Port Pain

[MollyRN 28]

Hi - I have intermittent, rather sharp port pain. This is not only when I am moving around, but I could be lying down and it happens. I am about 17 days out from surgery. Is this normal?

[luv2eat 11]

I noticed we were banded the same day and I had to respond to this post with no help but a big "me too"! I feel like the port pain is worse the anything else I have had to deal with this far. I think it was greatly under-explained how bad it would hurt. Mine hurts all the time. It will even wake me up at night because the shooting pain is so bad.

I have no advice and maybe we should both call our doctor but I am personally going to wait until my fill (Aug 31st) and see if it gets better. hopefully, for both of us, it is still our bodies getting use to having a foreign body in it and it will soon get better.

good luck!

[nannaof10 0]

I had my surgery on july 27th. I dont have port pain unles I turn a certian way , but it is sore. My fill date isnt until Sept 23..seems like a long time..I have noticed most are being done within 6 to 7n weeks post op..???:thumbup:

[MollyRN 28]

I noticed we were banded the same day and I had to respond to this post with no help but a big "me too"! I feel like the port pain is worse the anything else I have had to deal with this far. I think it was greatly under-explained how bad it would hurt. Mine hurts all the time. It will even wake me up at night because the shooting pain is so bad.

I have no advice and maybe we should both call our doctor but I am personally going to wait until my fill (Aug 31st) and see if it gets better. hopefully, for both of us, it is still our bodies getting use to having a foreign body in it and it will soon get better.

good luck!

CHEERS JULY 26TH!! Can you believe that it was only 2.5 weeks ago...feels like ages to me. I go in next week for my first fill - my doc does it at 4 weeks. I will ask then - but definitely I feel like it was worse yesterday and today than it has been. And you are right, no one told me it would hurt...:thumbup:

[2beskinny 4]

I still have port pain, too. It's pretty minimal, but kinda always there. Occassionally, I feel a "burning" like sensation in that area, but not really a sharp stabbing pain. I think it's just "settling in" sensations that we are having. I called my doc's office cuz I want to play golf tomorrow (a little early) as they initially told me to wait 4 weeks. The CNP said it would be fine, but that my port area may feel a bit sore afterwards. She suggested taking Aleve if I felt anything in that area. I would try going ahead and taking some Aleve if the pain is getting to you. I do think it's all quite normal, though! I, however, do still get the stabbing shoulder pain:mad:. I only feel it about 1x a day now and it does not wake me up anymore thankfully :thumbup:

[reverie 49]

It's very common and it'll go away within a few weeks. Keep in mind the port was sewn to your muscle. There's going to be some pain/discomfort as your body adjusts to the new "thing" in your body.

[Kellybean77 0]

I am six weeks out and just last week my port pain starting subsiding (thank God) it was so bad for a while I had a CT done because I thought something was seriously wrong!!! I think I was being hypersensitive!! I had my first fill on this past Monday and things are going okay for me…I’m hesitant on going out of my comfort zone with eating though.

[MollyRN 28]

I am six weeks out and just last week my port pain starting subsiding (thank God) it was so bad for a while I had a CT done because I thought something was seriously wrong!!! I think I was being hypersensitive!! I had my first fill on this past Monday and things are going okay for me…I’m hesitant on going out of my comfort zone with eating though.

Kelly - did getting the fill make your port hurt at all? That's kind of one of my fears - it already bothers me and in a week they are going to mess with it??

[Kellybean77 0]

Honestly I was really worried about it too (hurting after) not at all!!!!!!!!! I thought it would never go away (the pain) which made me have doubts about my choice of having surgery! Things are going better and I will get use to this. Good luck sweetie!!

My surgeon has done over a thousand bandings and is awesome I love him…he is a bit of a hard-nose and doesn’t believe in numbing beforehand…I thought I was going to run out of his office screaming…I didn’t I endured the 2 second pain…he went in blind and accessed my port first try!!! You’ll be just fine!! Let me/us know how you do!

On a side note I had my first ‘getting stuck’ moment the next night and I thought I would die (I can be a drama queen) I kept feeling like the cat from Shrek (puss-n-boots) you know the part where he is trying to bring up a hairball. After I explained to one of my friends what had happened she asked me if the Lap-Band was designed to scare the hell out of people from eating…I am beginning to think that is working for me. lol. I can only hope you get some of my humor.

Take care and good luck.

[MollyRN 28]

Yes - I can imagine part of it is scaring us!!

I am still on mushy food and have come nowhere near one of these episodes.... I will be terrified as well ;(

[Kellybean77 0]

I have had bread (any sort of bread) once since my banding (over 6 weeks now) and that was my 1st episode...I had to pull my car over on the side of the road after taking 2 bites from an English muffin...and the second time was on Tuesday night this week with half of a deviled egg...I've not had ANY Pasta or rice either since my banding...too scared! I'm only down 21 pounds since surgery but I'm glad it is coming off at a slow and steady pace...I'm walking about a mile each night (its all I can stand with this crazy heat we have right now in Chicago)

I'm Kelly btw...and would love to have you has a band buddy...we are approximately the same age (i'm 37) and only a month apart in surgeries...

[spoiltmom 44]

I had to come back and read over this thread. I'm having port pain also. It's always there but sometimes it's rather sharp if I turn the wrong way.

I'll be glad when it passes.

[brooklynbrenden 0]

I was banded 7/26/10 as well. I have some port pain when active. Not too much otherwise. Really scared me at first but after reading the forums it seems to be normal.

[BetsyB 9]

It's very normal. If you notice increased redness, warmth, or any drainage from the site, or if it becomes tender and sore in a lingering way, give your doctor a call.

Otherwise, it's expected that there will be intermittent tugging pain as the port gets situated.

I'm over 6 months out, and still have the occasional port twinge. There are just certain days and activities that make it tug a little.