jojo7

I had the infection at the beginning and they believed it healed with IV antibiotics and the wound did close but then the infection came back and they had to open the wound and then it would not close. Not sure if the infection ever did truly go away or just lingered. Now that it is over I think of it as a bump in the road toward my goal. At the time it seemed like a mountain to climb blocking my road. I know it is tough because I've been there. I've done the whole "why did I do this". I got though it and so will you. It will be worth it in the end. Good luck and try to keep thinking of the future. I know at 123 pounds lighter my future is definately brighter. I have 50 pounds left to lose and I'm going to focus (that really means get my butt out and excercise) and try and get them off by Christmas.

Evidently my doctor uses two size ports. The low profile port is harder to fill so he does not use it on anyone who has a lot of weight to lose. But after you lose the weight a lot of people opt to put in a low profile so it does not stick out as much. I had lost over 100 pounds before the port replacement so I felt it would be a good time for me to switch. The less surgery the better for me. I'm a poor healer. He tried to talk me out of it but I was adamant that is what I wanted. Now that I know I probably will never get a fill, I'm so glad I got the low profile port. It is not as big of a problem now that it is in my lower belly vs between my breasts. Before it interfered with my underwire. I told him that was a bad place before surgery but he said that is where he puts them all. Not any more. I'm always ahead of the time. :biggrin2:

When my port was removed I had no fill due to other complications. It was out for 6 weeks while I healed. Then a new port was put in and I let my doctor talk me into allowing him to fill me on the table. I had to eventually have that fill removed because when my band has fill it changes the shape of my stomach and causes me to build up gas and then throw up gas. Very uncomfortable. The symptoms from the infection were clear. I was first red and had a bump where my stitch was. The doctor opened me up and clean out the infection but I would not heal properly. I had an open wound I took care of for about 4 weeks. I kept telling him something was wrong and the port had come to the surface and he said I was crazy. It was only after I made him pack the wound and he hit the port that he decided I needed it removed. Again I had no fill so it was not big deal. I still have no fill in my band and I'm doing fine. Since banding I really am rarely hungry. I do have some willpower and when I don't the band is there and stops me.

I'd do it again and I'd recommend it but mine was not without problems. I had an infection in the port right after surgery. I didn't eat for a week while and had to get IV antibiotics. Then I was better for a while and then the first fill and all hell broke loose. I was vomiting air for two weeks. Saw a gastroenterologist and lap band doctor (who took out all my fill) and neither could figure it out. Was diagnosed with H Pylori. Took the meds and got better. Then the infection came back. Wouldn't go away so I had to have the port removed. 6 weeks later had it replaced and a small fill (ok I asked for a small fill but the doctor went overboard). Got sick again. Didn't eat for three weeks while both the lap band doctor and gastroenterologist went through the series of tests. Got unfilled again. Finally it went away. It was decided but not known for sure that fills change the shape of my stomach and cause it not to work so I will not be getting a fill. I haven't needed one and have lost 123 pounds in a year. Yes I've been sick but I am so much healthier now and I know without the band I would still be morbidly obese and facing diabetis and high blood pressure and all the other things I was dealing with. I won't say I didn't have days that I said WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING. But now they are in the past and I'm moving forward to loose my last 50 pounds without a fill. I've been on a plateau but I'm starting to excercise and I'm seeing a difference. Good luck and hang in there. No one said it was an easy solution. It takes work. Anything worthwhile usually does.

Yes my original port got infected. I had mine replaced. It was not that bad. I actually had mine put in a new location and opted to put in the low profile port at the same time. It is in a much better location. Before it interfered with my bra underwire.

I have a question. I have a 10cc band with 2cc in (1 fill). The doctor wanted to put more in last Wednesday but I told him I was not hungry and loosing pretty steadily so why mess with it. I guess I thought I only have 10cc and I don't want to fill up too quickly or I won't have any left to fill and still have weight to loose. I have so far to go still. Am I looking at this wrong?

I refused to let them do my second fill after they told me it was mandatory. I'm loosing weight consistently and I'm not hungry. I don't understand why the doctors can't listen to us more. I am so glad I didn't let them bully me into it after reading about too much fill. Thanks.

I get a pain where if I take a deep breath it is excrutiating. I didn't know what it was at first but now I know. It is gas. Try Gas-X and see if you can try forcing yourself to burp. Most of all relax. Anxiety makes it worse. Try walking too.