Cannot feel port and first fill is in less than a week!

[cynpatt 2]

I am five and a half weeks post surgery and still cannot feel my port (at least I don't think that I can). I am having my first fill Thursday and am worried. Anyone else had a fill when they personally cannot feel their port?

Surgery 3/5/10 350lb

Current 325lb

First Fill 3/15/10

[Teacher07 3]

Your doctor is trained to feel your port. They have many tricks moving you around to feel your port. Trust me you will feel it in time.

[Manda87 3]

I don't think you're supposed to feel your port. I'm sure your doctor knows where it is at.

[NewYearNewMe2010 0]

I am 3 months post op, I have had 3 fills, & I still can't feel my port. I know about where it is because I have seen the doctor fill it but I can't feel it at all. I don't really think you are supposed to-

[Journey482 0]

I'm about four weeks out from banding, had my first postop check at two weeks. A few days before I went for that visit, I developed this really hard bulge right above my belly button. I had an open cholecystectomy in my early 20s, and the port incision was over that incision, so I was really afraid I was getting a hernia. When I got to the doctor's office, he said I was feeling the port. I got a fill that day and he found it with no problem (although I had a couple of coughing fits, he said they actually helped push he port up into his hand; no clue where they came from).

Anyway, I think your doctor will probably be able to find it, and worst case scenario is that you might have to have your port filled with the help of fluoro. The doc will find it, don't worry!! Might be a little more trouble for you, but worth it in the long run!

[Ravyn 0]

I don't want to feel my port. I'm hoping that I will never feel it and never see it, even when I weigh 127 pounds and I'm in a size 4 jean. The point is to keep it hidden, right?? Please tell me that most people can't see their port. I wanna wear my bikini again! I love two pieces and the last time I wore one was in 2005. No darn PORTs going to keep me out of my two piece!!

LOL! Good luck and I hope everything goes well.:thumbup:

[NurseShay 24]

You are actually not suppose to be able to easily feel your port. Its supposed to be completely under your fat tissue & jus beneath the muscle. If you've got a band its likely you've got a bit of belly fat too so feeling your port should be pretty hard to the untrained touch! You may never feel your port until you're at the ideal body weight for your height & that's actually quite thin! In which case when it pokes out visibly or uncomfortably you'd likely get a port revision and have a 'low profile' port implanted in a more meaty area so that you will once again be unable to feel your port. As a nurse most of my patients can't fathom how I find a good vein for an IV or catheterize someone, some people can't even find their own pulse. But your doctors done this many times before he's trained to use palpation techniques to locate things underneath the surface so you'll be alright don't worry! Congrats on your successful surgery!

[patsal 1]

Ok I can totally feel my port when I am standing and laying down, I can't feel it if I am seated or scrunched up. I cannot, however see it at all.

[BetsyB 9]

Don't worry! You don't need to be able to feel it! The person who does your fill will have no problem locating it.

A previous poster stated that you're not supposed to be able to feel it. That's not quite accurate. Many of us can and do. Sometimes, this doesn't happen until we've lost a bit of weight--but sometimes it's palpable right from the outset. (I'm not posting this to be snarky or to correct the previous poster; I just don't want people who can feel theirs to worry something is wrong!)

It's located on, not under the abdominal wall, just beneath the skin. As subcutaneous fat is lost, it will likely become easier for you to find.

The person who does your fills will know just where to look and how to find it--it will be just fine :thumbup:

[jenpen2 0]

Okay folks, I have an opposite question then, is it normal to be able to feel your port? I was banded on 4/12 and am healing up nicely. However, when I press on the incision area I can feel the port. I can't see it or anything and it doesn't bug me when I bend around, but I definitely know it is there when poking at it. How are others with their ports?

[Manda87 3]

Okay folks, I have an opposite question then, is it normal to be able to feel your port? I was banded on 4/12 and am healing up nicely. However, when I press on the incision area I can feel the port. I can't see it or anything and it doesn't bug me when I bend around, but I definitely know it is there when poking at it. How are others with their ports?

If you are poking exactly on the incision site of the port, then you aren't exactly poking the port. The port is off to the side. For example, my port is above and a little to the right of the actual incision site. I can feel my port when I go searching for it. As you lose more weight, you can feel it even more.

[BetsyB 9]

Yes, it's normal to feel it.

And depending on your surgeon's placement, it really may be just under the incision. The upper edge of mine aligns with the incision.