I had my 3rd fill today. This was my second fill at the fillcentersusa.com St. Petersburg, FL location. I can't praise this place enough. The doctor and her assistant are wonderful. So kind and caring. They really want to make sure you get the right fill for you. I was going to have mine done under fluoro with barium again but she said since it had only been 4 weeks I could do it without, that I should save my money. She used the machine to find my port but didn't have me do a barium swallow. I really appreciated her honesty. She said I can do the barium swallow on my next fill if I want.

I feel that without the barium I still had a good fill. She talks to you after while you are drinking your Water to make sure the fill is ok. We actually had to take .2cc out during this time because the water was backing up into my throat (she asked me if it was, otherwise I wouldn't have known to tell her!). I went from 1.8 to 2.2. We'll see how it goes when I move to real foods.

Hi Maurdan, I too used fill centers for my 2nd fill around June18. They did not have the machine at that facility. I had it done in Carlsbad, CA. The doctor and his assitant were great. He did have a hard time finding my port though. I had about 30 pricks, but eventually he found it and gave me the measurements for the location of my port. When I get my next fill I will probably be in Ca. still and they are opening more locations in Northern California. By the way, I am from San Antonio, TX and I travel in the summer and fall all over CA. I was so excited to find Fill Centers. I do not have to fly back to Tx to get my fills. I hope they expand even more. I might have gotten too much of a fill this time. I am taking this 1 day at a time. Today, was not good. I was slimeing at lunch time and I was afraid to eat dinner. I got a little down for dinner. Any way I am glad you found Fill Centers too. I think they are great.

Gina

I am so happy to have gone to the St. Pete office. Kathy G is the best.

JC

I've been reading the main message board and some of them are saying they had no restriction from surgery to like their 3rd or 4th fill! I'm excited that I am hearing such good things about the St. Petersburg fill center. I'm glad they are concerned with getting the fills right and not having you spend anymore than you need to.

Celestemcnair, you are almost there!

I think you will like Kathy. I don't remember, did you ever talk to fill centers or are you going to wait?

JC

I submitted the online application and got a generic reply thanking me for choosing the fill centers. So I guess I will contact them upon my return from Monterrey. Leaving Monday am, surgery Tuesday, returning home Friday evening. I'm very nervous.

Are fill centers for those who had their band in Mexico?

I was considering for myself, being that I don't like my doctor not being aggressive enough with fills.

Celeste, I was nervous myself. I went over to Tijuana alone. I had never been out of the Country before and can't speak Spanish. I hope your experiance is as good or better than mine.

Aside from the one night in the clinic it really was like a vacation. I was out and about walking through the downtown market place buying countless valuable treasures the day after surgery. I also got to feel like I was rich whenever I checked my ATM card there (Pesos)!

Sherilynn, fill centers usa is for any lapband patient. The cool thing about them is you have an initial startup fee then after that you can get a fill for the same price at any fill center location.

JC

smatyas, thanks for the clarafication. I would also like to thank you guys for Singing Kathy Gonzales, she is the best! Need to find more like her!

JC

I went to the center in St. Pete on the 10th too.

FYI to first time goers, it is VERY hard to find this facility. They are not labeled as Fill Center and are in a strip mall on 66th Street North ( right side of the street going south towards the Skyway). Their place is at the end and their sign says

"Millenium Medical"

The small sitting area is really deceiving as in the back there is a labyrinth of medical services going on.

Kathy G is very friendly. I understand by the Fill people that she is not a doctor but a Nurse Practioner. Her assistant followed me from start to finish all the way to check out. Great gal and super friendly.

I felt confident in their skills like they know what they are doing: RE: called my doctor to find out what size band I had and to confirm information.

She had a hard time hitting my port but I have a lot of fat on my stomach.

Kathy G was very focused on my diet/post op recovery period. I received a booklet with info. Overall satisfaction from 1-10 was an 8.

Are fill centers for those who had their band in Mexico?

I was considering for myself, being that I don't like my doctor not being aggressive enough with fills.

No. I had my surgery in Colorado.

I wonder how MAD my doc would get if I did use a fill center? That might be against his 'rules'.

I wonder how MAD my doc would get if I did use a fill center? That might be against his 'rules'.

Hmmmm.

I made some calls to Doctor's in the Tampa Bay area regarding aftercare.

Two places I called did not impress me in any way shape or form. I'm looking for someone who equally cares about my weightloss as I do. When you are as heavy as I am, and have tried all the infomercial promises that offer no support, you can cut through that "feel" that comes with those who are not $o intere$ted in the $ize of you but the $ize of your pocketbook.

I got the clear feeling that Kathy G. was interested in me, my surgery, and my aftercare...not just that fill. Again, she and her assistant were two great folks.