nameste

Never share a needle with anyone . I would do my own fill but I would never reuse or share a needle and my only reason for doing my own is distance and that my clinic is too aggressive about fills in my opinion and won't tell me the amount they are putting in and I am not comfortable with that. I want slow gradual fills and I don't want to drive six hours to have someone tell me I am not entitled to know how much is going in my band.

Good for you. I had to show my own family doctor how to fill mine when I needed an emergency defill and she said "you shoudl be doing your own you know more than me" I haven't tried yet but I can get the needles and saline from work and my port is very very easy to find and close to the surface. My family doctor doesn't want to do it unless its an emergency and my fill clinic is 6 hours away so I may try it, if only so I can defill myself in an emergency if I need to. I can find a vein in a leg on a moving dog, I am pretty sure I can find a port that 1" across and fully palpalble....

I was banded Aug 7/09 with a HH repair and Gall bladder removal. flight home and recovery from all three things at once was hell but I am now feeling great and exercising everyday. I lost 10 lbs in the first 4 weeks post op but have not lost any since then. I got my first fill last week (1.5 cc) and feel a slight restriction but not much, I can't get another fill for a month so am just trying to eat right as best I can in the meantime. I am hungry a lot. Some foods go down like normal and others I am restricted.

Thanks Doddie. It's been a few weeks since I emailed but I will try again and see if I can get in touch. Their website state they won't be with a BMI less thean 35 but there may be exceptoins. I have heard nothing but good things about Dr. Ortiz too and have two friends happy to accompany me and follow up care with a doctor at St. Pauls so it seems to be coming together:smile:

Hi Rhonda I am booked for Mexico Mid August but might consider waiting a month if I could get it done in False Creek. I emailed asking if I could get done at a BMI of 32.5 and got no response ( I started at at BMI of 36 a year ago but have been stuck for at least three months now.)

I'm Aug 17th with Dr. Ortiz, maybe we will see each other there!:tongue2:

I don't think you are allowed to drink carbonated beverages so zero calories soft drinks are a no no unless you let them go flat first. The bubbles stretch the pouch.

I do, I am booked for Aug 17th...sooner the better,just waiting for my companinion to get her passport organized