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:

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.

Just make sure you expect pain. That way if there isn't any you will not be shocked. I always like to be prepared for something that is coming than shocked. I think only around 10% of us have pain, so you should be fine.

I didnt know anything about these fills that everybody's talking about. I'm scheduled for surgery in february. I thought that once they put the band in, they fill it at the same time.

So, they put the band in first, (empty) then you have to come back so they can fill it? That sounds painful.

They put the band on empty and have you come back in several weeks for your first fill. It isn't suppose to hurt, but some of us have had problems. You will only need maybe 4 fills your first year and then only 1-2 each year after that, if needed. It is definately worth it. I am not hungry all day anymore!

Had my first fill today, and talk about painful! I wasn't even expecting to get one since my surgery was less than 3 weeks ago, but the doc seemed to think it was ok, especially since he doesn't have any appointments open before the new year. But back to the fill...I hate needles anyway, so that was the first thing. Then he wiggled it around for about 30 seconds before taking it out and sticking the needle in again:blink:. That time he got it, but I thought I was going to cry! And then he breezed out of the office without giving me so much as a Bandaid (which I really needed). I trust my doc, and have heard lots of good about his capabilities but he's way too pressed for time whenever I see him. I think that's why it hurt so much...

I would tell him your concerns. The bottom line is that we are paying them for a service and should be treated like customers and not welfare patients. See if he has an office nurse that can do it. Sometimes women take more time than men to do things.

I would tell him your concerns. The bottom line is that we are paying them for a service and should be treated like customers and not welfare patients. See if he has an office nurse that can do it. Sometimes women take more time than men to do things.

That is the experience that has been had at my surgeon's office. The PA normally does the fill and she is great. My friend and I have never felt any pain at all. The actual surgeon got a hold of my friend on her last fill and overfilled her and had her in a serious state. She couldn't even swallow her own spit. The PA told my friend to NEVER let the surgeon fill her again.

I feel the same way. I was banded on november 15th. I feel hungry again. I've only lost ten pounds since the surgery. The pain in the port sight will go away. I didn't think it ever would and than one day I noticed I didn't have it anymore

My dr. gives the numming shot also it was the only thing that hurt just for a few seconds and when he put in the needle for the fluid i didnt feel anything it was great!:smile2: