My Doctors Cant Access My Port. 3 Months Post Op

[nessievantelli 0]

Hello!

I had my lap band surgery done Jan 24, 2012

I have been to the Doctor three times since march to have my First Fill done, and my Doctor has been unable to locate my port. He can palpate it... and so can I , but when he inserts the needle he is unable to get it in.

He finally refered me to a Surgeon today, and even the surgeon coudlnt palpate it well enough to feel confident to insert a needle.

He wants to try a barrium swallow to check for placement, plus use a Fluroscope to hopefully locate and insert into the port.

Has anyone else had issues like this?

I've lost 32 lbs since my surgery, but the last month havnt lost anything. I feel no restriction hardly.

I have an Allergan Band. (10 cc band) and I was given 6 cc fill upon surgery.

I NEED some advice or talk with someone who has had similar problems.

Nessie

[lawgirl 6]

After surgery, I found that my port was tipped downward and it always takes a couple of pokes to find it. During a fill, the doctor has had me push out my stomach as hard as I can while he is locating it. After dropping about 60 pounds, it is easier to locate now because there is less fat in the way but it is still literally hit and miss. My doctor isn't shy about poking me a couple of times. Not sure if that's a good thing. Good luck.

[FLHgal 68]

Agree with lawgirl...the more you lose the easier it will be. My surgeon is the guy they send to when others are unable to do the fill. I would think they would have had you under Fluoroscopic as soon as the problem occurred.

Our doc books every 15 minutes on fill days...we go in together....he his done with both of us in 5 minutes....The dietitian and Center leader spend about 15 minutes updating and answering questions. GOOD LUCK

[bluetigereyes 95]

When I went in for my first fill, we found that my port had flipped. This is a possibility. I was discouraged at that point, but had to schedule a time that I could go in and have it fixed. The doctor set it up in the procedure room in his office, numbed the area good and opened the area up for my port. In all, it took about 45 minutes to do everything. He gave me the fill while he had my port out, then got everything sutured back into place. I was sore for about a week after that, and had some REALLY ugly bruising, but at least the port is back where it should be.