Hello all!!

So here is the story. I was banded on May 11th 2011. Everything has been going great, about a week out of surgery I had no pain. I was walking daily and feeling really good. Then last tuesday, day 13 post op, I decided to try a Zumba class and about 30 minutes in to the class I started to feel this burning pain about 4-6 inches, directly above my belly button. I stopped doing the class and I figured I would just rest and see what happened. I was hoping that after a few days It would stop hurting, but actually it slowly started to hurt more and more. The pain is not very bad when I am laying down, sitting, or slowly walking, but when I bend down to sit or pick something up I get a very sharp, burning pain, that takes my breath away.

When I lay down I feel a small lump in the area that I feel this pain. I do not know where my port and I wonder if my port has migrated or if that is where is is suppose to be. From what I have read I always thought that the port where off to the right side or left side and I remember my doctor saying that he usually put the port on the right side. I do not have a incision in this area, the closes incision is about 2 inches above the pain.

I called the nurses line on friday and never heard back, so I just blew it off, but I am a little worried because I go back to work on Monday and I have a very physical job, and my co worker do not know that I had this surgery, I am not sure if I can do my job with this pain.

Thank you for any advise!

NV

You need to get in contact with your surgeon. I know it's a holiday weekend, but you can't go back to a physically demanding job without being checked by your doctor. Your surgeon should have an answering service that can get in contact with him/her.

Take it easy and no more Zumba or other abdominally challenging activity until you are cleared by your surgeon.

i agree to get in contact with your surgeon. Zumba is a pretty intense class to be taking only 13 days post op, ( alot of ab work). I am a therapist and have returned to work, but cuz of the 10 pound weight lifting restriction, my supervisor has moved my caseload around so i dont have heavy patients. Do you have a lifting restriction?

Your surgeon can do a fluoroscope and see exactly what's going on. It's like a x ray machine, but for moving things, and you see it all on the screen. If something is not right they will see it.

My Doctor released me back to work with no restrictions.

i agree to get in contact with your surgeon. Zumba is a pretty intense class to be taking only 13 days post op, ( alot of ab work). I am a therapist and have returned to work, but cuz of the 10 pound weight lifting restriction, my supervisor has moved my caseload around so i dont have heavy patients. Do you have a lifting restriction?

It sounds to me like the "lump" you are talking about is your port, but the type of pain you described isn't normal and you need to see your doctor. After surgery, I was released to start working out but told no ab exercises for 6 weeks.

My Doctor released me back to work with no restrictions.

I believe you but I just can't believe he did that! You shouldn't be lifting things or doing anything strenuous. My doctor even said no exercise except for walking for the first six weeks!

My surgery was May 5th, I started Zumba last week. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, you can feel if your doing too much. On the video my doctor made me watch, it showed that they attach the port to the muscle wall so it shouldn't be just floating around. BUT I will tell you this, I went for my first fill on Friday and the nurse couldn't get the needle into the port because it had turned. It was awful, she stuck me twice and was digging around trying to make contact. I was rescheduled for this week so the doctor can do it. The nurse told me they won't have to go back in and correct it. She said scar tissue develops around the port and holds it in place, but I don't have enough scar tissue yet. So it's possible yours may have moved a little, but I wouldn't stress about. You should still call your doctor and make sure it's okay first chance you get.

Actual physical pain that doesn't fade away rapidly is indicator your doc should be contacted. There is a host of possibilities that can not be determined without face to face exam by your doctor. May be something, may be nothing. Go find out and let us know.

So I talk to my doctor and he said that it is fine. He doesn't seem concerned about the pain. I will just have to work through it. I figure if am still in pain on tuesday I will make a appointment to see him.

Thanks everyone for all the great advise