your nurse searches for the port with her fingers, locates it, sticks the needle in and moves it around for about 30 - 50 seconds then tells you to tighten your stomach and when you do the nurse says "there, all done", when it could possibly not be done? Could the saline not make it into the right spot for tightening? And if so, where would the fluid go? How do they know "it's done or it's in the right spot"? I just had the 3rd fill yesterday and so far, I feel no different than I did prior to going in for the fill. Granted, I'm on the pureed stage til tomorrow then soft and then normal on Friday, but wouldn't I notice on the 2nd day if it took or am I being way too impatient. I'm so ready to be at my sweet spot and thought I was really close. I'm a little perplexed and don't know if I should or shouldn't be??? Curious if anyone else has ever thought about this?

I ask my surgeon about being able to tell if they are in the right spot and she said when she put it in she puts blue dye in. Then when she does a fill she sucks some out and if it is blue knows she is in the right spot. Makes sense. She doesn't restrict eating after, but i try to go light the first day or so..

Hmmmmmm, I'll have to ask about this. Thanks.

I ask my surgeon about being able to tell if they are in the right spot and she said when she put it in she puts blue dye in. Then when she does a fill she sucks some out and if it is blue knows she is in the right spot. Makes sense. She doesn't restrict eating after, but i try to go light the first day or so..

I will be elated if that happens.

re: "am I being way too impatient."

yes

how could you possibly discern the difference in how fluids go down unless you are simply WAY too tight?

Don't be surprised if you suddenly find in the middle of your 3rd bite of something this coming week, that you are now 'tighter'....

It's happened to many Bandsters that way...

My guess is that you would feel it, I've heard it described as a cold sensation when the port was missed, she felt almost like Water was poured down her skin.

When you have a fill it barely hurts because once the needle has pierced the skin, the injection itself doesnt take place into your flesh - that's why a penicillin injection kills for example. The Fluid is injected into the port. I can feel the fluid settle round my stomach in the band, but that doesnt hurt.

So if they missed the port, I would guess that you'd feel the saline being injected into YOU instead.

Fills are weird, Jack is very right, all of a sudden in 3 days time you could suddenly realise you're tighter.

Going for first fill on Friday, have question, I know you have to be fasting I think 3 hours, but what about fluids? Can i have my coffee and creamer before I go?

yes. I even eat a greek yogurt with no fruit. They just don't want food getting caught during the fill.

Going for first fill on Friday, have question, I know you have to be fasting I think 3 hours, but what about fluids? Can i have my coffee and creamer before I go?

How do they know "it's done or it's in the right spot"

Well my Doc always pulls out the Fluid in the band to see how much is in there first so he can see if I have a leak before refilling the band that is how he knows he is in the right spot.Myself I can feel the fluid in my chest I know it sounds funny but most of the time I feel it tighten in my chest.Saline is a salty Water so if he missed I would think it would kinda sting like salt in a would.

I just had a fill today. I did not have to stop eating. I had a turkey bacon sandwich before I left. I only had 4cc because of an upcoming surgery. I had a cup of chili soup and could really fell it. My surgeon did not give me any special diet today, but I will take it easy.