I know I sound like an incredible baby, but I'm very scared of the first fill I have coming up next week. I have an awful needle phobia and hear it is a really large needle. Does it hurt???

This was my biggest fear too! I have a huge fear of needles. I agree with others when they say dont look. It just makes it worse for no reason.

My office offers NO numbing anything and its not done with any other equiptment either so I was very nervous.

I felt a teeny tiny pick, way less than giving blood and then it was over.

Honestly? Taking off the stupid bandaid hurt way more then the needle. That is the truth! Dont worry, kick your feet and tighten your belly.....You'll be fine!

Poodles

I have had nine fills with a total of 9 cc in a 10 cc band. 15 months out. My dr has done the fill with the lidocaine and without. I told him, no difference either way. Just a small stick. Of course my port does stick out a little, so when I lay back on the table, the pillow goes under my lower back and do a tiny ab crunch just so he can get the flat side of the port. I can't see the needle, but I have a habit of looking to make sure he puts it all back in there. Ha. Ha. Today I will get a slight unfill of .25 I have been very, very tight for 7 weeks, PB at least once a week. only lost 4 pounds. It is tough when you are this close to goal and maintenance. Being too tight can also cause the weight loss to stop. So do be very careful. Your restriction will change as your stomach walls shed that fat.:sad:

My 1st fill will be 4cc. I hope i will feel some restriction. After the fill i may start back on some food. I now have the Protein shakes 3x a day and for a snack either some salsa or low fat cottage cheese.

Whoa! They're giving you a whopping 4ccs at once?! I would NOT go back to eating solids right away! The PA tells us to wait 24 hours and stick with a full liquid diet between then. With that many ccs at once, I'd wait 48 hours only because your stomach muscle will be sore from getting squeezed tighter.

But then, this is coming from the idiot who, after her second fill, gave up the 24 hour rec and ate the croutons in her Soup at Panera! LOL! Doh! It didnt hurt, though.

I actually just had my first fill on Wednesday. And I was surprised when I saw the size of the needle vs. the pain I felt. I was actually laughing when she put it in. Now, I'm one of those panzies where a paper cut sends me home from work...lol. My Dr. told me that I was going to feel bubbles and that was WEIRD!!!! I think she like sucked the air out before putting the stuff in or maybe it was the opposite...I don't know. But anyways....the pain is definately not as bad as you will think it will. Just a little sting...

My first fill they gave me 6cc.'s on Wednesday. It wasn't too bad, just a lot of gas yesteryday....lol

Good luck

Thank you all for the responses. I've been so worried about the fill and I feel much less nervous now! I will definitely ask to be numbed first and hope he'll do that! This will be my first one but I'm ready for it as I haven't lost hardly any weight since I was banded on 3/5. Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

There was very very little pain and it was just the numbing shot that had the slight burn. The fill was painless. My was done with the floroscope and 3.5 cc was added at the first fill. It appeared to only have a straw size opening after the fill and I went on a liquid diet for 48 hours then back to mushys. Maybe additional foods next week at the 6 week point.

I don't think it hurts at all. My port is located at the end of my breast bone right in the middle of my breasts. I don't have anything for numbing at all and my port has flipped so they have to work on the area to get it right. Good Luck.

the first 2 fills were just a pinch, the 3rd fill I wanted to scream. It hurt, and was sore for a few days after. I don'[t know why it hurt more than the previous ones, same doctor, same procedure....It went away and is now fine. I agree, just don't watch.

Hello, I had my 1st fill yesterday mon, the 13th.

The area was deadened and the only discomfort I felt was the rush of saline solution into the band. I did keep my eyes shut so I couldn't see the needle.

I keep wondering where the fluid is put in. Are these openings visible when you wear a bathing suit?

I keep wondering where the fluid is put in. Are these openings visible when you wear a bathing suit?

A small incision scar and a bump where the port is located. A small price to pay for the results we get.

When I have fills, I find it quite painful. Not because of the needle, but because of the pressure the doctor puts on my stomach to hold the port still.

My doctor has trouble finding my port and I have left the surgery fill-less and in tears before. I now have to get my fills under x-ray.

It all depends on the person though.

I have a fear of needles also. Got my first fill on Monday and started talking about the interesting post on this site to occupy my self. I had my arms over my eyes the whole time and continued talking about the wonderful site about the lap band. It was uncomfortable, but it did not hurt at all.

I haven't had my band, but the fill it one of the things I was worried about. Don't like needles.

Well, I did it! I had my first fill - after dreading it from the beginning because of my needle phobia. It really wasn't bad at all - and that's saying a lot for me! He did numb it and I felt only a slight pinch and the sensation of the liquid going in. After that, I felt a small stick and that was it! Now, if I can just start losing more weight!! Thanks for all your encouragement!