3 surgeries in 6 months!!! HELP!!!

[beckalicious 0]

I had my surgery May 12th 2008. I had several problems right after my surgery with throwing up, and lots of pain. By mid July I was schedule for a port removal/replacement because my doctor could not find my port, and said it had flipped.

After my 2nd surgery I was feeling alot better. He gave me a fill by mid August, which to me did not do anything for me. By November I was back in the operating room for another port removal/replacement surgery. He had told me that my port had completely detached its self from my abdominal wall, and that it needed to be moved to my rib cage. So the day before Thanksgiving I was back on the operating table. One of the most painful things i've gone through in my life. After surgery, I felt like I was beaten by a baseball bat in my ribs. I feel my port rubbing on my ribs, I can not lay on my side, stomach I cant even bend down to reach for something on the ground with out feeling the tube pulling on my lapband. With everything happening so fast with throwing me into surgery I did not have time to try to get a second opinion. I called around to a few doctors that wouldnt see me b/c in their eyes.. I'm "tainted".

Has anyone gone through, or know someone whose gone through port replacements? I need to know that i'm not alone!?! Is this even normal?

[texasweb 0]

I had my surgery May 12th 2008. I had several problems right after my surgery with throwing up, and lots of pain. By mid July I was schedule for a port removal/replacement because my doctor could not find my port, and said it had flipped.

After my 2nd surgery I was feeling alot better. He gave me a fill by mid August, which to me did not do anything for me. By November I was back in the operating room for another port removal/replacement surgery. He had told me that my port had completely detached its self from my abdominal wall, and that it needed to be moved to my rib cage. So the day before Thanksgiving I was back on the operating table. One of the most painful things i've gone through in my life. After surgery, I felt like I was beaten by a baseball bat in my ribs. I feel my port rubbing on my ribs, I can not lay on my side, stomach I cant even bend down to reach for something on the ground with out feeling the tube pulling on my lapband. With everything happening so fast with throwing me into surgery I did not have time to try to get a second opinion. I called around to a few doctors that wouldnt see me b/c in their eyes.. I'm "tainted".

Has anyone gone through, or know someone whose gone through port replacements? I need to know that i'm not alone!?! Is this even normal?

Just curious .. which band did you get .. Lapband or Realize Band?

[Band_Groupie 3]

Wow, you poor thing! I haven't noticed anyone here having it replaced twice in less than a year!!! Does your surgeon's office have other surgeon's in it that you could see (I'm assuming not)? I'm sure everyone here will want to know who your surgeon is as this sounds like his fault to me! Maybe you could contact your insurance to see if they will approve a "fix"...then you could approach other Drs. with pre-approval. I know my docs take on all the hard cases/revisions in Pittsburgh (and they're the best) that none of the other hospitals will touch; be aware that can make their 'stats' a little worse which is why most won't want you, but I'm sure even if you have to drive farther you'll be able to find someone. Good luck!

[dc-5947375 0]

I am contemplating getting the LapBand on the advice of my endocrinologist, this is probably my last chance, I am 55 and weigh 360. First blog entry I have read is this one regarding 3 surgeries in 6 months. Now I'm scared.

[cmstrong 0]

I beleive several other members of this forum that the three surguries in one year is quite the rare occurance. Keep reading more of the other posts and I think you will become less frightened.

[tennisgal 0]

I can't comment on multiple surgeries, but I will say that I felt the rib pain/rubbing after my surgery. It really scared me b/c I couldn't sit in the car to drive w/out that rubbing feeling and it would turn into a sharp pain whenever I turned a certain way. A heating pad helped tremendously and I really took it easy for a few days and then one day that rubbing feeling just went away. Everything else with my surgery went pretty well except for that. Hopefully, it's just the new position of the port. I feel like mine is much lower than my ribs but for some reason there was always that feeling like it was rubbing my ribs.

[beckalicious 0]

I had the regular lapband placed. My doctor is an asshole to the "problem patients". My best friend had the surgery from him, a month after me, and shes been out of work since September b/c of all her complications.

I have called around to different doctors in the area, they will not see me b/c I am already with another doctor. I work in a call center that has 5 of his patients in it, all of them, have not been successful as they would of like to be. Getting fills, does not help any of us either. In fact when i get a fill, it makes me munch all day.

I would recommend the surgery to people, but just not my doctor. I know several other people that have gotten the surgery from different doctors, and they have been very successful, and look great! So please do not read this and be discourged from getting the surgery. With anything there are always lemons!

[beckalicious 0]

I can't comment on multiple surgeries, but I will say that I felt the rib pain/rubbing after my surgery. It really scared me b/c I couldn't sit in the car to drive w/out that rubbing feeling and it would turn into a sharp pain whenever I turned a certain way. A heating pad helped tremendously and I really took it easy for a few days and then one day that rubbing feeling just went away. Everything else with my surgery went pretty well except for that. Hopefully, it's just the new position of the port. I feel like mine is much lower than my ribs but for some reason there was always that feeling like it was rubbing my ribs.

Was your port orginially placed on your rib cage?

[beckalicious 0]

I am contemplating getting the LapBand on the advice of my endocrinologist, this is probably my last chance, I am 55 and weigh 360. First blog entry I have read is this one regarding 3 surgeries in 6 months. Now I'm scared.

Please dont listen to my story and get discourged. You have to do what is best for you. I do have to say though.. I am 26 years old, and I weighed 320lbs. I've lost 70lbs in between all the surgeries.And I do feel alot better about myself. I just keep thinking that "pain is beauty"

[beckalicious 0]

Wow, you poor thing! I haven't noticed anyone here having it replaced twice in less than a year!!! Does your surgeon's office have other surgeon's in it that you could see (I'm assuming not)? I'm sure everyone here will want to know who your surgeon is as this sounds like his fault to me! Maybe you could contact your insurance to see if they will approve a "fix"...then you could approach other Drs. with pre-approval. I know my docs take on all the hard cases/revisions in Pittsburgh (and they're the best) that none of the other hospitals will touch; be aware that can make their 'stats' a little worse which is why most won't want you, but I'm sure even if you have to drive farther you'll be able to find someone. Good luck!

No it doesn't, when i orginially got setup with this doctor, I had to sign a 10 year contract. I dont know what that is all about, but i know my rights... and i know i'm entitled to a second opinion. I have called other doctors in the area, and they refuse to see me. I think I might have to go elsewhere to get seen.

[beckalicious 0]

Just curious .. which band did you get .. Lapband or Realize Band?

I belive it is just the regular one. What is the other one?

[tennisgal 0]

I'm honestly not sure about those details...I don't think it was attached TO the rib cage but my scar is almost right under the last rib and that's exactly what my pain felt like...like it was rubbing against thelowest part of my ribs. Your situation might be totally different. I just wanted you to know that those pains could be just the healing process. It took a couple of weeks for the pain to go completely away but felt better maybe within a week after the first severe pain. Good luck. It does sound like you have a bad doc and a tough situation.