I had my first fill yesterday ( 8 weeks post op ) and it hurt. The Dr had a hard time finding my port and I told him it is easier to locate when I stand up and offered to stand up for the fill. Well he had to route around a bit. that hurt! He was finally able to locate the port and I recv'd 5cc's. I drank the required water before I left the office ( only gurgled a small bit ). he sd to be on fluids for 2 days and then move to soft foods.. I will admit I am very nervous about this and will take it very slow...I do like baby food ( yes, I am weird ) so I think I will start with that....had anyone else had a fill that was painful? Glad I don't have another for 8 weeks :0)! ( Oh I have the Inamed band that holds 10ccs )..

Hi Michelle - I also had my first fill yesterday, 10 weeks post-op, but was fortunate in that it was just a tiny pin prick and I basically felt nothing. Mine was a much smaller fill, only 0.8 ccs. I'm surprised that you received so much; I also have the 10 cm Inamed band but thought the maximum it holds is 4 ccs. But I get confused about all this "cm" and "cc's" stuff. Anyhow I hope you're feeling better soon!

- KatieA

KatieA, Inamed has two bands that both hold 4cc of saline, the 9.75mm and the 10mm bands. They also make a larger band that holds 10cc of saline, so you are comparing apples and oranges, really.

And I'm pretty sure it's mm and not cm, 10 centimeters is BIG! So it has to be mm.

Anyhow, congrats on your fill Michelle! I'm sorry he had to burrow around...ouch!!! I had my first fill last week and it was pretty painless, although my port area was very sore! I had to go back for a small unfill (he only took out .4cc of a 2cc fill, big difference!) and this time he didn't wait very long for the Lidocaine numbing stuff to take effect...rushing through!!!! and it hurt a bit more. It's all fine now though, and I'm on liquids, too. I have had a Boost, about a pint of egg drop Soup, and a yogurt so far today. Plus my Water. Okay, I guess that's a bit thicker than liquid, but it went down fine and took away the hungries. Happy weight loss!!

Kathy, I just checked the letter that I got from my doctor after banding. I have the 9.75cm band. I believe this is the length of the band, like circumference around the stomach, so it probably has to be a decent size ot get all the way around.

The 9.75cm and the 10cm bands both hold 5cc's of Fluid. My first fill in my band was 2ccs. Fortunately, it was not painful for me. Hopefully since he's gotten it once, he'll have an easier time for you next time

Check out you! You are right, it would have to be cm if it's the circumference...

Also, I have heard that they hold 5cc of saline, but they found out 5cc is usually too much for the normal person and is unsafe? so they reduced it to marketing it as a 4cc band? Hope I'm right about that.

Also, do you know if there are 2 larger bands? One that holds 10cc and one that holds 11cc? I'll have to do a search, it's posted in here somewhere...

So he started with 2cc for me also, but I was too tight!! Could only take samll sip of liquids after 5 days. That .4cc unfill made a huge difference!

ooooooo, it makes me cringe to think about a needle digging around for a port...OUCH again!!!

In my letter it says "5cc balloon", but I think they only use that extra CC in extreme cases. To my knowledge, there's only one larger Inamed band. There are other brands of bands being used outside the US though, and I don't know squat about them

if you do a crunch or a leg-lift your port is sooo much more accessible. Try it at home if you don't believe me. Your ab muscles become more taut and the port stands out easier.

Might not be an issue for sternum placed ports though.

Thanks for the info guys! I am feeling better today and have had some pureed baby food ( 4oz at lunch ) and I also had 2 oz of baby banana oatmeal for breakfast. I am gurgling which I know is normal and my stomach feels kinda queasy but not bad. I am so excited by all of this and was thrilled to see 260 on the scale this am!!! Off to my support group for one last time before I move to Florida Monday!

A lot of us who had surgery in Mexico (myself by Dr. Rodriguez) have the J&J port. It use to be known as the "Swedish Port". The tubing is 11 centimeters long, between the band and the actual port. It holds 10 cc's of fluid, but Dr. Rodriguez says it should not be filled more than 7.5 cc's, since complications can arise. He also suggests that the first fill be 3.5 cc's, and to follow a liguid diet for three days after the fill. Even though this port can hold alot of fluid I urge extreme caution against overfilling. I had 3.5 cc's on my first fill. I felt close to being restricted, but was still eating to much. My second fill I asked for and got 1.5 cc's added. Big-Big mistake. The local doctor doing the fill didn't know much about my type of band, he uses one that has a lot smaller balloon, so he went along with my reuest. I spent the night sitting up spitting my saliva into a cup, because if I didn't it would pool in my stomache and I'd throw up again, and again, and again. I had to return the next day for an un-fill. It has been almost 2 weeks since my unfill, down to a total of 4 cc's. I have trouble getting meds down, and can barely eat. Please be cautious with fills. Even with a large band I don't think I'll have a fill over 2.5 cc's again, and definitely not unless it's under fluro(XRAY). My dr. routed around for 10 min with a spinal needle, before he gave up and we did it under fluro. I'll never have a fill again, unless it's done under fluro.

I was banded on 4-7-2005 at 299 lbs. by Dr. Rumbaut. I have the 9.75 inamed band. I went TJ, Mexico for a fluro fill 6-21-2005. Under fluro they put 2.8 first fill and I was up all through the night throwing up again and again. I had it backed off to 2.3 and was still really uncomfortable. The next day I had it backed off again to 1.8, wow what a big difference let me tell you. Now today I can really drink water, but can't eat a whole lot, or I throw up. If I eat salad I can eat and eat. Chicken maybe 3 bites and stuffed, Potato 1 bite. I think it all dipends on what your trying to eat.

BEEF NO WAY !!! What I would do for a piece of STEAK. Let me know how thingx go for you and good luck! Thanks, Brenda