My doc gives me a shot of lidocaine before he does a fill, is this standard for getting fills? I'd like to know if there's much of a difference in pain level with or without the lidocaine.

This week I had an unfill with lidocaine then a second unfill w/o. I don't believe I will do w/o the lidocaine again!!!!!! Ouchie.

Mimi

My doctor doesn't give a shot before a fill. I'm a pain-wimp, and to me, it didn't hurt at all...tiny pin prick.

I haven't had a numbing shot with either of my fills. I don't need it. My fills haven't hurt at all.

I'm not being facaetious - I truly cannot understand how anyone could consider a fill in any way painful enough to require numbing beforehand.

Its not even like an ordinary injection -which generally hurts a bit because they're pushing something thick like penicillin into your muscle tissue. With a fill, the Fluid goes into your port, so all you get is a tiny prick as the needle enters the skin. It doesnt hurt in the least.

But - my port is very visible, completely straight and easily accessed. I dont know that I'd want to be poked at 100 times trying to get the needle in.

I do not get a numbing shot before my fill, I have had two fills and do not find they hurt...basically a tiny prick and then nothing.

I've had three fills. The first two were completely painless. The third was a double stick, and a little bit of pain. I prefer the fills without any more shots.

Guess I don't really understand...you either feel a stick to get lidocaine or you feel a stick to get your fill. So why get stuck twice? I've never been numbed and, to me, it's just a little pinch.

I've had fills both ways. Either way, there is a one small stick -- and I didn't really notice that one was less than the other. So it's your choice, I guess.

I have to have the lidocaine. The needle doesn't hurt going through the skin, but between there and the port it's excruciating!! I have either an irritated nerve, or scar tissue across the top of my port. Pain shoots all the way to my toes!

I won't get a fill without it!!!

I also need the lidocaine because my port is very hard to get into. After the seventh poke or so even the lidocaine doesnt cut the pain. I have had three fills and all have been pretty rough.

My former doctor doesn't use lidocaine and my first fill was painful with his jabbing around until he got to the center of the port. So, I bought some gel containing lidocaine and used that before my next fill and then my unfill. Neither hurt - either because he found the center the first time or from the lidocaine gel. I don't know what my new doctor uses - haven't had a fill or unfill from him yet. I think it's an individual thing and how easily your doctor can access your port and get it right the first time.

I have never had a need for anything like lidocaine. A simple tiny needle prick; the nurse who does them is expert and has never had difficulty in doing it. She has even done them with me standing up with just the port area exposed as we were at a travelling clinic, and there were no beds or chairs - we stood behind a privacy screen. Simple, no pain, and fast.

I get the pain shot. I didn't before because there was no pain, but now for some strange reason she's having a problem finding my port and that sucks so now I get the shot lol :-)

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Jacut, your thoughts are my thoughts exactly. That's why I don't use lidocaine to start IV's, why go through more than one stick? That's why I asked the question. My doc just does it, I've never asked to have it.

My port is difficult to access, however, sometimes requiring multiple pokes and tilting. I guess I'll stick with the lidocaine for now. But man, it sure does burn!

The first fill I got did hurt alot but it was because he used a short needle. We used the longer needle for the next 2 fills and no problems. Maybe ask for a longer needle?