I've just had the consult and am gearing up for pre-op tests (scared but dealing with the fear as it comes up). I've been reading all the posts, but wanted to ask about the reference to SWELLING after getting a fill? Why is there swelling; what causes it?

How painful is the needle poke for the fill and how (besides fluoroscopic exam) does the doc know where the port is? Can YOU feel it? Thanks for your explanations.:scared2:

The swelling is, I think, your stomach etc swelling a little because when you get a fill the band tightens a little and agitates it! You don't notice it usually but it can impact how "full" your band is so most docs say to just drink liquids (no food) for a time after a fill to give the stomach etc time to settle back down.

The doc knows where the port is because, as the NP in my office says "He put it there". Seriously, they remember, plus good operative notes give them guidelines

Mine has never used fluoro on me and found it find. He does use lidocaine to numb the area and that stings a bit (not as bad as a bug bite) then I feel....nothing!

It's easy.

Two things.... First one isn't really swelling but some people call it that. The doc will pump gas into your abdominal cavity to provide a larger working area. After he closes you up, that gas will make your belly seem a little bigger than before surgery....until the gas is absorbed by your blood stream and filtered out. Second, the doctor is going to mess with your stomach. He'll move it around, put a belt on it and then your stomach will say WTF??? And that will cause some swelling That can take as long as a week to go away. You will not have much of an appetite at all until that swelling goes away.

The needle stick for a fill doesn't hurt. It's a little prick. And, many docs will do a fill with lidocaine...a tiny prick numbs the area first. Then you don't feel the needle that goes into the port. Yes, you can feel your port...if you know what you are feeling. The doctor/physicians assistant/nurse practitioner knows what it feels like for sure. I have never had fluoroscopy and they've never missed, ever. Some docs feel more comfortable with the fluoro, and in those rare cases where a port turns or gets flipped, fluoro is very useful in guiding them to the exact spot. And here's the other potential for swelling -- when the do a fill, your stomach around the band area may get irritated and swell a little. I do not believe this has ever happened to me.

/ Thanks guys, I knew you could 'splain it to me.:scared2: