Port placements

woodkd · July 23, 2004

Hi,

I am getting banded August 26th and was wondering about port placement. I've read about it placed in the lower part of the abdomen, in the sternam area etc... I've also read about it being sutured and other doctors don't suture. Where is the best place to have it placed and should it be sutured? Is it possible to request where the port is placed? Also are there statistics regarding port placements and fewer problems?

Thanks,

Debbie

La_madam · July 23, 2004

Hi Debbie

Congratulations on taking the step to having your band..you will love it!

My port is placed on the lower left side of my stomach and it is sutured, my doctor sutures it so it has less chance of flipping, at least that is what I was told. SO far so good..no prot problems other then a little pulling feeling every now and then which I was also told was normal. Good Luck to you

New Hope · July 23, 2004

Debbie, mine is stitched in place in the sternum location. It's actually about 1 1/2 inches below my bra band and 7 inches above my belly button. Mine is pretty much dead center. It doesn't bother me. I didn't know anything about there even being different locations until after I had surgery. I think it just depends on your surgeon. I am going to ask him about that when I see him on 7/29.

sassaay · July 23, 2004

Mine is on the right hand side about 2 inches above my waist. if my doc has to replace my band due to a leak, she said she was going to move it more towards my side, but in the same general area. She has had many problems accessing my port, having to stick me multiple times, even under floro. It is stitched in place, but she thinks all my exercising has caused it to tilt w/ my 6-pack!!!

Who would of thought... me with a 6 pack! Too bad there is about 5 inches of FAT covering it. HA!

New Hope · July 23, 2004

Anne, what type of exercising do you do? I've been nervous about doing anything for the abdomen. But I definitely need to!

hagerteresa · July 24, 2004

I think my port is in the pretty typical spot a few inches below left breast and between my side and my belly button. I HATE IT THERE!!! For about the second or third time I have irritated it doing ab workouts at Water aerobics. It will hurt when I take deep breaths. The first time around I swore I must have had pnuemonia or something. It is just a throbbing kind of pain. I just did it yesterday so it is still a sensitive topic. It hurts the worst the evening it occurrs, it isn't a horrible something is terribly wrong feeling but it is annoying and sore. Today it was a lot better but still can definitely feel it too. Nothing LOOKS out of order, no color, lumps or bumps or nothing of any kind so I am assuming I just actually USED that stubborn stomach muscle. I just think it is a stupid annoying spot to have put the thing. If I had any input in it, I would have chosen somewhere else. Teresa