Hi LB family! I'm having my first fill on June 21st. Could someone tell me what to expect, is it going to be painful and how long does it take? Thank you in advance. Much success to you all.

Doreen

Hi Doreen, I was nervous before my first fill last week, especially after reading some of the experiences on here! However, it was painless - no more than the needle prick of a blood test, not at all uncomfortable and over a matter of moments. Good luck!

I was terrified also for my first fill after reading some of the storied on here. I have now had 4 fills and am at 4.5 cc's. I was even more terrified when my surgeon told me they don't numb you for fills, but I honestly didn't even feel the needle for my first 2 fills. My surgeon went through the scar tissue from the port incision, which is numb for awhile, so I didn't feel a thing. For my 3rd and 4th fill, I wouldn't really say they hurt, but I did feel a poke with those. Don't worry too much, every surgeon is different and every experience is different. I hope you have a good experience and good luck with your journey!

I have my first fill on June 13th and I am excited and nervous ! Thanks for this thread

I wrote a very detailed experience of my first fill on my recent blog post! Link is in my signature! Hope it helps!

Thanks everyone it really helps alot and you have all made my stress level go dow ALOT!

I wrote a very detailed experience of my first fill on my recent blog post! Link is in my signature! Hope it helps!

Thanks for the detailed experience! Love yr. blog!

Thank you for the link to your blog. Now that I read your experience it won't be a total surprise when I go in two weeks.

I wrote a very detailed experience of my first fill on my recent blog post! Link is in my signature! Hope it helps!

For me the first fill was not painful at all. Maybe just a little uncomfortable. The port area was a little sore the next day. Hope yours go well also!!

No problem ladies! Glad I could help!

Thanks for the detailed experience! Love yr. blog!

Thank you for the link to your blog. Now that I read your experience it won't be a total surprise when I go in two weeks.

I had my first fill today and I was numbed by the port area. It went smoothly and I have 4.8 cc.

Here's what to expect: You're laying there on the table, you lift up your shirt, your doc may have you do a half-situp to make your abs solid (easier to find the port that way). Then the doc will bring out this ENORMOUS needle that's like the size of your head and you're going to want to panic and hyperventilate from the size of the freaking thing. Honestly, just close your eyes and turn your head away. When the needle enters your tummy, it feels a firm pinch with someone with fingernails--you'll feel it, but it really doesn't hurt much at all! The doc probably won't find the plastic in your port right away, so he might have to jab a little or wiggle the need around until he finds the right spot. Even that doesn't hurt really; it mostly just feels weird. The whole thing should take less than 20 or 30 seconds. Then the doc will put a band-aid on you, have you sit up, and ask you to take a sip of Water. Always take a sip of water at the office to check on the tightness of the band; if you can't swallow a decent chug of water, then the band is too tight.

And that's it! That's what you should expect.

What's REALLY strange is that the fills actually get significantly more painful as you lose weight. You wouldn't think so (because there is less flesh to go through, right?) but OMG, the last two fills I got my eyes really teared up from the pinch/pain. I miss the first few days when the fills didn't hurt! LOL!

I hope that's not too much info; I just like to let people know what to expect, for better or for worse! :-)

I have my first fill today. I am very nervous. I hate needles. For the first fill, I need to stand and drink that horrible crap in front of the xray machine again. It is at that time when they fill. I will be standing, not lying down. I will probably pass out. Has anyone had it done this way?

No no no! You don't need to drink that awful barium (white chalky crap) drink that you did for your pre-admission testing. No, during you fill they just ask you to take a sip of bottled Water.

When I have my fills, I am lying down on the exam table, but I have heard of doctors asking other patients to stand. I think that's rare though.

Well, I had my first fill and it was a little painful but once the needle was in it was fine. I had to lay on the table and had to push my stomach out and hold it till she got the needle in. All in all it was uncomfortable at first but fast Thank you all for your advise, it made it less stressful knowing what to expect.

My dr uses flouro for every fill. You drink 2 gulps of the barium while they xrAy it going thru your band before the fill. Then he does the fill and you repeat the barium swallow and he xrays again. I got to take home 2 pics of my band in action, before and after. Before my fill my stoma was the size of my thumb, after it's the size of my pinky. About half the size.