I think my port is leaking...please help

[HamuChan 0]

I need support from you guys more than ever...

Last week I went in to get a fill and they had this stupid "nurse in training" stab me in the port too hard and waaaaay too far in. I thought nothing of it until I relaized that I have ZERO restriction all the sudden. I think that stupid nurse stabbed the side of my port causing a leak. I just finished crying for the last hour and plan to see my dr Wednesday to find out if it's really true. God please just let it be my imagination...I cannot live without my band. I CANNOT stand this torture of not knowing. Is this fixable? Or am I just screwed now? Please help me you guys, I don't want to cry about this anymore. :cry :cry

[leatha_g 4]

(((HAMU))) I can certainly understand your fear, but please try to calm yourself until you can be tested. If I remember correctly, I believe your doc can do a test under flouro with contrast to see if he thinks there is a leak. IF this were the case and it is the fault of the nurse. I'd demand any cost of repair be at their expense. Odds are, this is not the case and you are just being a normal bandster with fears of band damage and a fickle band. Tomorrow you may wake up with more restriction than you want. Remember, don't borrow trouble. Breathe, breathe, breathe..

[DonnaB 3]

Oh HamuChan! *hugs*

Leatha is right, try not to paralize yourself with fear about something that isn't confirmed. Call the office and see if they can fit you into their schedule and see what happens. I'm sure your doctor would rather work you into his schedule than make you wait on pins and needles.

Have a hot cup of tea - Decaf so you can sleep, take a few deep breaths, and call your doctors office first thing in the morning. Courage.

Post us tomorrow and tell us what news you have. We'll be waiting to hear from you.

[GeezerSue 7]

Worst possible news first? There is a teensy, tiny, itsy-bitsy, beyond way-small chance that she MAY have put the needle into the tubing instead of into the mesh, thus causing a leak in the tubing, which would have to be replaced under a local and that's about it. If I were a betting woman (and sometimes I am) I would NOT go anywhere near that option!!!

Breathe.

That was about the worst thing possible, given what you've described. And I once went with a woman who had her entire port replaced and she drove home the whole four hours...so it's REALLY not a big deal even if it is bad news...which is just isn't going to be. BTW, my friend's port replacement took WAY less time than my last dental crown...WAY less.

She MAY HAVE inserted the needle, removed the saline to see how much was there, dumped it, added more saline and just missed the port access on the refill. Or some series of actions close to that.

I would SO give you a sip of my Bailey's that I can't drink until November....but you're not here.

[vinesqueen 2]

Oh honey, breathe!

I thought I was having the same problem with a leak, because I had gotten two fills, and I was getting less and less restriction! I was in a near panic....

In my case, the fill person had let out more fill then he had put in each time. So, I'd gone in with originally near 2cc, and by the time he was done with the two "fills" I was at 1cc.

Fills are not easy to do. The fill is under pressure, and it is possible to let out the fill when yo are not meaning to.

It is possible that she has let out more fill instead of putting in more fill.

(((((Hamu))))

[HamuChan 0]

Wow you guys made me feel soooooooooooooo much better. I'm not sweating this anymore. Thanks GeezerSue for letting me know that this is something that can be fixed. WHEW!!! I was afraid EVERYTHING would have to be replaced. Sigh of relief!!!

But I am still SO mad that the stupid fill center allowed the nurse to "train" while giving me a fill. It hurts when they stab you waaaaay too far in! MAD at The Surgery Center in Richardson Fill Center. I have never had a problem with them before this. They were like, "Ok now numb her first...ok good now stab the needle in...oh wait stop stop stop that's too far.! Oh no, now you're stuck in the side of the port let me yank that out of there. OOOps! There we go!" Ahhhhh!

[Jachut 487]

If she has damaged the port/tubing it is fixable, much more easily so than your band. Its another operation and I'd be stinking mad about it, but it is fixable and I'd be demanding it be at their expense.

[TrishS 3]

Hamu!!!! Hun take a breather..... Okay now... worse case, if there is a leak it is easily replaceable.. trust me.. I have been there. I had a leak in the port and it was replaced. really easy and simple. to me anyway. Now try not to get to emotional until you find out for sure. I know how hard it can be thinking you have a leak in your port. Take it easy and relax hun it is fixable!

[*susan* 1,709]

:eek: Hamu,

I don't have much more to add, as all the ladies that have already posted are far more knowledgable and experienced on this subject than I am. I just wanted to let you know I feel for you and am thinking about you. Just remain calm until you see your doctor, and as the others said, if the nurse did cause any problems, make sure you demand the repairs are done at their expense, not yours.

Let us know how everything goes.