4+ Weeks PostOp and having Port Pain

mklady63 · May 23, 2008

Just need to know if this is normal. I am 4 weeks 2 days postop and the area where my port is is giving me pain today. Could I possibly have done too much at the gym or is it part of the normal healing process. I am hoping it goes away as I leave in 2 days for an 8 day business trip across country. :cool2:

salsa1877 · May 23, 2008

Working out can still cause port pain for me and I am 9+ months out! My bet is you overdid it in the gym a bit. Anything that can cause jarring or overuse of the ab muscles can cause soreness.

kbinaz · May 24, 2008

Yes. I wasn't allowed to do any exercise but walking for 8 weeks after surgery. I started back with my trainer at 8 weeks and it always bothered my port sight. I am almost 7 months post-op and I still feel it in my port area after a hard workout. Right after surgery I also noticed port pain when I lifted something I wasn't supposed to (over 10 pounds - I lifted my grandson one day and it really hurt the next day...)

mklady63 · May 24, 2008

Thanks for the insight. I kind of figured maybe I was doing too much at the gym ( 1 hour on the treadmill or 45 min. on the eliptical). Maybe with being on a busines trip for the next week I will take it easy for a few days and let thing settle down.

salsa1877 · May 24, 2008

Thanks for the insight. I kind of figured maybe I was doing too much at the gym ( 1 hour on the treadmill or 45 min. on the eliptical). Maybe with being on a busines trip for the next week I will take it easy for a few days and let thing settle down.

I applaud the ambition, but I think that is probably a bit much for recovery! YOU JUST HAD SURGERY GIRL! I would take it easy. Believe me there is plenty of time for healing but overdoing it can lead to injuries and hernias which can side track you for long periods of time. Enjoy the business trip!

Wismer · May 26, 2008

I am three months out and have had this problem too. It is better now but last month it felt like I pulled it out of place and I couldn't bend over without pain. It was hard to get comfortable in bed too. The dr. said give it time.

gdf18 · June 2, 2008

Hi Salsa etal,

I'm glad someone brought this up because I've been fine regarding pain and suddenly at almost 6 weeks, I'm having some discomfort, not pain, around the port area. I thought I twisted wrong when I went to pick up the laundry basket (and it could also be gas pain because I'm having plenty of gas as well). I was nervous all day that I "broke" something. Port, tub, band. I guess everyone thinks this the first few times it is suddenly uncomfortable.

Today, I started to slowly use my recumbent bike again. The nurse didn't want me to use it after the surgery so I walked, but I walked too hard too long and now my knee hurts so I need the bike. I guess at 6 weeks it should be okay.

So, this is all normal, eh?

salsa1877 · June 2, 2008

I think it is probably very normal to have port pain and even gas pain especially after increasing workout. I did a 5K race followed by a 6.25 mile walk/run today and my port HURTS tonight. I was about double over in the grocery store tonight. My guess is (and this is not a medical opinion) that the muscle that the port is stiched to is not one that we used much as fat, non exercising poeple. So now we use it and it gets sore and the fact that it has something stiched to it make the irritation worse. My feels like a REALLY bad toothache.

As for the gas, you are still relatively early after surgery. A few pockets of gas may have been trapped somewhere that they were not causing pain. Now you have been moving around more and exercising and they moved. Is it this type of gas or "tooty" gas (you know the TMI kind!). They are different. If it is tooty gas it could be a change in your diet. Or it could be milk. Have you ever been lactose intolerant? I never was before, but after surgery I can only do cheese and yogurt...and in very moderate amounts. I can't do milk and I can't do ice cream (not that I need it). If you are noticing that you are having problems after eating dairy try to eliminate it and see if that helps.

Hope some of these suggestions find a good home!

gdf18 · June 2, 2008

You always have good suggestions....that's why I ask you questions. The gas is high up.....you know, the stabbing under the breastbone kind. Takes a long time to make it's way down and out. I keep thinking something is wrong but but it's gas pain for the very most part. I am lactose intolerant, but use organic lactaid milk and even take a lactaid tablet before eating yogurt. Cottage cheese isn't a problem. I just don't know what I can do to stop it and when is it gonna stop????? It's on my list for the doctor on Wed. My bad knee started to hurt so I'm not exercising for a few days- maybe that's the reason for the gas build-up.....what do you think?

What I am happy about is going out for dinner as I did tonight. I ordered Orange Roughy with mashed potatoes and spinach. The spinach was too bitter, but I ate 1/2 the fish (small piece overall) and about 1/2 the mashed pot. I was SOOOOOOOO full. I left 1/2 the pot on the plate. And this is the real comfort food I loved. I don't push to finish. I remind myself hat it's a potato, and I can make another potato tomorrow if I wish. I don't have to finish that one. And all this without having had a fill yet!

Just knowing others feel their ports after months and have gas later, helps me push the potatoes away. Some people seem to sail through with no issues, and then there are the rest of us, who feel this and have that, but we make it through all the same.

Thanks for listening.