Port Removal

 I had mine done on Friday morning and was back to work on Tuesday. I could have gone back on Monday but it was my birthday, so I took the day off. I actually felt fine over the weekend.

I just had mine replaced 3 weeks ago. I assume it would be similar. I think it depends on your surgeon whether or not they will do it under local or general anesthesia.

I had mine done under local anesthesia since I was self pay and did not want to pay another $2,100 to have it done under general. They gave me a Valium a half hour before the procedure (which had no effect on me), numbed up the area, and cut through my old port incision scar. The whole procedure took about an hour and I went home right after it was done.

It honestly was NOT a bad experience at all. I did not feel any pain or discomfort during the surgery/procedure.

I wasn't prescribed any pain meds. The first few days were pretty uncomfortable, but I just iced the area, on 15 minutes, off 15 minutes. I would say the discomfort level was about the same as the original surgery for the port incision. 

Sorry to hear you have to have your port removed. Is it going to be replaced eventually? Was there a malfunction or adverse reaction?

No there was nothing wrong with the band or the port.  I had a GI bleed in October and when they went in with an endoscope to see whay was going on, they perforated my stomach.  The surgeon (a colorectal surgeon who happened to be on call) really didn't know much about bands, so he cut my band but feels that leaving the port in is a source for infection so he feels it should come out.  This is in my home town...my band was put in at Tufts in Boston.

Both my band surgeon and my new surgeon consulted while I spent 15 days in the hospital from ICU to exit.  Both of these guys are fabulous but it was the surgeon who operated on me in October that saved my life and I love him.

 
If they are not doing fills and unfills it is NOT a source of infection in the least.

I tend to agree with you since there's no breach into the integrity of skin etc, but if he feels that it should come out, I'm ok with it.

WOW, I had no idea this happened to you. What a stressful holiday you must have had. I can't believe i missed your posts about your situation. I hope you are feeling better now.  Sorry to hear about your band though.

When I had my port migration it took 3 hours from exit to entry back in the car. I was under the IV Sedation 'twilight" knock me out drugs but not under the full general. I don't remember a thing. The port area was pretty tender but being an awesome doc, my surgeon realigned the orignal scar and you can barely even tell it was there.  

Tiff,
If you go back to 10/22/10 you can see my original post.  I couldn't write what happened until I got home because I got admitted that afternoon.  I think I posted again around Nov 5th or 6th.  I was so thankful that there were so many that were worried about me and I so appreciate it.

 Oh wow. So sorry to hear about that. Glad you are ok!! Best of luck with the removal. 

 
It can be done with lidocaine or full general anesthesia.  It's really no big deal.  It doesn't hurt when they remove the port, it hurts for 2 weeks post op.  Like a pulled muscle.  Seriously, not a big deal.

I intend to go with the Propofil or whatever like that is offered.  I cringed when I read about the woman that had it done under local...NOT for me!  I was interested in the time frame of being out of work.  It seems that Jean needed a longer amount of time than Bette...don't know about the others that have shared.