I am due to have my first fill next week and I found out today that at cincy weight loss the fills are done by the nurse. This worries me a bit. I've been reading this forum too much! Should I fuss, and insist that the doctor do it, and risk being seen as a spoiled brat by the people I need to give me my "new life?"

Please answer!:help:

Just come to me and I'll do it

Dr. C

Cincinnati, Ohio

www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND

DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

I've had 4 fills thus far. 3 done by the nurse practitioner and 1 by the doctor himself. I have to say that the nurse practitioner was the better of the 2.

Don't worry. You're probably in capable hands. But if this concerns you, then why not ask for the doctor to do your fills.

T.

I've had both. The nurse actually practiced on me. My surgeon is training his nurse to do them so we don't have to wait so long to get one. She did fine.

Thank you all for your comments. I feel better now.

I have had 4 fills and am going for my 5th one tomorrow. The nurse has done all of my fills. SHE IS EXCELLENT! I never feel a single thing. EVER.

My first fill was by my surgeon, the second one by the surgeon and 2 nurse practioners, and the third by two nurse practicioners. All three times were challenging, and involved multiple sticks.

But its not too bad and if I don't have to wait hours for the doctor then I'm all for the NPs.

I've had my band for 1-3/4 years and always have my fills by the NP. It's a simple process and you should be fine.

Go see Dr. C. He does mine and he hits it right off and you don't feel a thing. He and his staff are wonderful. I wouldn't let anyone touch mine but him. I was self pay and after investing counting fills 12,000.00 you want to make sure the person doing them knows what he or she knows what they are doing.

I wouldn't worry as long as the person doing your fills is experienced and it's done using fluoroscopy. The PA (or NP, I'm not sure) at the center where I get my fills is superb in both technique and knowledge. One of my four fills was done by someone in training, and while we both survived the experience, she removed the fill needle too quickly and at an angle, producing a surprisingly painful moment.

Think about it.. surgeons perform surgery many times a day and become incredibly proficient at that technique. Wouldn't you expect a qualified PA/NP to be equally proficient at administering fills? My 2 cents: let the PA/NP/Nurse do your fill; if the experience isn't to your liking, then have the doctor do the next. And finally, keep your eyes closed; you don't need to see the needle going in or coming out!

I've had 2 fills by the NP and 1 by the MD, no difference, they both did fine, no problems.

Today was the big day! The nurse did my fill on the first stick and it was a piece of cake! I can honestly say that the position of holding my arms overhead while doing leg lifts caused me more discomfort than the actual stick. I'm on my way to the sweet spot!

Glad it went well; now just be careful the first few days after a fill. There can be a delayed reaction, so chew, chew, chew.

Nurse did mine. She's had more practice.

I did mine yesterday. It did not hurt much, I had to apply pressure, it took 3-5 seconds till I injected all 3cc. I did not feel any burning sensation, and it is almost invisible now. I have a large VG band. This was my second fill and my first self fill.

Tha'ts nuts.