Port replacement

I had my band placed in August 2007, replaced in December 2011 and just found out I may need a port replacement. It wasn’t replaced when my band was. My surgeon said it looked fine when he went in and left it as is.

Pre-band I was 264 and as of this morning I am 174. I had my band emptied in August 2010. Ironically, right after that I went on a very restricted diet and got down to 157 last winter. I’ve maintained 167-169 through the fall. I got a little nervous as the pounds started creeping up, and I started going back to some of my pre-band eating patterns. I thought I’d try getting a fill since I was completely empty. Went in to see the doctor, and there is a leak in my port. And it’s flipped—but that doesn’t hinder access to it, my doctor can manipulate it before inserting the needle for my fill.

I don’t have to have it replaced healthwise, but if I want any sort of restriction to help me get to my goal of 149, I need to do it. I need feedback from those of you who have had a leak in their port and have, like me, been at a point where you’ve taken a great deal of weight off but still 20 or so pounds from your goal. What was your decision?

If you’ve had your port replaced, what type of anesthesia did you have? My doctor said local, general, and twilight are all options. He said I’d be fine with local, but it’d ultimately be up to anesthesiologist on day of surgery. What was the recovery like? When did you go back to work? Exercise? I’m also paranoid that crunches and core work led to it. He didn’t seem to think so and said I could continue them after surgery.

This is lengthy, but I appreciate your feedback. I haven’t been on here in years. It provided me with so much information pre and post-op that this was the first place I immediately thought of coming on here with questions.

Thanks!

Oh come on! You've had your band what? 4 1/2 years? And this would be your 3rd band surgery?! You're serious??? U really want to "fix" it? Why? To have your 4th band surgery in another 2 or 3 years?!

REVISE!

 
You may well be one of the many, like me, who do not want wls other than the band. Advice simply to revise is not helpful! I am sure you have the intelligence to know the options and if you felt like revising, that is what you would be asking about. So I will assume you want to stick with the band.

In your shoes, I would get the port replaced. Under local would be the healthiest choice but I have to say I am not sure I would have the courage! But, if you want to stick with the band, there is no point unless you can get it filled.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Kate

I had to option to have a low-profile port installed after I lost quite a bit of weight and my port was sticking out quite a bit. It was not medically necessary, per se, but the larger port was causing discomfort.

The replacement was really no big deal. I think it took longer for the hospital to check me in than it did for the actual procedure. I had twilight sedation but I ended up sleeping through the whole thing. If I remember right, from the time I got to the hospital to the time I got home was 3 hours.

I had a port replacement done to the lower profile. It was a short procedure. Was tender a week or so but am so glad that I did it still even yrs later!