Port area pain after fill?

Healthy Grandma · June 28, 2008

I was banded on May 19 and had my first fill on June 24. I lost 15 pounds from the banding day to the first fill. Woo-hoo. :angry:

The nurse-practictioner numbed me up first and then had me partially sit up after she felt around for the port. I think it took 4 tries because I have four puncture holes. She pressed quite hard and it hurt a lot with the pressure on the port. I'm envious of those who say they didn't feel a thing. All in all it wasn't too bad though.

Anyway, I'm still having pain around the port area and when I lie down, I can see that it's a little swollen. There's no redness. Is this normal? Is it because there was a lot of pressure on the almost healed port? I hate to call the doctor if this is normal, but it seems that it's hurt more yesterday and today. I've never read about anyone else having this problem, so I thought I'd ask.

Healthy Grandma

daisybug · June 29, 2008

4 attempts and lots of poking and prodding would make anyone sore! I am so sorry your first fill went like that. It will probably be sore for a couple days, but if it starts turning red or hurts MORE, call your doctor immediately. I have had GOOD fills and BAD fills. Some nurses are really good at it and others are just suck.

Ask for a different nurse next time! Don't be shy about that at all.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY !!

278/234/180

Lunabeane · June 29, 2008

I went for my first fill yesterday at noon. He numbed the area as well and found the port right away. It took him a couple of minutes to prime the port and get all of the air out. I wouldn't say that I was sore but I am aware of the area. I would definately inquire about another nurse doing your fill. I was very nervous but the numbing agent that he used made the whole experience pain free for me.

Feel better soon.

pjd3253 · June 29, 2008

I was banded on May 19 and had my first fill on June 24. I lost 15 pounds from the banding day to the first fill. Woo-hoo. :thumbup:
The nurse-practictioner numbed me up first and then had me partially sit up after she felt around for the port. I think it took 4 tries because I have four puncture holes. :crying: She pressed quite hard and it hurt a lot with the pressure on the port. I'm envious of those who say they didn't feel a thing. All in all it wasn't too bad though.

Anyway, I'm still having pain around the port area and when I lie down, I can see that it's a little swollen. There's no redness. Is this normal? Is it because there was a lot of pressure on the almost healed port? I hate to call the doctor if this is normal, but it seems that it's hurt more yesterday and today. I've never read about anyone else having this problem, so I thought I'd ask.

Healthy Grandma

I have asked several times on this post about post-op swelling around the port I just had my surgery yesterday morning. The port area sticks out like a goose egg. I can't believe that after reading hundreds of these posts I can't get an answer to that question. Thanks.

Lunabeane · June 29, 2008

I asked my Nurse Practioner about the goose egg on my stomach yesterday. He said that the swelling is gone from my surgery and that it depends how much fat is on top of the port. As I lose weight the goose egg might diminish but he could not give me a definitive answer. He said that we would have to wait and see and then might consider a low profile port if it still sticks up.

It does stick up pretty far in my opinion...so much that you can see it when I wear shells under my suit jacket. If I have my suit jacket unbuttoned and I look in the mirror my shell hangs on it. I'm not sure if I'm explaining that right!

Healthy Grandma · June 29, 2008

Thanks for the answers. It's still a little sore, but it makes sense that all that stabbing and pressing would hurt. Since she numbed it first, I didn't feel the needle go in but then it seemed to meet resistance when she tried to get it into the port--that hurt. She said I had "tough skin." I'm hopeful that the next one on June 30 goes easier. Maybe the port will be totally healed. I think she's the only one in the office that does the fills. I can feel the port quite close to the skin and the roundness and indentation in the middle. I can't figure out why it should be so difficult to find, but I guess it's not as easy as I think it should be.

Feeling Better Grandma