The Fill - the truth - 'cause you need to know.

Well I have my fill and I am doing my 2 days mixed liquids today and tomorrow and then puree for 2 days. 

I arrived at the first waiting room a full hour before my appointment and I was so glad I did so because the next number called was 18 - my number was 66.  The waiting room was soooo full and no place to sit so I stood for nearly 45 minutes waiting for my number to be called.  I am glad I have lost weight because before surgery I could not have stood there for that long.  Not even 5 minutes let alone 45.

They finally called my number and I thought well I will be on time this time.  NOT.  My appointment was for 2:00 and I waited until 2:30 to see Joline ( I think that is her name or maybe Jocelyne).  I had never met her before as she only works part time.  She was really nice and we chatted along very well. 

I was down 7 pounds in 6 weeks but I can't say I am down 40 since surgery - 39.8 was all I could pull off but not to worry - I am incredibly happy with that.  54.6 since consultation in June of last year and 68.6 since end of July of last year.  Not bad stats in my book even though you know I hate to use numbers to judge success.  I FEEL AMAZING!!!!!! That is what counts.

The fill was not so nice this time.  Lise was doing fills yesterday and everyone she had seen went well and by the book.  THEN ANN ARRIVED.  She had trouble finding my port.  You can feel my port when I am standing but when I lay down with the pillow under my back my port disappears.  So she pushed and pushed on my tummy and thought she found it but after a couple of needle sticks she could not get the needle into the top of the port, she kept hitting the side of it.  We chatted about my port being very palpable while standing and so she got me to stand up and found it and kept her finger on it and then got me to lay down.  She thought she had it, then lost it and then pushed more.  She asked me to make a hard belly.  No problem except now she is pushing on me and its a tender area to begin with and its hurting.  If you have ever had a bad bruise and pushed on it or bumped it - that is what it felt like.  Ouch but nothing more than and Ouch.  So a couple needle sticks later she gave up and called Dr. Beau.  In he came with another cute young doctor who was learning to be a doctor I guess.   I have to say they could have hurt me a lot more because the view by now was rather lovely.  Dr.  Beau is a looker and this other fellow well he had the nicest eyes.  And Dr. Beau is good at what he does but he is not gentle when seaching for a port that likes to play hide and seek.  He pushed - hard - and again - and again the then bingo he got it.  He put 1 cc.  Sit up and drink.  Water goes through.  I am good to go.  Dr. Beau then signed his name says see you in 6 weeks and away he goes.  

This morning I am so sore that I cannot even touch my tummy without it hurting.  Its a bad bruise for sure and my clothing is irritating my port site.  I am tempted to cover it with something so it does not hurt so much.  I had taken today off just to have a bit of a rest since I am basically exhausted due to all the house hunting with my son and his family.  I am so glad I did.  I think I have bumped my tummy like 10 times this morning and it is not pleasant.

Now I certainly am not posting this to scare anyone.  I am the world's biggest wuss on a good day but this fill did hurt.  Not hurt like the surgery hurt but it hurt and I feel very bruised and sensitive today.  On a scale of one to 10 I would say it was about a 4 pain wise yesterday and a 5 today.  More annoying than anything but definitely sore.

Also you need to know that my port site has never been great.  I have never felt totally healed there and it has always felt like a bruise if I press on it myself.  Long story short though, the fill was still a doable thing.  The pain was low and I came away happy for the experience knowing that if that is as bad as it gets, I can do this many more times and not lose sleep over it or dread it.  A small inconvenience for the expected results. 

I don't know if I have restriction since fluids are going through.  Purees will tell the tale.  Next week I will call Nathalie to make my next appointment.  Lise said if I need a fill before the 6 weeks is up that I can call and ask to be put on her cancellation list.  So I will keep that in mind.  Lise has done about 40 fills and when she has done 50 she said "then I will have the clinic".  So it sounds to me like Dr. Beau will be getting out of the routine fill business.  Darn because like I said, I enjoy the view.

I will keep you posted on my level of restriction over the next little while.  Its all steps in a process.  I feel great and that is all that counts.

Ann

Hi Ann,

 

Happy to hear you had your fill and sorry to hear they had a hard time finding the port. Don’t worry though, as you lose weight it should be easier right.

 

So that cute Doctor you saw- yeah that’s my surgeon Dr. Savoie. He’s been with Dr. Beau for a few weeks actually. The thought of him seeing me naked on a hospital bench, not to happy lol

Sounds like yopu had a really difficult time. That is the second story I have heard of Lise having a difficult time finding the port. My first fill was easy and my port is still easy to find, so I am hoping for an easy fill. Keep us posted.

Sorry Ann , I wish  it was a better experience for you ., maybe the next time ... .It will be worth it though .Good Luck  on having good restriction.

Ann, I have heard of doctors doing the fill while the patient is standing (since we're upright when we eat, anyway).  If it was easier for the doctor and nurse to find your port while you were standing then why didn't they do the fill as you stood?  Hummmm????  Curious!

they have a hard time finding my port too which is why mine are always done under fluoro.  There is a note on my file to that effect.  Just to let you know I called Natalie this week to ensure I get my next fill on time and they don't even have their july schedule yet.  so if you are hoping for July you may not get it. 

I left my name with her and she will call me when the schedule comes in.

I am wondering if the pain around the port is partially psychological.  I feel the same way because its a foreign body inplanted in an area that never had anything before,  It kinda grosses me out to even touch it or look for it.  Anyway, that's the way it is for me.  It's icky !!!!!!!

Anyway, glad to hear you got your fill and on your way again.

 

Patsy

Oh My...I am definitely not changing my mind about the sleeve.YOU guys are so brave to go through that every time you need a fill. I am a wuss.

Good Luck with this fill and I hope success follows you everywhere.

sugarbear

I have not had any problems so far. I don't have pain at the port generally. A too tight waist band or a lot of twisting of the waist while lifting can cause the area to be a little sore. But just a little. I did find that I was sore after the fill- like a small bruise.

Thank you for that information Ann cause I know it won't always be easy.  That's funny that you met our Doc.  Huba huba!!!!  

Although it doesn't sound fun having the fills, like I said in my other post regarding my trip to Toronto, there's much more challenges being morbidly overweight.

I wonder if Lise open's a clinic, if she will be able to do Dr. Savoie's fill for his patients as well?

Hi Rachel, I asked this to Dr. Savoie and he told me that Dr. Beau simply does not have the capacity to take on his patients for fills. His own patients are past due for fills at times and it delays the process for them. He said he didn't mind if I found someone else to do them, but wished me good luck because we all know people who do fills are few and far between.  The good news is that Dr. Savoie himself will not be doing the fills. He already has someone trained to do them.

I don't mind driving to Bathurst, the only thing I mind is that I have to book the whole day off to go because it's a long drive. I saved some vacation days already for this for the rest of the year! I will not be late on my fills!