Today I went for my first fill and it turned out not so good! The Dr. tried for 45mins but could not get it. She said everything was fine but she just could not find the spot.Has this happened to anyone else. She said its hard for the first fill but Ive never heard anyone else say that. I go back tuesday so the other dr can try.

Does your doctor not have the fluro? It makes it so much easier to find your port and to fill

I sure hope they numb you. I don't get numbed but my doctor gets it on the first try everytime. I don't think I would have that person do you fills anymore.

It happend to me on my first fill. As it turned out, my port had flipped. I had to go in for day surgery (more like minute surgery). Although you're under anestesia, it's very light. Haven't had any problems since. I've been banded for almost 3 years now.

Things seem like forever when it is going on. I had this happen to me one time. It took a long time but really I was in panic mode. So everything is in slow mode. We all react differently under stress. I did however have to have the xray dept do my fill as we had trouble that day. but since then smooth sailing. Go figure. Good luck I wish you the best.

happened to me too - was nothing it just ended up being deeper than she thought and so the needle was not long enough to get to the port - she was not trained with fluro etc so I had to see someone else - but turned out to be nothing for me so try not to worry because it might just be their mistake :-)

What is the fluro? Luckily it wasnt painful at all, I did get numbed twice, it felt very strange but not painfnul. When I go on tuesday and they have a hard time again then i have to go for an ultrasound.

Fluoroscopy is basically where they do the fill while you're being x-ray, shows them specifically where everything is with the added benefit if they have you drink barium they can see how tight you are and how things are passing through your stoma. Is seems like some docs do all fills under fluoro and some don't use it unless there's an issue. I've had 1 fill with no problems, next one is Monday, hooray!!

I went yesterday for my first fill and was very apprehensive as I hate needles. Well my doc got it immediately and I barely felt anything. He just pressed on my belly where the port was and did it very fast. No problems so far. Either I'm very lucky or I picked a great surgeon.

I think some doctors/nurses are just better or more experienced than others. I was told by my surgeon's assistant that my port was super easy to find and fill. For my first fill, she got the needle right in and said I'd be a great person to train others on.

So, when I called to make an appointment for a second fill and she wasn't available, I said they could schedule me with anyone cause I should be an easy fill. Well, I think the person they scheduled me with had not done it much at all. You could tell she was a little nervous and talking through the process the whole time (like, oh I'm hitting the side of it, then poke, poke, poke, there it is, now I gotta make sure I can feel the metal in the back). Ok, lucky I'm not squeamish. It didn't bother me at all and because it doesn't bother me, I really don't mind if they send me to the people in their office that are newer at it. It means I can get my appointments quicker.

Anyway, it could be that your surgeon is not used to doing the actual fills. There is usually one person in each office that is the ultimate expert at doing fills for those that might be a more difficult stick. And, usually that would be an assistant (someone who does more fills than anything else).

In my surgeon's office, the PA Holly is the master filler. She has always hit my port with the first stick. It is nothing. The surgeon has never done my fills. He did my friend's once and he overfilled her. She DOES, however, like it kind of tight. Maybe she stressed that a little too much.:smile:

The PA is the one who tried it so Im really hoping my surgeon can get it with out any problems. Im supposed to be gettin a fill of 2c, is that normal?

Can eveyone feel there port? I havent had a fill yet . I am so scared after reading everyones post. I just got the lapband Feb 2 . Should I feel hungry now. Will the hunger go away after the first fill?

The PA is the one who tried it so Im really hoping my surgeon can get it with out any problems. Im supposed to be gettin a fill of 2c, is that normal?

My surgeon usually does 4ccs at the first fill, but I knew I didn't need that much, so I only got 1. 2ccs sounds reasonable to me.

NO WORRIES! My first fill went really badly and after 30 minutes, over 10 sticks, and many tears - we decided to try again in 2 weeks. My doc had warned me at the time of the surgery that because of scar tissue they had placed the port deep. If you want to hear the details read my blogs about my first couple of fills.

It gets much, much better. I must say that the anxiety of my first attempted fill experience plagues me though. Everytime I go in I pray and pray that it goes well. It has - and it keeps getting easier and easier. I think you'll be A-ok. To be honest - reading your post makes me feel better about my experience.

Thankyou everyone, is makes me feel much better that Im not the only one who had this problem. I was starting to think that I wasnt ever gonna get a fill and that the band wasnt right for me.

Crzytcher: do you have a standard band or large? The PA told me that if I had a large then Id get 4cc but I have the standard so I only get 2cc.