1sr fill under fluro

[cnelson62 0]

Tuesday was my very 1st fill under fluro. I had my procedure done last July and had gone in for 6 fills in the office. Was just getting to the good restriction part when I had to have them drained due to gall bladder surgery. I feel having a fill under fluro is the best. You can get to the restriction faster. What do you think?

[BetsyB 9]

I do like that my doctor uses fluoroscopy for all fills; it enables him to check the position of the band each time.

I am not sure that I achieved restriction any quicker than I would have without. While the doctor can see how tight I am immediately, I don't know that this information provides a faster result. The less-objective method of having a patient gauge restriction by swallowing liquid is probably as effective.

It took me 5 fills before I hit what I think is my sweet spot. (Time will tell; too close to the fill to be sure it won't taper off...)

I do think that fluoro let my doctor be a little more aggressive with early fills. But as I toe the line, he's using progressively smaller amounts, and I don't think the feedback from the images is as valuable as it was earlier in the game. I'll have to ask him next time I'm in!

[cnelson62 0]

Thanks for the reply. I have pretty much been in his office every month since my surgery last year. I understand having to start over has a lot to do w/it. I just feel that doing it this time under fluro he was able to put more in and I got to restriction alot faster. Now if it stays restricted is another question but only time will tell. Also are you following any type of certain diet and what eating habits have helped you lose the most weight?

Edited July 16, 2010 by cnelson62

[Vivinthewoods 0]

I too have my fills with fluoroscopy - I have the fluoroscopy first and the doctor's assistant makes a notation as to how much restriction she can see and the doc gives me a fill accordingly. I have had 4 fills, 3 of 2cc's and the last fill was 1cc in May. All without any problems.

I think I may be ready for just a small fill to get to my sweet spot, but I am concerned about the amount of radiation I am getting with all these fluoros. I recently read an article about negative affects of the high dosages of radiation from CAT scans and wonder how fluoros compare. Does anyone know how many rads one gets from this procedure? Just wondering, as this year I have also had dental work with many X-rays being taken, plus bone density test and a mammogram. Thanks.

[Windus 0]

I think the florouscopy is best for many reasons. One big one is I have never been poked with the needle more than once as they can see exactly where the port is. Along with that I don't have to worry about them missing the port and poking a hole in the tubing. The day I had my surgery the people before and after me were both there getting repairs after fill doctors in the US damaged their tubing doing blind fills. My surgeon told me probably 10 times that day - no blind fills!

Plus it is way cool to watch live on the screen when you swallow the barium and see it go down and hit your band and you can see for yourself how much restriction you are getting.