Husband had Lapband surgery Friday - I have questions

[bling 0]

My husband just had his lapband surgery a few days ago (on Friday). He woke up this morning and described a feeling to me that I wanted to ask y'all here if this sounds normal...

He said he feels a "lump" down between his breast bone. I say lump but he says it's almost as if there is something there poking him from the inside. Is this just the band he is feeling? Did any of y'all feel this? He thinks it may just be the procedure (or band) that he is feeling, but today is the first time he is feeling this kind of feeling.

Also, he has broken out in a red rash all around his belly - except for a box right around all the incisions. It's almost as if they had something draped over his entire front side (not down his legs) that he had an allergic reaction on the areas it touched. Does this sound normal?

I may have to make him call the Dr today if this all persists, but I wanted to get y'alls opinions on it, too.

Thanks in advance!

bling

[Ellisa 6]

The lump feeling is something I remember. As for the rash, it could be a allergy to antibiotic among other things. But regardless, you should contact the doctor's office. Better to be safe than sorry.

The best to you both. My DH was banded 2 years ago. I understand the concerns. When I was banded end of last year, it was nice having him to reassure me every step.

[Angie4b1g 1]

It could be the port. I remember feeling mine as a lump, and since it wasn't where I thought it was, I was convinced I had cancer or something.

[kacee 3]

I felt a "golfball" in my chest and a dull ache for about two weeks. Very normal. It is probably the swelling. You won't feel the band, per se, and the port shouldn't be in that area at all.

The rash sounds like an alergic reaction....either to something they may have swabbed his abdomen with, the bandages possibly, or a reaction to something they gave him. Always good to call the doc for that stuff to make them aware and to have them advise you of what to look for in any potential changes...

[Wheetsin 714]

He said he feels a "lump" down between his breast bone. I say lump but he says it's almost as if there is something there poking him from the inside. Is this just the band he is feeling? Did any of y'all feel this? He thinks it may just be the procedure (or band) that he is feeling, but today is the first time he is feeling this kind of feeling. I never felt a lump, but did feel some pressure when I ate or drank during the first few days post-op. Is it happening when he eats/drinks, or all the time? He really shouldn't feel the band itself. If it doesn't go away, have him call the surgeon.

Also, he has broken out in a red rash all around his belly - except for a box right around all the incisions. It's almost as if they had something draped over his entire front side (not down his legs) that he had an allergic reaction on the areas it touched. Does this sound normal? I had something similar to what you're describing. Here's why. (This isn't an explanation for what your husband has, just what caused something similar for me) I'm allergic to most adhesives. I'm also sensitive to latex and can get a rash from very little contact with it. Adhesives and latex both will give me a rash-like welt that itches like mad. Adhesives will sort of "melt" into my skin and can actually remove skin when they're pulled off, the latex is more surface - bumps, redness, etc. At my incision sites, to cover the staples, they used this plastic sheeting stuff. Think super stickly clear contact paper. The entire surface is adhesive, but the escaping gas, blood, etc. prevented it from having much contact with the actual incisions. The areas farther out from the incisions maintained enough contact with my skin to have the reaction, so once the plastic adhesive stuff was removed, it looked like I had a box or ring of rash around each of the incision sites.

I may have to make him call the Dr today if this all persists, but I wanted to get y'alls opinions on it, too.

Thanks in advance!

[snowbird 2]

He said he feels a "lump" down between his breast bone. I say lump but he says it's almost as if there is something there poking him from the inside. Is this just the band he is feeling?

Sounds most like the port to me. You can't really feel the band itself, but the port is right under the skin so they can access it easily for fills. It could also be swelling from being intubated or just generally from surgery. If it's the port, you can probably feel it just by placing your fingers lightly over the sport where he is feeling it. This is normal.

If anything changes, like the lump gets bigger or he has redness around an incision, call the doctor right away in case there is an infection.

[Wheetsin 714]

The port is stitched to the muscle at the site of placement, it's not just under the skin. It's under fat, tissues, etc. In high BMI patients, depending on the location of the port, it can be difficult to feel even by palpitation. He shouldn't feel it "poking" him, it would be under things that don't really register sensations. (This is why people sometimes seek a low profile port once they lose weight - the fat above the port diminishes, leaving it more visible/closer to the skin)

bling, where is the location of your husband's largest incision? Is it on the side of his body, maybe near a rib cage? And what is his BMI?

It's not typical that one would feel the band. Feel the effects of it, yes (scar tissue, etc.). If he's feeling someting poking him from the inside, then do call your surgeon. This could be nothing, or it could be something that really needs to be taken care of.

[snowbird 2]

Thanks for clarifying, Wheetsin. You always have the facts! I guess I meant it is close to the surface compared to the band itself. I do feel mine "poking" at me when I twist or bend, although I have gotten used to it now. It sits fairly close to a rib, and occasionally rubs against it. At first it was a strange sensation.

[Amoud 0]

Hey Snow.

I was banded Feb 10 and my port is just below my breast bone (as mentioned, look for the largest incision). My BMI was 36.6 and I am now down to 33 and a bit. When I touch the port area it is a small lump, and if I put pressure around it, it actually looks like a button. My husband jokes that it is my 'on/off switch" and I can be quite obsessive with touching it, which makes it a bit tender and can turn a little red.

My best friend was banded 2 days before me and she got a rash a few weeks later as her incisions got infected. She is a nurse and said she was getting this red, itchy burning rash from the gauze (she wasnt on antibiotics at the time).

Hope your DH feels better soon and congrats on the band, the best is yet to come :wink2:

[Amoud 0]

My bad, I didnt realize until after my post my BMI is down to 32.4!!! Trying not to obsess on the numbers too much now, I guess it is working.