Freaked Out About A Flipped Port!!!

kat72 · September 16, 2005

Today during a conversation with my therapist, she informed me that another one of her patients had the band a while ago. She looks awesome and is doing great right now, but apparently, some time after her surgery, she discovered that she had a flipped port. My therapist told me that the woman was in intensive care for 2 WEEKS!!! and almost died from a terrible infection that was brought about due to the flipping of her band/port? It flipped and caused a rupture in her colon (OUCH!!!). She also told me that the woman was in excruciating pain. Is anyone familiar with this? Is it a rare occurence or what?

"with the band" · September 16, 2005

no - but thanks for the freak out - that's all i needed. Sometimes this is like one big scary movie.....

La_madam · September 16, 2005

My girlfriend has been banded for 17 months now and had a flipped port back in November, and just yesterday she had her port removed due to an absess under the port, she was in severe pain for several days and went to the Er, and thye could not ifnd the rpoblem so she flew back to TJ and had Dr. Ortiz do an endo and they found the problem, it does happen , it is rare, Main thiong is if you know something is not right to act on it immediately and call your Dr...Don't hesitaste

kat72 · September 18, 2005

Thanx a bunch, la-madam,and with the band, I'm sorry about freaking you out. I too was freaked out when I heard this story, but I had to ask about this issue. I'm trying to find all of the info. I possibly can (good and not so good) related to the band.

sunsett · September 18, 2005

Does this happen much and is it always so serious?

Jessiebear · September 19, 2005

I had a flipped port but it wasn't serious. I had it repaired in an outpatient procedure. No big deal. At least not for me. Infection is a possibility with any surgery or procedure. It's just one of the risks. But for me it seemed like a relatively small risk. Just make sure that anyone who accesses your port uses proper technique (betadine, sterile gloves, etc.).