I had to have my port replaced last year due to a leak in the tubing (was punctured during a fill) and I'm wondering how common this problem is.

Please answer the poll and discuss!

how much did the leak cost to repair

mine was repaired not replaced and the hosp. cost was 1200 the surgeon didn't charge me

I had a leak discovered in July. I just had the port replacement on Thursday. Definatly not as painful as first surgery. I am just pissed they don't tell you how often this really happens.

This past Thursday, 4 days ago when I went in to get what was hopefully my last fill, I had restriction but not a whole lot... I left with a broken/leaky port.

Thursday, after pulling out 3.8cc's and putting in 4.5 cc's with no restriction, I was sent home to see how it felt overnight. Friday, the next day I returned where 2.3cc's was pulled out from a 4.5cc fill. Ok so the port had some saline in it still but not what was put in. So she filled me up to 5cc's with a 5cc band and I waited around. Walked around and drank my Water and ..bam. Nothing. No trickling feeling, no restriction at all.

She removed all 4cc's (she put in 5.0 and only 4 came out within the 30min I walked around). She then reinjected me with 5cc's from a new syringe.....no restriction. She pulled out the needle and told me that there definately is a leak.

It was assumed that the Nurse must have either punctured my tubing or dislodged my port/tubing (port is moving around a bit now) because my port still had a little saline in it.

Needless to say my port site is very painful and swollen from about 20 sticks. I have placed a call to Dr. Rumbaut's office. They have not returned the call yet.

I will keep you guys informed.

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I have just returned from Bruge where I had a second operation (general) to replace my port and reconnect it to the tubing after it Blew apart.

I was losing FABULOUSLY (28pounds in 3 months) and then in May 2007 I suffered EXCRUCIATING PAIN where I was hospitalised (check my other posts) and they did all kinds of tests but found nothing.

I have regained all the weight I lost bar 2 pounds.

I have literally just got home from Bruge and am writing to WARN people about a BAD BATCH OF BANDS that were in circulation across the world between DECEMBER 2006 and FEBRUARY 2007.

The bands are 10ml bands made by HELIOGAST and the connection blows out after about 2 fills (or 5-6 mls) and gives CHRONIC pain in the port area and also in the pelvis. it feels like you are going to have a baby NO JOKE.

The port is stabbing you in the tummy, and the tubing is prodding around in your pelvis!

They bandied words like Kidney stones and Diverticulitis in the hospital, but cam up with nothing.

It was only when I started regaining and had NO restriction and was eating whatyever the hell I wanted even after a further 4 fills and the assurance of my fill doctor (Dr. Dovey) that all was fine, that I booked to have a fluroscopic fill. Initially it was because I thought they must be missing the port or something... NO!!!!!!!!!! Dr. Dovey said everything was fine, but it was NOT. The last fill I recieved I got an infection and was off work for a week!

I had had 4 fills since my blow out, regained 25 pounds and my fill doctor thought we were I QUOTE "MAKING PROGRESS"!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you can see I am VERY angry.

Helioghast are paying all expenses, but I am RUINED EMOTIONALLY.

This has caused me pain and suffering for 5 months straight as the port connector jabbed and stabbed me in the stomach for the last 5 months.

I AM APPEALING TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HAD A SUDDEN ONSET PAIN and then weight regain, or similar problems with port to contact me.

cge@talktalk.net

I am also not alone, I know 4 others from the same hospital that suffered the same problem. WE MUST SORT THIS OUT...

I was banded 14th FEBRUARY 2007 in BRUGGES BELGIUM by

DR. DILLEMANS.

When I had the fluro the band was there - fine.

The port was there... stranded on its own with the connector sticking directly upwards towards my head.

The tubing was hanging down INTO MY PELVIS

It was shocking beyond belief.

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF YOU HAVE SUFFERED EXTREME PAIN or think this might be the same as you.

Claire Eldred:angry

I was banded on July 30, 07 and have just had my second fill. At the first fill the doctor had problems stabilizing my port and getting the needle in, thought that it was just positioning and my tummy was larger then. At this fill my port appeared tilted and also had hard time accessing it. I am now scheduled to have the port re-tacted down on the 20th. I wonder if excercising did this, arobics 3x week, or was it a defect- as i could always feel my port rocking?

I was banded for the first time on November 1st. I developed Crepitus

and spent 8 days in the ICU with loads of intravenous

pain killers.

