing to be a great support. Also, I don't know how to 'pm'. I don't have a LOT of time during the day, but try to check back as often as I can. I hope I haven't offended anyone! Erin

Thank you guys for all of your replies. It is SO different talking to people who believe in the Band so much that you've had or will have it placed as well. Erin

You mentioned that 3 of your incisions were oozing and then later you discuss only one (which I assume is the port site) Where exactly is this Fluid coming out? ONe or more locations? Did your docs office give you antibiotics? On day 7 it was coming out of 3 different spots of my port incision. Dr.'s office told me it was normal and not to worry about it (yeah right!). Next morning, I woke up to blood soaked pj's (the top part) as I had covered the port incision with gauze but it started coming out of 2 other incisions as well. I don't know if we all have the same incisions, but it was the one just to the left of the port, and the one right above it. I pretty much demanded to come in at that point. My Dr, cut open my port incision and that is the one that is draining now. I've never had anything come out of the other incisions since day 8. Thing is, day 6 I was still sore, but everyday was better than the previous one. My incisions were healing beautifully and I definitely thought the worst was behind me. I know most of us don't have this happen and nobody stands around with their hand in the air begging for complications, but this reallly sucks. He put me on antibiotics on day 8, but not yesterday when he reopened the healed part of my 'wound'. I assume that he could tell if it was infected or not by looking at the fluid that came out. I have another appointment next week and will ask him then about culturing the fluid. I have 5 children of my own (2-15) and I run a fulltime daycare (6 children 2 and under) out of my home. Not that I'm invaluable, but it was hard enough having the first surgery, and the thought of 2 more (1 to take out the port, another to replace it) and who knows how much 'healing' time in between just bites! My Dr. said I am the first patient he's had this happen to. I was feeling optomistic until I saw all that fluid come out yesterday. Now I'm 2nd guessing everything. Maybe my body's just not meant to have the band?! :-( Erin