Went for 1st fill, but dr. tried twice to find port...no fill

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

OMG.... Stories like this makes me thankful for my doctor.

country, can you discribe your doctors procedure for your fill?

This is what mine does... I go in, do weight, BP. I then go to a room where we talk for a bit and he asks me if i want a fill.... Im like yes.. that's what im here for, i didn't come just too look at you.... he then laughs... Sorry, back fill. i then get on the bed, lye back. He draws up the fill in the needle. He then puts a rolled up pillow under my back. This makes the port project forward so he can easly find the port. He then feels for it and inserts the needle. There is no numbing, and it is pretty pain free. He pulls up some of the current fill too make sure i still have what i had and put's it back plus the added fill. He never removes the needle till he is finished and never moves the needle around. Pulls out the needle, put bandaid. RN comes back in with small cup of Water that i must drink in one gulp. waits a few to make sure all is good..... Talk a bit more... then i pay my $150. and i leave.

Now once the other doctor in the office did it and ...WOW it hurt. He used the "crunch" method .. not good for me. He makes you do a crunch...

[GuyMontag 1,264]

O my goodness I believe if I had to go get a fill and it not be numbed I probably wouldn't go get a fill that HAS to hurt some kind of awful! I'm sorry about that.

I've been stuck in the stomach over 20 times and it honestly doesn't hurt. It's just a slight pinch.

[Countryheart2000 18]

OMG.... Stories like this makes me thankful for my doctor.

country' date=' can you discribe your doctors procedure for your fill?

This is what mine does... I go in, do weight, BP. I then go to a room where we talk for a bit and he asks me if i want a fill.... Im like yes.. that's what im here for, i didn't come just too look at you.... he then laughs... Sorry, back fill. i then get on the bed, lye back. He draws up the fill in the needle. He then puts a rolled up pillow under my back. This makes the port project forward so he can easly find the port. He then feels for it and inserts the needle. There is no numbing, and it is pretty pain free. He pulls up some of the current fill too make sure i still have what i had and put's it back plus the added fill. He never removes the needle till he is finished and never moves the needle around. Pulls out the needle, put bandaid. RN comes back in with small cup of Water that i must drink in one gulp. waits a few to make sure all is good..... Talk a bit more... then i pay my 150. and i leave.

Now once the other doctor in the office did it and ...WOW it hurt. He used the "crunch" method .. not good for me. He makes you do a crunch...[/quote']

I get weighed in by nurse, then blood pressure, oxygen, and then lay back on table. My dr. Comes in and puts gloves on, nurse is there too. He said 123 stick, and then he moved needle around. It hurt. He came out, and said he was gonna try again, 123stick, and ouch! He moved needle around, and was pitching my stomach. He then pulled needle out, and I told him I felt like he hit it. He said he didn't,t. He went out, and said to nurse in the hall to schedule me for November, because I was too tender.

[PJkitty 139]

I had my first fill last week and my doc didn't numb it either and it didn't really hurt..just felt like a pinch and he had to stick me twice. Everyone's pain threshold is different and I couldn't imagine getting it done while I was still sore from surgery. I would think u would b more healed way before November tho

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

I get weighed in by nurse, then blood pressure, oxygen, and then lay back on table. My dr. Comes in and puts gloves on, nurse is there too. He said 123 stick, and then he moved needle around. It hurt. He came out, and said he was gonna try again, 123stick, and ouch! He moved needle around, and was pitching my stomach. He then pulled needle out, and I told him I felt like he hit it. He said he didn't,t. He went out, and said to nurse in the hall to schedule me for November, because I was too tender.

that sounds just terrible.... sounds to me like he was just in a rush. he should have felt for the port before 123stick... Most dr. feels, has the port between index and middle finger and then 123stick. Ports do move and it may not be where he thinks it is...

You have gotten really good advice... please don't wait, be pro-active in your health and stand your ground. Part of your success is proper fills. Hate to see you start off negatively. So you keep positive and remember... he works for you.

[backpacking5 224]

The first time the doctor tried to give me a fill he stuck me twice and moved the needle around and around said he could feel the port but couldn't get it in. Boy was I bruised. I had to go back three days later and do it under floroscope. My port is tipped up so he was hitting the edge of it. I go for another fill on Monday with one of his assistants that comes to my town. Kinda nervous they won't hit it and will have to go back to the doctors office out of town. I am trying to do it locally rather then taking the whole day off of work to drive the 2 1/2 hours to the doctor, for a 20 min visit then drive 2 1/2 hours back.

