port replacement 1 month out...

On January 10, 2011 I had and experimental procedure consisting of the lap band with plication. I lost 102 pounds before my surgery & around 175 pounds following surgery. But as most of you know the band is not intended for the super obese. So our game plan was to convert to another procedure once y weight loss came to a halt.  year after surgery my weightloss was down to a crawl so it was time to submit to my insurance for the DS. After they finally approved it 6 months later my surgery date was set.

August 20, 2012 was my surgery date. It wasn'ta full conversion. I had the intestional part of the DS my I kept my band and plication. We felt that was a better option than cutting and shrinking the stomach when it was already smaller. I also had to have to have a port replacement. I have done well since my surgery losing over 30 pounds so far. But it's not without complications. Last week I was admitted into the hospital with an infection around my port. My body just doesn't want I guess. I saw my surgeon Wednesday. I still have an infection but it has gotte a little better. I have an appointment to see my surgeon again in 1 month. If the infection continues my port may have to be removed.

I know many a skeptical of new or experimental surgeries. But think of it this way, each and every one of these procedures had to begin somewhere. People had to be willing to be an experiment subject in order to create & perfect these procedures. I have no regrets about my choices. These procedures have helped me lose a total of 308 pounds and still counting.

I hate that you've had to go through all this, but you definitely get an A+ for persistence and a positive attitude!

 Port infection can be a sign of band erosion or leak...best be sure it's not that.  You've done so well, wonder why they don't want to finish your DS?

Because truly a plication can not be taken down unless it is very early out.  It really was not an option and should not have been presented as one.  I can't imagine what the risks would be for leaks in creating a sleeve gastrectomy after a plication.  This is why I did not plicate after waiting a year to get the approval to do so.  I was on the O.R. table and stopped the team right before they were about to put me down - I got them to get my doc so I could tell him "please only remove the band"  Do not, I repeat PLEASE do not do the revision to the VSPlication.

Thank God something in my doc really made me change my mind.  He said we don't know what your stomach will look like - maybe like a bunch of grapes - WTH!!!  I think he knew on some level that that would change my mind

I was in constant pain from my port for over 2.5 years.  The                  
surgeon suggested moving it to a better place.  My question is
if there was a better point why wasn't put there in the first place?

Mute point!  As I had other issues from the band itself, I wanted the
band out as the PCP had wanted 18 months earier.  My body had
totally incased the port in scare tissue.  The port was tipped inside
the capsual of scare tissue.

Sounds like your body doesn't like yours either.