Anyones's first fill experience with Dr. Joyce

I am so excited that I have my first fill on 4/7/10. Was wondering if they do it under flouriscope and how much is the typical first fill? Thanks for any info.

Laura

Hello

My doctor isn't Dr. Joyce.  My doctor is Dr. Lahmann.  Both are from BMI at Silver Cross so I figured the procedure will be almost the same.

After you check in they will call you in to weigh you.  Then you will be called in for your fill.  Dr Lahmann will always ask how things are going and will ask a few questions.  Then he has me stand up against the wall.  He will feel for the port and insert the needle.  He is really good at this and is painless.  It takes him about 30 seconds to find  the port and insert the needle.  All fills are done under fluoro (which is basically xray).  He will then have me stand in front of the xray machine and have me drink some barium.  I will have to take 2-3 swallows while he injects the saline and watchs the barium flow through the band.  I like that BMI does the fills under fluoro because they can see exactly how much they are putting in and how it flows through the band.  There is no guessing like there is without fluoro.  Then that is all.  It takes about 10 minutes.  You are in and out really quick.  Good luck 

Now with my first fill I got 5ccs.  Then received progressively less with each fill until I reach my sweet spot.   

I have Dr Joyce and he does exactly the same, I was nervous the first time but it really doesn't hurt and the drink isn't bad either, afterward he has me stay in the waiting room long enough to drink some water. I find I tend to eat soft foods for a couple of meals after a fill .   Norma

Thanks girls for giving me all the details. Now I am not so nerveous about my first fill. I am glad that it is done under fluro and there is no guessing with how much of a fill you are getting.

Thanks again!
Laura

Hi,

My doctor is Dr. Lahmann and my band surgery is coming up on April 27th.  How long do they wait to do your first fill?  Did you feel restriction after the first fill?  I really like everyone at the doctor's office, they all seem very nice.