Been a month exactly since my surgery. I've lost a lot of weight (see below). All good so far, so I go in for first fill...

I knew going in that the plan was for a nurse to do it, not the doctor. I wasn't too happy about that already, but whatever their procedure is, right?

So I'm on the table, and she's feeling around for the port. She is feeling way higher than where I thought the port was, but I assume she knows better than me. Wrong! Stab, OUCH, hmmm... no port there. Oops, that's just scar tissue from one of the other incisions... Strike One!

Oh, HERE'S the port... Hang on... Stab, OUCH, just... can't... get it... Nope, not in. Strike two...

Gee, it seems deep. Let me try again, and move it around alot, and make it hurt like shit! OUCH!!! Nope, no dice... Strike three!

Gee, sir, you sure bitch a lot. Want some lydocaine? Yes, please. She puts some topical on. Why didn't we start with that??? Stab, small ouch, wriggle around, test it, no dice. Strike four???

As she goes to get the fifth needle, I tell her to go to hell. She says that the doctor can do it, and he can give a lydocaine injection. Why are we just now suggesting that????

So I wait an hour, doc gives me real lydocaine (tiny pain, compared to Nurse Ratchet), get's into the port (zero pain, but it took him a few seconds too, but nothing like the nurse)...

Go into the barium room... he puts in 3 cc's - too much. Pulls out 1, better. We decide to pull out another .5, as I am out of the country for two weeks starting Monday, and better safe than sorry. Plus, I've lost a ton already, on no fill.

Morale of the story is... nurses are for bedpans... Sorry if I offend any nurses here, but I am beyond pissed right now...

Edited July 17, 200818 yr by gigem

I'm not a nurse but I do find the remark "nurses are for bedpans" to be quite offensive. I know you're pissed off right now and with every right to be but that's no reason to be so insulting and condescending to all nurses. Many of them are near-saints who don't get paid nearly enough for the work they do.

My doctor and his 2 partners have nurse-nutritionists do our fills. I've had four fills, no numbing agent, and never felt a thing for any of them. I hope you have better luck next time around!

Oh wow! I was banded last Thursday I'm having fear of the fill.

I sure hope they use they fluroscopy on me as i'm a big chciken.

Better luck next time....

I'm not a nurse but I do find the remark "nurses are for bedpans" to be quite offensive.

OK, fair enough... Let me qualify that statement...

"That particular nurse is for bedpans..."

I'm over it now... Next time, I will insist on the doctor, and the lydocaine. My port is hard to get to - I understand that now. She should have known when to throw in the towel... Bad nurse, no empathy, inexperienced... She can suck my bedpan!

Gigem,

I was actually at this same doctor's office today getting my 4th fill. They asked if I wanted the nurse or doctor and I opted for the nurse because she has always got it on the first try. Well, in walks the doctor, he said they were running behind and needed to catch up so I would have him and not the nurse. Well, he also hit it on the first try. I have the low profile port that he said he put it deep so that eventually when I got thin it wouldn't stick up - so far no trouble! So, it is hard to say why she didn't do good for you but always has done a good job for me - go figure.

Gigem, I was actually at this same doctor's office today getting my 4th fill.

Small world! I was the pissed off fat guy, there from 9:30 to about 11:00.

Glad yours worked out...

i'm not a nurse but i do find the remark "nurses are for bedpans" to be quite offensive. I know you're pissed off right now and with every right to be but that's no reason to be so insulting and condescending to all nurses. Many of them are near-saints who don't get paid nearly enough for the work they do.

My doctor and his 2 partners have nurse-nutritionists do our fills. I've had four fills, no numbing agent, and never felt a thing for any of them. I hope you have better luck next time around!

thanks for that comment. I found it a little offensive myself, but was trying to be understanding, so i didn't comment in reference to that remark. There are many more good nurses than bad, in my opinion anyway. I always try to do my very best with my patients and their families, which is really important bc i care for pediatric pts.

But most good nurses would have never stuck a patient that many times unsuccessfully and as a patient, i would have stuck up for myself long before being stuck that many times.

