the scary stories dont help!

[confusedfairy509 0]

Well I was going to get a fill at the beginning of Jan and chickened out! I have been down and upset that I dont have the guts to deal with a little poke. Then I pop in here to catch on reading to get all pumped back up for my fill this thrusday & I seen scary stories of over fills & poked ports! How aften do these things really happen? I am getting the flro done so does that better my chances of it not happening? I am going to NW fill managment and they have never seen me before and I have NO records at all. Don't know my size ether. Ugh! I can't let myself talk myself out of it again!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Please realize that for every 10 fill "horror stories" you read here, there are THOUSANDS that are non-events.

Seriously. If they were that bad, the band wouldn't be as popular as it is. I've had 4 fills and they were all fine...easy breezy. Please remember to place anything you read on here in context. Many many happy bandsters are not posting here; and many people who post here are either new with questions, or have a problem. For example it would never occur to me to post "I had a fill. It didn't hurt"

When you play the percentages, odds are your fill will likely be so easy you won't even know it happened.

Don't be overly scared....the band needs fills to work.

Edited February 9, 2009 by RestlessMonkey

[TQUAD64 9]

My three fills have been non-eventful. No pian during the procedure, which was not by fluro.

I have not been over-filled. I have never had an issue with slime, bps, heartburn, vomit, or being stuck with the band.

I think it is important to be aware of possible issues. However, I think it is equally important to share your concerns with your doctor.

If you are not to squeemish, watch a fill video on YouTube.

Every person's fill experience is different. Realize for every bad fill experience you read about that there are five times as many good fill experiences.

Your chances for a fill complication are less with fluro technology. Follow you doctor's post fill instructions and you should have no problem.

[kiz 1]

I've had six fills; three with fluoro and three not. Not a one of them were painful. With fluoro, the doctor can first locate the port by x-ray, so there's less chance of a mistake. However, the three I had done in the office were done in one stick as well. I've said this in other posts, but pulling off the bandage was the only pain I experienced from any of my fills.

[OneHotMama 0]

I feel your "pain" HAHA I keep hoping I won't need a fill at all, wishful thinking I know. The one story that really freaks me out is the idea of introducing an infection to the port travel up the tube to the band, abscesses, slippage, blah, blah, blah.:thumbup: My Dr. only does fills under flouro so I'm not too concerned about the multiple poking stories. When I got the band I decided I wouldn't get a fill until I stopped losing weight, not based on a date or timeline. So I'll see how long I can hold off!!! I'm sure we'll be fine!!!

[luluc 6]

Well I was going to get a fill at the beginning of Jan and chickened out! I have been down and upset that I dont have the guts to deal with a little poke.

unfortunately the band works when you get proper restriction via the fills/adjustments. granted there are some that never need a fill - but i think that's such a small minority.

i've had 9 fills & will go for my 4th unfill this wk, the only time it's hurt was the first time when i had a numbing shot before my fill. that was the first & last time i did it that way.

i hate needles, so i don't look while they're doing it & have my ipod on so i can't "hear" it. may sound a bit foolish but i like the tap on my shoulder that they're done and i've not been a witness to it:)

[confusedfairy509 0]

well thanks for all the wonderful replies!

Luluc: I think I will take my ipod and try that. I am so flipping freaked of needle that the old sang, I would do the shot for my kids if I could...does NOT apply to me, lol. My kids are wayyyyy braver then me. Sad huh. I think I will try and not have the numbing ether. Someone told me about the Lydacain and I will try that. My mom has that stuff. Well I will post when I get it! Thanks

[TQUAD64 9]

well thanks for all the wonderful replies!

Luluc: I think I will take my ipod and try that. I am so flipping freaked of needle that the old sang, I would do the shot for my kids if I could...does NOT apply to me, lol. My kids are wayyyyy braver then me. Sad huh. I think I will try and not have the numbing ether. Someone told me about the Lydacain and I will try that. My mom has that stuff. Well I will post when I get it! Thanks

I don't like needles. Yet, I donate blood every other month and get my fills every month. And I have my blood tested every month for my bariatric doctor. But I never ever look at the needles. I turn my head or close my eyes, but I never look at the needles. Out of my sight therefore out of my mind. :thumbup:

[lellow 1,713]

I've had 5 fills and not one problem ever. Each time, I barely felt it, each time it was over before I even realised it was being done.

Also the pain of a teeny tiny needle is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING compared to the pain you went through to actually have this surgery. And the band only works (99% of the time) with fills that will get you to the point of restriction. The fills are the easiest part of the whole thing!

[pattygreen 5]

Well I was going to get a fill at the beginning of Jan and chickened out! I have been down and upset that I dont have the guts to deal with a little poke. Then I pop in here to catch on reading to get all pumped back up for my fill this thrusday & I seen scary stories of over fills & poked ports! How aften do these things really happen? I am getting the flro done so does that better my chances of it not happening? I am going to NW fill managment and they have never seen me before and I have NO records at all. Don't know my size ether. Ugh! I can't let myself talk myself out of it again!

If you could deal with the IV they had to put in you before your surgery took place, then you can surely deal with that tiny poke. It's nothing! Trust me. I didn't hurt at all.

[confusedfairy509 0]

turns out I am one of the stories! My port is not fliped but up on edge and they could not fix. They said I have to find a dr. and he will cut it open and then fix it. They said in the states it will runs me a few grand. No fill for me, and now I have a band I can't use! :ohmy:

What upsets me the most is I wasn't told any of the risks like this before I got the band. I was told about band slipage after the fact and was told it was extreamly rare.

[kiz 1]

Oh no, PJ. I can't believe your doctor doesn't cover the correction. I'm so sorry you're facing this.

[confusedfairy509 0]

yeah it woulod be kinda hard for him to help me being he's passed on now. Thanks though.

[twirl 0]

I have had two fills and everything was fine --

do not be afraid-

the worst thing to me about fills are the days I have to stay on liquids

[pattygreen 5]

turns out I am one of the stories! My port is not fliped but up on edge and they could not fix. They said I have to find a dr. and he will cut it open and then fix it. They said in the states it will runs me a few grand. No fill for me, and now I have a band I can't use! :frown:

What upsets me the most is I wasn't told any of the risks like this before I got the band. I was told about band slipage after the fact and was told it was extreamly rare.

Did they try to find it with an ultrasound first? I, too, had a sideways port. On my first fill, the dr. poked me about 8 times to try to find the opening of the port and couldn't get it. Then I went home upset. On my next visit, he tried again and after 3 pokes, he got it. He put in 4cc cause he thought I might be hard to find again. But no, after that I went back a month later and had 2 more cc put in. Now I feel that I am at a perfect restriction. So, it may turn out for you as well. I will pray for your situation. God bless. Patty