Problems during fills, doctor keeps missing port.

RosyPosy · 08-25-2008, 03:33 PM

Hi all, thanks for your advice - the band's not been around for 30 years???beginning to really suspect now! I phoned doctor today and he said to come up on Friday to see him and he will "explore" the problem. Here's hoping! Will let you know how I get on. RP

Tess415 · 08-26-2008, 09:07 AM

Rosy good luck on Friday. Let us know how it goes, at the very least he should do one under xray and check placement and restriction that way!!!

Tess415 · 08-26-2008, 05:00 PM

Hey Rosy... found this at the LAP-BAND^® manufacturer's website, print in and take it with you if you want to your appointment!!!!! Hope it helps!!!!!!

http://www.lapbandcentral.com/local/...NT%20Guide.pdf

**Kat817** · 08-26-2008, 05:51 PM

My band Dr. I use for fills does not use a numbing medication, and unless there is an issue, he does not use fluoro as a general rule.

It has taken several pokes for both of my fills and for my unfill as well. And I have bent a needle before as well!

The band has not been around in its present form for that long. There was a non adjustable band done before, but that would not be in the same problem area you were discussing.

The first time I got a fill, there was nothing to pull out of course, but he inserted the fluid......then pulled it back into the syringe to assure it was IN THE BAND--then pushed the plunger back, and left it. I was given 1.25cc.'s in a 9.75 ml band designed to hold 4cc's max fill.

The second fill I went in for he poked again a few times--finally getting the port, and pulled out 1.1 cc.'s, and then added my .50. Again, once he plunged, he withdrew some then went ahead and filled it. That fill took me almost to goal and I did not have my band accessed again for almost 2 years!

The next time was to unfill, and he still poked me a few times to find it.

My SIL and I were banded by the same Dr. and went to another Dr. for followup care, and he hit hers every single time on the first shot! She did not have much in the way of belly fat, and she had some serious adhesions so the original surgeon placed her low profile port closer to the surface because of them. Now that she is close to goal, you can SEE her port, even with it being a low profile.

Myself, I carried 80% of my weight in my belly----and my port was DEEP! It too was a low profile port. So overall it is about the size of a nickel, maybe a quarter, and the area that has to be hit, is about the size of the top of a pencil eraser!!! The back is made of titanium so that the needle cannot pierce all the way through, when it is hit---the needle bends----ask your band Dr, about it, they will not be surprised.

There is a fluid they can use if there is a fear of puncture, kind of like a slime or fix a flat for bands! It is called Omnipaque---it is a thicker viscosity of fluid, that will plug any pierced areas in the band or tube.

My suggestion would be to seriously discuss these things with your Dr. and if he pops off with the 30 year thing, let him know you are not that gullible. That you know exactly how long the adjustable gastric band has been around! Then I would ask him to please withdraw fluid before adding since you are questioning the increasing lack of restriction.
If at ANY time, he is not willing, or treated me as though I was an inconvenience, I would be out of there!!!

I know finding a Dr, to do aftercare besides your original surgeon is not always easy nor convenient, but it IS worth it.

While my Dr. has had issues hitting my band, I have no doubt any other would have as well. Next time will be much easier, since the TT, I can feel it quite easily!!!
Even though he has trouble locating the eye of my port, he has seen me MULTIPLE times just as a consult, without ever adjusting my band, and has always taken time to talk to me about plateaus, and diet issues, anything like that.

I have seen MANY posts about multiple pokes for fills, so that does not concern me, the 30 years, and the blowing off your questions would seriously concern me.

Let us know how he reacts to your knowledge of the band!!

Good Luck!
Kat

lessme · 08-26-2008, 06:15 PM

Hey Rosy, As you can see we are all anxiously waiting to hear how you are doing. Thanks Kat 817 for all of the great information on the band, ports, and fills. Very informative and you weight loss is so encouraging it is certainly amazing that you got to your perfect fill spot on just 2 fills. Good for you. Did you use a different doctor than your original surgeon and how did you find him? He sounds great. I think we are all rooting for Rosy because we have all been at the mercy of some sexist doctor. I'm finding that with most medical care we all have to be our own advocates and sometimes be very assertive. I have gotten a lot of courage from the great people on these threads.

**Kat817** · 08-27-2008, 01:13 AM

Yes I am using a different Dr. for fills. I am using the Dr, I originally chose to do my surgery. I did all the pre op work ups with him, and was very excited. At the time my insurance required a 12 month medically supervised diet program. Well I am in a very rural area, so my PCP was doing that, but he had been in touch with the surgeon, and all was going well. Then I was in a car accident (not my fault---even tho that does not matter!!!!). I ended up in the hospital with surgery----and insurance then denied my band---saying I had to start my 12 months over, because it has to be consecutive, and I had missed a month while off having surgery! I was devastated. My band surgeons office helped me appeal, and I was denied again. So I was left without option, the surgeon was way more than I could afford out of pocket. About that time the woman who was at fault in the accident, her insurance settled on me! Was not enough to pay for the surgery here, but was enough for me to go to Mexico. I spoke with my surgeon, and he gave me 2 names. I researched, decided, and he agreed to do my aftercare. He spoke with my surgeon in MX, and we also set up an emergency contact here, because even my "local" band surgeon/aftercare Dr, is 6 hours away!!!
The MX Dr, that actually did my surgery would not agree to do it, until I had follow up care lined up.

I agree, we have to be diligent about our own care. There is too much that gets lost between nurse and Dr, and from one specialist to the next. I am sure I annoy the hell outta my docs!!!!

Kat

drlukemayes · 08-27-2008, 01:30 AM

so sorry that you are dealing with all this. sounds like you need to interview a new fill doctor. Make sure that your new doctor has been adequately trained, and ask to even speak with one of there prior patients. I would feel very comfortable for any of my patients to speak with a new patient.

SanDiegoPhotog · 08-28-2008, 01:35 AM

My surgeon does my fills and he had trouble accessing my port for my first fill. I had a very bad bout of bronchitis at about 4 or 5 weeks post-op and my violent coughing spells literally moved my port. Thankfully, it wasn't flipped, but it was rotated a little bit so that my doctor had to access my port at a different angle than all of his other patients.

Since he had trouble accessing it, he did use Lydocain to numb the area. He said that as I lost weight, my port might be easier to access.

Sure enough, just one fill later, it was already easier to access and he got it on the first try. My port *is* slightly rotated though.

He said that if I ever get a tummy tuck down the line, he will go in and re-position my port for me if it is a problem.

I'm just wondering if your doctor has trouble because maybe your port has rotated or flipped. The day that he was having trouble accessing my port, my doctor did also say that he was going to use fluoro if there was a problem -- and then boom, he accessed it. Thankfully the second time was much easier, so flouro was never even mentioned.

eyevory · 08-30-2008, 09:34 AM

For fills, I always lay on the table and feel around with my hand to find the port myself to give the doctor some guidance. I joke about having a target tattoo, lol. He usually does a numbing shot. Then, I do a crunch (lift shoulders off table) and he finds port and sticks it. When I have had trouble, he put a pillow under my back to arch my back. Once he hit the side of the port and bent the needle, but I don't think it was a big deal, I trusted that surgeon.

I think it is supposed to get easier when there is less flab in the way!