I was woundering if anyone else has experienced having a port getting infected causing the wound to open up to expose the port...then had to have the port removed. This has had happened to me this past January and had my port removed on Febuary 17:ohmy: I was also 16 months post op from the band. I am so frustrated and the weight is starting to creep up and the surgeon will not replace the port until my wound is completely healed up. The problem is the the surgeon left my wound opened and had me doing wet to dry dressing with very little improvement, I had even asked for another kind of dressing like the aqua cell...the surgeon said NO. I know a little about wound care...I am a nurse. I finally asked if I could go see a wound specialist after 7 weeks of those darn wet to dry dressing. I got my appointment within only a couple of days...The wound care doc was so upset that he needed to clean up after this surgeon, he didn't think that it was his responbility...but he did eveything that needed to be done, like a wound culture that my surgeon never did, and changed my dressing changes to the aqua cell that I aked from my surgeon. The wound care Doc want me to have an MRI to find out where my tubing is located...he was thinking that the tubing needs to be taken out also. I have an appointment to go back to the wound clinic on wednesday...we will see whats next.

Sounds like your surgeon is incompetent! I didn't think they really "did" wet to dry any more? I'm so glad you stuck up for yourself! (I wonder if a sloppy fill procedure caused your problem to begin with?)

Good luck. I hope things resolve for you.

I had to do wet to dry dressings on my leg after an infection destroyed my achilles tendon after tendon repair surgery. I'm told it's not common but is used occasionally.

Thanks restless monkey....my co-workers also think that my surgeon is incompetent. They keep telling me that I need to go into one of the Boston hospital and get better treatment and care. It's funny that you mention a sloppy fill...I had a fill about 2 days before the infection started..and she (surgeon) missed my port.

Cathy ....a wet to dry dressing changes are old school thinking. With the modern day treatment they are hardly used...my wound care doc laughted when I told him what kind of dressing that my surgeon wanted me to use.

Andrea71...I know you're smart and "savvy" enough to know what's best for you! (and my husband is an RN who "enjoys" wound care a lot yuck but he concurs wet to dry is old school and not really useful)

I'm throwing my 2 cents in with your peers who are telling you to look elsewhere! (not a nurse yet, but I will be next month when I graduate! LOL)

Good luck and I hope it works out well for you!

My boyfriend had the labband 5 yrs ago and has been done with his fills for over 3 yrs. He got a staph infection from the port. They removed the port and left it as an open wet to dry dressing. He felt good but after 3 days of pulling the port he is feeling worse. Pains in his side and it hurts to laugh or cough. His surgeon was a jerk the worst bed side matter ever. Surgeon didnt seem concerned about this. He is going to talk with his MD tomorrow. Has anyone ever heard this happening? Any input would be appreciated.

Hi,

I just had a port removal Aug 4th 2010 due to an infection that I am SURE was caused by the radiologist when he gave me a fill in March 2010. He had a difficult time accessing the port, and jabbed me many times.

I had my surgery originally August 2003, and I have lost around 90 lbs, but this port removal has left me with a gapping hole that needs to get packed each day by a visiting nurse. I am so disgusted I want to get the sleeve after this..

I hop all goes well for you,

Andrea71, I am really sorry to hear that you are having such problems, but I hope that all goes well and that you heal up properly..please keep us updated on....

Today the visiting nurse came and dressed the open wound, which seems to be healing nicely 6 days after my port removal. Once again, I am almost certain that the infection was introduced by the radiologist when I got my fill in March '10. However, the endoscopy showed there is no erosion of my band, and if all goes well, a new port will be placed on my other side in a couple of months. In any event, I have been watching what I eat, hopefully these last 7 years have taught me some restraint. So, I have to take this one day at a time

I am glad you are healing and will soon get a new port. I am pleased that you have no band erosion and wish I could knock that radiologist upside the head. Darn it, too bad you can't prove he did you in, you could take him to legal task!!!!

It is wonderful that you are able to practice restraint in eating, without my band I don't think I could manage.

Best of luck,

Mimi