When I went home I had 4 bottles of liquid pain meds which I took religiously. Around the 14th I had sharp pains but figured it was just part of healing process and it would get better with time.

When I went back to the Drs on the 27th he tried for a fill. He poked, prodded , manipulated and poked some more until I started crying. Then I walked over to the hospital to do it all again under fluro. They were able to get a couple cc’s in and then I did the magic Water test , felt like I was drowning ,none of it stayed down. So, no big deal just take some out. Wasn’t happening, there was a crack in the tubing so they weren’t able to take any of it out. Back to surgery. I actually felt better 30 minutes after the second surgery than I had in 3 weeks.

Now my insurance has paid their part of all of my claims for both surgeries but they are denying the doctors payment for the first surgery. Which pretty much tells me who they think is to blame.

I just had a fill on Tue and all of my fill was gone. They said I could have a small leak. I am self pay and had my surgery in Mexico. Arline: what did they see on the floroscope? I always have my fills under floro so I am wondering if my Dr would have saw something. He really didnt seem that concerned which is making me mad. I was filled to 3.? cc and he refilled me to a 2.0 cc but I am not feeling restricted at all. It is frustrating. I know in Mexico it will cost me $850.00 to have it fixed. My band is less then 9 mo. old so I am not happy if I have to pay for it to be fixed. I love my band and will pay it if I have to.

Shannon

Let me ask just one dum question been banded since may 2007, when u have a leaking band or tubing leaking does all the fluid leak out of the tube or just a small portion of the fill or does it depend on where the hole or leak is? I still feel some restriction when eating to fast. But when the doctor gives me a fill he will with draw all the fluid out to see how many cc I have in me then refiill the band but when doing this somethimes or the last time he could not suck all the fluid out and he said because he thinks he collaspe the tubing when he try to suck out the fluid with a needle . so he couldn't tell me for sure how many cc i had in me but the chart shows I think 8 or 9cc I HAVE THE VG BAND. I ask him if I had a leak he said I dont think so but just put one half of a cc and had been putting 1cc. I had gain a little weight but it was over the Holidays one or two lbs. Been stuck at same weight for three months. exercise 4 to 5 times week is only reason i dont gain a ton of weight back.

I really dont know the answer you are looking for. I know in my situation they say they are sure the leak is in my port or tubing (probably the port). I would say over time the entire thing would leak out...that is what happened to me. I was filled the first time to 3.2 cc and he got nothing out the next time I went....which was 3 months. He then filled me to 2.2cc and I came back two weeks later and had nothing to pull out. I never felt a good restriction with that fill and know it was gone within a few days. This time I am filled with omnipaque (a thicker soulution) which some people say help when you have a leak. I am still feeling some restriction and can feel liquid pause when going down. It has only been 3 days. If I dont feel a restrction in a week or two I will be headed back to Mexcio to have the port replaced.

Shannon

I just saw your 9/07 note saying you might have a leak.. Well did you and how are you now? I just found out I have a leak since I got it put in! Thanks.. Gina

HI, hope things are going better for you. I knew there was something wrong with my band when I went from good restriction, to no restriction. While we were doing a fill under floroscopy, you could immediately see that there was a white looking substance that was directly around the port, but it didn't last long. The reason why you can't see it very well is because your body obsorbs it quickly, so the dr. has to be pretty quick, and i had to be laying in a particular way for it to be seen. We saw it once, and then went to do it again, and we didn't see it. He tried to take the saline out to do it one more time, but nothing came out, because the tubing had come apart. So we tried one more time with new saline and i had to remind him how I was position when we saw it leaking. And boom, there it was again. I was lying on my side when it was mot visible. Good luck, and pay attention to how you're laying, watch the monitor so that you can see it also, It is very hard to spot.

make sure that you are tracking your cc's as well as the doctor. you are your best advocate if you feel something is wrong. The doctor should be able to pull out most, especially if you have had more than 2 fills.

I have a leak, i was wondering about how much it costs to repair it, Thanks

Hi,i Am New To The Forum--i Was Banded One Year Ago--i Have Heard From My Surgeon That The More You Vomit,the Greater Your Risk Of

Slippage..i Am Regurging At Least A Few Times A Week.,usually

After Eating Pizza Or The Like--are Any Of You Still Struggling

With Vomiting?/erosion Scares Me The Most--i Saw A Posted

Photo Of That And It Was Not Pretty!!any Idea What The Percentages Are As Far As Erosion Goes??and Are You Less Likely To Develop A

Leak The Fewer Fills You Get??/