I go in on Wenesay for my first fill, and it will be with flouro. I have a few questions...

1. correct me if i am wrong, but the flouro helps the doctor to see the port so that he hits it correctly right?

2. I know that you drink while having the fill uner flouro to see the restriction...is it barium? Or just Water? I don't handle barium well.

3. Is this done in a x-ray type room? Or just in a doc's office? My kids will be with me, and while they will sit and be good in the oc's office with me, i don't want them going into an xray room. I guess it would be bad for them to be in a room with the flouro going period.

thanks!! I hope i get some good restriction. I am wide open now. I can eat just about anything.

Hi FuddieDuddies - I have had two fills using flouro. The 1st one I had the dr used x-ray to find my port. Yes it is barium - you really don't have to drink that much and it is so cool watching it go down. My fills are done in the x-ray room at the hospital. There are chairs outside of the room to wait if the kids are old enough. My fills only take about 10 minutes.

Good luck, it really is quick and painless.

Carrie

3. Is this done in a x-ray type room? Or just in a doc's office? My kids will be with me, and while they will sit and be good in the oc's office with me, i don't want them going into an xray room. I guess it would be bad for them to be in a room with the flouro going period.

You may want to call your sugeons office and give them a heads-up on the kiddie's being with you. Like others, I have/had very little child care and my baby came with me. One of the office attendents took him and walked him around the office during my fill - they gave him a treat & lots of love... but (i think?) I called and told them ahead of time that I was bringing him.

Good luck on the first fill.

Thanks guys!! I really appreciate the info an the luck

If needles bother you, some doctors will put on a topical anesthetic.

Hey Funny! I just had my first fill on Tuesday. This is how mine went down...

They had me lie on a table, they felt around for my port and had the xray machine positioned so that they could see the port. They gave me a little local anesthesia(this hurt more than the fill needle, but not bad). They insert the fill needle with a little pressure and I heard a pop, letting them know that they were actually in the port. They then leaned the table up to where I was in a standing position (with the fill need/syringe still inserted in my port). Had me drink some barium, we watched it flow through my pounch and into my tummy. They inserted 1.50 cc's and I drank barium again.. they thought it was moving a little slowly, so they took out .25 ccs. More Barium, I drank Water, they watched it flow... they said my pouch and everything looked good! They removed the needle and I was done. Took about 8 minutes, tops!

Are your kids old enough to be left in a waiting room? Otherwise, I'm sure they can make arrangements for them... I just wouldn't want them to see a big old needle sticking out of mommy's belly. Most adults that I know were freaked out by me just telling them about it. I joked with my surgeon that next time I am going to snap a photo (of the needle/syringe in my belly) with my phone!

Good luck with the fill! I was really intimidated by it, but in the end it was no big deal. The liquid diet afterward sucks, but it's only for a few days!

I have had all my fills with fluro. Usually they lay you down, feel for the port, and then put the needle in. If they can't find it they use the X-ray portion of the machine to find it. Once in, they give you your fill and then have you stand up and drink barium. Sometimes they give you an additional amount if it looks like it is going down too fast. Most make you drink a bottle of Water before you can leave.

I have had to drink up to 3 little containers of barium at one fill. It's probably not a place for children that cannot sit outside the room unattended.

ok. thanks. i am thinking that no matter what i am dragging my husban with me. he can just deal with it. lol

i don't mind needles in the slightest. I just worry about my tubing getting punctured or them causing a leak in my port.

Hey Funny,

No, I've had 2 and it's not bad at all. I went by myself and drove the 10 hours round trip by myself as well. They won't hit your tubing or your port because it shows right up on the screen. I had 1.5 and then 2 weeks later .75, total 2.25 and have great restriction. You'll do fine. Email me sometime. I seen all of the mess going on and I sure hate it. Good luck with your fill.