Scared of fills

[katleen 0]

I had my first fill after surgery about a month ago. I was a little apprehensive, as I didn't know what to expect. The Dr told me to stand up and bend over backwards, over the exam table, for the fill procedure. As soon as he started to find the port I felt dizzy and started to black out! I told him I felt like I was fainting so he let me lie down on the exam table. He then prodeeded to give me the fill. Then he sat me up to try to drink some Water, with the needle sticking out of me until he could determine if it was too much or too little. Whew! I was shakey, nauseated and I thought the procedure would never be over! I am not really afraid of needles or necessarily afraid of medical procedures. In fact the surgery was all OK, no problems! But this procedure was very hard for me. So difficult, in fact, that I am scared to go back for another fill, when the time comes. The good news is I have lost 48 lbs. but I really hope I can get some courage back when another fill is due. Has any one had experiences like this? Or am I just a sissy? :help:

[ParaGirl 71]

That is the weirdest procedure for fills that I have heard. My port is in my chest, right above my left breast, and all I do is lie down and she fills me. There is pressure, but no pain. And the whole idea of sitting up and drinking with a needle sticking out is odd. I dont know about anyone else, but that isnt how they do it where I go.

[Missy0224 6]

That is the weirdest procedure for fills that I have heard. My port is in my chest, right above my left breast, and all I do is lie down and she fills me. There is pressure, but no pain. And the whole idea of sitting up and drinking with a needle sticking out is odd. I dont know about anyone else, but that isnt how they do it where I go.

That is the weirdest place to have a port. Why in your chest?

[Betty Lue 1]

This is the strangest thing I have ever heard! Who is your doctor?

[katleen 0]

I have my port in my left abdomen fairly low. I didn't know anyone had it up in their chest. But maybe that would be a good thing, it might be found eaiser ?

[LapBandit 5]

What in the WORLD????????? I'd get dizzy if I had to bend over backwards over the table too. I just lay there...no pain, no sitting there with needles hanging out of me. I am so sorry that's how your doc does fills because there are simpler ways and I think he's making it be a much more dramatic experience than it needs to be for his patients.

[ParaGirl 71]

I am not exactly sure why he does the port in the upper left chest, but I suppose it is easier to access. From what I understand, my doc is the one who originally started doing this port placement.

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

There is a doctor here in Oregon that leaves the needle in and has you drink Water. Everyone seems to love it. The doctor can tell by how the Water is going down whether to add more saline or take some out.

My port is just below my waist. I have never ever heard of one in the chest.

If you are freaked out over needles, maybe you can just keep your eyes closed. My doctor has me lay down on the table and

push my belly out. The fill is over with in about 2 seconds. There would be no reason in the world why I couldn't close my eyes while he does this.

[kbinaz 0]

Leaning backwards over a table??? Yuk! My doctor has me in a chair kind of like a dentist's chair that they can raise and lower so the person giving the fill can reach easily. They then tilt the chair backwards so you are lying there very comfortably. They do leave the needle in and have you drink Water, but as someone else said, that is so you can feel how much restriction there is and if it's too much or too little they can adjust it without re-sticking you. It really isn't a bad process at all and takes maybe five minutes at most. I would definitely NOT want to bend over backwards (so to speak) to have a fill, sounds very uncomfortable!!!

My port is to the left of my belly button, and about an inch higher...I cannot imagine one in my chest, but I guess it doesn't make much difference where the port it. I wonder what it is attached to??? Do you know?

[katleen 0]

That sounds soooo much eaiser! I think I will talk to my dr. Thanks for the input