I have seen lots of posts lately about port revision surgery and ports that have become detached, flipped, moved, etc. How does this happen if the port is stitched down? Or do not all surgeons stitch the port?

Just curious, since mine is stitched down but I want to avoid any issues since my insurance is a PITA to deal with.

*bump*

Any takers? Also, if your port flipped did you feel any pain?

I turned over in bed a few nights ago and had extreme pain wake me up. Since then when I bend over, my port area has a burning sensation...I am wondering it I broke a stitch or what?!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/omg-my-port-detached-69987/

Here is my own post about my detached port....

Currently I am in an appeal with my insurance company because they denied the surgery to revise the port..... So I am in limbo right now... I have a device that I can not use....Aggravating as all get out!!

I had sharp pains and pulling and burning... I was told it was normal....HA normal my fat chubby butt!!

Anywho... this is my story so far....

As my name says... Stay tuned!

Mine did this weird popping out thing, which i don't think is the same as flipping, but my doc thinks that it kinked the hose, which makes fills strange.... easy to get saline in, hard to get it out if they overfill, and A LOT of manipulation of my still very flabby and huge tummy (VERY attractive!). I was self pay, so will have to wait for revision surgery, in the meantime these new fun fills are done by one specific doctor since he is aware of it. And all I did was bend over to pick up a piece of paper!

Banded 11/07

Port incision leaking 3/08.

Reimplanted 4/08

Leaking again quickly

New plastic port reimplanted 8/08.

The incision is healing nicley and looks good.

My body didn't like the metal port.

My sugeon keep working at getting things right.

A friend who referred me to Mexico is having the same exact problem.

:cursing:I was banded may of 05, approx 8 months later the port moved and they had to do a revision. As of this writing it has moved again. The real deal is that my Dr. said bring me the money and we will fix it, since im now on a different insurance plan and they won't touch it. I just got off the phone with them and I ask point blank, "if I get so weak from not eating and loosing what i do eat, she interrupted me and said if I go to the hospital and they treat me for anything caused by my band the insurance will not pay for it"???? Has anyone had in dealings like this. needless to say im not happy with dr. or insurance co. at this point. I just want to be able to hold something down.

I had the surgery done in Mexico.

All of my complication issues were performed in CA with my HMO covering the costs.

The insurance said it works like this... (with my coverage)

if I were to have breast enlargement, they obviously wouldn't cover that

if after I had breast enlargement done at my own expense they would cover complications from that surgery up to but not including putting new ones in.

So all insurance is different.

It sounds like you're insurance is saying pre-existing...

I wouldn't not expect that if you have been problem free for years that they can say this is pre-existing.

I would petition my IPA group if it's an HMO.

Keep fighting them.

Most of the time if you join during open enrollment then everything is covered.

Talk to your HR department, benefits should help you fight.

Good luck.

did you pay to have your port redone?

Or was it defective?i to just had my port replaced.

i was told it was defective.

I had the Mid Band in Mexico and I paid out of pocket for that.

All the port problems have been covered my insurance carrier Aetna HMO.

She didn't say it was defective more that my body wasn't surrounding it like it was supposed to.

It could be because it was metal.

She replaced it with a low profile plastic one and knock on wood all is well.

I'm about a month post op.

Good luck.

The first time I had my revision was because the dr's pa injected about two times the amout the band would hold "according to the Dr." and the insurance co. paid for it. This time who knows why, because I have a new insurance co. "same co. but different policy" and they have a bareatic close on it they won't touch me. I am so tired of trying to eat and then it coming back within two minutes. This has not been a nice ride for me although I did lose 100lbs before all the problems started, now im up about 30 pounds due to the fact that junk food has entered my life. potochips seem to go down and stay although ice cream will not "i guess that is a good thing".

if the port has flipped or tube has a kink in it, how do they repair it?

Information on insurance

I had my port reattached and covered without problems

When they said it flipped again, the insurance said no to the surgery (1/2 hr before I was going under) and said I had to see a specialist

The specialist saw me that day, after I begged to everyone

The specialist was rude and punitive with the attitude "you went to Mexico that's what you get"

He said the port was infected and had to come out

He said he didn't believe another port could be attached because I have a French band not American band

He said I would loose all my resistance and it would be at least 6 months before they'd do anything else

So I left his office with you're going to end up with a band in you that won't do a dam thing

So here's what I did....

I called and spoke to the IPA head guy, luckily I got directly through to him

I was honest and said look.... I get that you don't want to keep paying for this, etc.

But I said you approve this procedure as a weight loose tool and you believe in it's abilities.

I said I've lost 30 pounds and during all the termoil I hadn't gained one pound back

I said that the specialist was giving up on me and my band, but that the other surgeon (that I love) has faith that we're going to get this right

He listened and then agreed to let me see my other surgeon.

She said she didn't know what would happen in surgery

I woke up to hear that I had a new plastic low profile port

She said my tubing looked great (no slime that would indicate erosion, which the specialist said was most likely the problem)

Now I am totally healed and hopefully problem free

I am having some port pain as well - 8 mos. post surgery. Good luck to you, and I hope you never have to experience port pain. : )

Did you have to pay for it

I am six weeks post op and went in for my first fill yesterday. My port has turned upside down and I have to go in for a port revision on Tuesday. I had no pain, no tenderness, and no swelling. I am so frustrated.

I guess I was blessed. I went in for a fill on 6/30/09 and the NP could not fill me. She said my port had flipped on its side. Since I was already numb, she pressed on the area until the port was right side up again. Thank God. I am a self pay and could not afford to undergo revision surgery.

I felt a slight tugging and pulling when I would try to sleep on my side. I wonder if that is when it happened. I noticed since my NP put the port back in place, I can sleep on my side and tummy again without any pulling or tugging sensation.

Has anyone paid out of pocket for a port revision? How much did it cost?