Concern About Future Fills!

[gingerwale 8]

Hi ladies and gents, here is my question. Im having my band placed in Mexico next Friday. After that I will be returnig to Mexico for my fill under fluoroscopy six weeks later. How many of you who find you had no restriction have had our fills under fluoroscopy? I don't want to have to fly to San Diego then travel to Mexico every two weeks for A .1 cc fill! Dr Ortiz said I should only require abot 2-3 fills total for my entire weight loss journey. Yet i am hearing all these (what equate to me as) horror stories about too much or two little restriction.

Also, how many of you who find that you are too tight had your fill under fluoro? Thanks in advance!

[Mck xx 15]

I dont know if having a fill under flouro really guarantees much, everyone is different and we each hsve our trials & errors. Any chance of finding a local dr for your fills after the first?

[chrissylu 153]

what's the difference between a flouro fill and a syringe/saline fill?

[Mck xx 15]

Flouro (fluoroscopy) only refers to the real time moving images that are taken during the fill, it still involves needles & saline. Just less guessing!

[chrissylu 153]

oh cool! Thanks for the explanation!

[gingerwale 8]

I dont know if having a fill under flouro really guarantees much' date=' everyone is different and we each hsve our trials & errors. Any chance of finding a local dr for your fills after the first?[/quote']

Yes... But I've ' heard' concerns here regarding having doctors other than the one who placed the port accessing it. I am an RN and do home infusions and I access implanted central lines all the time, so I know how tricky it can be. There are risks of severing the catheter and damaging the port and The band port looks exactly the same as a central line. To be frank, I think you establish trust with the md doing the placement, and they have a vested interest in your success. I'm concerned with being just an account wih someone local. Before I would do that, I would explore the possibility of self access with my Dr. ( would never do it without his blessing, appropriate equipment, etc) That would be akin to starting an IV on myself, but more desirable in my mind than having someone unfamiliar do it. Especially considering the fact that It will have to be a blind fill locally, anything local under fluoro would be cost prohibitive for me.

[Mck xx 15]

I dont know anything about fill costs but traveling to mexico must be kinda pricey, too. Maybe you could explore options to see if you find someone you feel comfortable with...id feel better having familiarity with a bariatric practice nearby anyway, in case of an emergency or something like a much needed unfill. Im going thru insurance so I cant entirely empathize but I hope everything goes well with your surgery and that restriction comes easily for you!

[Holly Dolly 575]

I can't see how it would ever be desireable to do a self fill!

[gingerwale 8]

I can't see how it would ever be desireable to do a self fill!

I can understand that and respect your opinion. But I've seen bad port accesses with central lines and I've read horror stories here. I've read reviews online about "fill centers" and they do not look positive. I'm just going to Have faith that my dr is Right when he says 2 to 3 fills over my journey and hope for the best. If it becomes a problem I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

[gingerwale 8]

I dont know anything about fill costs but traveling to Mexico must be kinda pricey' date=' too. Maybe you could explore options to see if you find someone you feel comfortable with...id feel better having familiarity with a bariatric practice nearby anyway, in case of an emergency or something like a much needed unfill. Im going thru insurance so I cant entirely empathize but I hope everything goes well with your surgery and that restriction comes easily for you![/quote']

It's about 160 round trip flight and 100 for the fluoro, fill is free. I understand self pay fluoro here can be 500 to 700 plus cost of fill.

[newlife4nekaylyn 2]

i had my first fill in October I had the same kind of fill i think where they use a live feed and they use the needles and all that good stuff i have been filled four times and since January they will not fill it until i start eating right again. And i dont mean like eating what im supposed to i mean eating. My problem is right now that i dont eat as much as i should be i would say that my band is to tight but i really dont feel like it is. I know when i need a fill again now because i get hungry more now then i did before. can you not find a doctor here in the us that can just do the fills? Can you do that? i really dont know i was going to go to mexico to but found dr stowers in Decatur Texas and he was cheaper then mexico.

[Lluna 14]

I had my surgery in Tijuana, Mexico done by Dr Corvala @ Hospital Angeles. My surgery was done 8/19/11 had my first fill 6 wks after surgery, my second fill 11/19/11 both done under flouroscopy and I been fine with just 2 fills. I'm down 60 lbs since surgey i don't think I need another fill anytime soon.

[gingerwale 8]

I had my surgery in Tijuana' date=' Mexico done by Dr Corvala @ Hospital Angeles. My surgery was done 8/19/11 had my first fill 6 wks after surgery, my second fill 11/19/11 both done under flouroscopy and I been fine with just 2 fills. I'm down 60 lbs since surgey i don't think I need another fill anytime soon.[/quote']

Thank you Lluna, that is very encouraging!