Port "Pain" - Can anyone put my mind at rest?

rockchick · June 10, 2008

Hi,

I'm 6 weeks post-op & up till now haven't had much in the way of pain & discomfort (after the first 10 days or so) My incisions took a long time to heal, but now seem to be doing ok.

What I wanted to ask was that today, the area round where I think my port is, has become very tender & "bruised" feeling inside, especially when I bend or stand up/sit down. There is no discolouration to the skin or incisions, no hotness to the skin or other sign of infection, but the skin does look a bit puffy (though this area has been a bit like that since surgery & I'm not sure if I'm just fearing the worst!!). I wondered if anyone else had suffered anything similar & could suggest what has caused it? I'm a little concerned, as I go away on holiday at the end of the week & my consultant only visits the hospital a couple of days a week, so there is a chance, even if I rang up first thing in the morning, that I couldn't get to see him before I go.

The pain isn't excruciating, but is a slight worry, as I don't want to be "ill" whilst I'm away.

I firstly wondered if it meant the port had flipped/moved, but from reading other posts on here, people don't seem to feel this & only find out about it when they go for a fill. The second thing that I wondered was it just internal bruising, as I upped my exercise yesterday in order to try & shift more weight, including advanced step, hula-hooping & waist trimming exercises all on the Wii Fit. Has anyone else felt this kind of bruising from embarking on exercise?

Anything to put my mind at rest would be appreciated!

Suzi :confused2:

sisterc · June 10, 2008

I was in pain for 6-7 weeks after surgery. My doctor told me this is to be expected around the port area. The pain lasted about two months after surgery. It does subside in time, but too much time passes and you don't see relief please make appointment to see the doctor you just never know.

rockchick · June 10, 2008

Thanks for your reply.

I do understand that recovery can be a lengthy process, but what is worrying me most is that I have been totally pain-free for a month & then this starts up?

If I had been in pain the whole time, it wouldn't be such a worry, its just that I have been able to bend, etc, with no pain whatsoever until today & now it is quite sore. I just wanted to know if anyone else had experienced anything similar.

Thanks again,

Suzi

salsa1877 · June 10, 2008

I am 10 months post op and I still get port pain when I really exercies. When I read that you had upped your exercise, I gave a reassuring nod to the compouter. I ran 11 miles on Sunday and for the rest of the afternoon the area around my port was swollen and cramping. It was sore to touch. I have asked my fill nurse about this and she didn't seem concerned and she is banded too.

It is most likely just the increase in activity.

summertime1199 · June 10, 2008

I had the same thing happen when I started ab work at eight weeks post surgery. I was in more pain than right after surgery. I ended up calling Dr. after a week of suffering. His nurse recommended liquid Motrin (all I could find was children's Motrin) and to ease up on ab. exercises. I was in no pain after 3 doses.

rockchick · June 10, 2008

Thanks to you both for your replies. Its really put my mind at rest! I think I'll cut back on the exercise & hope that it eases off, at least until after my holiday.

And well done, Salsa, for your incredible weight loss! I hope I can do half as well as you! You are an inspiration!

Suzi :biggrin2:

June 10, 2008

My random two cents: I am 14 months post-op and never experienced any pain or discomfort whatsoever (no gas pains, didn't take anything for pain at all, and drove myself home from hospital the following day). However, on occasion within the past two months, I will get a very random and very sudden sharp pain at my port attachment. I've tried to figure out what is happening and the only thing I can imagine is I've pulled a muscle while working in the yard, over exertion, etc. If the pain is unbearable and continues, you need to see your GP. I've heard many stories from veteran bandsters like myself who have random port pain that come and go and there is no true explanation for it.

Northwest_Nance · June 10, 2008

I'm almost 4 weeks post-op. I work out on the Wii Fit too (love it!) and I do all the same exercises you mentioned.... I don't have much trouble, but I do have tenderness around my port area and pretty much have since about 5 days after surgery... it comes and goes, and the level of pain fluctuates, and sometimes I think it is worse when I wear certain clothes so maybe the waist band hits me in different places. I did find that I tried the running in place on the Wii and I had noticeable increase in port pain so I stopped doing that.

Perky66 · July 6, 2008

I am also having port pain. I had surgery May 14th, and everything went fine. Didn't have any port pain at all until 2 weeks ago. I bent over at work to put something on a bottom shelf and when I raised up, I felt some pretty bad pain at the site. I don't have it all of the time, just at intervals. I can push in on the area below the port and it goes away leaving me to believe it is some kind of pulling of a muscle or something. I don't go back to the Dr until the 28th but I don't think it is anything serious. I was just making sure I'm not the only one in this boat. My band feels fine and I am losing weight so I think everything is fine. Any comments or suggestions will be truly appreciated. Thanks!!!

rockchick · July 6, 2008

Hi Perky,

My pain did ease up after I stopped the waist trimming exercises on the Wii, so I do think its pulled muscles that cause the pain. I wouldn't worry, it just seems that some of us have done things that have caused some aggravation to the area around the port & others haven't.

I'm going to have my first fill on Tuesday (under fluoro) so that'll show for definite that everything is ok (fingers crossed!!) & put my mind at rest.

Hope the pain settles down soon.

Suzi ;0)

maguirre67 · July 6, 2008

im told your port will bother you for awhile that you shouldnt do any exercise for six weeks after

Perky66 · July 6, 2008

Thanks Rockchick. Besides this port thing, this journey has been awesome so far. I am off the B/P meds, my joints don't hurt near like they were. I can actually go up and down stairs with ease now. Not to mention that I can buy cute clothes for my size now. That is awesome. I had my first fill 2 weeks ago. It didn't take 5 minutes from start to finish but I had it in the Dr's office. I had heard some horror stories about the fill and I was so relieved to find out that it didn't hurt at all. Good luck and keep me informed of the port. I am anxious to know....

rockchick · July 8, 2008

Just got back from the hospital & the fill went ok!! Thats put my mind at rest about the port, he got it first time! I had to stop it part way through though, cos I nearly fainted (it wasn't anything he did. it was just the thought of it! I didn't feel a thing, cos he numbed the area with local anaesthetic) I was a bit embarassed, though! I was on this big bed-thing & he had to tip me up so the blood went to my head!!

Even with the minor interruption, the whole process took less than 10 mins & I just had to drink some barium so he could see how fast it went down. I've had 55cc's for the first fill, they won't put any more than that in. I've tried sipping Water since & it seems fine!

Good luck on your band journey!

Suzi :biggrin2: