I've read and read on here that it's not too bad, it doesn't hurt, well, IT DOES. It did hurt a lot more than I expected, but it wasn't so much or so prolonged that I couldn't handle it. So, for all of you waiting to get your first fill....IT WILL HURT. Just take a bunch of little breaths, close your eyes and wait for it to be done. I think the doctors probing and pushing around with their fingers hurt much worse than the actual poke did. My port is right under my longest incision on the front of my stomach, and that one is still tender anyway. I had my surgery 9/12/08 and my first fill today 11/4/08. I had 4cc in an AP standard band, which I think holds 12-14cc. I made an appointment for my next fill in three weeks the second I got home. With the holidays coming up, I wanted to make sure I got in again before everyone was to busy.

BTW-Did you know there is actually Fluid in your band now? They test it for leaks first and inevitably leave some in. SO--there was already 2cc in my band, they sucked that out and put 4cc in. So I actually only have 2cc more than I started with. Kind of a bummer. I wish they would have put it all in so I'd have 6. Just seems like a way for them to make me come back more to make more money.:thumbup:

I've only lost 19lbs since surgery, and all of that in the first 2 weeks, so I hope this will start things up again. Good luck to all:smile2:

Jill, thanks for sharing your experience. My fill (first) isn't til Nov 20th, but I have been concerned because my port is right under my incision too, and my area is still tender. Sorry you didn't get as much fill as you wanted. I suspect I will be feeling the same way. Good luck with your next fill.

Mimi

Hi Jill...l had my first fill last week..l never felt a thing...honestly l was scared to death and was so relived that mine didn't hurt at all..Perhaps your second fill won't hurt you....l was shocked when it was over...Good luck to you

I'm sorry your fill hurt. My port is also under and a little to the right of my port incision. My fill was completely painless. I hope your next one is better.

Jill...l'm also down 19 lbs and had my surgery 9/12....

I guess everybodys fill is different, because my fill didn't hurt at all. Well good luck with your next fill.

Hi everyone, This is the first time writing. I was banded 10/8/08. I have lost 11 pds. I was just wondering right where i think my port is,is sore certain ways i move bother me and if i were to bend down to pick something up it hurts. This will eventually go away won't it ? Also when do you no if you need a fill ? It is almost a month since my band and just in the last few days i think im starting to feel hungrier i have had no problems eatting things and i don't think i eat that slow. I hope it's working right. Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Ethel P

So sorry to hear that your fill experience was a painful one. I had my second fill last Sat. and it was a breeze and just a pinch, NO PAIN. Everyone is obviously not a fill specialist. Hopefully you'll have a better experience the next time.

ETHEL

Some people have a fill after a month some 3 months everyones doctor is different and everyone is different so I guess it just depends on both of those factors. I was banded on 3rd sept and got my first fill 7 weeks post op. I've had 3 fills now all a week apart, had my 3rd fill yesterday. I still don't feel that restricted cause it is my husbands birthday and last night I had about half bottle red, a beef sausage with onion, salad with feta and olives and a small piece of mud cake and coffee. I know this is so bad especially only 8 hours after my 3rd fill, but I felt fine afterwards. I have a 9ml band and I have 5ml. I don't know if I answered any of your questions, sorry i'm just babbling. Any way good luck!

Has alot to do with who is giving the fill and how sure they are.When Dr.Wizeman gives my fill it don't hurt and he does it so fast its over as soon as he starts.Now when his student doctor gives me a fill it does hurt as he is not as sure of himself and he is slow to stick the needle in and I fill it.So has alot to do with the person and the fill doctor.

Hi Ethel,

It's normal for your port to still be sore. I was sore on and off for 3-4 months and called my doctor every time! Everyone's body adjusts to it differently. If you have concerns call your doctor, that's why they're there :thumbup: Still now, after almost 9 months I am sore from time to time and it's mostly when bending down.

You'll know you need a fill because you will get hungry quicker - food goes through the band easier, causing you to digest it faster.... Also you will be able to consume larger quantities of food.

Hope this helps!

Hi everyone, This is the first time writing. I was banded 10/8/08. I have lost 11 pds. I was just wondering right where i think my port is,is sore certain ways i move bother me and if i were to bend down to pick something up it hurts. This will eventually go away won't it ? Also when do you no if you need a fill ? It is almost a month since my band and just in the last few days i think im starting to feel hungrier i have had no problems eatting things and i don't think i eat that slow. I hope it's working right. Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Ethel P

I go for my first fill this Friday, Nov. 7th. I had an afternoon appt. and I changed it for the morning. I can't wait for it...these last few days I've been hungry and eating a little too much that it got me scared. So, the fill can hurt but I don't care...I want that fill so badly now. 6 weeks post seems like an eternity and I've lost approx. 12 pounds I think. I hope this fill will get me losing some more now.

Steph

My first fill was horrible!!! The needle going in didn't hurt at all, but the 5 minutes she spent wiggling around the needle trying to find my port did...then when she still couldn't find it she pulled the needle out to let me "rest" and then poked me again, after about 3 more minutes of needle wiggling she finally found it. Not all surgeons leave the "tester" fluid in your band, but a lot do. My band was put in with 3ccs of fluid and then on my first fill she added 2 more ccs to total 5ccs in my 10cc band...I hope my next fill goes a lot smoother, but I think if she would have found it right away there wouldn't have been any complaints of pain from me

I guess I'll just be crossing my fingers they find the port on the first try to minimize pain. That incision does seem to be the only tender one so I only hope. 3 days and counting til that fill. i can't wait.

I decided to take a personal day and make it my "feel good fill day" and go shopping and buy a new piece of clothing even though i haven't really lost much yet. It's a celebration of immense proportion....just the fact that I went thru with the surgery and this is my life path now.

I feel great with only a 12 pound loss and can only anticipate feeling better and better.

this group is a great support.

I have had two fills so far and neither one of them hurt at all. My doctor gives the numming shot first, so I didnt feel nothing.

I had my surgery 9/23, just got back to work from having my first fill and it was a lot of worrying about nothing. He had me lie down on the table, asked me to do a stomach crunch, felt for the port, told me to relax, stuck in the numbing medicine, had me crunch again and next thing I knew he said relax, you are done. Put a bandaid on, had me drink some water, made sure everything was okay and off I went. With him reminding me of my portion control, water intake, soft food for today, and call me if you have any problems. I honestly do believe the single best thing you can do for yourself in this process is research the surgeon well, ask for references from previous patients, research who does what in the office in regards to all aspects of the process and make a good choice from that perspective. Just my own personal two cent opinion, but I don't buy this attitude of the surgeon just "installs the band". I have invested a lot in this decision and I don't just mean money.