Do they attach the port to you

muckstack · June 30, 2008

Just curious- Is the port attached to you or is it free flowing? which is better and does anyone know generally why they flip and are they free flowing or attached when they are more likly to do that. I guess i read somewhere they do both and wondered which is better.

I am starting my liver shrinking diet tomorrow!:wink_smile:

Doddie63 · June 30, 2008

congratulations on the start of your journey. It will be worth it. You probably would get the best answer to your question if you ask your surgeon what he does. The practice of stitching the port or leaving it in a pocket of fat next to the skin is a surgeon's choice. Mine is the second and it turned on its side. I had it corrected, but there is no quarantee it will not turn again. Stitching causes more pain after surrgery and there is more chance, the tubing will break. Example take a metal object and a plastic tube and bend it back and forth. It will probably break at the connection. Apparently turning the port or fixing the tubing is not too serious. There are a variety of bands on the market, and your surgeon is the only one to tell you what his choices are.

Edited June 30, 2008 by Doddie63
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LB4Life · July 5, 2008

I spoke with my surgeon last night and he said that the port is stitched into place with 4 sutures. I suppose each Dr. does it differently, so definately ask if this is something that concerns you. I had such a long list of questions that I talked to my surgeon for 40 minutes then called the clinic to ask the "administrative" questions, for another 40 minutes. From my understanding the fliped port occurs when scar tissue forms around the port site and moves the port. In any event, if this occurs it is fully covered under my plan and the clinic will fix the problem. Some have indicated on this site that if the port flips and the nurse is properly trained then they are still able to do the fills/unfills without another surgery, but my surgeon definately indicates this issue should be resolved with another surgery. I feel more at ease knowing it is stitched in place and that by strictly following the post-op care to allow things to heal in place (first six weeks) then you have a far less chance of issues.