CPSLO Matt

First off, there is never a stupid question! :w00t: FYI -I am a design engineer in the bariatric field. Hopefully I can help answer some of your questions from a "technical perspective". Q1a - Yes it can be difficult to locate and hit the port especially if the port has tilted. And the "target area" on the ports is usually around 0.5 inches in diameter. So if it is tilted, its gets really hard to hit! Q1b - If the Dr. can insert and extract fluid, it is generally a very good indication that he has hit the port. Otherwise, the fluid would have been just injected into tissue and he would not be able to extract it. Q2 - The 4 cc's injected into the band may not be enough to provide the restriction you need. However in order to reduce the risk of complete blockage and discomfort , it is common practice to gradually work up to the fill volume that provides the right amount of restriction. Q3 - Injecting distilled Water instead of saline may be part of the issue with the lack of restriction. The Bands are made out of silicone rubber and if the fluid in the band does not have the same salt concentration as your body fluids, osmosis through the band can occur in which case the water will slowly leach out of the band into the body and hence reduce restriction. I would ask the Dr. to show you in the device literature (Instructions for Use) SPECIFICALLY where it says that it is OK to use distilled water instead of saline. If he cant, tell him you want saline! Hope this helps! Congrats on your first fill! There is a whole list of FAQ's in this forum concerning fills. Start there, if you cant find the answer, post away!!