My Port-Revision Surgery

donali · November 3, 2003

Hi All -

For those of you who are new or don't remember, I tore one of my port sutures at the end of July. I was stretching for something that was just out of reach, and kind-of did a lunge. I immediately felt a sharp sting, and as the next couple of days went by I was in severe pain. Of course, I was on vacation... lol Far, far from my band doc, so I toughed it out with liquid Tylenol. Did you know that stuff was made by saints? lol

Anyway, after two weeks the pain was bearable, but I was uncomfortable and I had a big bulge where my port was. When I went in for my last fill, the doc manually turned the port back upside right, and I was able to get a successful fill, but unfortunately the corrected position did not last.

Saturday I finally went in to have it battened back down. I was put under full anesthesia (it had been my understanding that this would be a quick/simple fix done with a local, but whatever). Dr. Lopez used the same port incision from before. Apparently of the four possible places on the port to use to suture, it is his practice to only do two sutures. So I had indeed torn one free, but the port was still attached on the other suture. He removed that suture as well, and reattached the port with two new sutures. He assures me it is now in the "perfect" position.

So far I feel like I am able to breathe deeply without any pulling, which was not the case prior to my tearing the suture, so I am happy. A little sore, but happy. I have a big dent under where the port incision is (that was there before the repair), which looks kind of weird. I don't know if that will eventually level out or not. I am still numb in the area, so don't know if the feeling will return - I don't recall being numb anywhere after my first surgery.

I am much more comfortable now than I was when my port was turned. My shoulders, neck and jaw are extremely stiff and sore, but that seems to be working out and lessening each day.

So the fix was a bigger deal than I expected (all together I spent about 6 hours there for the 25 minute surgery), but pain-wise not terrible. The worst part was the expense - $1821. OUCH! But worth it to once again be pain-free.

Moral of the story: Don't tear your port sutures! lol

Alexandra · November 3, 2003

Thanks for sharing that story, Donali. What a drag! But it could have been a lot worse--once again showing that most of even dramatic lap-band complications really aren't all that dramatic.

I'm so glad they were able to repair it easily, but sorry it cost you so much moola. Please let us know if your dent evens out and when feeling returns (which I'm absolutely sure it will).

Now: Watch yourself! Don't be doing any calisthenics until this is well and truly healed in place. No more port revisions!!

:D

quakergirl · November 4, 2003

Glad that your port is fixed now!

You're the first person I've heard of to have a port problem just from stretching. I don't understand how that could happen so many months after your surgery. I'd expect that eventually the port would become anchored by scar tissue or something.