Who's had their Port Replaced?

[MsButterKup23 1]

I'm looking at Nov. 16th as the day that my doctor is going to replace my port with the new "low profile" port. Anyone had this done? He said local, the surgery center is talking sedation... I don't do sedation.

I had some bad pain in the past in my port area with my ribs, but the pain has since disapeared. I am a bit timid about messing with something that doesn't hurt and fear I am setting myself up for a possibility of more pain if I have it replaced.

Please let me know your experience.

[bkgrandma 0]

Hi, I had my port replaced but not sure what a "low profile" port is. I just had a local for mine. Sedation is too risky for something that simple. Sue

[4 timer 0]

I had the low profile port as I also had pain by my ribs. The actually gave me a shot of "lidakane"? there and the pain was gone for good. Maybe it killed the nerve there?

[Jachut 487]

Hmm, I'd be more worried about a new scar than a little bump where my port is. I hate scars! Its why I'd also put up with my little teeny bit of saggy belly too rather than have a mini Tummy Tuck - to me the scar would be worse than the skin.

I reckon if it aint broke, dont fix it. What is his reasoning?

[Parvathi 2]

Hey Carrie,

I may have missed something here (my apologies if I have), but was just wondering, why are you having the port replaced? Is something wrong with it? Or is it just because you don't want it to show when you get to goal weight?

If its the not wanting it to show part, I was nervous about that when I had my Tummy Tuck done, but chose to leave in the old port cause it worked perfectly well. On me, no one can really see it. I only ever notice it if I'm having a really "skinny" day (rare lol) and laying flat on my back.

Good luck though, with whatever you decide to do!

[NewSho 20]

Oh go ahead and do it. It's honestly nothing as serious as the original banding.

I'm looking at Nov. 16th as the day that my doctor is going to replace my port with the new "low profile" port. Anyone had this done? He said local, the surgery center is talking sedation... I don't do sedation.[/1uote]

Um, are you saying you weren't sedated when they put it in originally? Oh come on!

If you were sedated once for the first LapBanding, you'll do fine this second time.

I wouldn't do it under a 'local' - it wasn't painful but ports are kind of deep (even ones that poke out a bit) and the process of re-connecting them is quick but I wouldn't want to be awake during it. Why not just have them put you 'under' for it? hey will use light sedation - so once you wake up you won't have that 'foggy anesthesia' feeling at all. It's so quick to have a port replacement. I think I was in the O.R. less than 25 minutes and they checked my stomach for signs of slippage and erosion, and even checked for adhesions. I've had fillings that took much longer (and hurt worse).

I had some bad pain in the past in my port area with my ribs, but the pain has since disapeared. I am a bit timid about messing with something that doesn't hurt and fear I am setting myself up for a possibility of more pain if I have it replaced. Please let me know your experience.

The members of LapBandTalk have written about this extensively on the site. I don't want to be repeating myself (or the posts of others.) Try doing a search for "Low Profile Port" within this site, or even "Port replacement."

I like the newer LowProfile ports anyway. (I'm all for new, improved technology).

Later when my port ended up being moved during my Tummy Tuck (my whole lower stomach was moved, band, tubing and all :rolleyes ) so I was glad that I'd already had my Old-School original port replaced. The lower profile port gave my plastic surgeon a lot more options about where to move it for the Tummy Tuck. It doesn't bother me at all (knock wood).

Now with my visibly slimmer abdomen, even if I lose weight I think the Low-Pro is going to give me a better silhouette.

[tnwalkersu 0]

I have a leak and am seeing my dr in the morning. I was banded in mexico by dr. s in Monterry but am seeing a dr here for fills. Can a port or tubing replacement be done under local? I would rather have it done like that then be put under. I have a strong pain threshold and am not sqeamish about these things. Has anyone else had it done this way?

[Dani-X 0]

Hi there,

I just had my port replaced on Friday morning. I was losing my fill very quickly (9.5 to 3cc's in under a week) and was putting on some weight. I'm getting married in 3 months so I wanted to get this done ASAP as I had just hired a trainer 2 weeks before this to get me buff for the big day.

I was so nervous because I didn't tolerate the anesthia and morphine well after getting my band placed (nausea and some vomiting for 14 hours - ugh!). I talked to them about the anesthia and they used a local and a sedative... they call it "twilight." It's basically the same thing they give you if you've ever had a colonoscopy.

The surgery took 15 minutes and I was out of the hospital within 3 hours of me hopping up on the table. AND, I got a low profile port out of the deal. Pretty sweet for me as you could see my regular port poke through my skin even with my clothes on.

The healing hasn't been too terrible either. The first night was tough as turning over in bed can be painful. I took a few percocets and by Sunday, I was just on Tylenol and back at work on Monday. The incision looks to be about the same size as my original port incision.

I'm still not sure exactly what happened that I needed it replaced. My doctor had several surgeries and I could have waiting an hour to see him but I just chose to ask him at the follow up appointment and head home.

I'm not sure if they pumped me with gas or not but I was so swollen that I looked like I was 4 months pregnant. I called the office to see if it was normal and they said it could be the result of not having a BM yet in addition to the surgery.

So the swelling has gone down somewhat and I'm seeing them on Thursday for a post-op visit. I can't wait to get back to the gym.

I think the hardest part for me has been psychologically. I always said to myself that I'd never let myself get fat again. Since the leak I had gained 15 pounds. Ugh... I was totally disgusted with myself. I really thought I had it all under control - that even if I lost my band, I'd be ok on my own. What a reality check that turned out to be. The comfort though is having my band back. I asked him to fill me a bit while he was in there so it's nice to feel a little restriction again!

If you have the option - definitely go with the low profile port :thumbdown: I love that I can barely feel it!

[tnwalkersu 0]

Can you just get it with local only. Ever heard of that. That is what i want. NO sedation. I'm a strong person and I think I can handle it. I'll ask my dorctor on Wednesday and see what he says. Also I can't figure how to get my weight ticker up. Must of done something wrong. Any help here?:embaressed_smile:

[cplatinumlove 3]

I had my port replaced on Sept 9th. To me it was worse than the First surgery. After the first surgery, the pain went away after 4days. Here I am, Tomorrow will be 2 weeks and I'm still a bit sore and the area is swollen. I would say I wasn't swollen before but maybe I couldn't tell under all the fat lol. At least I got a low profile port out of the deal.

Cynthia

Edited September 21, 2008 by cplatinumlove

[sue11 0]

I'm looking at having my port replaced with a low profile. I seem to have a slow leak, and I've wanted a low profile...mine sticks out :biggrin:

Anybody know the cost of having it done?

Sue

[tnwalkersu 0]

I have to have mine replaced and I was told it would be $8000. I only paid $9500 for the whole thing. I have decided to have a revision to DS and give up the band.

[sue11 0]

$8,000!!!!

WOW...I've heard $1,200

Was that just to replace the port?

Sue

[Boo Boo Kitty 3]

I'm looking at having my port replaced with a low profile. I seem to have a slow leak, and I've wanted a low profile...mine sticks out

Anybody know the cost of having it done?

Sue

I had my port replaced for this reason. HOWEVER I got it covered by insurance. Mine hurt all the time because it stuck out and would get bumped/caught ect on things. My surgeon wrote it on insurance as a hernia repair. Talk to your Dr, and remember pain is relative and they can't tell you that it isn't causing you trouble. :thumbup:

[tnwalkersu 0]

You have to remember that only part of the cost is the surgeons and the rest is the hospital because you have to use the or and be put to sleep and that adds up.