Horrifying First Fill

[mediummike 0]

My dr uses no anesthesia and the whole process takes less than 5 minutes (5 minutes to find a port ?????). I lay back, don't look, feel a very slight prick and voila- done. The only thing that bothers me is looking at this thing sticking out of stomach, so I don't look at it. Very simple, easy, painless procedure for me.

[mflozano 0]

Wow. I think I had assumed that my fills would be super-easy based on all that I'd heard about them but I went in for my first fill today and it was a pretty ugly experience.

I'm laying down and my doc starts to poke and prod _really_ hard in search of my port. This is super-uncomfortable. Then he takes out the largest needle I've ever seen. Now, I'm not particularly needle phobic but he had to dig around with the needle for what seemed like an eternity (about 5-7 minutes actually) before he found my port. It totally hurt!

So now I have a fill of 3.5cc and my port area/stomach is very, very tender. What the heck? My doc said as one loses weight, it's easier to find the port but I am _so_ not looking forward to my next fill.

Blargh...

My experience was also horrifying. I went in for my 1st fill and I was 6 weeks Post-Op. I had already lost 24 lbs. Doctor started to poke me several times with the needles. He was not successful in finding the port. What is worse he does not even have an machine to do an xray or flouroscopy of stomach to find my port area. My stomach was all severly bruised. I was then told my his office staff that I would have to go to the hospital to get the 1st fill along with my doctor. My doctor failed to mention that he did not have all the proper equipment to do fills. Does anyone know if a doctor can do a fill with just feeling the port.

[Frangipani 1]

Having a fill done under flouro solves so many problems, including this problem of painful fills and missing the port. It also takes much of the guesswork out of the fill itself, as the Dr. can see the restriction right then and there (which is not to say that the fill might not need to be tweaked because you stomach begins swelling almost immediately after the saline is injected).

I have had all of my fills done under fluoro, and truly wouldn't have it any other way. The last time I went in, the Dr. took a look and told me that I had enough restriction and was able to show me as well. I also like the fact that every time I go in, the Dr. can see my band, my stomach, and my "pouch" and confirm that everything is okay............

Edited May 9, 2008 by Frangipani

[Lynsay 0]

Wow. I think I had assumed that my fills would be super-easy based on all that I'd heard about them but I went in for my first fill today and it was a pretty ugly experience.

I'm laying down and my doc starts to poke and prod _really_ hard in search of my port. This is super-uncomfortable. Then he takes out the largest needle I've ever seen. Now, I'm not particularly needle phobic but he had to dig around with the needle for what seemed like an eternity (about 5-7 minutes actually) before he found my port. It totally hurt!

So now I have a fill of 3.5cc and my port area/stomach is very, very tender. What the heck? My doc said as one loses weight, it's easier to find the port but I am _so_ not looking forward to my next fill.

Blargh...

Hi there,

I don't know what your doc was doing, but I've had two fills and never experienced that!! I'm in Scotland and we lie on a bed under a xray machine and we can see the screen showing the port and the band. We drink a barium meal and he can see how much restriction is required to slow down the flow of the barium meal. On top of that, he uses the exray machine to find the port and bam, one shot with a really THIN needle it was in, I felt no pain at all!! You should considor getting another doc to do your fills.

Hope this helps.

Lynsay Scotland.

[94sasha06 0]

Don't get discouraged! My first fill was a breeze, 2nd one was like yours, 3rd one was a breeze. No numbing or anything. I was ready to back out after the 2nd one but glad I didn't. The whole experience has been worth it to me.

[mflozano 0]

Wonderful experience ! Fill was a success. I got 4cc and did not even feel a thing. Good job Dr. Luis Reyes.:smile2: :smile2:

[Northwest_Nance 0]

This didn't do much to calm my anxiety about my first fill tomorrow! My port area still has intermittent soreness and tenderness and I'm not looking forward to the fill experience. Blah!!! I'm just going to have to deal with it..... :tongue2:

[mediummike 0]

Nance - the experience is unique to all people. Most people I talk to have not had a "bad" experience. See my post above - very simple and easy. In fact, I had routine blood work taken (2 small vials) this morning and will tell you that was worse, even though it is no big deal either...let your dr. know you are concerned and maybe they can calm you/work with you as well...

[spicegrrrl 0]

i felt so terrible after my first fill - as you can tell by the post - but i've had 2 since then and both have been _so_ much better. he was able to find the port much faster and had little to no needle trouble. thank goodness! didn't ever use flouro or anesthesia - it all just worked out. :thumbs_up:

[4crazyboys 0]

I have had 3 fills. The first one was TERRIBLE and I even had a local. NP had to dig around to find the port and I was left badly bruised. I was petrified for my second fill but after the local, I felt very little and had slight bruising. My third fill was over before I knew it, without local, and I have no bruising at all

[Susanbee 0]

Sorry to hear you and others had such a bad fill experience. My dr. numbs my port site with a tiny little needle before the fill. I feel a small pinch. Then when she comes at me with the fill needle, which is very long, I don't feel a thing. I've had 2 fills so far and no bad experiences. Maybe that is a question we should be asking prior to having the band, will the dr numb the area before the fill?

[RAS_STI 1]

had my first fill today. doc found my port in 2 seconds.. a small prick from the needle to numb the area. after that i didn't even feel him go in with the needle to fill me. he put 1.5cc's in and i'm good to go.

total time: 15 mins.

NO PROBLEM.

[bobbiej 0]

Can you tell me where you had your first fill. Yours sound exactly like mine except it felt like my stomach was being twisted then i began vomitting. My was done by Dr Wade Barker's assistant in Dallas Texas. I have had severe muscle spasms since 3 days after the fill.

[Alfie 58]

I've had 4 fills and they were all painless. Mine are done by a PA who does all the fills for the office. All day Fridays he's doing fills so I would consider him very experienced. From the time he begins to look for the port until the time I am sitting up to drink Water about a minute goes by. I'm glad your later fills were better experiences!