I have a large Vanguard band, 11cm, and can hold up to 13cc. I live now abroad. I have 2cc already, but I still can eat 2 whopper burgers without any problem at a time. I am constanly on regime, and still can not lose weight. I feel like my stema is wide open.

Filling is easy, mostly nurses and assistants do it. Mine was done by the doctor.

He lies you on the table, he carefully senses where the port is, and enters the needle to the port under the skin, till it hits the metal plate, and draws the saline to see how much there, and change the saline rezervoir in the injector with the new saline, and carefully injects the saline in. Everything lasts less than 5 min.

I can easly sense where the port is. Zero mistake, and can locate the middle of the port, no problem. I am used to injection. So what are the risk.

I know my needle is not allegran made, I believe my doctor also used an ordinary needle.

What do you guys think.

they don't like you doing it because they are ultimately responsible for your care. Its too risky and you could put too much in. my doctor can tell by the pressure he feels when he is pulling back the plunger you could fill too tight and cause a slip its not worth it. also i thought I was too tight vomiting constantly went for a barium swallow and the dr. accused me of filling my port too. because I am a nurse

I would think you'd be asking for trouble and perhaps voiding any liability to the manufacturer when you puncture your tubing and create a leak or damage your port using the wrong needle. That's what I think. :lost1.5lbs:

You would need a special non-coring Huber needle to do fills without damaging the port.

I think its not a good idea either. No matter that you can locate the port by palpating, the risk of damaging either the port, tubing or yourself is too great a risk IMO.

I also agree with Leatha that they probably use Huber type needles rather than standard hypodermic needles although I am not for sure. And truthfully, I don't watch when I am being stuck....lol

I think it's a bad idea.

:confused:I actually did it 5 minutes ago. The needle penetrated about 1,5 cm perpendicularly, and when stopped, and I injected 3cc saline. I drank half liter water, with no problem in seconds, took a breath and drank another half of liter less tan 30 seconds. Still no problem. If I was on target, there should be 5cc in the band. I will try after an hour if I see any difference.

Good luck to you.

Boy, I sure wouldn't have tried that.

It's a very bad idea. There are those who've done it before and regretted it. Sometimes, people have to touch the fire to understand it really does burn.

Good luck. I hope it works out for the best. I think it is a bad idea. Besides what everyone else mentioned. I just think if one can fill, one can unfill as well. The reason for the band is because we have problems with food. If we could unfill to eat what ever we wanted and then refill. What stopping us from over eating again. Again, I hope this works for you. I am only giving my opinion. I am not trying to be rude. Please be careful.

are you freaking nuts?

are you freaking nuts?

Amen, sister!

Kbattal, to quote: "but I still can eat 2 whopper burgers without any problem at a time". I too could do that, but that's why I'm in the shape I'm in today.

That's not eating right, you could be heading for stretching out your pouch or worse! Please don't abuse your band (and ultimately, yourself).

Bill

WHAT????? Let me know I am reading what I seem to be reading, are you giving yourself your own fills? Maybe I am reading this wrong, please answer.

I'm not sure why people post these things. But it happens sometimes. Should I do this? And everyone gives a resounding "no", and then "Just did it." If you already had your mind made up, why ask? Were you looking for that one person in 1000 who would say it's ok?

One more thing to keep in mind... I don't know if insurance covered your surgery or not, but it you're doing your own fills, they sure as hell aren't likely to cover removal if anything goes wrong. If insurance didn't cover, you might want to start saving up. Two whoppers shouldn't be eated whether you're filled or not.

Totally a bad idea. You could damage your port. I understand it is frustrating to wait to get to your sweet spot but that is part of what you signed up for when you decided to get banded.

Here's another risk you're taking. without the fluoroscope, you are just guessing how much restriction you have, so you may be filling and unfilling quite a bit to get it right. Why put unnecessafy wear and tear on something that would have to be surgically replaced?????