I have had 3 fills so far with no issues at all, and they are being done each time by one of two nurses on staff. I was told though my port is an easy find which I knew since I feel it all the time. They always have me lie on my back and lift my head, they feel for the center of the port and then stick and only once did they have to pull out and stick again. I don't have a problem with needles which I could see being a problem for alot of people, I grew up getting weekly allergy shots so needles are no issue for me. I had my lapband surgery on 23 April and have not actually met face to face with the doctor since my 2 week post op and the nurses are just awesome and so friendly and informative. Once again my whole journey I feel like I have been blessed. I will say this weeks brought me up to 6cc's and I have felt a little restriction this go around, maybe my next fill on the 29th will be my "sweet" spot.

Your categorizing.

That is very wrong what you said about nurses.

I work every day with those that are on Hospice care, dying.

I am very competent at my job, can even use a bedpan.

Holy cow, I'm glad I've found this post! I had a very similar experience with my first fill today. Actually, they couldn't find the damn port because there was Fluid around the port and when they poked me it all started leaking out...gross and it hurt like hell. The nurse practitioner could not find it and the doctor came in and said they couldn't do the fill because of the fluid around the port. How disappointing! Is this normal? They didn't even offer to numb the area. It was so bad I don't even want to go back.

My wife is nurse!

I can't beleive you had to go through all that with your first fill. I had mine today and I had 3 cc also. But I was lucky they got me on the first hit. They told me as I continue to lose weight the port will get closer to my skin and easier to get to.

You have done great so far. I have lost 27 pounds in two months with not fill.

The next fill will be better.

now I know I have a GREAT DOCTOR! He does all the fills himself with and ultrasound (in office) to mark the spot, then injected lidocane, and a few minutes later the fill.

banded 9/07

45 down. 65 left

What is a Barum room?

Man, I don't know that that nurse wouldn't have been flying across the room after that many jabs! I've been lucky. 1st fill was done by surgeon, no problem. 2nd was done his by his PA; even better. They both have me put my hands behind my head and do a slight "crunch" to find the port. They've always found it on the 1st try. Before they even start though, they spray me down heavily with lydacaine so I really don't fill any pokes at all. I go for my 3rd fill next Tuesday. Hope I haven't just jinxed myself by bragging on them.

From Gigam: "Morale of the story is... nurses are for bedpans... Sorry if I offend any nurses here, but I am beyond pissed right now..."

Part of the problem may be that the "nurse" is NOT a nurse. Most doctor's offices use medical assistants NOT professional nurses. Anyone can call themselves a nurse, but it doesn't mean it's so! The fact that she couldn't give a lidocaine injection supports the idea that she was not a registered nurse. The only training that a medical assistant would get for a fill on a lap band would be OTJ. And I really wonder if a fill on a lapband falls within the scope of duty for a medical assistant.

And (while I'm on my soap box) ... don't confuse incompetence and poor judgement for an indictment of a whole profession. As some others have noted, a truly professional nurse knows when to ask for help. Patient care means just that, if you are a REAL nurse. CARING. That doesn't include causing avoidable pain or more than 2-3 sticks at an IV or port.

I'm sorry for your experience. It really stinks. Your doctor is trying to get by cheaper by having an assistant do the fill, instead of the physician. You're paying for good care - make 'em give it to you!

MK

I am so sorry to hear that so many have trouble getting their fills. I either am the luckiest bander when it comes to fills or the doctors at my hospital are magical.....

My port is located over my ribs, in front, under the breast on the left side. It sits exactly where the bra-band rides. It is just below the skin. I have had 5 fills so far in the almost one year that I have my band. The doctors don't always use the fluoroscope. Even when they do, it's after they have inserted the fill needle - without numbing me. There has been only one time where the doc didn't get it on the first try - it took 2 times... not bad at all.

The needle stick is almost painless as he only has to get through the skin to get to the port. I have sometimes wished my port was located elsewhere because it does stick out a little when I lay down.... but after hearing all these problems with fills, I think I am very happy the way I am!

Had to share my experience with you. Not everyone has a hard time, and I 'm sure there are many of us who don't have a hard time. We tend to hear more about problems... when everything goes well, we tend to not say anything....

The band has been my best friend for the last year and will be for the rest of my life! As with any friendship, I expect to have small issues with it from time to time.... but with hard work and dedication it will stay a good relationship!

Good luck to all on their journey to a healthier, happier thinner you!

Katja