Ok I was banded Aug 13th and Im going tuesday for my first fill. I had to wait so long due to testing positive for hpylori bacteria and having to do 2 wk treatment for that. I am scared and wondering what I should expect when I go. Any advice??

Don't be afraid. The scary part is the "unknown." The doctor just gives you a little numbing medicine in the port area, and then fills your band with saline with a needle. My advice to you is don't watch the procedure. It just feels like a shot, but watching it will make the procedure scarier! Good luck to you. You will be fine. I have had 3 fills already (and one slight unfill) , and you just get used to them!

I had my first fill yesterday. My blood pressure was through the roof when I got there I was so anxious but it was easy and over before I knew it. I didn't even feel the needle go in. They had me tighten my stomach muscle then sit up like to start a sit up and then it was over.

I had my first fill on Nov 4. I was very nervous and I hate needles. I warned the doctors if I start sweating and pass out, don't worry, I'll come out of it. I currently weigh 260 and have lost about 19 pounds since my surgery. They put me on the table and put a pillow under me in the small of my back so my stomach area was arched up as much as possible. They swabbed off the area where they were going to poke me with betadine. Then the doctors started probing for the port with their fingers. That was VERY painful, as it is right under my biggest scar in the middle of my stomach. I was told as time goes on it will be less painful as we heal more and more. (My first fill was at 6 weeks). They also asked me to put my arms under my head and do a crunch while they were looking for the port and feeling around, I guess your muscles would push the port upwards, which makes sense. I didn't even feel the poke really. They don't numb the area where I go. So, you will have some pain from them feeling around, but other than that it was over in about 5 minutes. Good luck!!!

My husband and I are going for our first fills tomorrow. I am anxious! :rolleyes2:

Lisa

I'm scared too! I was banded on Oct 2. I go in for my first fill on wednesday!

excited, but scared!:rolleyes2:

I just had my first band fill on Wednesday. I was scared too,:eek: but when it was done there was nothing to it.:thumbup: Just a little numbing medicine then a little pressure. I go for another fill on 11/26/08. You might know I would have one the day before Thanksgiving. This will be my first Holiday after being banded. So much food to pick from and only a little room to put it. (saving room for my Mom's dressing:tt2:) Not sure how to handle it.

I had my first fill today!!! 3 ccs in a Realize band. I was scared to death BUT all I felt was a pinch and a few seconds later it was over!!! I felt really foolish for being so scared.

Good luck with your fill though I'm sure you wont need it. It's very quick, very straightforward and I've not felt anything more than a pinch. I'm sure the less tense you are the better so try to relax as much as you can. Let us know how you get on

I had my first fill today. NO BIG DEAL! NO PAIN! THE DOCTOR DID NOT NUMB ME!

Don't be scared! IT IS SUPER EASY!

Had my 1st fill yesterday, a little discomfort but before I knew it was over.

My first fill was today! I felt absolutely nothing, not even when he put the needle in. It was just like some others said. He put a pillow under the small of my back, had me crunch my head up like I was doing a sit-up, and "poof"! it was done. Didn't feel a thing.

My first fill wasn't really easy, but it wasn't bad either. My port had tilted and Dr. Cavazos had to search a little. It didn't really hurt....it was just odd...you don't normally feel anything moving around in that area! But I just thought about something else and it was done pretty fast. This 2nd fill, because he knew about my port being tilted, took about 2 seconds! So even when they are "BAD" they aren't bad! I have had things done to me by my hair stylist that hurt more! LOL

my first fill I had a numbing needle, but the last two I didn't have any numbing beforehand and personally I think not having a numbing needle is actually less painful! And considering all three times weren't really painful at all, I think you'll be fine, nina. :tongue2:

My doctor doesnt number the skin and used a 5 inch needle. It looks scary, but it doesnt hurt at all. You hardly feel it. Its sooo nothing to be afraid of. You'll be in and out of there before you know it. I would get the fluoroscopy though. It will make it easier to find the port and you wont get over filled.

I just had my first fill yesterday and while it felt really weird, it didn't hurt. He numbed the area and it was just a little tiny stick, no pain. Then he put in the big needle. Didn't feel anything but pressure.

What was really weird was that this particular PA kind of flushes the band so that he knows exactly how much saline is in there. He took some out, put some in, took it all out, put it all back in and then he was finished. I had 1 cc already in there and he added 3 more for a total of 4 cc's in a 10 cc Realize band.

Now it's back to liquids for 3 days and mushies for 4 days. He told me he's pretty cautious with fills, especially for people that live in the outlying areas (I'm 1.5 hours away from the clinic).