Port site infection

[Sades 4]

If it is warm when you touch it and red it is likely to be an infection. The port incision is the one which takes the longest to heal. If you're only 5 days out, I would give it a few more days. Talk to your dr if it does not improve.

[franks 0]

Sades,

Thanks. The incision actually looks fine and the pain isn't actually at that spot. It's an inch or so over. Is your port under your incision or beside it?

[Sades 4]

Mine is at the incision. It sounds to me like normal port pain since you are newly banded. Just keep an eye on it and call your dr is it gets worse.

[novbeginning 0]

Is your port site hot to the touch. When I had an infection the skin around it was very hot. Either way, you definitely need to call your dr.

Good Luck.

[franks 0]

Novbeginning,

It's not hot and I have no fever. Strange. But the pain doesn't go away and seems to be getting a bit worse. I plan to call my dr. in the morning. Thanks

[janieb 0]

This is going to sound strange, but if you suspect a surgical site infection, take a pen and draw a circle around the outer-most part of the redness. I've had two such infections in my life and both doctors drew a line around where the redness was in order to see if the circumference changed, (grew beyond the pen line).

You mentioned your other incisions seem to be healing, but that this one larger (?) incision is still red. That may be normal, but you are right to contact your doctor. Mention the word infection and the doctor's office will take you seriously. My doctor started me on Augmenten (sp?) and eventually the redness subsided and all is well, thank goodness. So, call your doctor and you will be fine and you'll be happily on your way to losing weight and feeling much, much better. But, it does take some time to heal and to get stronger from the surgery. All the best of luck to you!

p.s. It was Sades who helped me through the fears I had when I was in your situation! Thank you Sades, I'm doing much better now. (Not exactly losing fast, though. tsk.)

Edited July 7, 2008 by janieb
adding a thought

[franks 0]

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I'm still happy I had the surgery and expect all will be well.

By the way, is your port at the incision point like Sades'? My is about an inch or so above the incision.

[janieb 0]

About the incision, the largest one, and the one that gave me trouble, is located about 5 inches up and to the left (my left as I look down at it). I've had 2 fills since my surgery 5 months ago. The actual port site where the saline goes is several inches below the main incision and to the right. I've got other one inch incisions here and there. The other site that gave me a bit of trouble was where they put the camera in. That's all settled down too.

[franks 0]

Thanks to all. I talked with my Dr. today and after explaining what I was feeling he said it was normal and would go away. I'm hoping he is correct and I've actually felt better since I talked with him (oh, the power of the mind!).

[Sades 4]

Happy to help Janie. Don't stress too much about the weight loss, you'll get there. How's your restriction?

[janieb 0]

Yay! That's great news. I'm not surprised because the main incision hurt like heck for me for awhile...a lot longer than the other incisions. As Sades says, it's normal. Keep an eye on it and you'll be fine.

I saw my Dr. today and, since I had been on vacation I only lost 2.5 lbs. He did a fill today and now I'm on fluids for 2 days and soft foods for a day. I'm supposed to ramp up my exercise, though. Whaaa. :-( I knew that, but.... Okay, I'll do it.

Sades, how're things going for you? Hope all is well.

Jane

[Sades 4]

Yay! That's great news. I'm not surprised because the main incision hurt like heck for me for awhile...a lot longer than the other incisions. As Sades says, it's normal. Keep an eye on it and you'll be fine.

I saw my Dr. today and, since I had been on vacation I only lost 2.5 lbs. He did a fill today and now I'm on fluids for 2 days and soft foods for a day. I'm supposed to ramp up my exercise, though. Whaaa. :-( I knew that, but.... Okay, I'll do it.

Sades, how're things going for you? Hope all is well.

Jane

Exercise, that's what has helped me keep off what I've lost. Apparently I have a missplaced band Jane and will be having a new one put in this afternoon my time. I have been through 6 months with no restriction and couldn't understand why but at least I know now.

Good luck with your weight loss and get your butt out on that pavement !! :smile:

[slimmap 1]

I was banded almost 4 weeks ago. The port has pretty much bothered me from the start. Now I see redness that goes from the port site and spreads out towards the small incision near the belly button. It is warm to the touch. Of course, this had to happen on a Saturday. The doctor on call prescribed antibiotics, and I will have to be seen by my dr on Monday. I am scared pretty badly. Does this sound like erosion? Just an infection? Please somebody let me know if they experienced this and what it was and what was done. Thanks!

Pam

[Sades 4]

I was banded almost 4 weeks ago. The port has pretty much bothered me from the start. Now I see redness that goes from the port site and spreads out towards the small incision near the belly button. It is warm to the touch. Of course, this had to happen on a Saturday. The doctor on call prescribed antibiotics, and I will have to be seen by my dr on Monday. I am scared pretty badly. Does this sound like erosion? Just an infection? Please somebody let me know if they experienced this and what it was and what was done. Thanks!

Pam

It's easier said than done but try not to over stress. If you are already on antibiotics then I'm sure you'll be fine. How long has it been red? I don't know much about erosion but I can't imagine it happening only 4 weeks after being banded. Have a look at an earlier post on page 4 of this thread with a picture of my infection. Antibiotics helped get rid of that. Good luck and keep us posted.

Edited July 12, 2008 by Sades

[slimmap 1]

Sades, Thanks for getting back to me so soon. I looked at that picture on page 4 and it looks pretty similar to what mine looks like. What actually happened to you? Did antibiotics help? You didn't need to have anything removed, did you? Do they know why we get these infections? Thanks for any info you can give.

Pam

It's easier said than done but try not to over stress. If you are already on antibiotics then I'm sure you'll be fine. How long has it been red? I don't know much about erosion but I can't imagine it happening only 4 weeks after being banded. Have a look at an earlier post on page 4 of this thread with a picture of my infection. Antibiotics helped get rid of that. Good luck and keep us posted.