Question:
I am terrified of the idea of the port. Do you feel it?

Does it protrude from your stomach. If you lay on your stomach do you feel it? How do they keep track of where it is?    — eahumphries (posted on May 19, 2008)


May 19, 2008
Nothing to be terrified of. Port is under the skin surface, it does not protrude. Each time you go to get a fill, the doctor will use a floroscope and locate the exact location to perform your fill. If you are really frightened, I suggest you discuss this with your doctor and get as much pre op counceling and preparation before you have this or any proceedure. Good luck.
   — Jeanne Aldrich

May 19, 2008
HI!well my doc does not use fluro each time, they can feel for it or have you do a half sit up and find it.Dont worry about it,my husbans has not even felt it and its been 16 months.Sandy Hanson
   — Sandy Hanson

May 19, 2008
I had Lap Band done 4-16-08 and I don't feel it. I have my first fill 5-28-08 and I really don't know how he will do it but I am pretty sure he knows where it is located. I really never thought about it until I saw your question, I just trust my surgeon. I don't keep up with it. I know that it is a foreign body in your body but I look at it this way, I have two knee replacements and a metal rod and screws in my back and a heart filter and it couldn't be any different than those.
   — dyates2948

May 19, 2008
Hi, well in my own experience, no two ports are located in the same place. I had my lap band on 2/29/08 and my colleague had hers on 3/15/08 and her scars and port are in an entirely different place than mine. She cannot feel her port. I can feel my port, but it doesn't hurt or anything like that. I think it is all in the way you are built, body wise. When I stand up and feel for my port, I feel it about 4 inches below my bra band, but when I lie down, it "moves" lower on my body. Dr. Cook explained that to me, he said, "the port is sewn into the muscle underneath the top layer of skin, and therefore, the top layer of skin does move back and forth, but the port is stable". I don't lay on my stomach so I couldn't attest to how that feels, but I am sure someone can tell you that. Also, as earlier stated, the doctor will use a flouroscope to locate your port when he does your fill. The port does not move, it is sewn into place. Good luck in your weight loss journey! Margaret
   — largeangel

May 19, 2008
Emily - I had my band placed on 10/29/07. I'm able to do everything I was before the surgery. Even when I lay on my belly I don't feel the port. There is the rare occasion that when I bend down to tie my shoes or get something from the ground that i will feel something, but there isn't any pain. My husband can feel my port when I lay down, but even then I have to guide his hand as to where it is. You will do just fine. Think of it like this - when you get your hair cut, you just get used to it, it a part of you that will forever be. All this is meant in a positive manner. Best of luck to you with your weight loss journey.
   — Rebaboh

May 19, 2008
As the poster above me said, it's firmly attached to the muscle so it won't get "lost" and I can feel it if I press down on the area where the port is located...but very subtle. I have not had a fill yet, possibly I will on Thursday. All the posters have given really good advice so I have nothing to add except additional support :)
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 19, 2008
The port is attached to muscle of the abdoment bneath the fat & skin. Early on it can be hard to find. That is why some Dr's always use floro. Mine only uses floro the 1st time if they have trouble finding the port. It's about 1-1.5" across & less than .5 inches deep. Even if you lose all the excess weight, it most likely will not be visible.
   — Donna O.

May 20, 2008
The port is sutured (sewn) down to your abdominal muscle and is not free floating so there really isn't any need to "keep track" of it. Some surgeons use ultrasound or fluoro to access the port to guide the needle to the port after surgery. Mine doesn't, he just feels around and isolates it and then accesses it easily. The thinner you get, the more likely it is that you can feel it or see it. I'm still chubby enough where mine can't be seen, just felt.... still a layer of fat over it. Others in my support group that have reached goal weight have had their ports changed to smaller "low profile" or neonatal ports when they have their tummy tuck done. As far as laying on the stomach, I don't know, I don't do that. Again, I imagine the more padding you have, the more comfortable it is. Hope this helps, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

May 20, 2008
HI Emily, I'm new to this site and had Lab Band done on Monday. I am so glad I did it. Still don't feet the port yet but the nurse that helped me while in the hospital was 10 month outs out and had me feel where her port was. It is nothing outstanding. Sure was great to have her as my nurse!
   — mannecote




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