Port tipped?

clg8579 · July 27, 2005

Ok, here's a new one for me. Banded in Mexico 5/26 and everything has pretty much been fine. Went to a local doctor for my first fill 5 weeks later. He had a really difficult time getting the saline needle into the port. He pushed and pushed for all he was worth until he FINALLY got it in. (I was actually bruised). He told me even though the ultrasound didn't show it he thought my port was tipped. Went back to him a week later because the fill didn't take and he was able to get the needle in right away. He explained he should be able to feel the top of the port, similar to the shape of a dime, but all he was feeling was an edge. I personally haven't felt anything.

The other day I leaned against my cupboard right in the port area. Since then I have been able to feel the port. All I have to do is run my hand over my stomach and I can feel it (I don't have to push at all). But all I can feel is on the left side of the port - certainly not a dime shape. There isn't any pain. I've lost some weight (28.5lbs) put don't really think that's why all of a sudden I can feel it.

The question is this - If something is not right I would feel much better going to my original surgeon in TJ to have him look at it. However, I paid a lot of $ to this local doctor and he wouldn't charge anything to fix it (except hospital costs if necessary). I'm just not as comfortable with him. Has anyone had their port flip or get tipped? How does it get fixed? Is it expensive? Sorry for the long post - thanks for the advice.

Chris

Penni60 · July 27, 2005

About 4 months after my band surgery, I was having problems with my port. It had tilted and was causing the tubing to almost protrude through the skin. I went to my original TJ surgeon and he said, "It will go back in place after you lose more weight." NO LIE!

I didn't believe him and got a second opinion by a US surgeon. Thank goodness I did. He told me that if I had waited much longer the tubing would have protruded through my skin and I would have had to have my port removed due to exposure.

I had my port repositioned by a US surgeon in a US hospital and it was nearly $7000. My insurance covered part of that.

P.T. loser · July 29, 2005

When I went for my first fill in June, my dr. couldn't access my port. I made an appt. to have it done under flouro. My port was tilted, the dr. giving me the fill was able to press on my tummy and it tilted upward so he was able to fill me. I go back next week for my second fill under flouro. I'm going to continue to have my fills done under flouro till I hit my "sweet spot".

Patty

P.T. loser · July 29, 2005

Just wanted to add, I don't feel anything strange or have any pain.

Patty

momof4 · July 29, 2005

I got my first fill, under fluoro this week because another patient cancelled their appt. so I was fortunate enough to take their spot. My doctor couldn't find my port either. He never said it was tilted or flipped or anything like that, he just couldn't find it.

It seriously took him 1/2 hour, 4 or 5 novocaine (sp?) shots and about 50 needle holes before he found it. I could hear the frustration in his voice everytime he stuck the needle in and couldn't find it. It made me feel like I had done something wrong, even though I know it wasn't my fault or his. Finally, he got it and then he turned to me and apologized and said, "I'm sorry, but you have a lot of holes in your stomach." LOL. :nervous

Jessiebear · July 30, 2005

My port was tilted also. I had a lot of pain at the port site almost immediately after surgery. I just thought it was surgical pain. When I went for my first fill my doc couldn't access it. Had to make another appt. for it to be done under fluoro. Sure enough it was flipped. My doc repaired it in a procedure that took 2 hours. Not a big deal at all. opened the same incision. He didn't charge me anything. The hospital charged me $700. Good luck!

patty · August 5, 2005

There are 3 surgeons in my Dr's office. Today I was scheduled for a fill. The Dr that was there to do the fill tried and tried and tried, but she couldnt get it. I was soooo bummed out. She seems to think that my port has tipped or flipped, so she made an appt for me to have a fill under flouro next week.

My surgeon is on vacation and I think my Dr could have done it. He was able to do a fill a month ago without jabbing me 4 times!! I will go in next week and have the flouro fill, but I will make sure my surgeon will do the rest of my fills!!

Patty