I am scheduled for my 2nd fill this week, and I'm very nervous and thinking about rescheduling. My first fill did not go well at all - it took 2 needles and there was a loud pop. My doctor doesn't have very good bedside manners, so now I have to decide what to do. Most all the other posts show that the fills go easy, so should I suck it up and hope for the best or postpone it until I feel more comfortable? Right now my weight is stable - not losing or gaining, and that has been for the month since the first fill.

Any suggestions or advice?

Nobody can MAKE you do something you don't want to do but if you don't pursue your fills, your band cannot do its job -- helping you. Maybe the first fill was just a tough one? Can you ask to do #2 with fluoroscope? I don't really know what to say since my fills have all been quite uneventful.

Can you please explain what is fluoroscope?

What's going to make you more comfortable; what is going to change? Probably nothing. And putting it off isn't going to help. Aftercare is VITAL with the band. If you don't like your surgeon and feel he's incompetent for fills, start now and find another option. Seriously; because you need a working partnership for the band to work for you. I'm sure you didn't go through everything to just stay the same, weight wise. Go back and if it's bad this time too, get your files and find a different fill option.

Fluroscopy is basically a "real time" xray with contrast. You drink something and the doctor can see it go down your esophagus and into your stomach ... and pass through the band area. He can also see your port, which might make it easier for him to get it on the first try. I've never had a fill under fluroscope but plenty of doctors do it all the time. I know my doc has the equipment because I've seen it.

Just writing to reassure you that just because the first fill was difficult doesn't mean that the rest will be. My first fill was a nightmare and left me in tears. The doctor didn't realize that he had blunted the needle on the rim of the port and each time he tried to reinsert it into the port, it was like a fish hook tearing inside me. Bless his heart, he was so comforting when my tears started flowing....lol.

Each of the next 5 fills (he's conservative and just does a little at a time) has been a breeze. But like you, i was literally shaking when i went in for the second one. I almost needed a "chill pill" just to get me into the office.

Sending you some nice relaxing thoughts that your next fill will go as easy as #2-5 did for me.......try not to worry too much......

I get my second fill next week. My first fill of 4cc's gave me a little restriction because I don't eat as much and I have had the "stuck" feeling twice. I still am eating too much though. I am curious about fill #2.

I just got my second fill yesterday and so far so good, but I am on liquids today yet and mushies the next 2 days then regular food after that. But, no problems at all, and so far so good, we will see what will come in the following days as far as restriction and hunger are concerned. I've heard some people start to feel it after their second fill and some not, we are all different. Just looking forward and seeing what is to come