Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Have You Ever Heard Of A Doctor Having Trouble Finding The Port?



Recommended Posts

Thanks

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So what do you do? How many fills have you had, and or need? Today, I went for a fill and after numerous attempts he said he didn't wanna keep going so I'll go back next week.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Up until my last fill, no problems, but it appears my port has tilted slightly which meant he had to dig around a bit with the needle (yes, ouch), but he was eventually able to find it. He said it may be all right next time, it may stay tilted or it may totally flip, in which case it would need to be repaired via day surgery.

He did also state that his flip rate is just 1 in 100 so the odds are clearly in my favour!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

One hint I can give is to do a little crunch on the table. It makes it easier for them to feel the port so they know where to stick the needle.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

At my first fill the doc stuck the needle and said to the muse " can you believe I got this onthe first try!?!?!?". I replied, "it is probably better that you NOT say that when patients are awake and can hear you!"

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes my fill doctor does not use flouroscopy and has a heck of a time. He has hit the side of the rubber stopper and into the plastic and it hurts. My surgeon does it under fluoro and hits it just right of course. There is a new band wagon coming through my city with xray so I am going to switch over to them to be safe. I'm not trying to be gross but the way my port is placed bowels also seem to make a difference.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes just about every time with mine , as a matter a fact I just had to go back in and have surgery because at some point of him trying to find mine it got a hole in my tubing from the port to the band, was struggling to stay restricted and even with that hole in it and losing all my fill twice I still somehow managed to lose 2 lbs :blink:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

From how my surgeon explained, the body is losing weight so the location of the port has somewhat changed ( mine higher) I was banded dec 21, 2010. I just had a barium x ray of my band to watch the flow of it and make sure it is working properly. He may need to look at this for future location. I never knew it would change its spot...I had even tattooed my spot so he could find it with a own each month!!!!! Crazy but my phobia.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My dr has had problems EVERY time I go in for a fill. I was banded 12/22/11, and when I went for my first fill in Feb, my port had flipped. So, I went in and had then port put back into place. I've had 4 fills since then and everytime, it takes 3-10 pokes to find my port. when I had my last fill, I was told that it has turned a little. The nurse made a note about what position my port is in, but I'm afraid that since its sitting in there sideways, that it will end up flipping again....i sure hope not!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My doctor has a hard time and it takes several pokes but we do it under X-ray do we know it hasn't flipped it seems I have a lot of scar tissue do its difficult to get through. Creepy but I don't have much feeling there so the repeat pokes don't hurt just creep me out lol

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgeon also does the fills. The first fill, she had to try a few times before she got to the center of the port. The last fill she was spot on.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Like you, my surgeon does the fills and he has been spot on every time.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Had my 1st fill today...nurse practitioner hit it the first time...no problems, just a pinch. Have 5 ccs in a 10 cc band now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Onedayatatime365

      Looking to connect with others who are also on the journey of better health. Post-Op Gastric Sleeve (4/11/24).
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×