I just had my 1st appt for a fill today and my surgeon could not feel/find my port even with Ultrasound. I am scheduled on Monday to go the hospital to have flouroscopy done for my fill and he will put in 2cc's. Has anyone else had this? I was very frustrated but he said not to worry it isnt my fault.

He also said the first few fills are the hardest because when you loose more weight it is easier to palpate the port...

Also I found out that even though I gained some weight since being back on solid foods my total weight loss has equaled 2 lbs per week since surgery- so up and down like so many others... how do you deal with it?

My doctor does all new patient fills that way for your first few fills. I was told it was because they like to limit you needing an unfill. I had my first fill on Wednesday after being rescheduled because they didn't have my appointment in radiology. The appoinment was wonderful to me. I was able to see my band and port on the monitor. I had to drink that nasty barium but when I was able to see it go threw the band without restriction and come up with too much I was thrilled to be able to see how it actually worked. I live four hours away from my doctor and she doesn't want me to need to come back because I was overfilled. I ended up with 3cc in my band.

I haven't gain any weight but my weight loss had stopped! I'm hoping the fill and exercise help it start back up again!

Edited May 15, 200917 yr by yella1
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Fluoroscopy is great because you can watch and feel how the band works while drinking the barium swallow. Plus, they'll fill you to the green zone instead of just guessing what might or might not be a good fill level for you.

It'll be great! Good luck!

I went for my first fill on Monday and my doctor said that he is starting fills that way (via Flouroscopy) as of next month. So, when I go back in June, that is how he will do it.

Another thing my doc said... when you get filled without fluoro, you increase the risk of getting a jab in the wrong place. Just think, if you get a hole in the tubing, that's a leak that's not going to fix itself, and more surgery would be required.

Leaks from fills-gone-bad do happen. Just google it, you'll find some good info.

Thank you all sooooooooooooooooo much!!!! :grouphug:

I feel so much better now...:hurray:

I went for my first fill last week and the same thing happened to me; they could not find my port. They poked me with the needle for like 20 minutes. The pinch of the needle going in did not bother me, however a few seconds later I felt pressure and a burning sensation on my left side (near where the needle was). This happened repeatedly. They poked me in so many different spots and one of the Nurses made mention to the fact that she felt something further over where she initially stuck the needle. The other Nurse said that was probably tubing. I am very concerned that they may have jabbed the tubing. I go back for the Floro tomorrow but because of this experience I am also very nervous that it will burn again. I'm nervous that my port tilted or something...probably just being paranoid. My father and a friend of mine never had any problems with their fills and never had to go under Floro for them. Any ideas??