It took five pokes and lots of moving around in each poke to find the fill spot. After the 1st 2 pokes he found the spot and put in 2cc, but wanted to put in 1cc more and after 3 more poke and lots of moving the needle around in each hole he was unsuccesful....... He said the next fill he will do under xray. I now have 3cc as he had put 1cc in during the surgery.:tt2:

I think some people's ports are easier to find than others. My doc. doesnt have trouble, since I lost weight the port sticks out just a little.

Yikes! I was wondering about this since I have my first fill 8/5/10...now I am scared! My poor tummy is still sore from surgery...

I have had 3 fills so far and it has always been one stick. With the fluoro they can see exactly where it is so there is no reason for more than one. I would be scared with multiple pokes that they miss the port and poke a hole in the tubing. The day I had my surgery (in Mexico) there were two people there having their port tubing replaced after doctors in the US had damaged them while doing blind fills.

My surgeon was very adamant that I only have filles with fluoro and I wholeheartedly agree.

Oh my I didn't think about damage to the tubing. How do you know if the tubing is damaged? I also wonder if the surgery is free if they screw it up?

My surgeon only fills under flouro. He says that he always likes to check the band and placement with a barium swallow during the fill to make sure that everything looks normal.

With the flouro it only takes one poke of the needle.

My doctor has never had trouble with a fill. I have had probably 7 fills. It is done is his office, no flouro. My port is right next to my belly button on the left side. He numbs the spot and the puts in the needle. You sit up and drink water and tell him how the water is flowing through the band. He must have a sixth sense because it can just feel where you need to be. My fills have been very small, because a little fluid makes a big difference for me. The most I had in my band was 5.1 cc. I lost 80 pounds in under 10 months. I am at goal now so I took some fluid out and trying to maintain my weight.

My doctor uses flouro and then makes you swallow and checks the passage on an xray. I think I'd run if mine came at me with a needle and said "oh let's try here" without knowing if it was the right spot or not.

My doctor does all fills under fluoro, but fluoro doesn't guide his placement of the needle in the port. So far, he's never needed more than one stick, but my port is nicely placed and easy to locate.

4 fills and 4 sticks...........the PA really does a great job.

Yikes! I was wondering about this since I have my first fill 8/5/10...now I am scared! My poor tummy is still sore from surgery...

Don't be scared!

Honestly, for me, fills are very easy. Literally, takes seconds, but...with the numbing spray, I don't feel a SINGLE thing.

No worries, I don't feel a thing during a fill... and your soreness will go away.....

I'm going to talk to him at my next fill my Dr. didn't even numb me.

1 fill = 1 poke

I did not know I had gotten poked or filled. no numbing and I was fine. I was more afraid today than my surgery, but I promise. I felt nothing and I am not exaggerating.

Plus My Office uses the flouro.....

Never more than one poke, and no numbing either. It truly doesnt hurt at ALL.