Port flipped!!!

[Kelly Ann 0]

Well, I went in on Wednesday to get my first fill. The Doctor couldn't find it, then he put me under the machine, where they can see the port. And no wonder why he couldn't get the needle in....because it was flipped on its side!!! He tried to push on it to try to manipulate it to see if he could flip it back over. Oh, man it hurt so bad, I was balling. So, now I have to go back in and get the port re-positioned. I was a cash-pay, so I asked if this is something that I have to pay for, because I can not afford it. He said that he gets patients from Mexico all the time with this problem, and most times the insurance pays for it. I will be super upset if this is something that I have to pay for!! I don't think that I should have to pay for it.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, he said that 1 in 300 get this! UUGG!! All of his nurses looked at the picture that they took of it and said that they have never seen that before from one of Dr. Billy's surgeries. One of the girls has been with him for 6 years. So, this just upset me more. Now, I'm all bruised up and hurting from where he was pushing on my stomach.

I'll let you all know what has to be done and if I have to pay!

[Iluvharleys 15]

Awwww, sorry to hear you had this problem. I would check with the insurance first and see what they say. I would think it would be covered, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

[TulipStar 2]

Bratz,

I am in the same situation. On Thursday I went for my 2nd fill and they couldn't find the port. They put me under the x-ray and found it has completely flipped over.

It hurt so bad and I have all these needle holes and bruises on my stomach from them trying to manipulate it. It looks really bad.

I actually started crying right there on the x-ray table. It freaked me out and then they told me that I would have to go back in for surgery!! I hate hospitals and it took all the nerve that I had to have the surgery in the first place. ARGH!

I have an appt with my surgeon this week to find out what the next steps are.

This is really rare...I guess we are the lucky ones and we should go play the lottery!!

Hang in there...once it's fixed, we'll be well on our way to being skinny and this little bump is part of our journey. (unfortunately)

[Kimmie 0]

Awe, I'm sorry to hear that! My port has turned a little since the surgery, but it's still accessible. Like Tulip said...it's just a lil' bump in the road on our journey!

[Kelly Ann 0]

A couple of days ago I found out that my insurance said that they definitely would not pay for the port to be revised. GREAT!! So Dr. Billy's Insurance Coordinator said that she would talk to the Doc and see how much a cash pay price was. I got a call this afternoon from Dr. Billy's office and.....he is going to fix it!! I don't have to pay a dime! I am so happy, so happy to be fixed up and so happy that I went to Dr. Billly for my surgery, he obviously cares for his patients and how his surgery's turn out, and not just the money.

I'm scheduled for the revision on November 27th, they said I should only be off of work for 2 days. They'll put me under a local, so I won't have to go through the anesthesia junk again!

TulipStar - Best of luck to you on your revision. I know, I was balling in the x-ray machine table and on the way out of the office with a tissue box in hand...ha...

Kimmie - I hope yours doesn't turn anymore! Your weight loss so far is amazing! : )

[TulipStar 2]

Bratz,

I just found out today that my revision surgery is the 28th! He said I will be under light anesthesia, without the breathing tube. He said it will be like when they knock you out at the dentist office.

My surgeon was so apologetic, he said that he thinks its because he used dissolvable sutures for the port and they didn't hold. He said that he is going back to regular sutures for all surgeries. He said of course that I didn't have to pay a thing and even better, I will have the surgery at a center closer to my home.

woohoo!

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.

[Kimmie 0]

that's friggin' awesome girl!!

[peaches9 3]

I am SO GLAD that you girls didn't have to pay for the revision because of the flipped ports. That would really be unkind of the surgeon to charge for that... it should be included as well as replacement of the band should that ever be necessary.

My port is not flat either, kinda sitting slightly on its side but the Nurse seems to be able to access it with one quick poke.. So I will count my blessings.

Losing weight again since my last fill so I am happy.

Good luck to you all.

[TulipStar 2]

I can't wait to get this fixed. I am hungry again...and it sucks!!

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that he is also going to replace my port with a smaller version. He said that as people lose weight, sometimes their port starts to stick out and they want it replaced with a smaller. Since he said he can feel mine just fine (the large one) and it is close to the surface, he is going to replace it with a smaller one so it can't be seen as I get to be skinny!

[EBox88 0]

Bratz99 & TulipStar - how have you two been since your port revision? I've just had the same thing happen and I'm going in tomorrow for a revision - I'm six weeks post-op and have absolutely NO restriction so far!

[theninside 0]

Has anyone's doctor told them why the port flips? Mine's had moved down some, and he told me that happens. I'm just curious if it's something that maybe we are doing that is causing it to flip, or moved.

[peaches9 3]

Has anyone's doctor told them why the port flips? Mine's had moved down some, and he told me that happens. I'm just curious if it's something that maybe we are doing that is causing it to flip, or moved.

Don't worry, its nothing that you have done... It is not anchored within your abdomen so it sometimes shifts a bit. Most good fill nurses can still fill a flipped port.... as long at its not completely UPside Down.

[xtanyax 0]

My port used to move quite a bit for the first year after the surgery, but since I've lost most of my weight, it doesn't move as much. I'm actually quite curious what it will look like when i get pregnant. :thumbup: Its never flipped too much at least.

[carla08 0]

sometimes they just don't seat well the best place is just below the breast bone mine had to be placed to the mid left of my belly button and it flipped after 7 months had revision on june 19, sore but not a big deal anxious to get a fill and resume weight loss