How to Tell if Your LapBand Port Is Bad

Knowing how to tell if your LapBand port is bad can make the difference between losing more weight and possibly gaining weight and becoming sick. The port can become infected if bacteria tracks along the catheter and out of the port. According to the Laparoscopy website, a website that answers questions about advanced laparoscopic surgery, the infection might be caused by band erosion and will generally force your doctor to remove the LapBand.

Instructions

• 1

  Weigh yourself and write down your weight -- if you have a feeling that your LapBand port is bad.

• 2

  Continue with your regular dieting and exercising regime. Doing so will allow you to keep tabs on your weight gain or loss.

• 3

  Check your weight yourself in two to three weeks. If you have not lost any more weight, then the LapBand port might be bad.

• 4

  Visit the doctor who performed the LapBand surgery and tell him about your discretion. The doctor will perform an endoscopy to verify the malfunction of your LapBand port. An endoscopy is an examination in which your doctor attaches a tiny camera to a flexible fiber-optic tube. The tube travels through your gastrointestinal tract to find the LapBand port. If the port is backed up and looks visibly infected, the port is bad.