How many people go to a fill doctor that uses neither ultrasound or fluoroscopy to find the port and just relies on "feeling" for it. I am curious to know what is the general standard on this

my doc feels for it and so far so good

I have had all my fills but one done "blind" and the doctor has never had trouble finding the port or doing the fill. The one time I had a fill done under flouro I ended up being way too tight. The contrast trickled through fine, but I told the fill doc I felt too tight. I felt that uncomfortable pressure in my diaphram and felt nauseous, but he assured me I wasnt too tight on the flouro. By the time I got home I was unable to keep my own spit down. I guess I am an oddball, lol, because I prefer to go by how I feel now and not by what the doctor "sees" on flouro. However, I would think it is good idea for all of us to get a fill by flouro occasionally just to see that the band is in good position and all is well.

Mine have always been done by feel. I was only tight once and went back the following week for a slight unfill. Otherwise, no problem.

Did anyone ever have trouble having the doc find the port without ultrasound or fluoro? I am just wondering if my experience was atypical?

My dr doesn't use fluoro or ultrasound and sometimes has problems finding the port. But, it works in the end.

Fluoro for me!

I had one blind fill and left a bruised pincushion with an empty band. I thought I had 1cc in there, but didn't find out until later. With Fluoro this would never have happened.

I have a different Dr, doing my fills than did my surgery. He does them blind by feel. The first one, was not a great experience!!! He poked me bunches of times, and could not locate my low profile port. He was sending me to the hospital to have it done under fluoro. My SIL and I were banded together, and he did her next and found hers immediately...so he took another shot at mine, hoping they were in the same area, and he finally found it. He made very precise notes in my chart, and got it much easier the 2nd fill. I have had great restriction with that 2nd fill, it was done in July, so I have not been back for another. I have now lost enough weight that I think I can feel it much better than before....hope so!!!

I saw my band when I did the barium swallow following surgery...but that has been the only time.

Kat

I had my first without fluoro, and it was completly unsuccessful - he thought it worked but nothing there when I returned in two weeks. I now do all with fluoro. i've had 3 with fluro and doing great - I don't count the first one.

that's pretty much how they do it all the time in Australia.

Always blind. Never a problem except for one incompetent guy who I refused to see ever again and is no longer with the office.

I prefer Flouro just so that I can "see" it going in. Plus, it also checks for slippage or erosion can be seen under flouro. I have never tried the blind fills simply because I am a huge baby and being a human pin cushion doesn't appeal to me. And I have heard something about puncturing the tubing, which then requires a small surgery to fix it. Nope, no thanks. As long as I am not being cut open, I am going to Mexico and doing my fills there with my "minivacation" in San Diego for the weekend. And it is STILL cheaper after all of that!

I've never had flouro, he just feels it and goes for it. Only takes one time too!

My doctor NOW uses flouro, the first year it was by "touch". I always wondered, especially, when he missed my port the first time I thought I had a fill, how they don't know if they hit the tube instead.

Although my fills are much more expensive now, (they were free the first year, which may be why he didn't use flouro), I feel it's much safer and more accurate.

Only had one but the fill center we go to only does it with fleuro. I really liked being able to see what the restriction looked like.

In my experience, the surgeons are MUCH more accurate at hitting it blind than any PA or nurse. After strike one with a PA, I now always insist on a surgeon.