I'm REALLY freaked out!

DonnaB · March 21, 2006

Hi all,

Last night before bed I had some sharp stabby pains at my port site. When I woke up this morning I still had some pain - very quick stab then gone. So I came to LBT and followed Princes n thep's advise (shaking my fist your way Princess) and did a search before I posted a redundant question. Started sifting through port site pain/infection posts and NOW I'm really freaked out!

So, how do you get a port infection? How does it feel? Do you feel it before you see the problem? How long after surgery can you stop worrying about port infections? Is there such a thing as a MILD port infection? What's the furthest out from surgery anyone has gotten a port infection or heard about someone getting a port infection?

I don't think I'm really having any problems but after 'researching' I'm just a tad needy. Someone please reassure me. I know, how pathetic.

babsintx3 · March 21, 2006

Hi Donna,

I am almost 3 years out and sometimes still get a stinging or stabbing pain at the port site (which was also moved during my plastic surgery). It could be anything from eating too much (sometimes my port will feel like it is popping out of my stomach) to pulling a stitch to overexertion to the area etc... Dont assume infection. Besides, you are only banded a short time and you are still healing. Take it easy on yourself OK?

P.S. I would think it would be less likely to have a port infection the further you are out from surgery, but I dont have any data that supports this. Maybe someelse does??

Babs in TX

334/180/190

Alexandra · March 21, 2006

Donna, your pain is much more likely to be muscular than anything else. If you have a port infection it's more likely going to present first with warm redness in the port area, with more achiness than a stabbing pain.

As far as why someone would get a port infection, the only reason outside of surgical healing would be erosion. Infections don't just spontaneously pop up out of nowhere; there would have to be an underlying cause.