I wanted to have my first fill with floro and postponed filling untill I was able to get it done with floro. I found a new fill center in Florida and was happy that I waited. While watching what was done I am better able to understand why it can take many fills to get a restriction. The fill port is under my fat (way under) my primary care doctor located it 4 inches away from where it really was. The port was clear on the floro, the fill amount was easy to adjust. At this point I will pay the extra for the floro. It reduces the chance of sticking the tubing and causing a leak. It reduces the chance of missing the port and not getting the fill. It makes the amount of flow through my band easy to see.

Does anyone have comments or other ideas?

I like getting mine under fluro to make sure that the barium flows through and that the band is where it should be. However, most of the time they find the port and put the needle in without the aid of the fluro machine. I've never had them poke around. If for some reason they are unsure they put the kiszo (camera) over and guide themselves into the port. They've only done that twice.

I think its a good idea to have them under fluro to keep my sanity.

I like getting mine under fluro to make sure that the barium flows through and that the band is where it should be. However, most of the time they find the port and put the needle in without the aid of the fluro machine. I've never had them poke around. If for some reason they are unsure they put the kiszo (camera) over and guide themselves into the port. They've only done that twice.

I think its a good idea to have them under fluro to keep my sanity.

Mine does the fluoro each time (my fills were included in the cost of the surgery). It makes me feel a lot more comfortable with the process because it lets everyone see how much restriction there is and takes a level of guesswork out of the process. I've had a grand total of two fills, so my experience isn't extensive, but I like what I see so far.

Jo Ann

I feel comfortable with my doctor using floro. I sure it is fine without, but it puts me at ease. If I lift my head a little, I watch the screen while its being done, kinda cool to watch.

I was really on the fence since it costs almost triple for me to have flouro. I have found the docs have had no trouble finding my port. Also, once you are closer to perfect restriction, the increments can be so small. My doctor said seeing the miniscule changes w/flouro won't be as good as a guide as I will -- just drinking the Water.

He also thinks sometimes flouro fills give you MORE chance of being too full since the tendency is to create a trickle with the barium.

I think if it were the same price I would go for it out of curiosity. But really, I've had great success with the "blind" fills. Hit the port on the first poke, etc.

Excuse my ignorance here.

Would someone please tell me what fluro is and what it does?

I was really on the fence since it costs almost triple for me to have flouro. I have found the docs have had no trouble finding my port. Also, once you are closer to perfect restriction, the increments can be so small. My doctor said seeing the miniscule changes w/flouro won't be as good as a guide as I will -- just drinking the Water.

He also thinks sometimes flouro fills give you MORE chance of being too full since the tendency is to create a trickle with the barium.

I think if it were the same price I would go for it out of curiosity. But really, I've had great success with the "blind" fills. Hit the port on the first poke, etc.

Then I would say, go for what is working for you! I'm not so sure I'd be willing nearly triple for the service either!

Jo Ann

Excuse my ignorance here.

Would someone please tell me what fluro is and what it does?

FLUORO- Dluor·o·scope A device equipped with a fluorescent screen on which the internal structures of an optically opaque object, such as the human body, may be continuously viewed as shadowy images formed by the differential transmission of x-rays through the object. Also called roentgenoscope.

You swallow a special liquid and it lets the doc see exactly how the Fluid travels down to your stomach. It also lets the fill doc see exactly where the port is if necessary.

Jo Ann

FLUORO- Dluor·o·scope A device equipped with a fluorescent screen on which the internal structures of an optically opaque object, such as the human body, may be continuously viewed as shadowy images formed by the differential transmission of x-rays through the object. Also called roentgenoscope.

You swallow a special liquid and it lets the doc see exactly how the Fluid travels down to your stomach. It also lets the fill doc see exactly where the port is if necessary.

Jo Ann

Okay thanks. Now next question.... What are the benefits?

The benfits are twofold. One, if they can't find the port it helps locate it. Most don't have any problem finding the port, but if they do this is helpful. You don't want anyone poking around the port and accidently puncturing the tubing.

Second, barium is swolled and they can see how fast/slow the liquid goes through to the stomach. This is a gauge for how much restriction you have.

That being said, mine flows through like a waterfall. Even when I could barley swallow my own spit, it flowed through. For me, restriction is not meaured by the barium swallow. It just shows I'm not stuck. I react to fills about 6-10 days later. A delay swelling. The symptoms we get from an overfill might not be that stuff can't go through, but the irritation/pain is from the esphogus.

The barium/fluro method gives me a little piece of mind that things are working and the band is where its supposed to be. Other than that, it is not a good indicator of restriction for me. I don't think I'm a normal case though.

It makes it very clear where the port is and where the tubing is. The ability to hit the port and watch the fill is clear.

It is like walking through your house with your eyes oprn, then being blindfolded and doing the same walk.

I have used fillcenterusa.com and the cost for my first fill with floro cost $299 and worth every penny.

I am self-pay and it took years to put away the money for my band in Mexico

Barbara465 and Kwhenrykerr, thanks for the info. :yo: That is very good information to know and will help me make a more educated decision.

Miss Chrissy 67- Thanks for asking, I couldn't figure it out, so I was just assuming it was a local freezing. lol. I really am a natural blonde!

I have never had flouro but man after hearing that.. I want it...sounds like it would take away the unsurety as to what your band is doing...and whether the dr is getting the fill into the right bit...

I wanted to have my first fill with floro and postponed filling untill I was able to get it done with floro. I found a new fill center in Florida and was happy that I waited. While watching what was done I am better able to understand why it can take many fills to get a restriction. The fill port is under my fat (way under) my primary care doctor located it 4 inches away from where it really was. The port was clear on the floro, the fill amount was easy to adjust. At this point I will pay the extra for the floro. It reduces the chance of sticking the tubing and causing a leak. It reduces the chance of missing the port and not getting the fill. It makes the amount of flow through my band easy to see.

Does anyone have comments or other ideas?

I live in florida too -- I am looking to get it done at the FL hospital in Celebration Fl, do you know if they have the floro? Where do u go?

I would think that a hospital will have a flouroscope. I go to fillcenterusa.com St. Pete office. I went for my second fill Tues. and they were wounderfull. The fill went great, they try to keep teaching you how to get the best loss of weight. I am right on track and have lost another 7 pounds.