I was banded on Oct. 13/06; had my first fill Nov. 23 (went very well) and my second fill this past Monday, Jan. 15. Well, what a nightmare. The doc poked and prodded & stuck needles for 1/2 hour! He said he was having trouble finding the middle of my port. Now, five days later, I feel like the location of my port has moved a few inches up. Also, I am having trouble eating before late afternoon/sometimes evening and even then a bit of a struggle. Even water going down a little slower. I'll hit the doc's next week.

My questions to you:

* how could my 2nd fill be so much more difficult?

* could my eating/drinking problems be from swelling caused by poking and prodding?

* could my port have flipped?

Thanks in advance.

Kat.

I had a similar experience.

First fill fine, but since the next one went so poorly, just like yours, I now have all my fills with fluoroscope.

I also starting having problems eating after that bout. I was traumatized and it took my body a while to get over it.

I was banded on the 12 of oct. The doc did the first under flouro, it went great. the second fill, by the other doc, he didnt use the flouro until after he had stuck me. It was terribe. He poked and prodded and poked. My port was very sore for about a week or more. I still think it is mad at me. I have been fairly careful easting but i can tell when things like liquid are going down. It is starting to subside.

Thanks, Jack. What does IMHO mean please?

:-)

"IMHO" I doubt the difficulty eating/swallowing are directly from poking and prodding...although I can't imaging enduring that kind of trauma voluntarily.

Depending on your degree of fill, and amount injected 2nd time, the band diameter constriction can go from 'almost not enough' to 'too much' with just a little additional fill...

If this doesn't improve certainly contact your surgeon.

Why he was having trouble is something best addressed to him.

My own surgeon said he made a point of securely placing the port so it is accessible and out of the way for daily activities. He seems to have achieved his goal; he has never missed and does it all via palpation.

Good luck in your journey...

Hi, Imho means, In my humble opinion. Susannah

I do believe the swelling could cause your eating problem, but if you are a lot more restricted, that may just be it. On my last fill, there was no problem hitting the spot, but I did have some bruising, not bad, but I noticed it. When I have a fill, it seems that for the first day or so I can eat, then the band slams shut and I have to relearn how to deal with the new restriction. If you have any concern the doc is only a phone call away though, and I say call and be get reasurance.