Tuesday is my first fill and I was wondering if you could advise what I can expect? How do I know how much fill I should get so it works? Does it hurt?

I want to ensure my success and don't want to get too low of a fill yet don't want to get too much. How can I make sure I get the most out of my visit?

Any advice?

Any feedback is most appreciated.

Sandy

It's rarely up to you as to how much is put in your band. Trust your doctor. No it doesn't hurt and if you want to see a visible demo just go to youtube and search lapband fills.

Hi there, I was surprised at how fast and simple the fill procedure was for me. My surgeon discusses how it's all going with me to determine whether a a fill is needed. If so I lie back on the table and put my arms over my head. He locates the port, marks it and then gives me an anesthetic then the fill itself. There is a small pinch but not bad at all. I am always very excited to be there, marking progress, etc. After the fill I sit up and drink a cup of Water to make sure it's going down fine. We chat a little and that's that. Ba-da-bing. Good luck to you -- I was nervous, too -- or anticipatory anyway, and it was just fine. Congratulations on reaching this step! It's all about getting to the green zone and that may take some time. I have had five fills now. Every one is different. And I have no idea how much is in my band as the surgeon doesn't share that information and I have not pushed for it as I know it doesn't really matter.

Like the others before me said - every surgeon is different and it's really up to them how much they want to fill you with your feedback of course. I have a 10cc band and it did not come 'pre-filled' at surgery. On my first fill, my surgeon started off with 5cc, had me drink some Water and by my statements, I was able to tell them with drinking water when I felt it sit there and when I felt it leave. Very confusing and difficult to tell. I ended up with 4.8 cc's by the time we were done with the 'experiment'.

Like bandista, we have a similar process - lay down on the table, with a pillow under your back, the doctor feels for the port, inserts a needle with saline, you sit up / or stand up, they fill you to their preferred limit, have you drink some water, and then that's basically it. She removed some and then added some more back in.

Some doctors do this under a fluoroscope but I don't know anything about that process.