Major port pain

[erie774 0]

My wife had her band almost a year. She's been doing OK so far. About 5 weeks ago she went for a fill under flouro and she said that the port really hurt afterwards. Since then the port has been hurting terribly, to the point where it takes her breath away or makes her pant. She soon noticed the port appeared to be tilted (the skin is stretched and it really looks like it is sideways). She went back to the doc who said that it looked OK under flouro and she could maybe consider pain management. He thought about putting her on Celebrex and gave her Vicodin and sent her home. He said she should watch out for it turning red because that would mean infection.

Now she is dealing with pain almost constantly, the Vicodin backs it off but not completely.

Has anyone else experienced port pain like this? What can be done to reseat the port if it is tilted? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Lolagirlie 0]

It definitely is not normal to have the kind of pain that requires Vicodin and lasts as long as it has. Call the doctor and insist it gets checked out, I'm wondering if it could be nerve irritation from the fill...the doctor should get to the bottom of it. Good Luck and let us know how you are doing

[Enchanted 2]

Oh my gosh, yes. She needs to get back to the doctor. I sometimes have some discomfort from my port, but that's it...mild discomfort.

Let us know.

[erie774 0]

Here's the update: Monday night her friend took her to the emergency room because the port was red, warm and hurt to the touch (I couldn't take her because I was in the hospital recovering from back surgery). The ER doc said that the site looked infected and admitted her. Her bariatric doc came by in the morning and they ran a CAT which showed only some infection around the port. The band appeared OK. They have her on antibiotics to deal with the infection. Her bariatric doc said that this kind of infection could only have been introduced into the port site but wouldn't acept the possibility that it could have happened during his last fill.

He said that if she responds to the anitbiotics before tomorrow morning and the infection shrinks that he should bo thave to remove the port. If there is no change he will remove theport.

[elcee 3,343]

I hope everything goes well. it is so frustrating when something is obviously the Dr's fault and they refuse to take responsibility.

[erie774 0]

The doc removed her port today. There was an abcess above the port so it had to be removed. He drained the band and tied off the tubing. He said that it was "possible" that the needle might have nicked a blood vessel which would cause a hematoma (bruise) which created a pool where an infection could settle. He never said it might have been something he did; he blamed the needle.

Anyway, he had to leave the wound open (if he closed it he would have sealed the infection inside) and sent her home on antibiotics. After the wound heals she can go back and have a new port put in on the other side.

[elcee 3,343]

He never said it might have been something he did; he blamed the needle.

The needle is an inanimate object, it cannot operate on its own , it needs someone to operate it!

The important thing at the moment though is that your wife gets better.

[erie774 0]

The needle is an inanimate object, it cannot operate on its own , it needs someone to operate it!

The important thing at the moment though is that your wife gets better.

You've got that right! Anyway, she is home and is seeing a wound therapy group who will help her to heal. Best thing is the pain level has dropped dramatically since the port was removed (she is only experiencing incisional pain but that is a very low level).

[Enchanted 2]

Glad she's feeling a little better.

xoxo

[malissa 0]

That sounds like a nightmare!

And how the doctor claims he isn't responsible seems rather sketchy. It was obviously related to the fill.

Here's wishing her a speedy recovery....