I'm curious...does anyone know the gauge and type of needle they use to do fills?:eek:

I think they're *supposed* to use a Huber or non-coring needle, but I don't know what gauge.

I had a fill today. Apparently it is a 18-19 gauge needle.

Mine was 19 gauge as well. I seem to be sore where he first tried to find the port and had to poke several times but not sore where he hit it first time with fluro. Do you think that is normal.

I love the spray on numbing stuff. No pokes with novacaine

I'm looking forward to getting my first fill. Nothing could compare to the injection I got in my knee yesterday. Spray on stuff stunk big time and did nothing for the excruciating pain of the needle into an already sore area from surgery. My fill should be a piece of cake with my surgeon knowing exactly where he placed my port and so experienced with fills. I'll take a fill anyday compared to what I just went through.

I had my first fill yesterday and I work at a dental office, I see and handle needles all the time and ....boy oh boy that was the longest, biggest needle Ive ever seen. Although, nothing about it was "painful" just felt weird. I can tell the difference totally, and dont feel hungry at all. So far so good witht his lap band adventure.

The fill needle is like a harpoon, thank god for the novacaine. I was terrified the first time I saw that thing coming at me, I got up pulled my shirt back on and started to leave. Thankfully the MP's in my doc's office are super sensitive to these things and assured me it wouldn't hurt.

My only complaint now after 3 fills is the weird sensation of them actually getting the needle into the port, the sensation is just...odd.

I can feel a slight "pop" when the needle accesses my port. Freaked me right out the first time!

I just had a fill about 2 hours ago. The area was not "numbed: by any spray or injection of novocaine. It was not needed. I hardly felt a stick at all. Once the needle penetrated the top level of skin, I felt nothing at all. I looked at the needle when she pulled it out and laid it on the table. It was one of those butterfly type needles attached to a thin tube....the needle was about 4 inches long. I must have a very good PA that does the fill. I have had three and none of them were painful. I felt no discomfort at all.

My doctor uses Huber needle 22 guage X 1 1/2 inches

hey vicki...

u r right, the PA that does dr. spivak's fills is very good at what she does. i have had three fills also, and have had no pain at all. i am going for fill #4 monday and i have absolutely NO jitters.

My first fill (unsuccessful) they used something that looked like it had been used on Animal Planet. I thought my port must be REALLY deep and it was very scary. When I got a doctor who knew what he was doing, he used a tiny needle and scored immediately.

Does anyone know where to get a good fill (ultrasound, fluoro) in NE? I was banded in Mexico, which makes it hard to find a fill doc of course.

I think thats something to do with the first fill, my thought was that since the silicone portion of the port where they insert the needle has never been seperated from it's backing. I think the first time...they need to get a small pocket between the silicone and its backing, or at least be sure to get the needle between the two.

After using a tiny subcutaneous needle (similar to insulin needle) was used to administer the lidocaine, a 19g 4" huber needle was inserted into the port to instill the saline. All 3 fills were painless and uneventful.

Hi Elisa,

So, who did the painless puncture...Dr Dan? Dr Geiss (the game show host) or Melanie to beautiful PA?