First Fill...HOLY COW!!!!!!!!

Raven5683 · June 15, 2007

Ok so I'm surprised No one has posted on here exactly how uncomfortable recieving a fill really is! I received my first fill today and nearly past out. At first I felt flush all over. The doctor was going and looking at me asking if I was alright because I was turning red. Then I got all clamy and proceded to loose color. I looked at the doctor and said I've never vasal vagaled before but I think I'm about to. I never actually went out and he manage to finish up after that but I felt pretty bad.

Now here's the kicker...I was this surgeons second lapband patient. My self and two other patients had the surgery done on March 29. The bonus since we were the first three he had to have another doctor protor him so we had a doc from New York watch over the surgery. What I didn't think about was my surgeon was going to be practicing on me for fills as well!:phanvan

So he poked me once (feeling method only) and missed...he moved around a bit in there (NOT FUN) and ended up pulling out. Then went in a second time it was a bit painful but he managed to find it and I got the fill...NOW talk about erring on the side of caution...

First of all I had my surgery on 3/29. I had my first follow up at 8 weeks, and he was on the fence about giving me the fill (as well as the other two patients) and had us all return 2 weeks later. Well lucky me my appt. was bumped due to emergency surgery so here I am today 11 weeks getting my first fill and on top of everything he gave me HALF a CC. that is .5cc and mentioned that in the future I might want to have a shield and numbing. And that I should think this over for when I come back in TWO weeks at which point I may need another adjustment!!!!!!!!!!! UGHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!! I am not doing that again in only two weeks...I will suffer the hungry horrors first!

Ok so that is great adventure with my first fill...

Thank God my husband was with me today! (as he has been for all my appts)!!!

Jachut · June 15, 2007

I'm sorry for you but I think you had a particularly bad experience, with a doc who's not experienced at finding the port and giving fills. It shouldnt be like that.

In normal circumstances it honestly doesnt hurt at all, not a bit. You feel a slight prick as the needle goes in of course, but that hurts less than giving blood does and unlike ordinary injections, the Fluid is injected into your port, not into your flesh, so you dont get that horrible pain that you might have with a penicillin injection or similar.

lisah25 · June 15, 2007

Oh my gosh! That sounds like a bad experience all right. My fills have been nothing like that at all. Mine have all been quick and easy, less pain then getting a flu shot.

abominableglib · June 20, 2007

I had my first fill monday and it was horrible. He used fluoro so I don't know why it was so hard for him to find the right place. He gave me lidocaine but it didn't help. I think he was "digging" around for the port. It hurt all afternoon when I came home. I ended up with 1 cc but it's working b/c I can hardly eat anything. I just made vegetable Soup for dinner and managed to not even keep that down. It's really frustrating. Can't say I'm looking forward to another one. So sorry for your experience too! Kelly

Raven5683 · June 20, 2007

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience as well...I understand completely about what you are talking about the whole felt like he was "digging around". I didn't even have the fluoro. He said he was going to numb it next time...Sounds like that doesn't help. I'm actually going to ask my PCP for Valium for my next fill. I've got myself so worked up over the last experience that I will need something to help me relax for this!!!

The GOOD NEWS...the mere 1/2 cc he gave me seems to be working. I'm back to loosing about a pound a day, feeling some restriction and feeling full after eating again. Sooooo...I'm hoping I can put off getting another fill for a little while. Because he's rechecking me in TWO weeks from the last one with the thoughts I will need more.

PS try Clear liquids for a day, to give your body a rest then slowly go up to full liquids then mushies and so on. But if after a day or so you aren't able to hold down soup...I'd be calling your doc!!!

Stacy429 · June 21, 2007

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience as well...I understand completely about what you are talking about the whole felt like he was "digging around". I didn't even have the fluoro. He said he was going to numb it next time...Sounds like that doesn't help. I'm actually going to ask my PCP for Valium for my next fill. I've got myself so worked up over the last experience that I will need something to help me relax for this!!!
The GOOD NEWS...the mere 1/2 cc he gave me seems to be working. I'm back to loosing about a pound a day, feeling some restriction and feeling full after eating again. Sooooo...I'm hoping I can put off getting another fill for a little while. Because he's rechecking me in TWO weeks from the last one with the thoughts I will need more.

PS try Clear Liquids for a day, to give your body a rest then slowly go up to full liquids then mushies and so on. But if after a day or so you aren't able to hold down soup...I'd be calling your doc!!!

Sorry to here you had such a rought time. My fill was quick and pain free. I have a vg 10cc band and they give me 3ccs.

stacy

CoryW · June 21, 2007

Mine have always been quick and easy. I'm a bit numb at the port incision so I never ever feel the needle. I feel a little tightening in my throat initially then everything's fine.

Raven5683 · July 27, 2007

I had my second fill...I've been putting it off for a bit. I hit a plateau for 2 1/2 - 3 weeks of staying at the same weight so I knew I needed another fill. But after my first one I was not in a hurry to go back! Well I went back on this past Wednesday 7/25/07 and I'm glad I did. I took a low dose valium to calm me down before going (yes I asked my doc first, my PCP gave me the med). I had him use the Lidocaine this time and WOW that made the difference! I also threw a towel over my head so I couldn't watch! I felt some pressure like he was feeling around for the port but NO pain this time and I was able to get up and leave right away this time No passing out! On the way out though my husband (who watched) said he stuck me like 6 times! He kept sticking me and digging around to find the right spot. I thought last time was bad, he had to stick me twice but SIX times...I'm glad I was numb! I had a bruise later and it was sore when the numbness wore off. But Hey I didn't pass out!