[Bigbandbetty 12]

I went for my first fill yesterday' date=' had my surgery August 5, but he put the needle in twice ( painful) and he decided I was still too sore? Made my appointment to come back November for first fill. I have nothing in band, and I am staying hungry! I don't want to gain the 24 pounds I have lost back...........[/quote']

Hi! I feel for you. Something is not right here. You are in control of the fills based on your feelings. I am reading that most bandsters have a discussion with their bariatric nurse or surgeon and decide together when a fill is needed. In the UK, and my experience so far (not a lot, I know) is that 6 weeks post op your get the first fill. Not months and months down the line when you start to wonder what it's all about. Please call the clinic/surgeon/nurse and demand a fill. You have paid good money the for band fitting but it's pretty useless when its empty

[Countryheart2000 18]

I went for my first fill yesterday' date=' had my surgery August 5, but he put the needle in twice ( painful) and he decided I was still too sore? Made my appointment to come back November for first fill. I have nothing in band, and I am staying hungry! I don't want to gain the 24 pounds I have lost back...........[/quote']

Update:

I spoke with the nurse at my surgeons office, and she feels I am ready for a fill. I told her I can eat anything, and I have no restriction. I stay hungry. She put me down for a fill on October 23, so that is better than November 11th! I am so ready for it. So, we shall see how it goes............

[donna450 130]

Update:

I spoke with the nurse at my surgeons office' date=' and she feels I am ready for a fill. I told her I can eat anything, and I have no restriction. I stay hungry. She put me down for a fill on October 23, so that is better than November 11th! I am so ready for it. So, we shall see how it goes............[/quote']

I feel for you. I've not had a fill yet but I don't get hungry except some mornings when I wake up. I can eat most things others I have alot of trouble but I'm learning what those foods are. I was due for a fill on 9-20 but he said from my questionaire that I wasn't ready. I will be going in again on 11-5. We'll see. I might wait until after vacation (11-11 - 11-27) in Hawaii so I don't need any trouble being that far away. I'm not losing fast bc I take alot of pills and I have to take those. But if I'm not getting hungry inbetween meals would it be wise to get a fill or wait til there's a sign that I might need one? I really need to step up exercise and that might start the losing cycle. I was banded on 8-23. Thx.

[SandyM 1,956]

I had to have unfill on day 3. It was pretty uncomfortable, but it made me appreciate normal fills. My doc has no probs with mine. No numbing but a little sting

[esgold 9]

You guys need to be careful with being poked to many times

That happened to me and I just had a port revision done this week

I had my original surgery last February and didnt loose any weight

[esgold 9]

You guys need to be careful with being poked to many times

That happened to me and I just had a port revision done this week

I had my original surgery last February and didnt loose any weight

[christy40 3]

My surgeon always numbs me. I never feel a thing, he has a difficult time find my port entrance. I've had 3 fills now, he has never just left me hanging because he couldn't find it. I would definitely asked to be numbed just in case he has a difficult time finding it. I know the first fill I had was so difficult because he said I still had some swelling and Fluid from surgery, but after several sticks he found it. Good luck!

[Sharpie 3,306]

My Dr. numbs .. I have had two fills both were painless... Country you need to get assertive.. sounds like he doesn't know what he's doing.. ask for someone else to do your fills or make it clear you want to be numbed and you are not waiting until Nov. If you are hungry all the time you need a fill.. That is what the band is supposed to do, help with your hunger... As I tell my kids ,, nice guys finish last.. Get tough.. Dr's are not God's they are supposed to do their job correctly.. If he can't find the port tell him to do it under Fluoro.. Don't wait until Nov. It's your health and your future success...

[Countryheart2000 18]

My Dr. numbs .. I have had two fills both were painless... Country you need to get assertive.. sounds like he doesn't know what he's doing.. ask for someone else to do your fills or make it clear you want to be numbed and you are not waiting until Nov. If you are hungry all the time you need a fill.. That is what the band is supposed to do' date=' help with your hunger... As I tell my kids ,, nice guys finish last.. Get tough.. Dr's are not God's they are supposed to do their job correctly.. If he can't find the port tell him to do it under Fluoro.. Don't wait until Nov. It's your health and your future success...[/quote'] Thank You!