OK... here's are the questions... If you are a person who hates needles do the fill needles hurt or does one become immune to the pain after having had the surgery? Also did any of you have to drink a barium solution for pre-surgery tests? I had to drink this stuff 30 years ago and I am still traumatized. Honestly, has the solution consistency and taste improved during those years? Any feedback is appreciated as I "mentally" prepare myself for the gag reflex

Honestly I have always been afraid of needles and shots....but my fills don't hurt at all!! I just cover my eyes and it is done in like 3 seconds. I get mine done at NYU and that is pretty much all they do...the nurse practitioner does my fills and that's all he does all day, so he is pretty good at it! I did have to drink the barium right after my surgery to make sure everything was ok...and now I have to go again in JUne because that is my one year anniversary. I also have a gag reflux. It was gross...but I only had to drink a few sips...they just wanted a video of it going through the band. Really it wasn't that bad!

I am the biggest baby ever and I can tell you that my fills don't hurt. I was more scared than anything, but like Amy said, they are over in a few seconds and you're done.

The barrium that my doc uses doesn't taste bad and consistency is much better than that old stuff. They also had me do a swallow test in the hosptial after my surgery, that barium was less desierable than the one he uses for fills, but still wasn't that bad. The one he uses for fills doesn't really taste or bother me in any way.

Well, not banded yet, so I can't speak to the issue of fills. I did have an Upper GI + small intestine series a couple of weeks ago for the first time in my life. It was not particularly pleasant, but I didn't find it particularly traumatic either.

Edited May 5, 200917 yr by TSB

Hey. I am a needle phobe and the fills don't hurt. I never had to drink any barium stuff so good luck gagging that down. I feel your pain!

Needles .... don't look. And you can hardly feel anything. Ask for lidocaine if you're still fearful. You'll feel the same small prick for the lidocaine, but absolute nothing with the needle for the fill.

Barium. I had an upper GI years ago and then one in January before my surgery. Honestly, you don't have to drink nearly as much. It was "take a swallow", wait a while, "take a swallow", wait a little longer, drink the fizzy kind-of lemon tasting stuff.

I am not yet banded but I can't imagine that it would be more painful that giving blood. As far as the barium, I had it done 15 yrs ago and it was NASTY. I was expecting the same grossness when I did it recently and yes it was not my favorite thing but I just kept thinking about the end result and the reason why I was doing all of the preoperative testing. Just keep the goal in mind and I am sure that you will get thru it. Good luck.

I'm a baby when it comes to needles too. The needle used for my fills doesn't hurt at all. All of my fills are done fluoroscopically (thank goodness!!!!) and the stuff I have to drink is not bad at all. I'm not sure what it is - might not even be barium, but it is easy to swallow. After they put the needle into my port and add fluid, I have to stand up and walk to the fluoro. machine with the needle still in there - then they watch the liquid go down and through my band and decide if the fill was too much, too little, or just right. The whole thing is simple and quick. Doesn't sound like it, but it is. Good luck and don't worry!!! Becky

I would rather have a fill done every day than do the barium swallow again! The fill, to me, doesn't hurt at all, at least not the ones I have had done so far. The barium swallow was the most disgusting thing ever. I felt like the biggest baby ever. I even had them put the garbage can next to me, because I really thought it was coming back up.

This is my biggest fear also! I did ask my Dr. and he says the he does numb the fill site each time. I hate needles. He said that the barium amount is just a few teaspoons.

I tried to do an upper GI once and couldn't get that barium down at all. With the first sip it just came back up. Failed test! I am hoping that things are better now and the smaller amount will make it better.

This is my biggest fear also! I did ask my Dr. and he says the he does numb the fill site each time. I hate needles. He said that the barium amount is just a few teaspoons.

I tried to do an upper GI once and couldn't get that barium down at all. With the first sip it just came back up. Failed test! I am hoping that things are better now and the smaller amount will make it better.

Yeah, it was the upper GI preop test I am talking about. It was 2 cups full:crying:. I could probably handle a couple of teaspoons, but a couple of cups!!! Jeez.

I am so terrified of needles that when I was kept waiting for a blood test several years ago, I walked out, because they kept me waiting too long and I couldn't stand it.

I was just as terrified of the fill, but all I felt was a little sting, and then my doctor said, "Ok, you're done." I couldn't have been more surprised, or pleased!

Debbie

Hey :cool2: I work as a student Radiographer and barium has changed so much!!! Its a good consistency now like a thick milkshake and has little taste - if anything slightly vanilla - you dont have to sallow much of it!! You will be fine xooxoo

Don't look when they inject you. They numb it and I didn't feel a thing. I too had a bad barium experience 20 some years ago. This was much better. The whole thing was 20 minutes and a piece of cake.

Hey :cool2: I work as a student Radiographer and barium has changed so much!!! Its a good consistency now like a thick milkshake and has little taste - if anything slightly vanilla - you dont have to sallow much of it!! You will be fine xooxoo

I'll agree with that.