I called today to verify the time and date of my first fill. While talking with the person who answered the phone she explained that the Dr will access my port then have me sit up and drink something while he is inserting the saline to tighten my band. She said only if he had difficulty accessing my port would I go to radiology and have it done. I asked if the Dr ever does testing to make sure the band is sitting in the right position and she replied only if he cant do the fill. I am just curious to see how others get their fills. Thanks

Susan

Hi Susan,my name is stacy and i was banded April 30th 2007 . I just had my first fill on June 6th. My Dr. also does his fills through feel. I was really really scared. The nurse that came in before the Dr. said not to worry he could freeze the skin and give me a nombing shot so i relaxed. Then the Dr. came in and said he was not going to nomb me if that was OK. Because one shot was better than two. I said Ok thinken he was kinding. But he really did just put in the fill. The good news is that i never felt a thing. I feel so much like a chicken now. As far as how they know if your band in ok i do not know the answer to that. If you find out please let me know.

Stacy

my fills have been the same, all done by feel. no pain very fast he takes it all out and then add more. over in no time with no pain.

My fills were also done by feeling for the port. I too got a shot to numb the area before the needle. The first fill is usually the hardest. I still had a lot of belly fat for them to move through. My dr. also has me lay down with a big pillow under my head and drink water as they are filling the band. You are supposed to tell them when/if you start feeling any restriction. I didn't and was fine the rest of the day. The dr. says it is better to start out slow, which I am sure it is, but I have to admit, it hasn't even been 2 weeks and I looking forward to my next fill. I don't feel the restriction and fullness I expected.