Hello =) I just scheduled my first band fill. I'm really nervous but I'm sure everything will go fine, I just don't do so well with needles. I was told that in my surgeons office they numb you with a needle first. I found that kind of ironic considering they're numbing you with a needle....to put a needle in you haha. Anyhow, The woman I spoke with on the phone made me feel a little under educated! She asked me if I was feeling hungry between meals and I told her yes but my main problem was that I wasn't full after my 1/2 cup and that I felt like I could eat too much. She told me I was over eating. I guess I hadn't realized before-hand that although I still feel hungry after my 1/2 cup, I need to still measure and keep from eating more. I thought I just needed a fill and that there was nothing I could do about the hunger I was feeling until I got one. I'm having a hard time not eating more since because I haven't had a fill and I have no restriction my food is falling straight through my band and into my bigger stomach. I eat healthy meals and exercise 4-5 times a week for 30 min or more but the scale is not moving. At all.

Sorry for my rambling there for a moment. =) I'm curious as to whether anyone has opted to have the fill done without numbing before hand? I almost feel I would do better knowing there would only be one needle in my stomach for any given time.

Another question....this doesn't fully pertain to band fills, but has anyone gotten food poisoning or a tummy bug with the band? My son has been throwing up today and although I'm washing our hands and cleaning well, I know these things are easy to pass along. I'm nervous about vomitting with the band.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this nonsense and Thank you for any helpful responses. =)

Hello =) I just scheduled my first band fill. I'm really nervous but I'm sure everything will go fine, I just don't do so well with needles. I was told that in my surgeons office they numb you with a needle first. I found that kind of ironic considering they're numbing you with a needle....to put a needle in you haha. Anyhow, The woman I spoke with on the phone made me feel a little under educated! She asked me if I was feeling hungry between meals and I told her yes but my main problem was that I wasn't full after my 1/2 cup and that I felt like I could eat too much. She told me I was over eating. I guess I hadn't realized before-hand that although I still feel hungry after my 1/2 cup, I need to still measure and keep from eating more. I thought I just needed a fill and that there was nothing I could do about the hunger I was feeling until I got one. I'm having a hard time not eating more since because I haven't had a fill and I have no restriction my food is falling straight through my band and into my bigger stomach. I eat healthy meals and exercise 4-5 times a week for 30 min or more but the scale is not moving. At all.

Sorry for my rambling there for a moment. =) I'm curious as to whether anyone has opted to have the fill done without numbing before hand? I almost feel I would do better knowing there would only be one needle in my stomach for any given time.

Another question....this doesn't fully pertain to band fills, but has anyone gotten food poisoning or a tummy bug with the band? My son has been throwing up today and although I'm washing our hands and cleaning well, I know these things are easy to pass along. I'm nervous about vomitting with the band.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this nonsense and Thank you for any helpful responses. =)

Had my first fill yesterday. 4cc. Dr does not numb the area. But my band is right up to the surface. They needle only goes through a very thin layer of skin.

My port is deeper and I did get the lidocaine beforehand, but it stung (as it's known to do) and they offered me the option not to have it next time (there was no option the first time because my port is really deep). I've also had experience that injecting with saline solution can also cause numbness just long enough to get an injection (read more: http://infusionnurse.org/2010/03/24/numbing-with-bacteriostatic-normal-saline/). It won't sting and you'll get the same effect.

However, rather than take two injections I'll put a little lidocaine patch on the area 30 minutes prior to the fill and that will numb the area enough to get the deeper injection with no pain. I found my port area was tender for a day after the first fill so I'd like to prevent a little bit of that.

As for the stomach bug, you don't want one with the band, with vomiting you could have your band slip. I've heard of some people on here using Phenergan/Promethazine suppositories. They stop the vomiting and you don't swallow them to get the effects. It's around $50 for 12 of them and they're good to have around for when you do start vomiting, you can stop it quickly and safely.

I have never had the numbing and like you I don't see the point in being poked twice. The fill needle does not hurt any worse than a needle used in a blood draw, just that initial poke going in. Now that my stomach fat is gone, my port is at the surface but even when it was deeper the pain without numbing was no worse than it is now. The first fill is scary but it really isn't so bad, if you can handle the pain of a blood draw you can handle this.

My doctor recommends I call immediately and get a complete unfill if I get the flu and start throwing up.

Don't listen to the person you talk to on the phone. My Doc told me I would be able to eat more until I was properly restricted. He said to make the transition easier to eat what I could. Try every kind of food. Take small bites and see how it goes down. That is the only way he can tell if there is proper restriction. If I only ate what I am suppose to when I do get properly restricted then, he would never know the band was doing its work. You need to make the band work for you and they best way is to learn your limitations. I have problems with some meats, all bread, and eggs. I now don't crave some of my favorite foods. My doc is also a little more laid back than some of the ones I have read about on here. He believes in taking it slow.