Hi! I was banded by Dr. Rumbaut on 1/31/06 and am MORE than ready to get my first fill and start losing SOMETHING! I lost about 12 pounds since surgery and I'm completely UNrestricted now and it's not fun Anyway, I found a doctor in NYC -- Dr. Katz -- who will do my first fill next Monday for $350 (which is the BEST deal I've found around here). The thing is, he doesn't use flouro. However, it seems like none of the doctors in NYC use flouro for the fills (Ren, Fielding, etc). I know that Dorry Ferraro -- a nurse practioner who seems really popular on these boards -- INSISTS on doing the first fill with flouro, but her calender is totally packed. Anyway, the point of this long tyrade is -- should I be worried about getting a fill without flouro? My BMI is around 35 and I'm worried about the doctor being able to find my port and not piercing it wrong or something. Do all of you guys get your fills with flouro?

I know I should probably post this with the other fill threads but I see a lot more people on here today and I was hoping to get a good response. Thanks so much!!! :help: :help: :help:

My original surgeon never did a single one of my fills under flouro...

The surgeon I am using now did my first fill in his office under flouro due to my history of problems with fills... but this last fill was approached slowly so he didn't feel the flouro was necessary.

I personally don't feel that is is necessary to have fills done under flouro but I do think it makes the search for the sweet spot a little smoother. I think it is also a good way to avoid having too tight of a fill and thus avoid some of the complications that can result from too much restriction.

Good luck!

DW's first one was without. They had a bit of a problem finding it because the needle was too short, so they said. They stood her up and hit it first try.

Nobody uses fluoro or xray in Australia. My doc just whacks the needle in and its done.

Fluoro usually gives you the best fill... but some people are so in tune with their own band, that they can tell by how the barium (or water) feels going down when the sweet spot is. As it's your first fill, who knows if you'll know this?? I guess that's why you were posting about them wanting to go slow?? (Different post.) If you're not going to use fluoro, then yeah... you may have to go slower.

If the doc is experienced, you should be O.K. But I'd try and arrange a fluoro at least once per year to check on things.

Honestly, I'm surprised they're willing to fill you without fluoro if they didn't do your surgery... especially as its your first fill. Typically, they want to check and make sure you healed O.K... the band didn't reposition, etc.

No fluro here either. Just some lidocaine to numb the area, and bamm he pops the needle in and it's done. REALLY uneventful.

Shawn

I've never had a fill under flouro either.