Devotedlillly

I had my infected port removed 10 days ago. The plan is 1 to 2 moths IV antibiotics and then a new port. My blood count is great. No infections showing. However I am having cramping pains in left side ( stomach?) I have read other people speaking of this. How long does this last? I am seeing my surgeon Friday , but some times people who lived through it, know more I had my band 12 years ..very successful and I am worried. I don't think it is gas from the surgery because it is localized to my stomach . Thanks! Can't wait to get my port back..life is so strange without it..

I was banded 12 years ago by dr Leung in surrey, bc. When I was banded, I was lucky to have my surgery covered by bc medical . about 6 months later, they stopped all funding. I have had three port revisions. I currently have an infected port. I called dr.leung, but his phone is not in service ...hmmm.. I was told dr. Amson assisted in my original surgery. I called his office, and they agreed to see me. Yesterday he told me my port needed to be removed ASAP and I needed to be on antibiotics and then my port replaced. He could not do it or me. He suggested dr woodhesd or another dr. I called both today, and was told they would not fix it for me, however if I wanted to pay $7000 I could wait 6 to 8 weeks and they would remove it. I suggested by that point I would be dead, but thank you for the offer of taking my money..what??? I have an oozing infection, a medical issue, that needs to be dealt with..and I am being looked at as a dollar sign. Anyway, beyond that...I need some suggestions , and I need them fast! I don't want to loose my band. I have no doctor in charge of me now, and nobody will take me....help!!!!! I need help before the infection reaches my stomach!!!! Suggestions???? Maybe I should go to Mexico???

After two months of living with an infected port I finally found a doctor who would help me . I live in Canada. It was very hard to find a doctor to take me on. I had my infected port removed on Tuesday. Luckily the infection has not spread beyond my port , and he was able to leave my tubing and band in. He used steri strips , no staples or stiches , and the plan is to replace the port in 4-6 weeks of IV antibiotics..my tubing is loose inside me. Although the incision is large and bleeding a lot, it is not very painful. Most of the pain is coming from my stomach. Is this normal? I had an X-ray and they said everything looks fine. I had my band 12 years. Maybe it is cramping or gas from the surgery? It is really painful! I am just so thankful I could keep my band. I am up 10 pounds already ..is this from the surgery? Has this happened to anyone before? Eve

Thank you for the link..I will contact her. No, they only did an X-ray . I never lost any restriction, so my doctor felt the infection was still contained at my port. They did a CT and it showed that the infection was only at the port, they said. With the surgery wait time, I have been on a PICC line IV antibiotic now for a couple weeks. I think it gave my body a head Start to heal. I give this to myself Dailey . My doc figures for another 6-8 weeks. My stomach pain is like a cramping. And I now notice it is worse when I eat. I see my doctor next week. My incision is still weeping, but I am thrilled to keep my band. 12 years in and pretty much at my goal, the emotions I am feeling right now are strange. I just want things back to " normal" And pain free would be nice

I just got home. Not from mexico..yet. I have been to a bariatric specialist and I know my infection is not coming from my band.I have been to two emergency departments, I just returned from my second. This time I went to a bigger hospital and I think I lucked out! First time they sent me home and said to see my doctor ? This time my personal doctors nurse called me at home and said to go and not leave till I got care Up until now I have been turned away from every doctor , nobody will take me because I feel they are afraid of a law case. Things are different in Canada. This is an elective surgery. They don't have to take me. While in emerge THIS time, I got another CT scan, the surgeon called his friend who is new at lapbands with an "interesting case" , I am so excited to have someone helping me!!! So far he agreed to replace the port , which the first bariatric surgeon recommended. He wants me on IV antibiotics right away. Just waiting for the culture to come back. I have tracked down my old band serial number and found where to get the replacement part. I send 4 emails to Mexico and only got one reply, telling me to go to my own doctor..hmmm you know its bad when Mexico wont even do it! Every day the chance of the infection travelling down the tube increases and I might lose my band.I am so happy I finally found someone to help me. Thank you for your support! Lets see if it gets done on time

I am Canadian and my doctor retired. My port is severly infected. It has noteached my band yet. I need my port taken out and then replaced. No doctor will touch me here. Has anyone gone to mexico to have their port replaced, when it is infected??

I am on antibiotics right now. I did call Dr Nguyen , he was one of the doctors Dr Amson referred me to. The person on the phone said it would be at least 6 weeks to see him, this was after she said he was not taking any new patients though... On Monday I will return to my dr and see if he can refer me to him again...that is good news... I wonder if it is covered because he initially banded u? At least this gives me some hope. In the meantime, I am getting sicker. The discharge is getting more and more each day And the pain is increasing Thank you for some hope. On monday I will have to make a plan

Unfortunately the band is done in private clinics here only. ER departments just look at you and tell you to go the DR the put it in. My Dr has retired. That is the problem. No one will take me.

Over the years I have had 3 tipped ports. Go in, have em fixed...it hurts, but back to normal! I have been working a lot, and my port has been tipped for a while. But this time rubbing against my clothes. I have lost almost all my weight, and don't have any more padding. My port reallllly sticks out! I called my doc only to learn he had retired. In the meantime ( I am a flight attendant ) in shanghai, I ended up in he hospital after my port started spewing goo all the way down my leg. Long storey short..a week later, I finally get into a bariatric surgeon today. He tells me I need my port taken off, wait 4 to 6 weeks, on antibiotics, and hope to save my band. Then another operation to attach a new port. This is all self pay in Canada Has anyone done this successfully? Has anyone lost thier band? I can't imagine life without it. I also need a doctor to take me.. Sad day

Thank you , that info is great..I am printing it out to take to my GP..right now it is just my port that is infected. But if I don't get a surgeon that will take me soon, it will get to my band.. I am thinking of hoping on a plane and going to Mexico . I can't get a dr in Canada to take me on as a patient. They will take out my band...for 7000... In 8 weeks! Thanks..I'll be dead by then haha!

I am wondering how things went for you ? After 12 years of having my band , I am now facing the same thing... I am so scared. I have had my port fixed 3 times, but the thought of losing my "friend" is unnerving ! Please let us know how it went