Hi All,

I was banded on the 19th and am trying to prepare myself for my first fill. Can anyone tell me what to expect? Like, does it hurt? Do you feel much less hungry after the fill? Any information will be gladly accepted. Thanks.

Barbara

Hi Barbara.

I can only tell you what my fills are like, with no guarantee that your doc does them the same way. I lay on the table, he feels for my port, then injects some numbing stuff. Then the fill needle goes in. I don't think any of this hurts at all. He has me sit up with the fill needle sticking out, then he injects the saline and has me drink Water and report on how it's going down. That way he can take some out or even put more if he needs to. Then I lay back down, he takes out the needle and puts a band aid on me. Boom, we're done. Takes less than 5 minutes.

How people feel after the first fill varies a lot, but based on what I've read here, most people do not feel much different after the first fill or two. Sometimes, it takes several fills and sometimes it takes less-- there is no way of knowing what you'll be but just hang in there if it isn't right the first time. I have had two fills, in tiny amounts (I have 2.5cc's total in a 10cc band) and they've worked like magic. Other people would spit on that fill amount and need more. The mysteries of the human body, I guess.

Edited to add: My doc has a 3 day liquid diet after every fill. That seems to be on the high side-- I do 2 days of liquids and then I do a day of mushies, which means I am a bad patient but it has worked for me just fine. You should definitely plan on doing liquids for the day after your fill-- that seems pretty standard at the least.

Hi Lyla,

Thanks so much for the information. It doesn't' sound too terrifying at all the way you describe it. I'm glad they use some numbing stuff before sticking the needle in.

I'll definitely let you know how it goes. Thanks again.

Barbara

Hi Barbara.

I can only tell you what my fills are like, with no guarantee that your doc does them the same way. I lay on the table, he feels for my port, then injects some numbing stuff. Then the fill needle goes in. I don't think any of this hurts at all. He has me sit up with the fill needle sticking out, then he injects the saline and has me drink Water and report on how it's going down. That way he can take some out or even put more if he needs to. Then I lay back down, he takes out the needle and puts a band aid on me. Boom, we're done. Takes less than 5 minutes.

How people feel after the first fill varies a lot, but based on what I've read here, most people do not feel much different after the first fill or two. Sometimes, it takes several fills and sometimes it takes less-- there is no way of knowing what you'll be but just hang in there if it isn't right the first time. I have had two fills, in tiny amounts (I have 2.5cc's total in a 10cc band) and they've worked like magic. Other people would spit on that fill amount and need more. The mysteries of the human body, I guess.

Edited to add: My doc has a 3 day liquid diet after every fill. That seems to be on the high side-- I do 2 days of liquids and then I do a day of mushies, which means I am a bad patient but it has worked for me just fine. You should definitely plan on doing liquids for the day after your fill-- that seems pretty standard at the least.

My first fill was very different than all my subsequent fills. First one done under fluro, so I was standing up and got to "watch" everything going in, drank the barium after and watched it go down. It was pretty cool actually! No pain whatsover. Doc uses a freezing spray first so I felt nothing. All the other ones have been done laying down with my arms over my head. He sprays the freezing spray, feels for the port, shoots it in, and I'm done. Takes about 10 seconds. Easy peasy!