New and needing help

[GuineaAddict 0]

I've just recently gotten brave enough to look into the bypass and lapband information and I've decided I'd rather have the lapband. I've been told that my insurance does cover it and my doctor is with me 100% but I haven't really started the process yet. I was wondering...something that kind of freaks me out is having the port in your stomach and it's something my grandmother was worried about too. I just wanted to know if it felt weird or if anyone had any stories or feelings about it.

[holly11 1]

I just had surgery last week and I don't feel my port. I am moving around pretty good now and I don't feel like I have anything different in me...I can't speak about the long run but there are some other people here who can.....but as far as the short term I don't fill the band in me. Hope this helps a little and good luck on your journey!!

[heyliberrylady 0]

I was banded on the 14th and I actually asked my husband if the doc. didnt do it...LOL...I dont feel anything...thats the biggest question I get from people...about the port...and then about having something Foreign in my body...I really feel NOTHING...I am alittle sore, but that could be that I have a 9mth old and its almost impossible not to pick him up...So far so good for me...

[bandedgirl08 1]

Hi, there

I had my band put in on the 5th of May and I too cannot tell that I have anything different as far as my insides go. If I push in hard enough I can feel my nickel size port, but it just feels like a hard spot. I don't feel like an ailen or bionic women...

I just feel like a woman on her way to a new me.. Good luck.

[jetti 2]

I have been banded a little over 6 months and still cant feel my port. I have an idea of where it is because when laying on a big exercise ball at the gym I can sometimes feel it pushing on something but I have not gone around poking my belly to find it...it kind of freaks me out :-)

[Sue Magoo 71]

Hi:

I was banded ten months ago. My port is just under my rib cage in the middle. I can feel my port. It feels kind of like a hard spot under the skin. It's far enough under that it doesn't show even though that part of my body is getting to be nice and flat. I think of it as my "belly cop" and I am comforted knowing it's there doing it's job with the band.

Sue

[Kat225 2]

I can barely feel mine when I'm looking for it but I'm sure with more weight loss I will feel it more. It's still a little tender when I push on it though. But it's really no big deal. I don't feel like there is anything different in my body or anything but I had the same concern Pre-Op.

[go_big_girl 2]

okay, me being a newbie.. WHAT IS A PORT? WHAT DOES IT DO, AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

[holly11 1]

It is the part of the band the doctor can access just under the skill to fill and unfill your band. As far as what it looks like find a picture of a band and it is the end part what is connected by a tube. Good luck in your journey!!!

[go_big_girl 2]

It is the part of the band the doctor can access just under the skill to fill and unfill your band. As far as what it looks like find a picture of a band and it is the end part what is connected by a tube. Good luck in your journey!!!

thanks girl! so how do they fill your band? by a syringe or do they cut you every single time?

[plain 12]

GuineaAddict, this may be a stupid question for you, but.......you do know that the port is under the skin and you can't see it, right? Just making sure.

GBG, They use a syringe. It's vitually painless (I've had 2 fills so far).

[go_big_girl 2]

GuineaAddict, this may be a stupid question for you, but.......you do know that the port is under the skin and you can't see it, right? Just making sure.

GBG, They use a syringe. It's vitually painless (I've had 2 fills so far).

that's neat, so do they have syringes long enough to go through all my belly fat? i know that sounds disgusting...

[holly11 1]

they use a needle!!!

[Alex Brecher 10,498]

I've just recently gotten brave enough to look into the bypass and lapband information and I've decided I'd rather have the lapband. I've been told that my insurance does cover it and my doctor is with me 100% but I haven't really started the process yet. I was wondering...something that kind of freaks me out is having the port in your stomach and it's something my grandmother was worried about too. I just wanted to know if it felt weird or if anyone had any stories or feelings about it.

I had my lap band procedure over 5 years ago. Back then they only had one port and it actually protruded a little from my belly after I lost all my weight. I had it replaced with a low profile port which is standard these days. My doctor also placed the port under my stomach muscle to make sure it never protruded again. I can feel it if I press my finger into my belly.

[plain 12]

that's neat, so do they have syringes long enough to go through all my belly fat? i know that sounds disgusting...

The needle is not that big. The port is sutuchered to the ab muscles in the ribcage area (at least that's where mine is) just under the skin, so the syringe doesn't have to go as deep as you think. It's NBD, really...