Do you ever feel your port/tubing moving?

Hi all, 

I had my Realize band placed in 2010 and have been very fortunate, as in no real problems that I'm aware of (yet). But for the last year every once in a while, it feels like the port and/or band are moving. Several weeks ago as I sat up in bed I swear it felt like it flipped. No pain, but just the most bizarre sensation. The last few days, I've had a sensation of something moving in my mid and lower abdominal cavity. And no, I'm not pregnant. :)

If I lay down on my left side (where my port is) it becomes uncomfortable and the area where my port is, as well as some area below it, becomes numb.

I live several states away from my surgeon, so I do not currently have a relationship with a bariatric surgeon to check this out, and since there's no pain, no vomiting, no ER-worthy "problems"--just odd sensations--I'm not sure how big of a concern this is? We're getting ready to move to yet another state, so I'm hoping this can wait a month until we get settled.

So my question is...is this normal? Has anyone else experienced this? Any idea what caused it/was it indicative of a bigger problem? Anything I should be watching for that might tip this into an ER-worthy trip?

Thank you for any help/feedback you have!!!

I would guess the tubing is pinching or rubbing on a nerve. As long as you aren't in pain it will probably wait until you get settled but please do try to find a doc when you get moved. It is really important that you have somebody to handle issues when they pop up and trust me they will eventually. It can take awhile to find a new doc so don't put it off!

thank you for responding!! Have you had issues with your band/port/tubing? When was yours placed?

Mine was put in in 2007 and removed last year. I never had problems myself but have read of a few others who have had problems with theirs.

Mine would move a lot! I had my band placed 10/2006 and the port settled at my button of my pants and if i did certain yoga poses it hurt like a hernia!  My surgeon told me the scar tissue around the tube could pull and I could actually feel the port move around.  He told me that as your body changes and fat moves around sometimes the sutures around the port become loose causing it to move.

When I had my anchor tummy tuck they moved my port and replaced it with a newer lower profile one, it is amazing! It barley sticks out and only once in 6 months have I felt it.  

The only down side is they had to empty my band to replace it so I was worried I would not find my sweet spot again but I did and I am back to loosing.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for responding! This is very reassuring. I thought I remembered something about the change in fat/composition potentially impacting the port's stitches to the abdominal wall/fat...but then my imagination of course got the best of me! When did you have yours swapped out? I don't think mine has much of a profile; I can find it by pressing on my belly, but it doesn't stick out.

That's great that you got your sweet spot back and you're back to losing. Are you going to do more surgery? Before my band was placed, I thought for sure I'd get a tummy tuck eventually. Now I think that can wait, and it's my arms I want to "fix"....strange how we lose weight in different places, hu?

I had it swapped out nearly 6 months ago, I had my TT two years ago and after the port really showed and stuck out so it got caught easier and was causing me pain so I talked to my surgeon and he worked with my Plastic surgeon and together they were able to get me all situated.

My arms bug me also but if I use my resistance band (every night before the shower for just a few mins) they improve a lot enough that the scar and risk of incision opening is not worth it.

I was thinking of getting my breasts done but I might have to have a double mastectomy (family history) and at that point I will work with my plastic surgeon to see what can be done.

Right now what really bothers me is the side bra area I have tons of skin there but I wear a long lines bra and it holds it in okay but that would be what I would "wish" for at this point.

Good luc!

I get a charlie horse type muscle pain about twice a year and it hurts horribly for several minutes but otherwise nothing.

You CAN go to another specialist who does WLS to have it checked.  New insurance regulations allows for this now thankfully.

sometimes my port stings like I've pulled the muscle around it. when i rock my baby i can feel the tube from my band to the port bouncing around. if its really quiet you can hear the thump as i rock. it is so weird. i got my lap band in 2007 but waiting to get scheduled to have removed.