Port tipped/flipped- questions

[robinem 0]

Hello All,

A little background.. about a week before Christmas, I was playing raquetball. I made a viscous swing and felt something pull/pop. I was in alot of pain the next few days. I went to a couple doctors and ruled out apendix, UTI, and ovarian cyst problems. I went to the bariatric clinic and the doctor believes that I pulled a port stitch.

Fast forward to today, I'm feeling good and went in for a fill. Neither the Nurse Practioner or Doctor could hit my port. I go back next week for a fill under floroscopy (sp) so they can determine if the port is tipped or flipped.

Question, when getting a floro fill, do you have to drink the nasty stuff? Do you lay down or stand up?

Keeping my fingers crossed that the port is tipped and not flipped. If flipped, then I have to have surgery.

Has anyone had a port repositioned? How long was recovery time? The doctor said its an in and out surgery, but I'm concerned as to recovery time. I don't want to be out of commision for another six weeks again.

Thanks for listening.

I love this board.

[Mvpo8961 1]

Hi Robinem

Yes you have to drink the barium when getting a fluoroscopy fill. I lay on a table (like a gurney) the fluoroscopy machine in shaped in a big C and goes over your body. Then they have a screen like a tv that the xray shows on. My fill center does the barium swallow while laying down and they snap a picture as it passes through the band.

I am scheduled next week to have my port revised because it is almost flipped over. I am told it is done under local and takes very little time and recovery is a day or two.

Good Luck with your port.

Myra

[feedrate 0]

I had to have my port redone due to the amount of weight I had lost. it just got loose. It only took about 30 min and then I had to stay in recovery for another 30 min. They put me to sleep and made the cut then started bringing me back. I could hear the dr. talking and then I started talking to them while it was going on. No big deal really. However when it flipped it did hurt and I got really sick to my stomach. But then again they had just over filled me also.

any way good luck

dave

[*susan* 1,709]

Hi, my port flipped back in August. The surgery is easy, you are in and out in under 30 minutes. They keep you in recovery for about 30 minutes and then you are on your way back home. I arrived at the hospital at 2:00, had my surgery at 4:00 and was home by 5:30. I did take off the next day, but the day after that I was back to work and not in any pain at all.

[GayleTX 1]

Yes, you'll have to drink the liquid...that's the purpose of the flouro so they can see where the liquid is going in your body. What I've been given has no taste at all...sure wouldn't call it nasty. I've never had to lie down...just pull my shirt up....takes about 1 minute, no pain, no sting. Guess I've been fortunate.

[robinem 0]

Hello and thanks to all who responded to my question.

I went to the dr. today for a fill under the floroscope.. and the port is PERFECT. It is not tipped, or flipped or otherwise out of place.

The nurse was amazed because she and the doctor both could not access my port last week. They were both sure the port had moved.

Once she saw the port was fine, she filled me. It seems they were both aiming in the wrong direction. Once the nurse found my port and where to stick me she drew a picture in my file for future reference.

Thanks again for all your wonderful input.