susieb

I am scheduled to have my port replaced this Wednesday in Hawaii with Dr. Weber at Kaiser. I have been without my port for 1.5 years now and have have had great restriction in the morning, but not in the afternoon. My husband said that the saline in the tube would push up into the band during the night, which caused me to feel very restricted, but would flow out of the band during the day. I am very nervous about having my port replaced. Dr. Weber is going to empty out the band and "give it a rest." I have had the band for 3 yrs now and am afraid that when he refills it, in about 2 months, that it won't be as full as it has been in the past. Has anyone had surgery or any experience with this doctor?

Aloha Mtred, I was banded in January, 2004, in Tijuana by Dr. Ortiz almost 3 years ago. Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Martinez and their staff will continue to follow your progress and help you with any difficulties you might have. You literally become family to them once you have your surgery. They are very professional and I would feel safer with them than any American Doctor. Even though I've not lost all of the weight that I've wanted to as of this date, I know it can be done. Right, it is a tool, and how you use that tool is up to you. There are other ways to lose weight, like gastric bypass, but my friend passed away having that kind of surgery, so it was not an option for me. Lap Band has very few complications and can work 100% if you want it to. I've just rejoined the forums, because I need the support to lose those extra pounds to reach my goal. Best of Luck to you and let us know what you decide!!! Susie in Hawaii

I was banded in January, 2004 and had to have my port repositioned once and then removed in March, 2005 because of infection, seroma, and it being too close to the skin. It just wanted to pop out. Dr. Martinez left a longer than normal tubing from the band in with a cap on it, so that when the port was replaced, we could put it lower in my abdomen. I haven't needed a fill in a year and a half.... during the past few months, I have had severe acid reflux and unusual tightness. I had an upper GI Xray on Friday and absolutely nothing was passing through my band..... I was immediately referred to a barriatric surgeon... He gave me 2 options. One was to remove the band.... not an option for me..... two was to replace the port, unfill the band and give it a rest for awhile. So, Wednesday, I am getting a new port put in... in Hawaii. Don't know what its going to cost, but fills here are only an office visit of $14.00. At least, I will now be in the "system" here and won't need to go back to the mainland or Mexico for fills. So, why did my band, all of a sudden get sooo tight, you ask?? My brilliant husband came up with this conclusion especially since I never could eat anything in the mornings. Most of us are usually very "tight" in the morning. Ever wonder why??? When you are laying down at night and in a fetal or other position, the tube can twist and bend causing the saline to push up into the band, causing it to get tight. As you are upright during the day, the saline flows back down into the tube, the band becomes loser and you can eat a little more. Since my tubing is longer than normal, my band got really tight and uncomfortable, because of the excess saline in the tube. Make sense???

Hi All, Well, I had my port removed. No sign of band erosion. The endoscopy was performed at another clinic in TJ by a very experienced doctor. I didn't feel a thing and had no pain afterwards. They even gave me pictures of my insides and a CD of the entire prodedure. I have been feeling so much better since having it removed. They also removed the tubing and replaced it with fresh new tubing to the band. They tested the tissue and tubing for infection and all was normal. Dr. Martinez said that they took out a golfball size amount of tissue with the port. It had turned upside down somehow. When I was getting my fill before the surgery, the needle bent. Anyway, he guessed the amount to fill and filled the band on the operating table. His guess was right on!! I have perfect restriction and will get a new port this Fall. Take care all!! Gotta get back to work. SusieB 200/165/125

Well, I am scheduled to go to TJ on Wednesday and have pre op tests on Thursday and surgery on Friday. I am a nervous nellie to say the least. I have been on Cipro for a port infection for 3 wks now and my port site seems totally normal again, except for some redness..... I pray that I don't lose my band. I am trying to find the gal who had her port removed. Did she ever get it back??? How is she doing?? Wish me Luck and Pray!! Susie from Hawaii toll free: 877-637-1836 196/160/125 someday, I hope

I was wondering how the endoscopy turned out?? I have a really bad infection at my port site and am going to see Dr. Martinez in TJ on Jan. 20th for pre ops and on the 21st for probable "port removal." Last July, he moved my port from one side to the other as I had the same symptoms. I had a bad infection. Another doc told me that the port should have been removed at that time and not placed back in my body..... that's what caused this new infection. He also said that the band itself is more than likely infected, if the port is infected. I am now concerned that he might have to remove the band. That would be devastating to me as I still have 35 pounds to go to my goal. Anyone else with this problem???? Susie in Hawaii 200/167 and praying

Last week, I went to TJ for a port adjustment.... Something Good and Something Bad happened. I got scammed by the rental car company. Do not rent a car from Ace Rent a Car or from AutoRent in San Diego. They are scam artists and literally "none" of their cars are driveable. So, I started walking to the trolley station and took the San Ysidro trolley for $2.50 to the border, walked across, and took a taxi for $5.00 to the Lucerna. It was great and the only way I will travel from now on!!!

Has anyone experienced a burning sensation around the port area after a fill? I was wondering if it might be from the flouroscopy? Is the flouroscopy dangerous as far as radiation exposure goes? I heard that some docs are using ultrasound for fills.