Hi all

amy here, im just realizing that if i wear anything(such as jeans) a little tight that my port area gets sore. Is that normal? is it bad for your port aka... can it become lose(ur port)? Im 5 weeks out and would like some feedback.

thanks all!

amy

Hi Amy,

I had the same problem, still do from time to time. The answer for me was to wear lower waisted jeans. If you are like me, you've probably always worn jeans "at the waist". I thought I could never stand anything that came below my bellybutton, but that darn port turned me into a fan of mid and low rise jeans.

Anything that comes to my natural waist will leave me with a sore port area. I'm very short waisted and even stuff like pantyhose can aggravate my port.

I now wear even my PJ pants lower on my hips. Kind of funny since I used to tease my daughter about her pants falling off her hips.

At first it feels VERY strange, but eventually you grow to love that feeling since it's the most comfortable.

Here I was begining to wonder if I was the only one with this problem. I'm 5wks out and still get VERY sore at the port site. Waistbands really aggrevate it, and alot of times when I'm relaxing (ok slouching) on the couch I get a TERRIBLE pain when I try to get up. When I say pain what I really mean is I'm trying to figure out who is stabbing me with a hot knife.....I keep hoping this is only part of the healing process.

I go Friday for my 1st fill so I'll be sure to talke to the Dr about it. If anyone else knows what I'm talking about and has any suggestions to alieviate or prevent this PLEEEEEEASE let me know.

I'm not quite 3 months out and some days I have some tenderness around my port too. I went for my third fill this morning and actually remembered to ask about that. I was told that since the port it stitched into muscle, when you work out (even cleaning house, leaning over and stuff like that), your body pulls at it a little and that can cause a little tenderness. The more recent your surgery, the more likely you are to feel it.

thanks all, it a really annoying problem!! i am very short (5') so its hard to find jeans that are low on me lol. my 20s are too big and the 18s fit but then i have my port issue! uggh such a pain in the port! lol

amy

I was banded 4/14/09 and have had the same problem. Thank goodness I'm off from work till 5/13. I'm also 5' and it seems when I sit the waistband always hits the port area. This past weekend it was soo hot here in the Northeast that I bought 2 maxi dresses and was so comfortable since there was nothing hitting my port area. I hope this feeling passes with time - otherwise, how am I supposed to do crunches?

how are u feeling otherwise poconomom? ummm also what is a maxi dress?

amy

Hi Amy, I am feeling pretty good. Slowly able to do more & more so complaints here. Weight loss has slowed down quite a bit. I guess it;s time to start moving now that I'm feeling better. A maxi dress is a long dress - floor or ankle length. They are awesome for the summer. I'll even be able to wear them to work. Did your weight loss slow down after surgery but before a fill? I've seen posts calling it Bandster Hell - I started at 212 and am now at 202 - I want to get under 200 but it seems like the scale isn't moving at all. Oh well. BTW - can you feel your port? I can and it gets me weirded out a bit - I don't like to touch it. Ech

hi poconomom,

Im glad u are doing so well. Im one of the rare ones who have restriction (so far) without a fill, but my weight loss has slowed since I have started eating real food. I eat about 4oz of food at a time and eat something every three to four hours. i think I lose 1-3 lbs a week now.

I just would like to wear jeans and stuff without it being uncomfortable. You'll be down under 200 in no time, just keep working at it... yeah i have to start moving more too... Im going to my doc on wed. and want to get cleared before I do any strenuous exercise.

I can't feel my port and besides when I push down around the site, it is still a bit sore.

good luck and hope to hear about your progress!

amy

Hey Ladies,

I am over a year out and still have the problem. I'm 5' 4 1/2", but I'm super short waisted and have this problem a lot.

You may think you hate the idea, but trust me, you will grow to love low waisted jeans.

On the bright side, my port does not hurt when I exercise, only when I ride in a car for a long time or sit slouched down too much for a long time.

My port is only about 2" below my bra line, I know there are some "mom jeans" out there but DAMN, I don't wear them that high!

But some help for my short sisters--Both Lee and Levis have some jeans (docker pants in Lee) that come in Short. The sizes go up to a 24 I think--30 in Lee

The Lee pants & jeans sit on the waist and below also.

JC Penney has the Lee.

SuzanneG--I was also banded in Richmond:smile:

thanks for the tips ladies... Im gonna have to JC pennies and try on some jeans!!

amy

Mine bothered me the first 2 or 3 months with jeans, but it doesn't bother me at all now, not even if I wear tight jeans. So, perhaps it will stop for you too!! I can even press hard and feel nothing and I do modified crunches with no problems.

jms462001 - glad to hear it gets better. My port area still bothers me although I can do more. I want to do crunches but I'm afraid to, I'll wait till my next doctor appt when I get my fill. when I bend over to get something or sit in a car for a long time is when it's worst. I have another 8 days left and then I go to work - I hope I can sit without too much discomfort.

good luck poconomom, i go see my doc on wed.. and I too would like (someday) to do crunches lol. I hope your right jms!! :smile:

amy

Thanks so much for bringing this topic up! I was banded April 6. I am just now wearing regular pants to work ie. not sweat pants! and at the end of the day I am so sore! I don't go back to the Dr. until the 15th.

I think I know where my port is but I am not really sure. My abdomen still feels swollen. Is that normal too? Most of my pants are really loose in the legs but still snug on the waist. :smile:.

Thanks for all of the advice!