port tilt

[shrinkingV 0]

Here's the short version of my issue. I tried to get my first fill last Thursday in the office but after trying the surgeon couldn't find the bulls-eye. He said I would have to get a fill under fluro and set up the time for me to get that one. I went yesterday to the hosp for the fluro. The dr that was doing it said that instead of the port sitting flat against my muscles and facing outward it's facing my head. He said "I'm good but this was the hardest one I've done. Maybe I was just lucky today." I kid you not. Glad this guy wasn't my surg.

But now I'm flustered as to what to do now. I have a med coder friend that says I need to contact the surgeon and have them look into redoing the port attachment b/c it could be considered a "surgery mishap". But then I'm also thinking that it was done successfully under fluro and I can just do that when it's needed and they can just earn their money for once. But then I'm also hormonal as well as sick so I'm not in the most understanding mood.

Has this happened to anyone else and what did you do? Suggestions?

[happy2lose 0]

You really need to contact your surgeon and have him fix your port. Future fills may be more difficult if not impossible and you run the risk of the doctor puncturing your port tubing anyway. Get it fixed!

[shrinkingV 0]

UPDATE!!!

I called the surgeon's office and talked to their coordinator about what's been going on. She said that it's a really simple procedure. Open up one of the incision sites, reattatch the port, close up, and go. If it's done on a Friday I should be back at work on Monday. AND since the insurance paid for the surgery she said they should also pay for this as a "revision". She's checking on it and will get back to me.

So I'm a bit happier about the situation. I guess. I'm going to focus on my new fill. It's a good thing. :thumbup:

[milwif 0]

I'm in the same boat as you! Surgeon tried for about an hour with fluoro to give me my first fill and still couldn't get it. They're going to try again in a month and if it doesn't work we'll talk about a port revision surgery.

[shrinkingV 0]

Wow. That is really awful. I can at least be thankfull that they were able (after many MANY tries) to get the needle in with the fluro. So I've got my first 4cc in my 10cc band. Good luck! :thumbup:

[Ale78 0]

I go in next Friday for a revision. AND mine, they say, is just slightly tilted! But just that slight tilt has given them problems with every fill I have had except the first one. I can't even imagine what one that was totally sideways would be like.:thumbup:

Good luck to you! They say it's an easy fix but dang...surgery is surgery to me!

~A