Slightly Traumatic First Fill

[philippians413 0]

So, before you all laugh at me, I have a relatively high pain tolerance. I've had two children, had surgery a couple of times before... I'm not a total baby.:blushing:

But I really have a thing about needles.

I went in for my first fill. My doctor does the first fill under flouroscopy. He fills the band to capacity, then has you drink barium, and he pulls saline out of the band until the barium goes through.

So he puts the needle in, which I shouldn't have looked at by the way, and I can feel him digging around for the port. He sprayed the skin with a freezing spray while he put the needle in, but I could feel it deep inside. He couldn't get the needle into the port, so he said he was going to have to get a bigger needle. (Not the right thing to say to me at that moment!) I started getting dizzy and had to sit down. I got up as soon as I could and he did it again... I was so dizzy, sweating, seeing stars. All I could think about was taking deep breaths. I didn't want to pass out there in the office. He had me drink the barium, I don't even know what it tasted like. Then it was over. I cannot believe I didn't fall over right there.

He put 6cc in my 11cc band. That seems like a lot for a fill. Is that more than normal?

[Whillow 0]

that does seem like alot for the first time - i got 4cc my first fill, but every doc is different!

sorry you have such a bad time.

[Bree99 1]

I got 6cc on my first fill as well. I had some restriction for the first week and then it gradually faded. You're off and running now. Congrats.

[vlp1968 83]

Included in the 6ccs if probable the tubing and port itself that needed to get filled. From now on I would expect about 1cc added at a time. Sorry it was such a rough time. My doc. injects a local before a fill, and I don't feel a thing. Maybe you can ask for that next time.

[juliansmom2003 3]

Wow, sorry you felt it inside! That's the worst! My doc also does fills under fluro and apparently, I am in the small percentage of people who get the dizziness, nausea and seeing stars too. They just lay me down right away in case I pass out. Apparently, they have had patients in the past with the same reaction that didn't say anything and boom! they just hit the floor....

After both my fills, I had to sit for about 20 minutes to make sure I was okay to drive because my body just has that reaction to the fills....

6 ccs sounds like a lot for a first fill. My doc usually does 4 for the first. He started with 4 for my first, but it was too much so he took a little out, so my first was actually only 3.4 ccs. Everyone is different (and every doc is different as well in terms of being liberal or conservative with fills)--as long as you're able to keep fluids down with no problem and when you get back to solids, are able to eat (in smaller portions), I'd say you're well on your way to the sweet spot!