I know there are different threads on this....but can someone tell me about their 1st fill exspereience?

Did you eat before? After? Does it hurt?

I know there are different threads on this....but can someone tell me about their 1st fill exspereience?

Did you eat before? After? Does it hurt?

Hello there! I got by lapband surgery on 7/8/09 and had my first fill on 8/12/09. It was painless. My doctor had me lay on the exam table and he felt for my port and inserted 2.5cc in my band (I have a 14cc band). I had no pain whatsoever. I had no problems afterward but did stick to a liquid diet for 24 hours. I'm scheduled for another fill on 9/16/09. I doing my fills slowly so I don't have any problems. I've lost 24lbs so far and have not felt much restriction yet. Just relax and you will do great! :blushing:

I was in your shoes not too long ago - banded on 5/14, first fill on 7/1. The only part that is uncomfortable is the surgeon digging around to find the port before he injects the saline (but that part, of course, depends on your physiology - I'm heavy in the middle and that probably makes it more difficult to find). Really, I promise you - it doesn't even hurt as much as having your blood drawn from your arm - there is no nerves in fat tissue, so the only thing you feel is a quick pinch when the needle is first put in. And it is over in seconds. I have had four fills since and have not had any pain with any of them - you will be fine!:blushing:

I actually had my first fill today.. I was extremely nervous too. It kind of scared me to see the size of the needle, But I actually didn't feel a thing. Not even the needle going in. I am kinf od numb in the area where my port is located so it was painless and over in seconds. I forgot to ask how many cc's he put in and I get to go back in 2 weeks for another if needed. So we will see. You will be nervous, but once you get your first fill you will understand there is nthing to be nervous about.... Jennifer

I just had my first fill yesterday. My doctor rubbed something on the port area to numb it, then injected something else to numb it even more. I did not feel a thing. He then wanted me to drink some water while in his office to make sure it would go down. It was going down but very slowly. I could feel it in my chest so they had me stay an extra 30 minutes to make sure it stayed down. I was really worried I was too tight but I havn't had any regurgitation. I can definately feel restriction. I hope I can eat solids. I am still on liquids. I have the realize band & it holds 9cc's. He put 3 cc's in. You don't need to be nervous though, it doesn't hurt at all.

I had my first fill about 6 weeks ago. I was so scared and nervous! I really don't mind needles, but decided not to look at the needle because I have read that it is pretty gnarly looking (big). My doc had me stand up, he poked around with his fingers to find the port and then in went the needle. He then had to adjust the needle to find the port, felt odd but didn't hurt. As he filled my band with 4 cc's I could feel it tighten, also odd but not painful. Then it was all done. The worst part was the sting from the needle entering, it really wasn't painful at all...it will be over in the blink of an eye! Good luck to you!

Angie

hi i was banded in january.i got the 4cc band, my first fill was the following month.an mine did not hurt, i had to put my hands behind my head like you are doing a sit up.an he told me to push my stomach out. an bam,thats it.he does not numb anything its just a 1,2,3. its done. an my fills does not hurt. afterward i am on 24 hours of liquids,then soft then regular. an no i do not eat anything once i have an appointment. i really hardley eat any breakfast, sometimes i have to make myself eat.

wow everyone sounds like they had a painless fill! Am I the only one that was in pain??? For my first fill on 9/1, the needle didn't really hurt, but after finding the port, he had a hard time inserting the needle into the port. He said that it is hard to insert it at a month out because there wasn't enough time for scar tissue to form and hold the port in place yet. It was pretty painful and I even had a bruise afterward. :thumbup:

Got my first fill 3 days ago. The surgeon numbed the area with lidocaine (like at the dentist!) and there was a little pinch when he first injected that. Then he tried to find the port...didn't have any luck, so he used the fluroscope to help him find it. Injected 2cc of saline. I didn't feel a thing!! Hooray!!

It's not bad at all. You will have to stay on liquids for awhile after according to what your Dr orders

Was anyone still hungry after their first fill?

I'm so happy that I finally have some fill. It was pretty easy although I almost fainted.

I layed down and she numbed me with spray then stuck the needle in. It looked pretty big but didn't hurt. The most that hurt was my port is still sore so poking around on that was a little uncomfortable. Then she had me stand up with the needle sticking out of me (this is the part I almost fainted at). She put 2cc's in and had me do a barrum swallow while we watched it on the x-ray thing. Then she put in another 2cc's and had me swallow more. She seemed happy with the results and so was I so far.

On Clear liquids today and full liquids tomorrow then mushies for a day.

I go back in 3 more weeks for another fill.

Had my first fill yesterday, it was easy peasy! Dr had me lie down with a pillow under my lower back, needle went right in. Then had me stand and drink water, was too full at first and had to have over 2cc taken out. Good experience though, now I know what too tight means, and what the foamy's are [on just water no less]. Overall a very good experience!

On my first fill....actually so far my only fill...doc felt around to locare port...and yes, that was the most uncomfortable part of the ordeal, and that wasn't bad. He had to stick me twice to get it in the right place. He put in 4cc's and then left the needle in while I stood up and drank water. That way he wouldn't have to poke me again in case it was too much. No big deal. I felt it fill up around my tummy. That was an odd feeling! I have little restriction. What restriction I do have seemed to occur several weeks after that fill.

prgb, I didn't have anything to eat before the fill, and since he only put in 2cc's(this was my first fill), I was hungry by lunchtime, so I had a protein drink. He told me to stay on fluids (clear and full) for the next 24 hours. I did and have felt fine since.

Hi,

I had my first fill on 9/12. My surgery was on 7/3, but the Fill Center that I was closest to was not opening until 9/12, so that's why I waited. It was painless for me. I too was asked to lie down and I had my arms crossed behind my neck and I was very comfortable. They asked me to push out my abdomen and found my port right away. Then the doc sort of held the port between his fingers and injected the saline. I was not numbed but it was not needed. He also removed a small amount of air and blood that was in the pouch. He said that is not uncommon after surgery. I received 2cc in my 11cc J&J band. I have a little restriction now. I too stayed in the office to drink Water, which went down fine. I go back in a month to be reassessed and have another fill. This time it will be 0.5cc and 0.25cc thereafter if needed. I'm happy! :mad2: