mellygirl

I have Tricare insurance and they covered everything. I was only out a $25 copay. Had I needed the actual band replaced I would have had to go through the entire approval process again, so I got lucky there.

I have the AP large

Yep, I had mine done a little over a month ago. I had a microleak in the elbow portion of the port. It was a minimal outpatient procedure and the recovery was really quick.

As much as it stinks to have to have the port replaced, it really isn't a difficult surgery. At least if I HAD to have a complication, it was this instead of something worse or something that would make me lose my band. I would have my port replaced again if it meant no further complications! Good luck to you all.

You should be fine. I was discharged around 1:00 pm and I went to church that night at 5:30. I was completely off my narcotic pain meds in 1 day. I just used them so I could sleep. After that some ibuprofen did the trick but I was in great shape to do whatever I wanted to do as long as I didn't lift anything over 10 pounds. If your job is mostly sedentary then you shouldn't have any problems.

I had to have mine replaced at the hospital, and was not given the option to do it in the office. It is an outpatient procedure as long as it is just the port, but I still had to have general anesthesia. Your issue sounds identical to mine as it appears you are able to maintain volume up to a point where it seems extra pressure forces the saline out. I could always maintain about 3.5 - 4 ccs, but the pressure of the additional saline caused it to leak out. Good luck. The procedure was not a big deal at all, but I don't know how it would be in the office.

I also have Tricare Prime and got my approval back in 2 days. My copay for a visit/fill is $12 after the first 90 days post-op. Feel free to ask me any questions you have. I'm 9 months out and haven't had the first issue with Tricare.

I have had chronic sinusitis my entire life and my surgeon suggested that I drink a glass of water before meals (especially the first one of the day) to flush all the "snot" through the band. After drinking, I wait about 15 minutes for everything to pass on through before I eat, otherwise one bite and I am a sliming mess.

I hope it's okay to just jump into this thread. I was banded on 01/15/09 and have lost 75 lbs. I had a setback in July and have just started losing again as of 09/16/09 when I had a port replacement. I love my band, and even despite having to have a second surgery I would do it all over again in an instant.

Mine was inpatient (1 night) however I had a port replacement that was outpatient.

I take a Target brand prenatal vitamin (not pregnant) and a Citrical petite.

My first fill was 4cc in the AP Large (14cc) band.

Karebare, who is your surgeon? I had surgery through the Norton's group in Louisville.

Thanks everyone. I am healing nicely and my port problem is quickly becoming ancient history now. I have already lost 4 lbs since surgery just having 6cc in my band. We are not sure if there was an issue with the band or if it was punctured during a fill. I have been banded since 01/15/09.

I figured I may as well post here in case anyone else is experiencing anything similar. Back in early July I noticed a loss of restriction and got in to my doctor who was only able to draw back 4.5cc instead of the 7cc I was supposed to have in my band. We monitored this over a couple of 2 week periods and each time I would go from 7cc to 3.5 or 4. He tried to check me under fluoro and was not able to see a leak at all, so I had surgery 09/16/09 to search for a micro leak. My doctor said he injected the dye into my band and nothing happened, so he had to clamp off the tubing and when he injected it again, the saline shot straight up to the ceiling in the operating room. He fit me with a brand new port and I am back in business. He also did a scope on me while I was under and said there is absolutely no sign of any sort of erosion or problems. The second surgery was minimal and only the port incision was re-opened. It was by far the complication that I wanted if I HAD to be the person to have one. Good luck to everyone!