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Does anyone have an issue with port placement??



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My surgery was on June 1st. I know there is probably nothing to be done, but my port sits at my waist. As long as I wear stretchy pants, I don't really notice it. But, that wasn't part of my plan down the line, to wear stretchy clothes all the time. I put on jeans today, and didn't last too long. They pushed on the port and caused pain.

Does anyone else have their port in an uncomfortable place?

Carol

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I am 1 1/2 months post-op and at my appointment today we discussed scar tissue and bruising and even at 1-3 months there can still be a lot of tenderness.

As for uncomfortable places, mine's just under my ribs so I have to kneel right down, I can't bend over without it getting in the way and causing discomfort.

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Thats where I kinda thought it would be. Away from the waist and the bra line. The incision is below the ribs, but the port is about 2 inches lower.

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There are some pants that hit my port at the wrong place because it sticks out a bit. Especially when I sit down. I just tend to pull my pants up over it when sitting to ease the issue. It's not that it's sore, it just feels like it's hitting you in the wrong place and need to adjust it.

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This post is so timely! It is why I logged on this morning. I was banded 5/20/2010 and since I work at home, wearing stretchy clothes was not an issue. Last week I had to attend a business meeting for the week and wear business clothes all day and into dinner.

The band is right at my waist. During the week I was too busy to really notice (it was uncomfortable at the end of the day and I'd try to adjust during the day) but since I have been back I have noticed more tenderness than before.

I had a phenomenal recovery from surgery but now one of my sites is a little infected (handling with peroxide, not too bad) and the largest site is more tender to the touch.

The whole experience last week was bad. In addition, I ate 3 meals a day. At home, I had been having 1-2 Protein drinks and 1-2 meals of soft food. My doctor said I could move to a regular diet because I was doing so well. The only problem I had was when I tried a salad and the cucumbers were too hard to digest no matter how long I chewed. Last week, I had 3 meals per day and tried to keep them small. But no matter what I ate, it seemed to be an huge amount and I felt like I was stretching my pouch.

I know this is a long whiny post, but I am not sure if I have done one or two wrong things to affect my recovery. Wearing tight clothes across my abdomen for too long or eating too much food. :unsure:

And to top it off, I gained 2 pounds from sitting all day long for a week!

Anybody had either of these problems????

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I know this is of no help to you now, but this comment is for future bandsters who read this post...

My doctor had me draw a line with a marker where i wear my pants and my bra on the day of surgery, so he would know where not to place my port. I am glad he was thinking ahead for me! :unsure:

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I had even asked my surgeon before surgery if I had any say as to where the port would be. I was rudely told no. He didn't have the best bedside manner.

That was very considerate of your doctor to ask you.

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CarolWA, your doctor sounds fantastic! I didn't even think about it but I will share with my doctor at my next appointment so maybe it will help new bandsters!

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I had my surgery on May 4th and the area around my port is still sensitive. Infact I was leaning over the washer getting some clothes in the bottom and the washer hit me right int he port area. It had me on my knees in the laundry room for a good minute or two. It may just take some time to heal.

When I had my c-section it took a long time to feel comfortable again. I want to say a few months before all the pain went away.

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CarolWA, your doctor sounds fantastic! I didn't even think about it but I will share with my doctor at my next appointment so maybe it will help new bandsters!

My doctor is far from fantastic. I think you have me mixed up with another post.

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My port placement is fine, but I just wanted to reassure you that your port area will become less and less sensitive over the next few months as you heal. I was told by my surgeon that down the line, if I ever am having surgery in my abdominal region for any other reason (plastic surgery, gallbladder removal, etc.), she could coordinate w/the other surgeon and replace my port w/a lower profile port (assuming I had lost most of my weight by then). So, I would guess if it really proves to be a problem for you in the long term, that it could be moved at a later date. You might also find that when you lose a lot of weight, that you like wearing a lower rise type pant (where the waistband would be lower).

Anyway, try not to worry too much for now. I know my port site was super sensitive for at least a couple months, but now it just feels like a part of me. A lumpy part of me, but not painful or sensitive at all. :->

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I was banded on 4/8 and I noticed today, when I bent over to tie my son's shoes, that it still hurt when I bent at a certain angle. The last few nights the kids have wanted to snuggle with me too and if they lean against me in a certain spot it hurts and then aches for a few hours after.

I'm hoping it gets less tender in the next month or so.

Mary

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I have a major problem with my port placement, which is near the bottom of my rib cage. Any bending at the waist causes extreme pain. My port also sticks way out and looks like a tumor. I'm told that the only resolution is another surgery.

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Hey carol.. I was just banded on monday, and was shocked to see my port site is right at my waistband! What the heck.. I wonder why? I was too groggy to speak with the surgeon, so I'll have to wait 2 weeks to get some answers.. Hope once it is 100% healed, it won't bother us!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

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