My Doctor can't find the Injection Port to do an Adjustment

I am 11 weeks post-op, and went for my 2nd adjustment last Friday.  The 1st adjustment did not go well, and the Dr was not able to add any saline.  Friday, he stuck me 5 times, and still could not find the injection port.  He called in another Dr who stuck me 2 times, and still couldn't find the injection port.  Needless to say, I did not get an adjustment.  They sent me for x-rays, to see if there was a kink in the line, etc., but they said everything looked normal.  Now, I have to wait 4 more weeks until he will see me for an attempt at an adjustment.  Has anyone else had this problem?  They did not numb my stomach, so it was very painful with all the sticks.  I don't know what I'm going to do if they can't make an adjustment 4 months out.  Very depressing, especially since I have NO saline in, and have absolutely no restrictions. 

I am very confused, are the Doctors doing the fill the same Doctor(s) who did the surgery? If so, how can they NOT find the port, unless it's flipped. Even then, they should have seen this and fixed it ASAP.

IMHO - this is a consumer relationship. You need to DEMAND a fill by someone who knows what they are doing. If not, move on to another Doctor. Heck, if you bought a television and it wasn’t working correctly you’d b*tch and complain until you got what you paid for. You are really worth less than a tv?

And I don't understand why you have to wait 4 weeks until they try again? I know people who get multiple fills in less time.

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.  

Thanks for your input.  I am waiting on a phone call from the Dr now to tell him exactly how I feel about this.  Since this is a military hospital I'm dealing with, unfortunately, the Dr who performed my surgery is now deployed to Afghanistan,.  I was assigned a new Dr,, but did not get to pick one.  If/when the Dr call me back, I will let him know that I demand some answers.  When I spoke to the nurse today, she said it was all about portion control - heck, if it was just portion control, why would I have gone through surgery - this band is suppose to give me some restriction, so I can exercise portion control - or am I not comprehending this whole thing.  I've had to do most of the research on lap band surgery on my own, because I got very little instruction from the hospital.  Something just doesn't sound right, and I will not stop until they provide me the service I deserve. 

I understand the frustration of dealing with a Military hospital. It’s a shame that the only Doctor *****ally knows you and/or the procedure is deployed elsewhere. And the people left behind are clueless. I need to ask are you beholden just to the Military hospital/Doctors or can you go to another nearby Doctor? That may be the true answer. Good luck. Keep us posted  

wow sorry what an ordeal it will cost more money most likely but yeah you might have to go to another Dr

I had and have the same problem.  My original doc, did the surgery and always did the fills.  He had trouble finding the port.  He could feel it, but had trouble hitting it.  I then moved and went to a new doc.  The PA always does the fills.  She had trouble also.  I have not had a fill in quite some time (they are expensive), so whenever I go back it will be interesting.

I'm still waiting on a phone call back from the Dr.  Since I'm using a military hospital, I guess I should be thankful that I do not have to pay for fills.  I just wish they could fill me at least once.  I had the surgergy 12/9, and have not yet had a fill.  Struggling daily since I have no restrictions, and the whole reason I had this surgery was because I need to learn portion control, which I thought would help if I felt full, but I never fill full.  I am going to demand that they send me to radiology and actually see the injection port when I am finally able to go back to see the dr.  This is crazy. 

This afternoon, the Dr finally returned my phone call.  He told me that they do not numb the abdomen before sticking, and they do not send people to Radiology just so they can see on the screen where the port is to perform the adjustment.  AND, I found out that the Dr who stuck me multiple times during the first attempt WAS the Director of Bariatric Surgery at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth VA!  If the Director can't find the port, I'm really beginning to doubt my decision on this surgery.  I demanded to be seen prior to the 28 March date they originally gave me, and they finally said I could be seen on 17 March - but get this, by another Dr - seems like none of them want to see me because I'm complaining - this will be the 4th Bariatic Dr I have seen since my surgery on 12/9/10.  Am I complaining for no reason?  Like I said earlier, very little information was provided by the hospital to me, I was going only by what a few of my friends who had the surgery were telling me, and the research I had done myself.  I just want to feel some restriction, and want them to tell my why my abdomen is constantly hurting. I cannot do a sit up because of the excruitiating pain, and have to roll out of bed, vice sitting up, etc.  They did an x-ray last Friday, and insist that my   port has not flipped - I wonder if they give placebo adjustments, and I'm their guinea pig,  just like dr's sometimes give placebo medication?  

Dealing with Military Medical seems to be a pain in the ass (or should I say port). And you have all the right to complain. This is one of the fundamentals of medical care.

Maybe brining the following will change their tune (then again, they Are the Military)  

http://www.vcuhealth.org/?id=144&sid=1

 

While I know it will be a cost, I would strongly suggest finding a bariatric surgeon off post and near you and go to them. You are worth obtaining the best care for the best results because you’re WORTH THE BEST because YOU ARE THE BEST.

 

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Tom's advice would be excellent if you were dealing with a civilian facility, however I am familiar with the military hospitals and it most definately does NOT work the same way with them unfortunately. Unless you or your husband are high ranking..........the complaints are not going to be very productive.

I would also strongly suggest that you go to a civilian facility since you are having these problems there.

Good luck!