To those who already have the band: can you feel the port? can you see it? is there a lump on your abdomen somewhere?

Sorry for the weird questions, I am seriously thinking of getting this surgery but need more info.

Can't see it, can feel it, no lump unless your lying on your stomach then sometimes you can feel it. Keep asking those questions, it really help you make your decision. It was the best decision of my life, well almost hehe!

Well... that leads to another question I've had. I normally sleep on my stomach, or mostly on my stomach and turned a little on my side.

Is that still possible after this procedure?

I can't see my port nor can I feel it unless I really poke. Mine is placed about 2" under my left breast. I sleep on my tummy just fine!

The realize band has a "low profile" port that is smaller (I think), the lap band (like I have) has a larger port. I asked my surgeon and he (very tactfully) told me that for many of us, our weight makes finding the port a "challenge" and he prefers the larger port. He promised me when I lost enough weight that it stuck out or made me uncomfortable he'd gladly quickly switch them out for me!

(the ports, that is, not the band !)

:biggrin:

I can see and feel my port. I don't really notice it unless I twist/turn a certain way.

Where are you at in Ind.? I went to College in Ft.Wayne.:biggrin:

You cannot see mine. If I am laying on my back and poke pretty hard I can feel something hard there. I have no problems sleeping on my stomach, of course I do have a waterbed. It has been the best thing I have ever done. I love my band!!

Well, as a massage therapist I would tell you the worst way to sleep is on your stomach. Very bad for your neck unless you have a face cradle to lay on. The right side is the best since there is less pressure on your heart but aside from that, you probably wont notice the port at all in bed, its places like beach chairs or chiropractor table that are very firm that can cause you to feel the port. It really just feels like lying on a couple of quarters at the most until you get really thin, and I'm not worried about that for a while.

As a follow up to this question (thank you to the original poster for asking it, because I was thinking of it as well), when you lose weight, are you more likely to be able to feel/see the port? It would be strange if you finally lost all that weight, but had this strange poking device.

I am six weeks out from being banded. My port is in between bottom of my breasts where my bra sits. You can feel it and see it, but I think it looks like a bone and I don't think any one but me would ever notice it.

I am 6 weeks out from surgery and I can see it, feel it, and it kind of sticks out - like the top 1/4 of a golf ball. I think a lot depends on your height, weight, build, where your doctor positions the port, and where your body carries the extra weight. I am short AND short waisted so my body type doesn't give the doctor a whole lot of options - mine is located slightly to the left about 2 inches below the bra line which is about 1 1/2 inches above the waist.

It doesn't bother me when I sleep on my stomach or any other position now - for the first couple weeks when the area was swolen I could only sleep on the right side.

** Also note - the location may appear to changs as you lose weight and the swelling goes down. I am down 36 pounds and my scar and port site appear to be getting closer to my waist - but that is an illusion. It is just that the big roll that used to be between my bra and my waist is shrinking - Thank goodness.

Best of luck!

My port is a couple inches above and to the right of my belly button. In the beginning, I would have to lie down, tense my abdominal muscles and press deep to find the port. Now that I have lost some weight, I can feel it very easily in any position. I am wondering if it will be more visible as I lose more weight...only time will tell.

MzSnapCup, I am a stomach sleeper too. I have no problem sleeping on my stomach now that I am all healed. But for a few weeks post-op, I had to sleep propped up on my back and being a stomach sleeper, that was not fun.

I am 7 weeks out of surgery and have the Realize Band (smaller port).

I can feel my port only when lying down. When I feel it - it feels like a large piece of scar tissue under my skin. I definitely cannot see it.

My port is located slightly above my belly button to the right. If I did not have a scar in that area I probably would not even Know to feel there for the port.

It took me about 2 weeks before I trusted sleeping on my stomach.

Good Luck to you!

I hope that the port doesn't get in the way of wearing a bra properly. I am a DDD-cup and an underwire bra is a must!

I hope that the port doesn't get in the way of wearing a bra properly. I am a DDD-cup and an underwire bra is a must!

I am a E cup now down to a DD and have no problems wearing underwire bra with the port.

Pardon my silly questions but...

Can you feel that tube inside you? Does it move around? Any creepy-crawly feelings from it?

I can't feel mine! It's not very long... I'm glad it's there anyway!