Hi all!!

I went in for my second fill, for the first time with a local surgeon (he did not do my surgery) on Tuesday 4/24. Anyway, he couldn't find the diaphram on the port. So, off to x-ray I go to find out that my port is flipped!! Instead of lying parallel with my tummy, it's facing toward my left hip! Until I can have surgery to repair it, no fills for me!! How discouraging... and expensive too.

Any words of advice from those of you that may have experienced this? Were you as groggy/out of it after the revision surgery as you were from the actual band surgery?

I had almost the exact thing happen to my port. I had my surgery in September 06 in Mexico. I wanted to have my first fill with the surgeon who performed the surgery so I went back down to Mexico 8 weeks post banding. The port had completely flipped over so the part to fill was facing my spine. I had surgery the same day and had to pay for the hospital charge (Dr fee was free). Then went in for my second fill with my US fill doctor. The port had flipped exactly like yours, but my fill doctor has done so many band surgeries that he was able to access my port without a problem. Eventually the port did decide to lay flat, fill side up, thankfully!

as for the expense of going to denver and the hotel stay...try to get the support of another bander in the denver area--i am sure someone would offer their home!! and drive to denver--yes gas is high but not as high as 2 airfares!!...just my 2 cents!!

The port is sewn to the fascia over the muscle, but sometimes the sutures come loose or there aren't enough sutures used. My Doctor did not know why this happened to me, but of all the lapband surgeries that he has done, I'm the only one that had my port flip and had to have a revision done.

The port is sewn to the fascia over the muscle, but sometimes the sutures come loose or there aren't enough sutures used. My Doctor did not know why this happened to me, but of all the lapband surgeries that he has done, I'm the only one that had my port flip and had to have a revision done.

Wow. I'm reading all of your posts with fascination and fear.

What did it feel like to have it flipped? Could you tell? Or did you suddenly find out it was flipped when you went in for a fill?

Folks I have a dimpled scar in the side of my rib cage. It's like a scar with a kernel of corn under it. It's very sensative. One of the lap scars. Is this where the port is? I put First Aid adhesive pads on two of my scars.

The port is sewn to the fascia over the muscle, but sometimes the sutures come loose or there aren't enough sutures used. My Doctor did not know why this happened to me, but of all the lapband surgeries that he has done, I'm the only one that had my port flip and had to have a revision done.

Thank you for this angelnurse. It explains what Dr. Kirshenbaum meant when he told my husband " I got every last stitch" despite my very flat and wide liver.

Folks I have a dimpled scar in the side of my rib cage. It's like a scar with a kernel of corn under it. It's very sensative. One of the lap scars. Is this where the port is? I put First Aid adhesive pads on two of my scars.

Any of your incisions can be really sensitive for a bit. My port incision felt like a burn for a couple of months or so. It's just nerves healing from surgery. But the little bump... scar tissue??

Someone told me in a post that they'd be able to see my port.. does it stick out? Can you get a smaller sized one?

Mya-out

Hi all!

I am out of town on business, so I am sorry for not posting... Really, I'm not ignoring you.

Thank you all for your help. I really have no idea what happened. I don't recall any pain or anything. I wouldn't know it was flipped had I not viewed it on the x-ray. I have a 17 month old daughter, so I may have done something to the port lifting her. My dog ( 7 lb Maltese) is always crawling on me too, so maybe he stepped on it weird. I haven't been doing any strange exercises, so who knows!

That's interesting that it can be done under local in the office. I would certainly endure any noise, pain or feeling of pressure to not have to go under anthesia.

As to how it happens, I don't know and I didn't ask. I really was having a bad week last week, and the flipped port was kind of the icing on the cake. I just smiled and nodded and went on my merrry way. It's not urgent and there's nothing I can do about it at the moment, so I am trying not to let it get me down... =o)

I'll keep you posted when I get home.

Sheila

I found out when I went in for a fill and my Doctor tried 3 times, to acess my port in his office and about 10 more times under fluoroscopy. I didn't know that it had flipped, it wasn't noticeable to me. It didn't hurt until my Doctor had poked me a dozen times and in the process prodded and manipulated my port. Of course it was sore again after surgery but it healed without any problems. My wallet hurt more than anything!

Any of your incisions can be really sensitive for a bit. My port incision felt like a burn for a couple of months or so. It's just nerves healing from surgery. But the little bump... scar tissue??

I think so. I bought surgical tape to place over it and that scar cream. That helped and it's only been one day.

Thanks for replying. Now I don't feel so paranoid.

While my port did not flip - I recently had my port and tubing replaced due to a leakage - the surgery and recovery was a piece of cake - and they did a fill when I was in surgery!! Linda

Sad, but true no guarantees!!! I had my original surgery 10/30/06 and have lost a total of 40lbs...but have been gaining and losing 4- 7lbs ever since...my port was flipped from the very first exray - Now I have to pay $3500.00 to have the surgery again to re-anchor the port! again, my doctor is doing it for free - but he doesn't own the hospital and if I don't want to be clubbed into unconciousness, I need to pay anesthesiology as well! did you say $1,800.00 - cheap indeed....grab at it - don't wait 6 months for the doc to decide it's hopeless.....:faint:

Belana

Good question? I have been banded for 3years now and my port will lean just a bit when I was having my fills done they would grap it and slowly play with it and get it back in place but never has it fliped or turned completly around...

I think your doctor's should fix this for free....they know this can happen

I went today for a unfill. The doctor told me that my port had flipped also. Mine was almost all the way backwards. This doctor was awesome. He told me he could manipulate it back the right way. And he did it only took about 10 mins and a little pain. He was able to access my port. I'm not sure where your from but he is located in Dallas. He is awesome and did not give up kept trying.