Wow. I think I had assumed that my fills would be super-easy based on all that I'd heard about them but I went in for my first fill today and it was a pretty ugly experience.

I'm laying down and my doc starts to poke and prod _really_ hard in search of my port. This is super-uncomfortable. Then he takes out the largest needle I've ever seen. Now, I'm not particularly needle phobic but he had to dig around with the needle for what seemed like an eternity (about 5-7 minutes actually) before he found my port. It totally hurt!

So now I have a fill of 3.5cc and my port area/stomach is very, very tender. What the heck? My doc said as one loses weight, it's easier to find the port but I am _so_ not looking forward to my next fill.

Blargh...

As I get skinner, the easier it is to access my port. I also know what to expect now, so it is not nearly as bad as the first fill. It will get easier...

oh wow... I had imagined it simple too. That 5-7 minutes probably DID seem like eternity. I hate that it was a tough experience but I appreciate you sharing it. I had read so much about how easy the surgery was that I wasn't really prepared to HURT.. but I woke up thinking I was about to DIE! It's better now thank God.

I had watched some videos on youtube of people getting fills and NO KIDDING... that needle looks as long as a pencil!! I know I have alot of fat to go through but I thought that the port was close to the skin.

Anyway, here's to that fill giving your restriction. Keep us updated!

ohhhhhhhhhh.....thats probably the worst thing I have ever read on this site. Fills alone is enough to make me REALLY not want to go through with this. I hate hate hate needles...Im completely phobic.

Anyone have cute, sweet, rosy experiences with fills? :blushing: Do you have to have fills for the rest of your life? or just in the begining?

A

It gets better. I was totally horrified by my first fill and all the pushing and prodding. I was thinking "why the hell didn't I think about this as a consequence of surgery?!" But, bBy the time my 3rd fill came around, it was no big deal. Don't look at the needle. Look the other way! I can't even feel it now, really. :blushing:

Anesthesia!

There was a youtube flick going around the boards showing a fill - super wrong! The doc didn't use anesthesia and the needle was suspect. If you have an Inamed band, the approved needles come in white and blue packaging that has Inamed on it....if it's not there....you are being shortchanged...also if you don't get anesthesia...you are being shortchanged.

Hate you went thru this, but hang in and next time ask for anesthesia.

I have had 4 fills and my doctor never poked or prodded me.

All I feel is a pinch when the needle goes in. I assume your doctor places the port in the same place for each patient and he can feel the

port with his hand. Hope it gets easier for you.

I was wondering about that. Now Im a little nervous. I dont like needles.

Ow. :blushing:

That kinda makes me not want to do this.

Lol.

How long was the whole thing? Before and after he was poking you.

Hi Spicegrrl,

You definitely need to ask your doc to give you a local anesthesia shot prior to the fill. The anesthesia needle my Dr. uses for this is tiny and I barely feel it. He did have to dig around a bit last time for the actual fill but all I felt was a little pressure. Please don't give up! Hopefully the fills will get better for you and the results will make you forget about it! :blushing:

Thanks everyone for your input! Local anesthesia sounds like it may be a good idea if there's to be more poking and prodding. Eek, I'm having flashbacks to this morning...staring up at the ceiling clasping my hands together in a death grip...

Time-wise I would say poking/prodding was about 5 minutes and the needle part was about 5-7. Then drinking Water while filling/unfilling was another 5. So, in all, probably around 15-20 minutes...though it was perhaps the longest 20 minutes of my life. Ah well. I'm hopefull that this'll get easier. :blushing:

Wow, my experience has actually been way different.

First of all...I am a big needle phob, so this was scary to me. However, he was done within 5 minutes. My starting weight was about the same as yours, and I have been lucky enough that he finds my port no problem. He does give me the Lydacain shot first to numb the area, then he presses to feel the port and boom the needle is in and out in 1 minute. I have had 3 fills and 1 unfill and no problems....I just hope this continues:) I would ask for the Lydacain, this way if he does have to poke around you won't feel it.

Good Luck!

I'm so sorry that you had a bad fill experience. I've had 3 and the 1st 2 weren't pleasant but they weren't bad. The 3rd was a breeze. My fills have been done by nurses. The 1st 2 were done by 1 nurse and she struggled to find the port. The 3rd was a more experienced nurse and I didn't feel anything except for the Water that didn't go down because I was too tight.

Those not banded do not let this scare you. It is worth it!

Spice..

I had the same problem, he was never able to access the port on the first visit, he poked 3 times and I could hear all this like plastic grinding noise?? I don't know a better way to describe it. Anyway.. I went the following week and a different Dr did it, had no problems at all and I was filled! My Dr doesn't use lidocaine before the fill needle goes in, and I don't think it's bad at all, it's completely tolerable. It's a small price to pay as far as I'm concerned. Good luck next go around!

I am a giant baby! Thank God my doctor only does fills under fluro, and uses lidocaine to numb the area first!

If a doctor is having problems finding your port, ask if can have your fill done under under fluro.

More expensive, but worth it! There is absolutely no question where the port is - - it shows up like a bullseye!

ohhhhhhhhhh.....thats probably the worst thing I have ever read on this site. Fills alone is enough to make me REALLY not want to go through with this. I hate hate hate needles...Im completely phobic.

Anyone have cute, sweet, rosy experiences with fills? :wub: Do you have to have fills for the rest of your life? or just in the begining?

A

Just had my second fill. Now even though I am not needle phobic, I am a big fat weenie. I was really nervous with the first one, and when he pulled out the 3 foot needle that did not help much. BUT... it was over and done before I knew it. My second fill was pretty much the same way. I mean, I have shoes that hurt worse than that! My doc does not use anesthesia (local or otherwise) nor does he typically use flouro. IMO it is overkill to do so for every patient because not every patient needs it. So... I hope this makes you feel better about fills. :thumbup: