So I am totally paranoid about stretches that require big range of motion like yoga or pilates..for some reason I cant get it out of my head that i can move that dingy port or it will go somewhere dig in somewhere and get lost.. or I will break a stich! I cant shake this. I work out< I do the eliptical or bike but regarding stretching and sits ups etc.. argh I just cant do them!

anyone have the band for years or have feelings about exercize and there friend the port??

Id love to hear your thoughts..

I wonder about that too. kinda worries me. what about the vomiting too, what happens if I get the flu, does that mean that I may slip even though it is sewn in place?

I hear ya! I have the same fears even though my surgeons have told me not to worry. I was banded in May, and when I went for my first fill July 1, my port was flipped. I was convinced it was my fault because I had gone back to the gym 2 weeks after my surgery. My doc said exercise was not likely to be the cause. And, sure enough, when they got in there for my port revision, they discovered that the port itself was defective and it wasn't my fault. Yay!

Now it's fixed, and I'm feeling good and back at the gym, but I'm terrified of anything that works my abs. I've been fixated on the treadmill and bikes, and I KNOW I should be adding other elements to my workout, I just can't get myself to relax and do it.

My doctor said no sit ups or crunches type movements because it could f lip the port.

I have not tried to do crunches or ab work, frankly because I am lazy, but I have ACCIDENTALLY done a crunch-type movement while putting on pantyhose and I must say it felt "weird". I could definitely feel my port being squished. That is the only way I can explain it, and I didn't like it at all.:Yawn:

I too have a fear of my port moving. Because of this fear I have avoided sit ups and ab crunches. I work out at the gym 4-5 days each week for about and hour and ride my bike but I need to do something that focus on my stomach.

My surgeon gave me the green light on sit ups but I'm still very much afraid. I know it is all in my head.

I am SO glad someone posted about this! I ordered this 'Slim in 6' DVD which is low impact high resistance to specifically work on my stomach (as my hubby will not be too happy if I go back in for another surgery to get a tummy tuck). After seeing this thread yesterday, I asked my nurse/case worker about this and she said once we're cleared for surgery, I can do crunches and things to tighten the abs without affecting my port. The thing is I can actually feel my port when I know I've done too much walking and it aches a bit. Not only that, I can actually feel it if I touch my belly now and even though they're telling me it's okay after my doc gives me the clearance to start exercising again, I am kind of worried what might happen if I start working my stomach.

I was pretty paranoid, but its been a year now and I'm doing alright with it. As you lose weight the port becomes even more pronounced, but everything is going ok. I've run hundreds of miles and played many rounds of golf. I avoid situps and crunches because of arthritis in my back. My cat Sidney likes to sit on my lap and she has tried to dig it out. I've bumped it hard several times with no problems, I think I'm finally used to it.

There are times when I can 'feel" the port, sort of a pressure, not really pain. This happens if I'm out in the yard doing a lot of work like chopping and stacking wood and doing a lot of bending. I wouldn't say I am "paranoid", but my exercises, (i.e.elliptical) are all geared to avoid stress on the abdominal fascia to which the port is sutured. Far more important, is my concern not to stress the band itself and risk slippage. I have the Lap-band and I prefer the method of attachment that the alternative; so does my surgeon and that closed the deal. Finally, I would not do abdominal crunches, nor sit-ups. Remember that a lot of abdominal surgery consists of sutures, such as the repair of my hiatal hernia. Thus sutures in the abdomen for the port are not a unique or risky procedure. Banded June 30, 2008, weight loss #75 lbs, and feeling great.

I get that squished feeling leaning over to put on sox or tie shoes .. It scares me when I get the ouchy ouchy feeling .

I have not tried to do crunches or ab work, frankly because I am lazy, but I have ACCIDENTALLY done a crunch-type movement while putting on pantyhose and I must say it felt "weird". I could definitely feel my port being squished. That is the only way I can explain it, and I didn't like it at all.:thumbup:

The thing is I can actually feel my port when I know I've done too much walking and it aches a bit. Not only that, I can actually feel it if I touch my belly now and even though they're telling me it's okay after my doc gives me the clearance to start exercising again, I am kind of worried what might happen if I start working my stomach.

I horseback ride and asked about the port (especially if I fall which not to jinx myself I don't do too often)... the training I do is very much core (abs and back).. I never feel the port even though I will get ab soreness like i've had a big ab workout... but the funny thing is when walking I do feel a little funny 'thing' sometimes. My port is 1 inch to the right of my belly button and the 'thing/pain' i get is a further 3 inches past that. I usually walk 2 miles a day and if I pick up the pace I tend to get this.

I have had no trouble at all and I am exercising like normal and I have to have physical therapy right now and they are placing me in all kinds of weird positions and stretching me every which way and no problems. I also want to say that one my surgeons patients is John Daly who is a professional golfer and has that huge swing and he has had no problems so if he doesn't have problems doing that, you shouldn't either.

Thanks everyone for your reply's! i guess I have to try and relax with it a bit..This port will be with me for life.. It's just always in the back of my mind when i do a stretch and i think hhmm where is the tubing going right about now.. haha

does anyone feel at random like a stinging or pinching feeling around the port? i had that this week but it comes and goes and no real reason for it.

im going to the doctor in 2 weeks ill discuss it then.

Thanks guys and good luck with everything!!!

I'm about 8 months post op and down about 75 lbs, and a big part of that is thanks to excercise. I do a specific core class one day a week, and do about 15-20mins of ab workouts every other day. Today my abs are sore, and I can feel my port a bit more, but my doctor and nurses at my clinic have encouraged me to keep going and not to worry - these things are built for the healthy active people we are becoming!

:w00t:

Thanks everyone for your reply's! i guess I have to try and relax with it a bit..This port will be with me for life.. It's just always in the back of my mind when i do a stretch and i think hhmm where is the tubing going right about now.. haha

does anyone feel at random like a stinging or pinching feeling around the port? i had that this week but it comes and goes and no real reason for it.

im going to the doctor in 2 weeks ill discuss it then.

Thanks guys and good luck with everything!!!

HI I was banded by Dr Ren too. I replied above that I don't have issues... but also as an FYI I went to the last support group and they had this guy who weight trains a bunch of the NYU'ers and he hits them hard w/ weight work outs to muscle fatigue (but only 5 exercises and 20 mins) so its very intense but short. Then again he did mention that you don't actually need to do ab work. I do serious core work with riding dressage. Haven't had a problem. Let me know what she says.

I am only about two months out from my banding, and my doctor told me to excercise. I have been doing Yoga running and stretching. I can feel my port and my first fill went very well.

I would just talk to your doctor about your concerns.