First fill was intense

[Cassiepants 1]

I had my first fill yesterday. I was really excited to get it (and still am). I spent a lot of time reading up on lap band - over a period of five years - before the surgery, and one thing I never came across was a warning that getting a fill is uncomfortable. So when my surgeon dug his fingers into my abdomen for what felt like five minutes (but was probably more like one) in order to find the port, I was really surprised. It was incredibly uncomfortable, bordering on painful, and now I have tenderness and a light bruise around the port.

Is this normal? Does it get better the more you heal? I was able to handle it, and it doesn't discourage me, it was just something I wasn't prepared for and I'm interested to hear others' experiences.

[TLL 105]

Mine has never had to pick and prod that much for my port with his hands. One time, he did have to poke around inside with the needle a couple of times to hit the right spot on the port...now THAT was painful! But I'm always sore for a day or two afterward, no matter how gentle he was with me. In fact, I just had a fill on Tuesday last week, and I thought it was the most gentle experience fill wise that I've had so far. It was a breeze! But even now days later, I'm still a bit tender and I got a nasty bruise this time. I have a feeling it will be a little bit different each time. As you lose weight and exercise, your port will move around a little bit, and become easier and easier for them to find.

So really, I think the word you used is most appropriate. "Uncomfortable" but I've never personally had one that was straight up painful. It's worth it, and don't worry, most of us don't have to have TOO many fills before we hit that sweet spot for a good long while.

[kll724 3,055]

Nope, never had that problem. Sorry to hear you were so uncomfortable. My surgeon never had trbl locating my port, he did, once, have trbl filling me as my port had tilted, but on Tuesday, he said it had gone back into shape. He, always, numbs me at the port before sticking in the needle, too.

[MestizaBander 43]

My port is in my chest and it makes it super easy to find but my doctor numbs me with lidocaine before he starts my fill. I got my first fill last Tuesday and my port is still a little swollen though.

[terrydumont46 1,954]

my doctor has me lay on the table and left my head off the table. it forces abdominal muscles to tightened up and makes my port stick out. plus I know exactly where the needle should go in at. right in the middle of my largest incision. but saying how easy the fill is I can also say that for a day I don't feel very good, sorta like a unwell feeling without being sick. and sometimes my back hurts from laying on the table flat. but I have never had bruising or pain when getting filled and always one poke and its over. my doctor offers lidocaine but heck I don't want to be poked twice.

[goosarr_sez 18]

My first fill was good. Uncomfortable but not painful. My doc had me do like a half sit-up. He had to feel around a bit but now that we know where to go (just under the largest incision.) he also said that as I lose weight it will be easier to find for next time. He had to move the needle around a little before he was sure it was in the port though. That was not painful but a little more than uncomfortable.

[Rockagal 1]

My Dr.had me do the same thing, he said " give me a crunch, like your doing a sit up." I have only had one fill of 2cc and wish it was more but no problems like you spoke of. The Nurse used the ultrasound to locate and mark the port then gave me a lidocaine shot. The rest was simple.

Maybe you should ask them to do this next time.