Lap-Band Question...

Ms. Cal Culator
on 2/17/11 10:00 am - Tuvalu

Someone called me earlier tonight and it's been a while and I want to make sure I've got this right.

Irritation around the port (burning, that kind of thing)...is that in the same ball park as infections around the port...which CAN indicate erosion?

I knew from infections...I just don't think I remember a discussion of burning. This is someone who has had a band for a few years, not a recent post-op.

Anyone remember? (And I don't WANT to go to the band board.)

larra
on 2/17/11 10:15 am - bay area, CA

It could be a sign of infection, which could be either just the port or something more. It's possiblee to have an infection of the port and/or attached tubing without infection or erosion of the band itself.
Bottom line, she or he needs to let the surgeon know and get seen, because there is no way for a patient to sort this out for her/himself.

Larra

Valerieb09
on 2/17/11 10:36 am - Seacoast, NH

Revision on 06/09/08

I did have a band and I know a lot of people who had/have the band and had all kinds of issues. But I have never heard of that...I tend to agree with Larra that she needs to be seen by a doctor as this could be a potential infection or something else.
I don't know why they keep making this device...but of course we all know it is a moneymaker for the manufacturer...
Valerie

Revision June 9, 2008
Lapband to RNY
117 lbs. lost as of 09-08-10
Dr. David B. Lautz~~~~~Simply the Best!
Brigham & Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts

(deactivated member)
on 2/17/11 11:16 am

Yep, sounds like erosion to me. Is she having any reflux issues? Those two symptoms are classic erosion. If it's just pain and burning around the port area, it could be a flipped port. Both of these problems can be diagnosed under fluroscopy. Sometimes the erosion problem has to be diagnosed via EGD or upper endoscopy. I wish your friend luck. The best day for me, was when that ****ty thing was removed! Allergan is the devil.

Kilaani
on 2/17/11 11:49 am - Las Vegas, NV

DS on 03/10/05

My stomach got VERY irritated around the port when I'd had a few adjustments in a row trying to fill it with a mechanical band leakage. Finally I left it alone (for 7 years) before I had the blamed thing taken out (thank God!)

So, I guess the answer is, whoever it is won't know unless they have a dye test or what? Will anything show possible erosion or no?

Jill - revision - band to DS 3/10/05 Dr. Baltasar, Spain
440/140/149 hw/cw/gw - 5'5" -300lbs -- bmi 73.2 to 24.8 :) GOAL MET 10/26/10!!.... Even made 140 September 2012. Been ranging 4-6lbs from 144-146 since then. Back to 140 December 2012, hoping to see it again after I feel better and start working out.

Ms. Cal Culator
on 2/17/11 12:11 pm - Tuvalu

She was on her way to the ER when we last spoke. I was just checking to see if I had given her bad info when I said that the ER may need to be told that someone needs to check to rule out band erosion.

crystal M.
on 2/17/11 9:02 pm - Joliet, IL

REALIZE Band on 03/24/09

I hope she went back to the hospital that did her Band surgery or a hospital that does band surgeries. I find that most doctors are completely in the dark when it comes to the Band...really all WLS. I would hate for her to get to the hospital and they have no idea how to treat her.

I hope all will be fine.

Kate -True Brit
on 2/17/11 4:09 pm - UK

Lap Band on 04/23/06

Someone posted the link on the band board.

You gave good advice. Irritation sounds less "dramatic" than infection but anything that might be a sign of incipient infection needs checking as infection around the port area is often the only symptom of erosion.

I hope she is OK.

Kate

Highest 290, Banded - 248 Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.

Happily banded since May 2006. Regain of 28lbs 2013-14. ALL GONE!

But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,

(deactivated member)
on 2/17/11 8:27 pm - Bayonne, NJ

Revision on 12/21/09

One of my friends had irritation around her port, and the darned thing flipped! They had to surgically correct that, of course.

Lynn C
on 2/18/11 2:36 am

VSG on 09/07/10

Port infections (Pain, swelling, oozing) after the healing phase after surgery are associated with band erosion. While the band is eating its way through the stomach tissue some of the acids/contents of the stomach can escape in small amounts, they travel down the tubing and infect the port.

An upper GI can miss an erosion - they are usually found during an endoscopy.

Burning could also be a ripped anchor stitch - I did that and it burned like hell but only for a few hours. It was fine after that.

Hope its nothing serious (or that they catch it early enough) for your friend. Good luck.

Lynn C ~
Banded 9/12/2005 ~ Revision to VSG on 9/7/2010 ~ Losing again with a Keto lifestyle

Lap-Band Question...

Our Mission

Follow us

Links

Select Photos

Lap-Band Question...