Regular Fill or Fluoroscope?

[FruitLoop 86]

I go in for my 1 month check up on Monday and my first fill. My doctor gave me brochures on both kinds but still I don't know which one! I'm so CONFUSED. . . . My insurance has paid for everything but won't pay for my fills, but my Doctor said he would work with me on it! My Doctor charges $150.00 when done in the office but have no idea about how much the Fluoroscope is, I imagine that is done at the hospital since there is video imaging involved. I've also read that the Fluoroscope is so much more accurate and you end up having to have less fills. H E L P . . . plz

[blondegal_ 1,028]

Call the doctor and get all the details so that you can make an informed decision.

I've had all my fills done under fluro. My surgeon has the equipment in his office. I get "checked" before and after a fill. There have been times when I didn't get a fill because the "before" indicated I was tight enough but at the next visit I got a fill. Others on the forum have never had fluro. So there's not a wrong/right. But don't let $$ be the only deciding factor.

[Bandista 7,466]

Hi there, I like the idea of fluoroscopic fills but my surgeon just does it the old-fashioned way. So far it's working, though, and I'm grateful for that. Here's what it's been like for me (I've had four fills to date):

We discuss how it's going, appetite, portion size, how long until I am hungry again. When we decide a fill is the way to go, I lie down on the table and put my arms over my head. Surgeon finds the port and marks it. He gives me an anesthetic and that pinches a little but is not really painful. Then, each time, he is giving me his arm to sit up again because it's over. Very fast and I can't even believe it's done already. Then I sit on the edge of the table and drink a glass of Water, chatting for a bit to make sure I feel fine and the Water is going down easily, etc. I bruise easily and so my port area has some color for several days afterward, but there is no sensation or pain, etc.

I am feeling restriction and have had a few stuck episodes. I'm losing weight and not feeling that appetite monster on my shoulder -- I'm not thinking about food all the time. I have an appointment next week and think I will go anyway just to touch base and have the accountability, etc., but I won't be getting another fill as I do not want to be too tight. That is very important to me.

Best wishes!

[Steffyp 63]

My experience is pretty much like bandista's. I had my first fill under flouro because the dr couldn't find my port. Since then the NP has done them all and found my port with no problem. But we always discuss my eating habits and hunger level before she even brings out a needle. It is relatively painless, I don't bruise but I can be a little sore for a few days after. So far I have had 4 fills and 4.5 cc's in my 10cc band. My NP said that generally as long as I'm not having any stuck episodes they put in 1cc per visit, but now that I'm almost 1/2 way in by band it might drop to .5 cc, My dr also has the flouro equipment in the office but I was sent over to the hosp for that first fill. I don't remember how much it costs though, my insurance has covered everything. I don't know if filling under flouro means less fills, it all just really depends on how much you need to hit the green zone. I talked to my np about that and she said it varies for every person so there is no "magic" fill point to focus one. I would definitely discuss that with your dr.

[catfish87 3,471]

I'll give you MY perspective. I know my story is EXTREMELY uncommon...but, it happens.

I was banded in Sept of 2009. At that time, my surgeon didn't use fluoro for fills/adjustments. It was just done blindly. An educated guess if you will, per manufacturers recommendations I suppose. I'd go to the office, talk about how I was doing, what/how much I was eating/exercising, etc. Then get an adjustment as needed. Never any issue finding the port, never any issue "drinking" the Water afterwards...NO issues whatsoever....or at least it seemed that way, for a few months.

During those first few months how can ANYONE not be motivated, lots of willpower, excited, etc... I had surgery, this HAD to work, I thought. Then over the next few months, just like any other diet I'd been on, that motivation, willpower, etc, started to dwindle. I found myself not able to control how much I was eating...AGAIN...just like always. How could this be???

I continued to go to my surgeon, ( who I think is the best ever by the way...over 20 years of bariatric surgeries....over 2000 lapbands ) and we kept discussing what I was feeling, and we/HE just thought I was "losing faster than we were adjusting". I had my 7th "adjustment", up to 11cc's in a 14cc band on August of 2010. AND HAD NO RESTRICTION...LIKE I NEVER HAD SURGERY!!

In October of 2010, my surgeons office started using Fluoroscopy for ALL lapband adjustments.....and the first time I had mine done with fluoro...BINGO, problem found immediately. My band had come "unbuckled". Lucky me! 1st one ever for my surgeon. We got it corrected ASAP. My band has worked as designed since. HOWEVER....I had lost that confidence....and that took ME time to get over.

So, I'm very passionate about the reasons I support fluoroscopy. Yes, it's more expensive per visit. Kind of like a Cadillac cost more than a Yugo. You get what you pay for. Or you can just guess...

Anyone wants see the office notes, send me a pm...I'll be happy to let you read.

Edited January 19, 2014 by catfish87

[The Icy One 518]

My first adjustment was the the 16th and had to be done under fluoro because they couldn't find my port. I had five cc in my ten cc band at the time of surgery and had 1/2 cc added during my adjustment. I think that I am very close to my sweet spot. I am pretty happy, now, and I think that one or two small tweaks and I'll be at my perfect balance.

[FruitLoop 86]

Well I had my fill, he just did it the regular way 3.75 Cc's went about a day and a half back on liquids and I'm fine now. I was so scared about it but I didn't feel a thing!, and I lost another 2 # this week! I am so stoked! Makes me more determined than ever that I WILL make this work!