Anyone else have a difficult time getting a fill? Took a long time to find the spot to inject and then had a difficult time inserting the needle - bent 2 of them. Now I feel no restriction at all - just like I never had a fill at all. This was my first one. This was not a good experience. Anyone else have a similar experience?

Hello...I was banded on June 4 by Dr. Rodriguez in Acuna, Mexico. He put an Inamed 10.0cm band in and I just recently had my first fill on August 13th of 1.3cc's. I went to Dr. Vitello in Downers Grove, IL and he charges $75 without fluro and $150.00 with plus the hospital's x-ray charge. He tried to do it first without because of course it cost less, however, after a few minutes and me in a little pain, he said that we would have to go down to x-ray. I had taken him the sheet of paper where my surgeon described the location of my port, but he was about an inch below where the port actually was. So once we went down to x-ray he found my port quickly. Added 1.5, and then had me drink barium and then water. Then he took out .3 and had me drink again...then he added back .1 for a total of 1.3. He told me to mark the needle spot with a marker or ink pen and to keep it marked after I shower. This way, the next time I come in for my fill, he will find it and it will only cost me $75.00 instead of $150 plus hospital charges. Am hoping this will work!! I definitely have more restriction...especially in the mornings and even sometimes going into late afternoon. I have lost 25 pounds since my surgery and feel that I should be losing more soon. I try to get as much protein (50-60grams/day). My biggest problem is that I find that I eat a little more towards evening, because I can get a little more down then! Also, have been nursing an injured foot and haven't been able to exercise...If anyone is near Chicago, and wants Dr. Vitello's e-mail...contact me.

Yes, I agree ... if you don't feel any restriction then there's no sense in waiting for a month to go by before getting another fill.

I went last week for my first fill and got 1.6cc's. I called right away for an adjustment because by day two, I didn't feel any restriction. So I went the following week (yesterday) and when the doc stuck the needle in the port ... the usual is that the pressure from the fill will go immediately into the syringe ... but the only amount that came back out was .4cc's. Well NO WONDER I wasn't feeling any restriction! There was 1.2cc's un-accounted for and the doc suspects a leak. HOWEVER ... remember this is the place that makes me "sit up" on the table with the needle in my port and they don't practice tilting the table like other docs do. I heard from another Bandster who happens to use the same doc at that facility and she too had unsuccessful fills. But once she demanded they tilt her on the table instead of having her sit up with the needle in her port ... she had a successful fill. Another Bandster reported the same thing happening ... saying it's a needle leakage from them moving you wrong when the needle is in the port. I told the doc that sitting up with the needle in place could cause damage to the port and he said I had nothing to worry about. I'll be requesting another doctor if I have to go up there again for another fill.

So ... yesterday's conclusion was that they gave me 1.8cc's and now I will see in the next couple of days if the restriction remains. This mornings coffee went down with a gurgle which is an excellent sign!

Remaining HOPEFUL,

Lori in Oregon