One year...time for endo?

alice · December 24, 2005

My one year will be the 3rd of Jan. My port area has been bothering me for several weeks now, getting worse it seems. I am making plans to fly to Mx to see Dr. Sanchez for my one year...

I am concerned about port infection although I have no fever and it seems I would have fever if I had an infection.

I am also concerned about erosion and everything else...

I have lost some restriction, but not totally. I have lost over 30lbs and think that I may just need a fill.

If anyone could share there endoscopy experience I would appreciate it as I am nervouse about it..:ogre

bandayed · December 24, 2005

Good for you -- after reading Delara's posts about her endo and the results, I am glad you are going for one. Especially if you have port issues. How long since you have had a fill, maybe that's just what you need. Good luck with your upcoming appt!

DeLarla · December 24, 2005

Please study all my threads - please. Infected ports can and do lead to erosion. An infected port won't give you a fever (well, it might but I never had one.) I had 2 port removals due to infection, and I was diagnosed with erosion this week. I started a thread the other day about the importance of an endoscopy.

Is your port inflamed, hot, red? If so, it's most likely infected and needs to be removed. But please don't get all worried because maybe the port just shifted after losing weight. If there's no infection and it bothers you a lot, they can do a port revision. But if it's infected, that means you should keep an extra special watch on your band. You're very smart to have paid attention to loss of restriction, which could be a sign of erosion, but again it just might be a sign of "time for a fill."

PM me if you want to talk and I'll give you my number. Don't let all this worry you. I've been accused of trying to scare people with my infection and erosion stories but that's not what I want. I just want everyone to have the greatest band experience possible. Good luck and PLEASE keep in touch with me, k?

alice · December 24, 2005

Thanks DeLarla. I appreciate your honesty and willingness to follow through with sharing the information and experiences you have had. Information is power and I want to be informed about the positives and negitives. I have had an anxiety disorder in the past and could allow myself to get anxious about all of this, but instead, I choose to be informed and use good self-care.

I am not red or inflamed at all. I think my port is too big and it touches something inside that causes referred pain to my shoulder at times. One day I had discomfort for about three hours and called Dr. Sanchez in Mx.

I have made contact with alma, Sanchez's assistant about going to Mx for my one year and am just waiting to hear from her.

Don't worry about people being scared, the more information the better. I don't buy into the "ignorance is bliss" saying, lol.

DeLarla · December 24, 2005

It's all about taking care of ourselves. Don't ignore symtoms and hope they'll go away. We have this foreign device in our belly that needs special care